holdall · São Paulo, Brazil

São Paulo

Dec 2024

1 week

Summary

Summary

Prior to visiting São Paulo, I'd heard exclusively negative comments about the city.

The common perception was that there was little to see aside from a sea of concrete, and I got the impression you'd risk having a gun pulled on you the moment you stepped outside your apartment.

A week was just about long enough to prove this was entirely (and laughably) incorrect.

Accommodation

Bad

Good

Great

Compared to Rio, São Paulo offers a far better supply of well-located and high-spec Airbnbs, thanks to more modern building stock and being less vulnerable to the pressures of seasonal tourism. For around £800 per month, you should be able to find a quality modern apartment, with studio options being far more abundant than one-bedroom units.

I stayed in the Smart Vila condo complex, which was an excellent base and one I would happily return to. It featured one of the best on-site gyms I'd seen in South America, along with an on-site mini-mart, swimming pool and plentiful laundry machines - all just a three-minute walk from the Vila Madalena metro station.

In both Airbnbs I stayed in during my time in Brazil, there were notably strict security measures for building access. In both Rio and São Paulo, you needed to identify yourself at the main security entrance before being allowed into the building. While this security is welcome, it does create a degree of friction when coming and going.

info

New legislation

Recent changes introduced by the Turkish government has made short-term rentals for under 100 days more restricted. Keep an eye on Reddit threads for up-to-date assessments of how the new legislation is impacting short-term rentals in practice.

Places to work

Bad

Good

Great

Along with Tokyo and London, São Paulo stands as one of the best cities globally if you have WeWork access. There are 15 locations spread across the city in desirable neighbourhoods and the quality was the highest I found in South America. Most featured outdoor terraces, were spacious and had dedicated areas for All Access members.

Aside from WeWork, there are numerous independent operators dotted across the city open 24/7 such as Eureka and Central9 meaning whichever neighbourhood you opt for, you should have a decent selection at your disposal.

Value

Bad

Good

Great

Prices for day-to-day goods in São Paulo were roughly comparable to Rio, especially for casual restaurant meals and coffees. One noticeable difference was that São Paulo's higher-end neighbourhoods featured a greater concentration of sophisticated options. Compared to Leblon (regarded as Rio's most expensive neighbourhood), there were more casual dining choices at your disposal.

While you will still find inexpensive places in the city's most upscale areas like Itaim Bibi and Jardins, these are regarded as some of the most expensive neighbourhoods in Brazil. Dining here will see you paying noticeably more on average than elsewhere over a sustained period.

If you're planning on eating out routinely, you're likely to find a better balance between cost and options for your budget closer to Pinheiros.

info

The yen is currently at a 34-year low

While this is undoubtedly a negative for the Japanese, it makes for an exceptionally good time to visit Japan from abroad. Although this trend is unlikely to reverse significantly in the short term, it's still worth checking before visiting.

Excitement

Bad

Good

Great

As a city renowned for work and commerce over its beaches and scenery, São Paulo is always going to lose out to Rio for conventional holidaymakers seeking a quintessentially Brazilian experience.

But as a destination to work from, I personally felt it had a much more natural rhythm to fall into during the work week, with more than enough to keep you occupied outside of working hours. It has the hustle and bustle of a major city with bars and restaurants open around the clock, without feeling overbearing or as chaotic as a Southeast Asian city like Bangkok.

It's also home to a number of well-regarded museums and art galleries, with Pinacoteca de São Paulo, Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP) and Museu da Imagem e do Som (MIS) all being popular attractions.

Having visited both, I would personally choose São Paulo over Rio as a place to work from, as it felt like it had much more potential to become a longer-term home.

Working hours

The major east coast cities operate on Brasília Time (BRT), which is GMT-3, putting them 3-4 hours behind most European time zones and 1-2 hours ahead of US Eastern Time throughout the year.

I started work at 7AM each day and while it required some earlier nights, it was easily achievable to remain in sync with colleagues across Europe.

🇪🇺 Consider working European hours from Asia?

I've written a guide on how to structure your day to get the most out of the time difference.

Read article

Do you need to speak Spanish?

Without doubt, being able to speak Spanish with a degree of fluency is a huge asset when visiting South America. I had always put off visiting the continent due to my Spanish skills not extending beyond requesting a "cerveza grande".

But even with my incredibly primitive linguistic capabilities, it was not in any way to the detriment of the trip. English is spoken sparsely, but armed with a few phrases, some polite enthusiasm and a translator, it shouldn't deter you from visiting.

Do you need to speak Portugese?

After spending 10 weeks speaking (limited) Spanish across the rest of the continent, I struggled arriving in Brazil.

While I was far from conversational in Spanish, I quickly realised when I stepped out of the airport my vocabulary didn't extend a single word beyond 'Obrigado!'.
‍
In general, English is generally spoken incredibly sparsely. The most flowing interaction I had ended up being with an Uber driver where we periodically shouted out the names of Brazilian footballers playing in the English Premier League.

You can scrape by for a couple of weeks, but if you're planning on staying longer, I'd 100% recommend learning some basics to get the most out of the experience.

A view looking east from the balcony of the WeWork in Vila Madalena. For a city often likened to the dystopian urban sprawl of Gotham, São Paulo is far from a grey concrete metropolis and features a number of remarkably leafy corridors.

Lunch buffets are popular options for office workers during the work week, typically featuring a wide array of local salads, grilled meats, rice dishes and, inevitably, beans. 'Casa Jardim', pictured in Vila Madalena, is well worth a visit if in the area. Expect to pay around 35 Reais for a plate.

Avenida Paulista serves as the central hub of modern São Paulo, stretching for nearly two kilometres and home to numerous retail and office outlets. Walking along it feels safe both during the day and into the early evening past sunset, with steady foot traffic and a visible police presence throughout.

🔎

November 2024 Fact Check

Given the instability in Argentina over the past few years, I found that most advice on key topics, even if written within the last 12 months, bordered on being dangerously outdated.

I have attempted to summarise some of the most misleading points I encountered.

"Nowhere accepts card"

Incorrect

Card availability is now excellent across the city. Even if you are purchasing a single empanada, bananas from a greengrocer, or buying cans of beer off a man in the street before a football match. Some businesses may offer a 10% discount if you use cash, or charge a small surcharge for card payments.

"It's difficult to get a SUBE card"

Incorrect

This was true in recent years, as there had been a shortage of the cards across the city due to a lack of the plastics needed to create the card. I had no problems going to the nearest off-licence and getting a card on my first attempt. It's worth asking your Airbnb host who may have a spare.

"Buenos Aires is cheap"

Incorrect

The biggest misconception that may still linger, even if you are reading articles from 2023. If planning on eating out heavily, then expect European prices or even higher on more imported day-to-day goods. Eating out aside, day-to-day expenses are still good value by global measures.

"Bring dollars with you"

Partially true

This advice would continue to make sense for Americans who already have dollars, but I wouldn't recommend making an effort to purchase with the intent of exchanging them on the ground. Collecting money via Western Union was convenient and good value, which I would recommend to anyone visiting from outside the US.

"Make sure you get the blue-dollar rate"

Partially true

The dramatic stabilisation of the peso by late 2024 means that this difference is nowhere near as significant as it was 12 months ago. At the time of writing, there was only a 10% difference between the official and blue rate. If you are only in the city for a short period you may not even have to grapple with this.

"Restaurant service is poor"

Partially true

I did see some evidence of this, especially in cheaper, traditional restaurants. In comical fashion, drinks would not appear or the bill would never materialise. In more contemporary outlets, it was never a problem.

"It is a football mad city"

True

There is absolutely no doubt that this is as true as ever in 2024.

Where to stay

Given its sheer scale and often not glowing reputation for safety, working out where to stay in São Paulo can feel intimidating on an initial visit.

The reality you'll find on arrival is that you've got a choice of well-connected, leafy neighbourhoods to choose from, all with an abundance of modern apartment buildings.

I'm not going to claim to be an expert after just seven days and covering a relatively small footprint of the city, but the following areas stood out to me and are generally regarded as safe bets.

Would avoid

Recommended

Vila Madalena

Where I most recently stayed. So tranquil you would have no idea you're staying in a city of over 12 million people. Set among a series of hills, the area blends residential streets with neighbourhood cafes and bars, plus two WeWorks for those looking to work. If you're seeking a safe, calm area with just a touch of hipster-ish charm, look no further. An ideal choice for anyone feeling apprehensive about visiting São Paulo.

WeWork - R. Purpurina, 400

Would avoid

Recommended

Pinheiros

Immediately south of Vila Madalena, Pinheiros is renowned for its artistic and bohemian character. It has a busier and slightly grittier feel, whilst still feeling safe to walk around. If I had to aim for a specific area, I'd opt to be close to the Fradique Coutinho metro station. If you're happy with a more residential feel, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the streets immediately north of the Oscar Freire metro station, which felt like they would suit a longer stay well.

WeWork - R. Butantã

Would avoid

Recommended

Jardins

If you search for this area on Google Maps, you'll see the 'Jardins' area covers a huge expanse of ground immediately south of Avenida Paulista. The whole area is known for being some of the most upscale in the city but I'd aim to stay immediately south of Consolação in the area known as Jardim Paulista, where you've got a good mix of restaurants and retail. The further south you go towards Jardim Europa, it drifts into more of a residentially dominated space. While it is a great area, I felt the areas north of Av. Rebouças had more energy without any compromises on safety.

WeWork - Av. Paulista

Would avoid

Recommended

Itaim Bibi

Close to both Parque Ibirapuera & Parque do Povo, this is another upscale area known for high-end restaurants, boutique fitness studios and refined dining options. A great choice if you're after a more sophisticated stay in the city. Numerous WeWork sites within a 5 minute walk.

WeWork - Rua Professor Atílio Innocenti

Would avoid

Recommended

Centro Histórico de São Paulo

Like most South American cities, São Paulo's historical centre should be approached with caution. With fewer modern amenities and heightened security concerns compared to other neighbourhoods, care should be taken when visiting during daylight hours.

Mango Tree Coworking

Where to work

WeWork - R. Purpurina, 400 - Vila Madalena

Top Choice

☕️ Good Coffee

📍 Top Location

🥗 On Site Cafe

🧍Community Focused

⭐️ Quality Fit Out

🌳 Outdoor Space

The most tranquil WeWork I've ever set foot in.

If you're staying in Vila Madalena, it's well worth booking a day at this site which seems to eschew most of the worst trends associated with the brand. WeWork occupies this entire building, set off from one of the higher streets in the neighbourhood.

The All Access space is located on the seventh floor, with several balconies available to take in the views looking across a particularly green stretch of the city.

On the ground floor, there's an expansive outdoor seating area, with full-sized tables and sofas, with sufficient shade provided by the building's canopies. If you fancy getting sunburnt (or more likely wet), there's a large open-plan area on the building's roof.

What set this site apart was how quiet and peaceful it was, embodying the serene feeling which surrounds the neighbourhood. There was no music, no overly chatty staff at the community bar, no 11AM sound of table tennis rattling your ear drums. Most desks were occupied by individual independent workers, making it a professional and quiet space to get whatever you need done.

Coffee Lab is under a 5 minute walk away and Casa Jardim is a fantastic place to pick up an inexpensive lunch buffet in a beautiful building, even closer to the office.

If you're looking for a peaceful corner of São Paulo to get your workday done with minimal hassle - look no further.

‍

Other WeWork options in São Paulo:

Avenue Paulista - Perfect location in what feels like the centre of the city. The All Access seating, however, appears to be taken by groups of office workers early in the morning, making it feel more like someone's private office than a quiet area to get work done.

R. Butantã, 194 - Large open-plan space for All Access members on the fifth floor. While it's a decent building with plenty of seats, the immediate neighbourhood isn't somewhere I'd intentionally choose to base myself for the long term.

Learn more open_in_new

Get one month free on a 12-month commitment

Flexible access to shared workspace in hundreds of locations globally. Explore hundreds of global locations, whether you need office space in New York or a meeting room in London.

Remote work visa

Remote work visa coming soon

A dedicated remote work visa is available for this country.

This country is actively working on a visa support for remote workers.

There is currently no remote work visa available for this country.

Brazil introduced a remote worker visa in January 2022. Applications must be made in person at a Brazilian consulate.

The visa allows remote workers employed by foreign companies to live in Brazil for one year, with the option to renew for a second year. Applicants must provide proof of foreign employment/income, demonstrate monthly earnings of $1,500+ or $18,000 in savings, hold valid Brazilian private medical insurance, and submit a criminal clearance certificate from their home country.

Processing time is typically 3-4 weeks. Requirements for dependents are not yet clearly defined.

Visa length

Visa cost

Earning requirements

Learn more open_in_new

To the best of my knowledge this information was correct as of Jan 2025. If you notice something has changed drop me a message and I'll update it!

‍Citizen Remote is a great source of up to date knowledge for everything to do with remote work visas.

Safety

In terms of security, São Paulo was radically different than what I had initially envisaged.I'm not sure where this impression had originally stemmed from, but I had an idea that grave danger would be lurking around every corner and you'd be entirely dependent on Ubers to get around the city. Thankfully this was completely wrong, and you can dismiss the severity of those concerns. When comparing to other cities on the continent, it felt much more secure than somewhere like Bogotá.

I spent the first day getting a feel for some of the most popular neighbourhoods you may consider staying in: Vila Madalena, Pinheiros and Jardins Paulista. All these areas and the arterial roads connecting them had a good amount of footfall over the weekend. Frankly, the biggest issue you're likely to encounter is the steep gradients of the roads connecting many of the areas.

‍

The ciclovia cycling path felt very safe over the weekends.If you are looking at the map above, it follows the large river running to the left of the image. There was a steady stream of cyclists and runners throughout the Sunday morning I visited. There may be some secluded sections, but this didn't feel inherently dangerous as you are likely to see people of all ages and genders using it unaccompanied.
Sé and other areas of downtown are renowned for being more risky.I didn't make it down there during this trip, but from all accounts, they present much more real security risks. On a return visit I would explore there, but given the bulk of the city's more modern amenities (Coworking spaces, speciality coffee shops and new condos) are to be found in the areas to its west, it's unlikely you'll be dwelling in this area.

Off work

No items found.

Duration & season

One week wasn't sufficient to see even half of what I would have liked to in the city. At a minimum, two weeks would feel ideal, assuming you are balancing the trip with work commitments.

Mid-December brought with it both pockets of almost uncomfortable sunshine and heavy downpours, with the default appearing to be moderate cloud cover and mild temperatures around the clock.

March-May and October-November are generally regarded as the best seasons to visit the city to minimise rainfall. Unlike Rio, where rainy or cloudy days can severely impact your ability to enjoy the beach or hiking, it didn't feel quite as disastrous in São Paulo with less reliance on outdoor activities.

Food & drink

Laptop friendly

CPTM Ciclovia Rio Pinheiros

Run

A long, dedicated cycle track runs parallel to the Rio Pinheiros in São Paulo. Access points are widely spaced, so it’s worth consulting a map and planning your route in advance to select the segment you wish to cycle. The track can become quite busy at weekends, particularly in the late morning.

Parque Ibirapuera

Walk

Parque Ibirapuera is an excellent escape from the city's traffic. The evening I visited was particularly busy with families, so I’d recommend avoiding peak hours if you’re aiming to set any PBs.

Parque Villa-Lobos

Run

Parque Villa-Lobos is about a 15-minute run downhill from Vila Madalena, offering wide-open spaces and well-maintained paths ideal for an evening run. The uphill return can be a bit challenging, so you may want to grab an Uber back.

People

São Paulo felt an incredibly diverse city. Alongside the natural diversity of the country's population itself, the city is home to both the world's largest Japanese and Lebanese communities outside their respective home countries. Whilst perhaps not as immediately jovial or playful as their Carioca neighbours in Rio, I generally found Paulistas equally as warm and approachable.

You're naturally likely to find substantially fewer international tourists passing through the city, but as a loose demographic indicator, in each of the WeWork offices I visited there was a distinctly more international feel than what I found in Rio.

Exercise

CPTM Ciclovia Rio Pinheiros

keyboard_arrow_down

Parque Ibirapuera

Parque Ibirapuera is an excellent escape from the city's traffic. The evening I visited was particularly busy with families, so I’d recommend avoiding peak hours if you’re aiming to set any PBs.

keyboard_arrow_down

Parque Villa-Lobos

keyboard_arrow_down

CPTM Ciclovia Rio Pinheiros

Parque Ibirapuera

Parque Ibirapuera is an excellent escape from the city's traffic. The evening I visited was particularly busy with families, so I’d recommend avoiding peak hours if you’re aiming to set any PBs.

Parque Villa-Lobos

Verdict

Positives

A real big-city feel.The 24/7 bars and restaurants, imposing skyscrapers, wide roads and multicultural population all give it the feel of a serious global city, with Buenos Aires being the nearest comparable urban experience I found on the continent. Rio has touches of it in the Centro district, but it's segregated from the more leisure-oriented areas, whereas in São Paulo you find more of a typical city-like ambience with commercial and residential areas blurring more naturally.
Great value. As far as global metropolises go, you'll struggle to find somewhere which matches the value of São Paulo outside of Southeast Asia. Both accommodation, eating and drinking out offer dramatically better value than you would find in Europe and North America, without any discernible drop in quality of amenities. However, like anywhere, you can easily rack up bills dining at higher-end places.
Safer than you may expect from a Brazilian city.While I can only vouch for a relatively small proportion of the city, the areas which I've mentioned above felt far safer than what you might fear from a Brazilian city. Comparing it to other cities globally, it felt notably more secure than somewhere like Cape Town and more relaxed than either of the Colombian cities I visited.
A solid base to explore from.With two airports serving both the country's and continent's largest city, you've got a great selection of connections to other cities in the south of Brazil and further afield internationally if you're planning to make it a base for an extended South American trip. If you're travelling from Europe, flights to Guarulhos are some of the cheapest you'll find to the continent via LATAM, TAP Air or BA.
Accessible green spaces both within and outside the city's perimeter.For a city that's often drawn criticism for its density of buildings and concrete, it's greener than it's been portrayed. Within an hour from the centre of the city, you can reach the expansive Parque Estadual da Cantareira, complementing numerous inner-city options.
An enviable selection of coworking spaces across the city.Undoubtedly the best city on the continent for WeWork members with an unrivalled selection and quality of options spread across the city. The number of quality independent operators far outstripped Rio and most other neighbouring cities I visited.

Negatives

An inconvenient metro system.Compared to Rio where you can tap in with a contactless card, São Paulo's metro requires a specific travel card. Paper tickets can be purchased, however they wouldn't accept my UK debit card and I hadn't withdrawn any cash. While the metro is expansive and well maintained, it's not particularly accessible for first-time visitors.
Plenty of wet days.Contrary to my expectations, rain and clouds are just as much a part of Brazilian life as in the UK. If you're from the Northern Hemisphere and planning a winter escape, you may be underwhelmed with the weather during these months. From October to March, you can expect over 15 wet days per month, with January being the dampest at around 25. If you're looking for long days of uninterrupted sunshine, you may be better looking elsewhere. Expect early sunsets around 18:00 if you head for the drier, optimal months close to September.
Studio flats are much more accessible than one-bedroom apartments.If I were booking somewhere for a month's stay, I'd much rather opt for a one-bedroom than a studio. From my observations, these were generally a lot harder to come by on Airbnb and usually carried a bit more of a premium. With that being said, the studios generally appeared larger than what you find in Europe and typically contain a separate bed rather than a sofa bed.
Not as 'Brazilian' as you may expect.If you're only going to make one stop in Brazil, you may be underwhelmed if you visited São Paulo in isolation, resembling very little of Rio's Carioca culture synonymous with what the world recognises as the country. With this in mind, I loved it as a place to work, but if you're looking for a pure leisure destination, a couple of days would be sufficient before heading to somewhere more distinctive.

Tips

Areas of the city can be super hilly.If you are in any way physically impaired, or simply hate climbing steep hills, you may want to do some extra research in advance to avoid any severe gradients. Any 10-minute walk around Vila Madalena will inevitably include some particularly taxing, and often unwelcome, climbs and descents.
For most transactions in Brazil, you'll be asked whether your card is Debit or Credit.This can be quite confusing as while I always used a UK Monzo debit card, it would generally only work if I selected the Credit option. Try both options if your payment isn't going through.
Tipping in Brazil is straightforward.Expect a 10% service charge added to your bill automatically when dining in. Not carrying physical cash for tipping purposes did not feel problematic.
If travelling domestically, aim to depart from Congonhas, the domestic airport closer to the city centre.It can be a long drive to GRU (the larger international airport), which is often susceptible to heavy traffic delays. An Uber to GRU in the middle of the day cost around 100 Reais (£13) and took about an hour. Congonhas's central location makes it a much more convenient option for domestic travel.
An eSIM from Saily offered reasonable value for money.15GB of data cost around £18 and was better value than the Airalo equivalent.

More from Japan

I loved everything about this trip to Japan. I've put together some thoughts on my entire stay in the country, which may come in handy if you are planning a visit soon.

Read article

Naha

Better known for tacos rather than kimonos.

Top Choice

Tokyo

A surprisingly manageable stay in the world's biggest city.

Top Choice

Osaka

Everything you need for an exceptional Japanese experience.

Top Choice

Hiroshima

A sombre but worthwhile stopover for your itinerary.

Top Choice

Fukuoka

An unremarkable start to Japan.

Top Choice

Parque Ibirapuera is a popular location for an evening walk, particularly on weekends, featuring picturesque lakes, a skatepark and several museums. The park is perfectly safe and well-maintained.

The area surrounding Vila Madalena is a constantly undulating landscape of steep hills, with climbs and descents around every corner. If you are looking for anywhere flatter for running, head towards the riverside where the Ciclofaixa path is a reliable alternative.

Like anywhere in Brazil, if you are looking for a quick, tasty and inexpensive meal, look out for one of the thousands of lanchonetes that can be found all across the city. Searching for 'Snack Bars' will give you good results on Google Maps. Expect to pay under £5 for a large meal of protein, rice and beans, with large bottles of ice-cold beer served for under £2.

Planning a trip to

São Paulo

?

Looking for dedicated remote travel insurance?

I've used SafetyWing for the past twelve months and can vouch for it being an excellent service!

National infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with the changing needs of digital nomads and remote workers. The internet has allowed people to break out of the cultural norms of their home countries and live, work and form communities how they choose.

São Paulo

A misunderstood city?

The modern commercial heart of Brazil.

São Paulo

Summary

Accommodation

Places to work

Value

Excitement

Working hours

🇪🇺 Consider working European hours from Asia?

Do you need to speak Spanish?

Do you need to speak Portugese?

🔎

November 2024 Fact Check

Where to stay

Vila Madalena

Pinheiros

Jardins

Itaim Bibi

Centro Histórico de São Paulo

Where to work

WeWork - R. Purpurina, 400 - Vila Madalena

The most tranquil WeWork I've ever set foot in.

Other WeWork options in São Paulo:

Remote work visa

A dedicated remote work visa is available for this country.

This country is actively working on a visa support for remote workers.

There is currently no remote work visa available for this country.

Safety

Off work

Duration & season

Food & drink

Riviera Bar

Av. Paulista

Coffee Lab

Vila Madalena

Casa Jardim Restaurante

Vila Madalena

Boteco Cerqueira

Consolação

Sensory Coffee

Jardim Paulista

Tembuí Restaurante

Pinheiros

São Cristóvão

Vila Madalena

BEER4U

Vila Madalena

People

Exercise

CPTM Ciclovia Rio Pinheiros

Parque Ibirapuera

Parque Villa-Lobos

Verdict

Positives

Negatives

Tips

More from Japan

Planning a trip to

São Paulo

?

Get insured with SafetyWing

Pick up cash globally with Western Union

Get international data with an Airalo eSIM

Apply now

Currently:

Bangkok

Next:

Madrid

Suggestions or improvements?

Any questions?

Say hi !