Practical Guide

Telephones, Websites and Apps

CENTRAL 156

Central 156 is the telephone number with information about all City Hall services. It also provides touristic information with bilingual operators. It works daily, 24 hours per day.

EMERGENCIES

• Traffic (CET) – 156
• Police Fire Department – 193
• Post Office (lost and found) 0800 570 0100
• International Dialing Information – 0800 777 1515
• São Paulo City Hall Ombudsman – 0800 17 5717
• Police – 190
• Consumer Rights – 151
• Ambulance (SAMU) – 192
• Health Surveillance – 150

OTHER INFORMATION

• Accessibility – Many areas in the city are adapted to people with special needs. Learn more.

• Some local newspapers and magazines:

O Estado de São Paulo

Folha de São Paulo

Veja São Paulo

• How to acquire tickets for attractions, shows and events:

Ingresso.com – (+55 11) 4003 2330

Ingresso Fácil – (+55 11) 4003 2245

Ingresso Rápido – (+55 11) 4003 1212

Tickets For Fun – (+55 11) 4003 5588

Futebol Card – (+55 11) 2344 4210

APPS

Check here a list of free apps for smartphones e tablets that may make your stay at the metropolis easier:

Tripadvisor

It looks for hotels, restaurants and attractions in the user’s selected region, comparing prices.

Guia Mais Turismo

Through this device of geographic localization, museums, touristic and historic sights, lodging, food and stores are available.

Accessible Tourism

This app lists establishments of accommodation, food and cultural and touristic attractions for disabled people, with visual deficiencies, hearing imparity, physically disability and those with reduced mobility.

Restorando, Grubster

The apps help the user to find good restaurants and bars in the city.

Catraca Livre

It shows several cultural, leisure and well-being activities for free or at a low cost.

Infraero

It allows the user to consult times of arrival and departure of flights of 50 Brazilian airports.

99 Taxis, Easy Taxi

Apps that seek the nearest taxi stops, providing addresses and telephones to users.

Moovit

It shows routes, makes bus times available and informs the location of vehicles, delays and even overcrowdings.

Metrô, EMTU, CPTM

In all metropolitan transportation companies it is possible to learn the status of the subway and train lines live.

BikeSampa, CicloSampa

Through these apps, users of the bicycle renting system BikeSampa and CicloSampa may use its services besides consulting information and availability.

Google Tradutor

It facilitates the communication in 90 languages, including words or dictionary expressions.

UOL Cotações

Daily Currency convertor for dollar and currencies from 80 countries.

Free WiFi Finder

Find immediately free WiFi spots near your location. Updated daily, it also works offline.

Telephone Calls

Check out some instructions to make calls:

 Domestic: dial zero + number of the operator + city’s code before the telephone number.

International: dial zero + number of the operator + country’s code + city’s code before the telephone number.

This is valid for either calling from a landline or a mobile phone. In public pay phones, calling cards are sold in many commercial establishments.

São Paulo’s code is 11. In order to call from a landline to cities in the surroundings of São Paulo, which also have the same code 11, it is necessary to dial the operator’s number before.

Check out the codes of some of the Brazilian operators:

12 = Algar Telecom
14 = Oi
15 / 25 = Vivo / Telefônica
21 = Embratel / NET / Claro
31 = Oi
23 / 41 = TIM
43 = Sercomtel
77 = Nextel

Operating Times

Working hours are, usually, from Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm.

Banks provide services from 10am to 4pm and do not operate on weekends.

Malls operate from 10am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday and from 2pm to 8pm on Sundays and holidays.

Bars and restaurants have flexible times. Besides lunch and dinner, some stay open all night hours, even during weekdays.

Some places provide 24-hour public service, such as: hospitals, pharmacies and drugstores, veterinarians, dentists, newspaper stands, flower stores, supermarkets, coffee shops and cafes, and convenience stores. Ask around on the region that you are staying.

Time Zone

São Paulo follows Brasília’s time zone (UTC -3). The city has Daylight Saving Time between October and February, when the clocks are set in advance in 1 hour (UTC -2).

Did you know?

UTC stands for Universal Time Coordinated. It is a measurement of time based in atomic patterns and it tells about the reference time in other time zones in the world.

Holidays

Learn which are the National, state and municipal holidays to program your traveling schedule ahead of time:

January 1^st – New Year’s Day

January 25^th  – Anniversary of the City of SP

Carnival (rotating holiday)

Good Friday (rotating holiday)

Easter (rotating holiday)

April 21^st  – Tiradentes

May 1^st  – Labor Day

Corpus Christi (rotating holiday)

July 9^th – Constitutional Battle of 1932

September 7^th – Independence Day

October 12^th  – Our Lady of Aparecida

November 2^nd  – All Souls Day

November 15^th  – Proclamation of the Republic

20^th of November – Black Consciousness Day

December 25^th – Christmas

See also:

Check our Event Calendar to enjoy even more your stay around São Paulo!

Electricity

Tomada e adaptadores padrão abnt brasileiro.

The official voltage of the city is 110 volts and 60 Hz. However, on the main hotels of the city, there are also 220 volts power sockets, properly labeled.

You can find adaptors in supermarkets, office material stores or construction stores.

Traveling with Animals

Just like any other visitor in São Paulo, your pet is very welcome!

For these illustrious ‘tourists’, the capital offers several options of rides, food and even exclusive accommodation. As you make your reservation, don’t forget to mention that you will bring your pet, because not all places accept animals.

The most receptive transportation means to animals are cars and airplanes. In order to bring dogs and cats, there are rules imposed by the airline companies. It is advised that you inform yourself ahead of time about norms and regulations related to dimensions and kinds of transportation cases, sanitary permits and vaccination proof.

Learn More:

Consult Infraero or the hired company about the policy regarding traveling with animals.

Reminder:

It is forbidden the commercialization and the transportation of wild animals in National grounds for abroad. Brazilian legislation predicts jail sentences to the ones involved in such activities.

Smoking

In the city of São Paulo it is only permitted to smoke inside homes or collective open areas; however, several bars and restaurants have outdoor areas so that smokers can be more comfortable.

At the moment of reservation, ask the hotel if there is any recommended place for smokers. We reinforce that it is forbidden to smoke inside taxis and buses, besides indoor public places.

Be aware!

Get to know the legislation related.

Safety

São Paulo has Police Stations specialized in Tourism Services:

• Divisão Policial de Portos, Aeroportos, Atendimento ao Turista e Proteção a Dignitários: Rua São Bento, 380 – 5th floor – Downtown – Phone: (+55 11) 3107 5642 or (+55 11) 3107 8332.

• 1º Delegacia Especializada de Polícia de Atendimento ao Turista/DEATUR: Rua da Cantareira, 390 – Downtown – Phone: (+55 11) 3120 4417.

• Other DEATUR stations:

– Parque Anhembi – Pavilhão de Exposições do Anhembi: (+55 11) 2226 0664.

– Congonhas Airport: (+55 11) 5090 9032.

– Guarulhos Airport: (+55 11) 2445 2686.

• 2° Delegacia de Polícia do Aeroporto de São Paulo/Congonhas

Avenida Washington Luis, s/nº – Phone: (+55 11) 5090 9032, (+55 11) 5090 9043 or (+55 11) 5090 9041.

• 3º Delegacia de Polícia do Aeroporto Internacional de São Paulo-Cumbica

Rua Dr. João Jamil Zarift, s/nº – Cumbica/Guarulhos – Phone: (+55 11) 2611 2686.

• 4º Delegacia de Polícia Internacional de Viracopos/Campinas

Phone: (+55 19) 3225 9854, (+55 19) 3225 5426 or (+55 19) 3725 5412.

As in every big city, it is necessary to take a few precautions to ensure your safety. Check some tips:

At the Airport

• As soon as you land, make sure that your luggage is sealed exactly as it was on boarding.

• In order to request information or help, seek for a police officer or an employee of the traveling company.

• Do not be careless with your belongings at any time. Be careful with strangers that approach you with questions; this actions may be a distraction. Talk without taking your eyes off your luggage.

• Do not open your luggage in public, mainly if inside there are electronic devices and money, and do not handle large amounts of money in public.

• Do not accept any kind of package in request of unknown people.

• As you use taxi services or rental cars, seek professional and registered companies. As you enter the vehicle, request that your belongings are put on the trunk. In case the driver says no, seek another taxi.

• As you use the mobile phone inside the taxi, make it in a way that the device is not close to the window.

At the Hotel

• As you check-in or check-out, look to leave your luggage with an employee or put it in between you and the reception counter.

• When you want to leave, ask for information for the hotel employees. They will help with information about certified transportation and good suggestions of rides and restaurants, well located and safe. Also, check the local reception.

• Use the safe at your disposal in your room and avoid talking about important matters near strange people, mainly about money.

At Bars and Restaurants

• Prefer places recommended by people you know of by hotel professionals where you are staying. Get informed about the best route, the best time for a meal, what kind of service that the restaurant offers; and also consult the local reception.

• Avoid leaving objects of value over the table, like wallets and mobile phones, especially if you are temporarily absent.

At Public Locations

• Use video cameras, photographic cameras and jewelry in a discreet manner.

• When going to an ATM, try to do it during the day and inside banks and commercial establishments. If you need to exchange your currency, look for a licensed exchange office.

In Case of Documentation Lost

If you lose your documents, look for the nearest Deatur (Tourism Police Station) or a regular police station. Make a police report, listing the objects lost or stolen. Foreigners must seek consulate services of their countries in order to obtain a new passport. If losing paychecks, travellers checks and credit cards, tell immediately the administrator.

Weights and Measurements

Check some of the main measurements used in Brazil and all over the world and its equivalencies:

Traveling Insurance

Now that you have carefully planned your trip, it is time to take precautions so that any shortcomings may not outshine your stay.

Whatever may be the reasons for your trip, traveling insurance may be useful in case of troubles with transportation, luggage, loss of documents and problems with flights and accommodations.

There are also insurances that cover any medical expenses you may have in your trip. The prices vary according to the plan, profile and risks associated to the trip.

In order to make it easier, some tourism operator and receptive agencies already comprise insurance within their plans; however, there are also other options with companies specialized in this kind of insurance plan.

In fact, some credit cards offer assistance services in your trip. Get informed about the difference between your insurance and the assistance provided and check also its details.

Have a nice trip!

Postal Service

The Post Office delivers National and International packages; the prices charges are according to the package and its final destination.

For more information, consult here.

Tip:

Would you like to surprise someone the old-fashioned way? Send a nice postal card of the city of São Paulo to those you care about. Learn more at Correios!

Health and Well-being

São Paulo is also on the vanguard of the services for those who seek weel-being, health or more quality of life.

The city is an international reference in important areas of Medicine that range from the treatment of heart conditions to plastic surgeries; besides having the latest generation equipment, modern Hospital Complexes and professionals worldly renowned.

Is it to have a check-up, treatment or to improve your self-esteem; each time more people come to the capital paulista to have their health at full strength and look better.

Have you noticed? Besides being an amazing metropolis, São Paulo does you good!

See also:

Any person in an urgent and emergency situation in Brazilian territory has the right to free services at the units of Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). The SAMU (ambulance service) operates 24 hours per day on the phone 192 (call free of charge). To find the reference hospitals in the city, access here.