Paulista Avenue. Photo: José Cordeiro/SPTuris.

Is it possible to travel during a period of economic crisis? If you choose São Paulo as the destiny, the answer is yes! The largest metropolis in the Southern Hemisphere is famous for some characteristics: this a welcoming and diverse capital that serves all tastes and pockets. Check out the tips to enjoy the city in the best possible way:

Always search before travelling

The first step is to search. Visit the flight websites and keep an eye on promotions! The city is served by the largest airport of the country, the São Paulo International Airport (GRU), where many Brazilian and International flights take place everday. It is also served by Congonhas and Viracopos, which are in the top 10 list of airports in the country. Thus there’s always a promotion to come to Sampa.

The CITs can help

Look for the Tourist Information Centers (CITs) in the city. They provide visitors with flyers, guides, tour itineraries and a city map that can help you with your scheduling. Click here to know where to find one or go directly to www.cidadedesaopaulo.com and check out the tips.

Public transportation is the best option

To explore the wonders of São Paulo, use public transportation. It’s cheap and you can get to any touristic points. Even if you want to use only the metro and trains, which is abundant in the city, it is possible to get to know many of these points. According to the State Secretary of Metropolitan Transport, there are almost 60 metro stations and 150 trains available to residents and visitors. In addition, there are approximately 15000 buses on the streets of São Paulo and, since February 28, São Paulo City Hall added 151 new bus lines to work at night, from midnight to 4 a.m.

Sé metro station. Photo: José Cordeiro/SPTuris.

Take the opportunity to ride a bike

Rent a bike! Live the best moments of São Paulo on two wheels and don’t pay – or pay very little – to do it! There are several bike rental places in the capital. In most of them, the first hour is for free and the extra hour varies from R$2 to R$5, on average. Discover the city on a bike is not exclusiveness of European cities. São Paulo has invested a lot in urban mobility to promote a harmonious relationship with public space.

Bike lane in downtown. Photo: José Cordeiro/SPTuris.

Not sure where to stay? Look for a hostel!

Hotels and inns are usually more expensive due to the services they provide. However, if you intend to spend little, a hostel is the best choice. Besides being a cheap option, shared rooms allow people to meet other travelers and have new experiences. According to data of the São Paulo City Tourism Observatory, there are 70 hostels with 2200 beds available in the capital. To check the list, go to here and/or here. There is also Bed & Breakfast (B&B) option, which is growing in the city. There are more than 1500 registered rooms in São Paulo. Check out some of them on.

Enjoy free attractions

Many tourist attractions have free access every day or on certain days of the week. For example, MASP has free entrance on on Tuesdays; Museu do Futebol (Football Museum) has free entrance on Saturdays; exhibitions at Museu da Imagem e do Som (MIS – Museum of Image and Sound), on Tuesdays.

Soccer Museum. Photo: José Cordeiro/SPTuris.

São Paulo has also several green areas!

São Paulo has many options for outdoor tours. There are countless parks with multisports courts, playgrounds, bike lanes, gym equipment, reading rooms and relaxation spaces. Some of the options are Ibirapuera Park, Parque do Carmo, Praça Pôr do Sol, Villa Lobos Park and Horto Florestal.

Ibirapuera Park. Photo: José Cordeiro/SPTuris.

Be sure to take a cheap cultural tour!

Watching plays is expensive, right? Wrong! The city offers options for everybody! Livraria Cultura Theater in Conjunto Nacional, for example, offers plays with tickets ranging from R$40 to R$60. Another option with cheap tickets is the plays in Sesc-SP unities.

When you get hungry…

There are many bars and restaurants, some of them with options for low-priced meals. Gastronomic fairs and food trucks are also good options.

Check out.

Brazilian mortadela sandwich sold at Mercadão. Photo: José Cordeiro/ SPTuris.

You can’t say goodbye to the city without taking a souvenir, right?

Take the opportunity to get to know some of the famous São Paulo streets by its popular commerce, like 25 de Março and Ladeira Porto Geral streets, Brás and Bom Retiro neighborhoods, José Paulino Street, and others. Moreover, there are galleries on Paulista Avenue and street fairs in the town, such as the ones at Benedito Calixto Square and Liberdade Square, and also the outlets.