Travel advisory · BrazilSão Paulo 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
- 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
São Paulo is known for its cuisine, its museums and neighborhoods shaped by Japanese, Italian and Arab immigrants. It suits travelers who want a very large city with plenty to eat and see.
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São Paulo is the capital of the state of São Paulo in southeastern Brazil and the country's largest city. It is also the most populous city in the Americas, and its metropolitan region has about 20 million people. Jesuit priests founded the city on 25 January 1554 at what is now the Pátio do Colégio, and it is named after Saint Paul the Apostle.
São Paulo is known for its cuisine and its immigrant neighborhoods. Liberdade holds the largest Japanese community outside Japan, and Bixiga is the place for Italian food. Museums such as MASP and the Museu do Ipiranga cover art and history. The Museu do Ipiranga stands beside the monument marking Brazil's 1822 independence from Portugal. Ibirapuera Park is one of the main green spaces. The metro is the most efficient way to cross the city, and road traffic can be heavy, so plan a few days and give each day one or two neighborhoods. Rain falls mostly in the warmer months, and winter is milder, with temperatures usually between 12 and 22 °C.
São Paulo in five
- Take the train from GuarulhosCPTM Line 13 runs from the airport station, reached by a free shuttle from the terminals, into the city. Road transfers can take well over an hour at rush hour.
- Walk Avenida Paulista on SundayThe avenue closes to cars on Sundays and holidays, with street music and families on foot. MASP sits halfway along.
- Stay near a metro lineThe metro is fast and clean, and traffic is not. Jardins, Pinheiros and Vila Madalena all have stations.
- Book the top restaurants earlyThe best-known dining rooms fill days ahead. For lunch, the Mercado Municipal is a walk-in alternative.
Things to do in São Paulo
See all attractions in São Paulo
Need to know
- Airport
- Guarulhos (GRU) international, Congonhas (CGH) domestic
- Getting there
- Flights to GRU; air shuttle from Rio to Congonhas
- Getting around
- Metro and CPTM trains; ride apps outside rush hour
- Best base
- Jardins or Pinheiros, near a metro station
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain24 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Hot, stormsJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 282 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, storms
- FebruaryRain19 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Hot, stormsFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 189 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, storms
- MarchRain19 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Warm, rainMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 161 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, rain
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Mild, drierAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, drier
- MayPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°MildMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- JuneClear6 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Cool, dryJuneClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°CoolestJulyClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 24 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Coolest
- AugustClear6 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°DryAugustClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°MildSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- OctoberRain17 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Warm, rainOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, rain
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Warm, rainNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 157 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, rain
- DecemberRain21 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Hot, stormsDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 186 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, storms
Average daily high and low in São Paulo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Feb Carnival of São Paulo · Mar Carnival of São Paulo
Right now in São Paulo
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
22
- Feels like
- 25°
- Humidity
- 83%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 83%
São Paulo
07:01 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today26°19°83%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 26°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Tue29°19°78%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Wed30°19°21%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Thu29°19°72%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 72%.
- Fri25°17°73%Friday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Sat30°17°94%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Sun18°11°61%Sunday: Rain. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 61%.
Updated 06:45 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 5.437 BRL
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Coming up
- Allianz Parque · concertRush Fifty Something TourJan 24 – 26, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
- Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu · concertKarol G TropitourFeb 12, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
- MorumBIS · concertFoo Fighters Take Cover TourFeb 20, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
- The Town · concertSlipknot (sic)est Stadium Tour 2027Sep 4, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
Every year
- Feb–MarCarnival of São PauloSão Paulo
Day trips by train
- SantosAbout 1.5 hours by busPort city with a coffee museum and beach gardens.
- Embu das ArtesAbout 1 hour by roadWeekend craft market in a colonial village.
Before you go to São Paulo
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for São Paulo, checked
- Check Brazil's entry rules for your nationality, including whether you need a visa or eVisa, on the Federal Police site (gov.br/pf) before you book flights.
- Declare goods above the duty-free allowance when you arrive. The limits and the customs declaration are on the Receita Federal site (gov.br/receitafederal).
- The vehicle rotation system (rodízio municipal) restricts cars in the central area. Check the CET São Paulo traffic site before you drive into the centre.
- Avoid swimming in or touching the Tietê and Pinheiros rivers, which are heavily polluted. A clean-up programme is underway.
Plan around São Paulo
Regions, flights, entry rules and money
Read the guideRio de JaneiroBeaches and lookouts, a short air shuttle
Read the guideThe AmazonManaus and river lodges by direct flight
Read the guideIguazú FallsArgentine side of the falls, reached by air
Read the guideVisas and entryCheck entry rules before you fly
Read the guideTravel insurancePhone theft and delay cover for city trips
Read the guideSão Paulo FAQ
Is São Paulo worth visiting?
Yes, for food, museums and nightlife. It has fewer postcard sights than Rio, so treat it as two or three days of eating and neighborhoods.
Where should I stay in São Paulo?
Jardins for a first trip, near Avenida Paulista. Pinheiros suits food lovers and longer stays. Pick a hotel close to a metro station.
How do I get from Guarulhos airport to the city?
Take the free shuttle bus to the airport train station and ride CPTM Line 13, or book an airport bus or car. Allow over an hour by road at rush hour.
Is São Paulo safe for tourists?
Most visitors have no trouble in Jardins, Pinheiros and along Paulista. Use ride apps after dark, keep phones out of sight at crossings and stations, and avoid walking empty streets late at night.
How many days do you need in São Paulo?
Two to three days work for a first visit: one for Paulista and museums, one for Pinheiros and Vila Madalena, one for food markets. It also works as a gateway to the Amazon or Iguazú.