Our Insider Tips

Pay flight tickets with miles: best in the business class. It is not only more comfortable, but also costs only about 40% more than an economy class flight paid with miles. On top, you can save fees: a Brazilian law impedes airlines from charging the fuel surcharge for flights out of Brazil. Just book the outbound flight and the return flight separately and save the fuel surcharge for the return flight - with Lufthansa Miles & More about 250 €.

Relaxing and easy with myDriver São Paulo. Nearly all intercontinental flights reach São Paulo in the early morning. Even better if you can start your business or vacation day freshly rather than crinkled. Take a shower right after arriving at the airport - easy with myDriver São Paulo. You do not need to get to your hotel for this. This saves time for you, and it saves hotel cost for an early arrival. If you arrive at the international airport São Paulo Guarluhos (GRU), a short hint to the driver will be sufficient: he or she will accompany you to a hotel where you can take a shower in an individual shower cabin. Towels and shampoo are taken caro of, and you may take up to 60 minutes. Additional cost 50 Brazilian Real (about 15 €), upon availability, the driver will purchase the entry for you.

Especially tourists are recommended to not take a hotel in the historic center. Apart from a few monuments, there is little active life, but even more old houses in a bad state. Watch out: at least at night, the area is significantly unsafe! You are better off in today's main shopping street Avenida Paulista.

European mobile phones work well in São Paulo. The mobile network is mostly accessible all over the State of São Paulo. All mobile phones from owners located in the city of São Paulo have the prefix 9. In front of this, dial the prefix of a telecom provider, such as 21, 23 oder 32. See details in the section Practical life: Telephone.

São Paulo has various beautiful parks. My personal favorite is the Parque Ibirapuera, São Paulo's "Central Park", close to th business districts of Morumbi and Jardins. On 1,6 million square meters, it hosts a large selection of Brazil's flora. Following the paths for one or two hours, the visitor can see the whole variety of the metropolitan life like in super-speed: families, dogs, joggers, bikers, walkers - often an esthetic pleasure. The park is peppered with oevres of the star architect Oscar Niemeyer. For safety reasons, visit the park only at day-time, at night it is locked anyway. Perfect also if you want to do some jogging.

São Paulo in compact is what I also like to experience in the shopping Avenue Avenida Paulista. Watch the colorful scenery, walk around between banks, fashion boutiques, restaurants and even car repair shops. Continue along the renowned Art Museum (MASP), and conclude in the steeply descending little street Rua Carlos Comenale right beside the museum with a Caipirinha and some filet aperetivo under a large tree  in the Choperia Opcão.

My personal favorite is by far Vila Country, Avenida Francisco Matarazzo 774, at the western end of São Paulo. A metropolitan dance club of the finest category: two live stages, excellent drinks, a restaurant. It accommodates at least 6,000 people and is at least well crowded from Thursday through Sunday. The music style is Brazilian country music (Sertanejo), danced in couples, which has become popular in all Brazil starting from São Paulo. The Paulistanas and Paulistanos in the Vila Country are certainly an optical pleasure.