Quick facts
Budget breakdown
| Category | Budget | Midrange |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | R$60–130 | R$200–450 |
| Food | R$40–80 | R$100–200 |
| Transport | R$15–30 | R$50–100 |
| Activities | R$0–30 | R$50–120 |
| Drinks | R$20–40 | R$50–100 |
| Daily Total | R$135–310 | R$450–970 |
Daily per-person estimates. Costs vary by season and travel style.
Practical info
Visa & Entry
- US, EU, UK, Canadian, and Australian citizens get 90 days visa-free — no advance application needed
- Passport must be valid for 6+ months from entry date
- You may be asked to show proof of onward travel and accommodation at immigration
Health & Safety
- Yellow fever vaccination recommended if visiting rural areas. Tap water is treated but most locals drink filtered or bottled
- São Paulo is a major city — use common sense. Avoid showing phones on the street. Use Uber instead of walking alone at night
- Emergency: 190 (police), 192 (ambulance). Private hospitals like Sírio-Libanês are world-class. Travel insurance essential
Getting Around
- Metrô São Paulo: 6 lines, clean, safe, R$5.00 per ride. Covers Centro, Paulista, Liberdade, Luz. Runs 4:40am–midnight
- Uber and 99 (local rideshare) are cheap and widely used — a 20-minute ride costs R$15–30. Always confirm the plate number
- Traffic is legendary — avoid driving. Use the metro for speed and Uber for areas the metro does not reach
Connectivity
- Free WiFi in most cafes, malls, and padarias. The metro has WiFi at stations. SP Free WiFi is the city's public network
- Buy a Claro, TIM, or Vivo SIM at any phone shop — R$30–50 for 5–10GB prepaid data. eSIMs from Airalo work well
- Download Uber, 99 (rideshare), Google Maps offline, and the Metrô SP app before arrival
Money
- Cards accepted in restaurants and shops in Jardins, Paulista, and Pinheiros. Cash needed at markets, street food, and botecos
- ATMs (caixas eletrônicos) at Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Itaú. Use bank ATMs inside branches for safety. Withdraw R$500–1,000
- Tipping 10% at restaurants (check if "serviço" is included on the bill). No tipping at bars or cafes
Packing Tips
- Layers — São Paulo weather changes fast. A light jacket year-round. Rain gear essential Oct–Mar (sudden tropical downpours)
- Leave jewellery and expensive watches at home. Use a basic phone or keep your smartphone in an inside pocket
- Comfortable walking shoes — sidewalks are uneven. A daypack with zips (no open-top bags) for security
Cultural tips
Greetings
One kiss on each cheek (women to women, women to men). Men shake hands. Brazilians stand close and touch during conversation — this is warmth, not invasion of space.
Eating Culture
Lunch is the main meal (noon–2pm). Comida por quilo (pay-by-weight) buffets serve excellent food for R$30–50. Dinner is lighter and later — 8pm at the earliest. Sunday feijoada is a tradition.
Brazilian Time
Social events rarely start on time. A 9pm dinner invitation means arriving at 9:30–10pm. Business meetings start on time. Bars and clubs fill up 1–2 hours after the listed start time.
Phone Safety
Do not use your phone while walking on the street — phone theft is common. Use it inside shops or restaurants. If you must navigate, stop and step into a doorway. Consider a wrist strap.
Portuguese Basics
"Oi" (hi), "obrigado/obrigada" (thank you), "por favor" (please), "tudo bem?" (how are you?). Portuguese is NOT Spanish — do not speak Spanish to Brazilians. Even bad Portuguese is deeply appreciated.
Bar & Boteco Culture
Botecos are neighbourhood bars where Paulistanos socialise for hours over cold chopp (draft beer) and petiscos (snacks). Splitting the bill equally is standard — do not ask for separate checks.
