For hundreds of years, Brazil has ignited the Western imagination like no other South American country. The country is blessed with warm and pleasant weather year-round; friendly, relaxed and diverse people; beautiful, abundant nature and myriad cultural and social attractions.
As you can see, Brazil is a study in contrasts — from the festive passion of Carnival to the rain forests of the Amazon and its bustling, cosmopolitan cities. What are a newcomer's first impressions of your city? It is a huge city with friendly people, many contrasts, nice weather no hurricanes, earthquakes or seaquakes and a lot of attractions; its soil is rich and its coastal plains spectacular in their beauty. It is very easy to adapt to life there.
Are these impressions likely to change? What is the local language? The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. Away from the big cities, most Brazilians have little or no command of English. Many are able to understand Spanish, however, due to the similar nature of the two Latin-based languages.
In general, Brazilians look favorably upon any effort to communicate with them in their native language. How easily could I live in this city without knowing this language?
It is recommended that you acquire at least a basic knowledge of Portuguese prior to departure. Once in Brazil, enrolling in language classes is encouraged. Below are some commonly used Portuguese expressions that you might find helpful:. What are good things to remember in order to avoid offending the other residents of this city? There are no fixed rules. Brazilians are open people. But, as always, you can't go wrong by simply exercising basic courtesy. Scan the card in front of the card reader, and the turnstile will be released.
If you are carrying large suitcases, try to avoid rush-hour traffic as buses can become incredibly packed. It is not always wise to take the bus late at night, especially if you find yourself all alone waiting at the bus stop - consider calling a cab instead, or asking someone you know for a lift. Check out for the white color of the taxi rank unless it's a radio taxi , the official license sticker with the driver's name and photo on the passenger side of the control panel, and the red license plate.
There are two kinds of cabs: cheaper street-hail and radio taxi. White taxis are often found at stands near city squares and big venues. Radio taxis can be ordered by telephone; ask reception at your hotel for help to call a radio cab, or just call a company.
Notable e-hailing services in the city, are:. The daily rent plus fuel and parking fees typically far exceeds what you would spend with taxis or e-hailing. Traffic can be chaotic and parking is a nightmare. It is also not so straightforward to find your way in certain neighbourhoods where streets can get windy. If you're comfortable enough to adventure yourself and feel more like a paulistano , feel free to explore the city from behind a steering-wheel. There is some information about driving in town that you should know beforehand:.
The prohibition is valid only on the so-called Expanded Center blue street plates with grey bottom stripe , and for peak hours: and During the remaining hours, cars are allowed to circulate freely. Credits can also be purchased via several authorised shops, newspaper stands, and snack bars typically located near the Zona Azul parking spots.
Driving at night : Buses stop at and the metro around midnight, so it can be tricky to get to many of the famous bars and night clubs unless you take a taxi, or If you go out at night by car, expect to pay a small fee to unofficial "car keepers" in order to park your car along the streets.
This is a common use in many busy outing hubs around town, which may seem unfair given that parking your car in the streets is free of charge after , but they occasionally may check your car against stereo robbers. If the neighbourhood seems a bit dodgy or deserted, try to find a parking lot rather than parking in the streets.
These services are often covered by insurance, nevertheless, whenever using valet services, do not leave valuables such as handbags, wallets, electronics and sunglasses in the car, as these items are usually not covered by the insurance policies in parking spaces. See Driving in Brazil for other useful information. A full map of the city's permanent cycling infrastructure can be found in the CET official cycleway map.
One of the most popular cycling routes is the Ciclovia Rio Pinheiros , surrounding the Pinheiros river. It has The cycleway is a bit tricky to access - check the cycleway's official website for a listing of access points.
Many drivers have little respect for cyclists and accidents aren't rare, such that helmets are a must, and extra attention must be taken when making turns or riding outside cycleways.
Use bike boxes and dedicated cycling lanes whenever possible. Many cycleways are heavily under-utilised, such that pedestrians rarely pay attention on them when walking, so a cyclist must also watch out for them. Finally, long distance cycleways can lead to dangerous areas of the city; as a rule of thumb, if you won't go to a certain part of the city on foot, don't go with a bicycle!
For those without much adventure spirit, a leisure-oriented and safe option is the Ciclofaixa de Lazer on Sundays see Do section , where several of the city's main roads are open for cycling. There are public bicycle parking lots in many metro stations daily , and in some it is also possible to borrow a bike using a credit card. Parking lots mainly the ones designed for cars may not accept your bicycle, so if you are to chain yours to a pole, use a good chain with a strong lock.
It's possible to wait 15 minutes after returning a bike to get another hour for free. Since it's possible to return the bikes in different stations, people can move around the city for free. Nevertheless, the rental price is very fair. Users must first register their credit card on the Mobilicidade website via Bike Sampa's mobile app.
The Historic Center area and Avenida Paulista are definitely places to be explored on foot, but there are many others such as Jardins and Vila Madalena. Check the individual district listings for other nice walks.
Pedestrian paths are plenty although sometimes poorly maintained as are zebra crossings with semaphores. Zebra crossings without semaphores are completely ignored by drivers.
Despite the reasonably good pedestrian infrastructure, care is advised whenever crossing the streets; watch out for cars that may come unexpectedly, even if the pedestrian lights are green. Do not try to cross large roads with a high volumes of car traffic: usually there will be a pedestrian viaduct or bridge at some point in the sidewalk. As in the rest of Brazil , most Paulistanos are effectively monolingual Portuguese speakers, although a number of well-educated people will have some command of English, especially in main business areas like Avenida Paulista, Faria Lima and Berrini.
English is generally spoken at main hotels, youth hostels, upmarket bars and restaurants and tourism-related businesses, although a menu in English is a rare find.
Spanish is generally nonexistent. Most Italians, Japanese and Arab descendants are not able to fluently speak the language of the country where their ancestors came from, with the exception being generally the older generation. Many younger Japanese-Brazilians can speak or understand some Japanese but are unable to read or write it. Later immigrants like Koreans and Chinese are more likely to speak their language of origin.
It is one of the largest business centers, and probably the largest cultural region in the city. Its architectural contrast reflects the fact that the avenue is located between the "old" and "new" parts of the city. The avenue and its surroundings, such as Rua Augusta, Alameda Santos and Rua Oscar Freire, contain numerous shop galleries, art galleries, theatres, movie theaters, pubs, hotel, coffee shops, bookstores, and gourmet restaurants. Gay nightlife is intense on Consolacao and Haddock Lobo Streets.
Even through it still has some problems, it is an area to not be missed due to its historical and cultural value for the city. In the middle of the river, stands the magnificent Ponte Octavio Frias , more known as Ponte Estaiada.
The Line 9-Emerald train line runs alongside the river, making all spots quite easy to reach. These green areas are constantly under threat by irregular occupation, so the government has turned many of them into public parks in order to better protect them. Check the individual district listings for a more comprehensive list of parks and more detailed information.
The Ciclofaixa de Lazer Leisure Cycling Lane comprises dozens of kilometers of interconnected cycling lanes, in the central, south and west areas of the city, that are available on Sundays and some holidays, between Since the cycling route is family-oriented, signaling and safety standards are high.
The route is stricly intended for recreational, not sportive cycling, so set your speed accordingly in the presence of other cyclists. A full map of the route, as well as other useful information, are available here. The Derby Paulisata in particular being Palmeiras and Corinthians is ranked among the most intense in the world.
Going to such games can be a risky proposition. Portuguesa games are safe, have few supporters, and are very peaceful and curious meets the Portuguese community in the city.
Events tied to a particular region are listed in the individual district sections. The following events are considered important to the city as a whole:. The city also contains many traditional private high education institutions.
Check the individual district sections for a comprehensive list of them. Some discount applies to museum entrance fees and to some shops as well - check on the official ISIC website for more information on where student discount applies. Brazil has exchange programmes with many internationally-recognized universities.
In order to register at a Brazilian university as an exchange student, you must obtain a student visa at the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate in your home country. This is also where you can renew your visa with the Brazilian authorities. It is open M-F Walk up the street until you see the Policia Federal. To return, take the same bus "J" to Terminal Princesa Isabel. Amaro" to return to Avenida Paulista.
There are a number of language schools where you can learn Portuguese, for as short as two weeks or for a longer period of time. These include both private lessons and classes with more students. Imported goods can be expensive, but look out for Brazilian-made bargains in all categories.
Spend some time in one of the many "shoppings" as Brazilians call the shopping malls and also look out for areas with shops catering for specific interests. Remember that street shops usually operate 10AM-6PM, including Saturdays when they close earlier , but are closed on Sundays. Paulistanos, especially those with higher income, have an indoor shopping culture. The selection of shops of a mall depends on the type of public predominant in the surroundings: at shopping malls located at working-class neighborhoods, it is easier to find bargain department stores, while shopping malls in wealthy areas may be the only way to have access to exclusive designer stores.
Check the individual district listings for a comprehensive list of shopping malls in the city. Far from Downtown, there are many suburban shopping areas. There are also the open markets feiras livres and municipal markets where you can buy fresh and cheaper fruit, vegetables and meat , supermarkets and atacados a type of supermarket where you pay less if buy at least a certain quantity, very convenient for families. Most of these local commerce centers are not listed in this guide, but they are of extreme importance in the daily life of Paulistanos.
It is absolutely possible to enjoy the city's attractions while spending a moderate amount of cash in both accommodations and food. Ask locals for tips how to make the best out of your money if you're on a tight budget. The price range is as wide as the diversity of the restaurants in the city, from cheap snacks and meals in simple and cozy restaurants and food tents in popular markets, to the hugely expensive high end cuisine and internationally recognized restaurants, such as D.
M , which was in named the 4th best restaurant in the world and the best in South America by The World's 50 Best Restaurants. The city is also home to a vast array of Brazilian and international fast-food chains, offering varying options ranging from burgers, to sushi and kebab.
It is usually accompanied by pork rinds, bits of sausage, a fried egg and a fried banana. It consists of four types of melted cheese and sliced roastbeef, and it still endures as one ubiquitous snack in padarias Brazilian-style eateries. Many of these types of restaurants can be found down rua Tomaz Gonzaga in Liberdade, where connaisseurs of good food have already found their way in.
On weekends, these restaurants can be packed, so arrive early to avoid queues. There are also large numbers of Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants from Japan, Lebanon and many other countries.
Pizza is a particularly popular dish, which can be found with an endless range of toppings, and paulistas will swear their city has the best pizza in the country, if not in the world. When eating out, a tip of 10 percent on the value of the bill is usually included. Vila Madalena and Itaim have a very high concentration of bars, and are great spots for an all-nighter. For specific suggestions of bars, check the district section.
This city has an unbelievably rich and diverse night life, and is able to provide entertainment for all tastes, from traditional samba-rock live music to electro-pop night clubs, raves and even some fetish clubs. It is worth planning at least one night out while you're in town. The Downtown has also experimented an impressive revival of nightlife. Be sure to check the individual District listings. Visit this website or buy one of the paper editions to have the latest clubbing updates.
Just be sure to avoid degraded areas.
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