Sao Paulo

You’ve gotta work for it in Sao Paulo. The bustling Brazilian metropolis is an acquired taste. Upon arrival you’ll probably feel overwhelmed with the traffic, the stark inequality between the social classes, and the general lack of beauty in the city. But you will discover the beauty of this city, which is not in its architecture but in the people, the culture, and the lifestyle.

Sao Paulo has been enriched by immigration of many people from many cultures, and no aspect of the city has been so positively impacted as the cuisine. You could happily spend your whole time eating in Sao Paulo. From New Zealand-inspired coffee shops, to some of the best Japanese you’ll experience outside of Tokyo – there is anything your tastebuds could ever dream of.

Sao Paulo offers some of South America’s best art galleries and museums. Do not miss Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo, Museu Afro-Brasil, and Pinacoteca do Estado. If the city is overwhelming you and you need to be somewhere green, the Parque do Ibirapuera is the city’s biggest green space and is perfect for catching your breath. Alternatively there’s Brazil’s biggest zoo – Jardim Zoologico – which not only is home to over 3000 animal species, but includes vast tracts of old growth rainforest.