Travel advisory · BrazilSão Paulo State is in or near an area where governments advise against all but essential travel: Favelas.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Ceilandia · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
Favelas · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain, New Zealand, US
Paranoá · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
Santa Maria · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
São Sebastião · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
Venezuela border area · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France

Also named by one government: 160 km strip along Brazil's land borders (US), Complexo da Maré (Canada), Complexo da Penha (Canada), 20 km strip along the Bolivian border (excluding Pantanal National Park) (Canada), 20 km strip along the Colombian border (Canada), 20 km strip along the French Guiana border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Guyanese border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Paraguayan border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Peruvian border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Surinamese border (Canada), 50 km strip along the Venezuelan border (Canada), Amazonas River and tributaries, Amazonas State (between Codajás and Belém do Solimões) (UK), Border zones (unspecified) (France), Chapada Diamantina National Park (trilha do 21) (Spain), Planaltina (Italy), Samambaia (Italy)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise increased caution (regional advisories)	Aug 31, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	Oct 27, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution due to high crime rates (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Vigilance renforcée (pays à risque) (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

São Paulo State

Travelers come for the city of São Paulo, then add the Atlantic beaches of Ubatuba and Ilhabela or the cool hills of Campos do Jordão.

Find a room in São Paulo State Start with the essentials Plan a trip to São Paulo State

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São Paulo State is the most populous state in Brazil, in the southeast of the country. Its capital, the city of São Paulo, is the largest city in Brazil and sits inland on a plateau. Many trips start there, then continue to the coast, where Ubatuba and Ilhabela have beaches and forested hills, or to the cooler highlands of Campos do Jordão in the Serra da Mantiqueira. The state also has major ports, including Santos.

The trip suits travelers who want city food, museums and parks alongside a few days by the sea or in the hills. The coast is warm and humid, and the mountain towns are noticeably cooler, especially in winter. The drier months run from about April to September, while December to March is hot and rainy.

São Paulo State in five

Get 99 or Uber for city ridesBoth apps cover São Paulo city and need mobile data to book and track a car. Set up your SIM before you leave the airport.Getting around
Set up a SIM or eSIM before arrivalVivo, Claro and TIM sell prepaid plans. Ride apps and maps need data, so load a plan before your first ride.Phones and eSIM
Book Guarulhos for international flightsMost international flights land at Guarulhos (GRU), well outside the city. Congonhas handles mainly domestic flights, so check your airport before you book a transfer.
Get a Bilhete Único card for the metroThe metro, CPTM trains and most city buses use the Bilhete Único card, which you buy and top up at stations.
Check restaurant bills for the 10% service chargeRestaurant bills often add a 10% service charge (serviço). Extra tipping is optional, so read the bill before you add anything.Money and costs

Things to do in São Paulo State

See all attractions in São Paulo State

City park · São Paulo StateTrianon - Tenente Siqueira CamposWeekdays tend to be quieter than weekends.

Church · São Paulo StateIgreja Nossa Senhora do CarmoCheck Mass times before your visit.

Museum · São Paulo StateMuseu da Língua PortuguesaArrive early, especially on weekends, when queues can form.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to São Paulo StatePut the places you like in São Paulo State on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Real (BRL)
Entry: Visa-free short stays for some passports; others need a visa, so check first Read more
Emergency: 190 police, 192 ambulance, 193 fire
Tipping: 10% service charge often added; extra tip optional
Time: UTC-3, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryRain24 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Hot, rainy
FebruaryRain19 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Carnival, busy
MarchRain19 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Rain, warm
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Mild, fewer rains
MayPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Mild, dry
JuneClear6 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Cool, dry
JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Winter holidays
AugustClear6 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Dry, cool
SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Dry, mild
OctoberRain17 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Warm, dry
NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Rains start
DecemberRain21 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Hot, rainy

Average daily high and low in São Paulo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in São Paulo State

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 21°
Humidity: 83%
Wind: 14 km/h
Chance of rain: 84%

São Paulo State

05:43 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-3

Today26°19°84%Monday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 84%.
Tue29°19°78%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 78%.
Wed30°18°22%Wednesday: Fog. High 30°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 22%.
Thu29°19°76%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 76%.
Fri25°17°71%Friday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 71%.
Sat30°17°94%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 94%.
Sun18°12°63%Sunday: Rain. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 63%.

Updated 02:44 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 5.437 BRL

Amount

Converted to

BRL · Brazilian Real

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in São Paulo State

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Feb–MarCarnival of São PauloSão Paulo, a day trip

Day trips by train

Santosabout 1 to 1.5 hours by roadA port city on the coast with a long beach and a historic waterfront, good for a day by the sea.
Campinasabout 1.5 to 2 hours by roadA large university and industrial city inland, useful for a day of museums and parks.
Ilhabelaabout 2 to 3 hours by road, then the car ferryAn island with beaches and waterfalls, best as a weekend stay rather than a day trip.

Before you go to São Paulo State

eSIM for São Paulo StateData for ride apps and mapsRead the guide

Travel insurance for BrazilCover for delays and medical costsRead the guide

Money and cards in BrazilCash, cards and the service chargeRead the guide

Stays in São Paulo cityPaulista, Jardins and Vila MadalenaRead the guide

Rules for São Paulo State, checked

Check whether your passport needs a visa for Brazil on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site before you book flights.Source
Cash and goods above the set limits must be declared on arrival; check the Receita Federal rules before you fly.Source
Yellow fever vaccine advice depends on your route and the regions you visit; ask your doctor and check the Ministry of Health.Source

Plan around São Paulo State

Getting around the state

Metro, CPTM trains, buses, ride apps and the Bilhete Único card

Read the guide Money and costs

Reais, cards and the 10% service charge on bills

Read the guide Visas and entry

Who needs a visa, and the customs rules for cash

Read the guide Where to stay

Paulista, Jardins, Centro and Vila Madalena compared

Read the guide Phones and eSIM

Prepaid SIMs, eSIM and data for ride apps

Read the guide All of Brazil

Regions, flights and entry rules for the whole country

Read the guide

São Paulo State FAQ

Is São Paulo State worth visiting?

Yes, if you want a large city with museums and restaurants, plus the coast or the mountains. It suits trips of several days, not a quick stop.

Is São Paulo city the same as São Paulo State?

No. São Paulo is the state capital and its largest city. The state also covers the coast, the countryside and cities such as Campinas and Santos.

Do you need a car in São Paulo State?

Not in the city, where the metro, trains and ride apps cover most trips. A car helps for the coast and the countryside, but city traffic is heavy.

How do you get to Ilhabela?

Drive or take a bus to São Sebastião, then the car ferry across the channel to Ilhabela. Check ferry times on the operator's page before weekend trips.

What is the best time to visit São Paulo State?

The drier months run from about April to September. December to March is hot and rainy, and July is busy with school holidays.