The richest and most populous city in Brazil and the largest in all of South America, São Paulo is the nation’s economic powerhouse and perhaps one of the most significant areas in the country. HAPPYCAR is here to help you find the best car hire São Paulo has to offer so you can take full advantage of this concrete jungle of a city with a direct car hire São Paulo Airport also available. We check the prices of international and local providers so that you don’t have to check each website to provide you with the best deals to make your money go further on a rental car that fits your specific vacation needs!
General Information
A walk through the dense megalopolis wouldn’t make it apparent, but each neighborhood has its own place in the city’s history: from São Paulo’s first inhabitants; to Jesuit missionaries; to treasure-hunting pioneers and rich families that built high above the city. Nowadays the pulse of the city thumps non-stop, and the appeal for any sort of urbanite is unparalleled – where Rio has been called beautiful, Sampa has been decidedly called a city. And its middle class is some of the best educated in the country, with a rich and varied conglomeration of ethnic communities, from Japanese to German to Italian, happily rubbing shoulders with one another.
To Do
The cultural offerings in São Paulo are immense including over 150 first-class museums and cultural centers and 420 experimental theaters and cinemas. Other special highlights are the Museu do Ipiranga, Museu de Arte de São Paulo, Museu Afro-Brasil and Memorial da América Latina. It is also one of the best places in the country to shop, from the hawkers of Avenida Ipirange to the up-market boutiques of South Paulista. A fantastic getaway from the bustle of urban life can be found in the Ibirapuera Park, an incredibly popular weekend getaway that was designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. To fully appreciate the city as a Paulista, a car hire in São Paulo is highly recommended.
Attractions
The Paulista Avenue is considered the urban artery of the city and is well worth a stroll to witness the contrast of old and new architecture sitting side by side before enjoying the many attractions on offer. Nearby is the Museum of Art, whose modernist architecture is as attractive as the art inside. Close by is the São Paulo Cathedral, a Neo-Gothic masterpiece built in 1967. São Paulo is home to many impressive churches, including the Pátio do Colégio, a 16th century Jesuit church and school and one of the most important heritage landmarks in the city. The Banespa building, Brazil’s version of the Empire State building is where you can find one of the city’s best panoramic views.
Eating
With 12,500 restaurants to choose from, São Paulo is home to a superb diversity of cuisines, revealing the city’s influence from European, Middle Eastern and Asian immigrants. A typical food in São Paulo is Virado à Paulista, consisting of rice, bean paste, sauteed greens and pork chops, usually accompanied by sausage, a fried egg and a fried banana. A fantastic type of restaurant to be found in the city is the churrascarias, a rodízio-style buffet where you can enjoy a massive range of meats on sticks. True to its multicultural roots, the Italian influence come out in the city’s love of pizza – residents will swear blind that theirs is the best in the world.
Excursions
There are a number of options to get out of the city and in to some great beaches, and an hour’s drive with a São Paulo car rental is the Paulista Coast, a fantastic weekend getaway. Close by is a wide variety of beaches and costal attractions such as Santos, only an hour away, and Campos de Jordão just two hours away. With a São Paulo car hire you can enjoy these getaways on your own time, and is quite essential due to the distinct lack of reliable public transport outside of São Paulo proper. Less than a day's drive away is Rio, another titan of Latin American culture and a perfect follow-on for your Brazilian adventure.