StudentUniverse.com

Founded in 1553 by José de Anchieta and Manoel da Nóbrega, Sao Paulo was little more than a village. It’s incredible how far this city has come in the last 500 years. In 1711 Sao Paulo became a city and now over 11 million call it home, with a total of 300 million residents throughout the suburbs. The main language spoken here is Portuguese, as it is in the rest of Brazil. This city is a major import/export hub and industry capital. In fact most of where the city’s money comes from is from these trades. Being the third largest city in South America it has a reputation to live up to. From its exotic culture to its beautiful scenery and luscious nature, Sao Paulo beckons college students from all over the globe to come and enjoy some time soaking up the culture and ambiance of this stimulating city.

Sao Paulo Pictures

Things to do in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is the art capital of Brazil. The countless pieces of art are a little intimidating yet they draw you in. The Museo de Arte Sacra & Jardim da Luz has the best collection of colonial art and artifacts. This is a nice place for college students looking for some culture to soak up. A labyrinthine baroque monastery built in the 1800s is an interesting sight. And there are many nature walks and great areas of the city that are especially nice to see on foot. Ibirapuera Park has 1.5 million square meters of land, and is a nice place for running, jogging and biking. Banespa Tower has an observation deck with a spectacular view of the city. As far as festivals are concerned, the Arts Biennial takes place every two years in the Biennial Pavillon, which is located in the Ibirapuera Park. There is a huge art show with showcases of new fresh talents, as well as masterpieces that have been carefully preserved. Carnival, which takes place between February and March, is a perfect time to come for spring break. Purchase tickets to the parade, and let studentuniverse.com help you with your cheap student plane tickets. Dancers dress up in gaudy costumes and musicians play local samba music atop colorful floats and decorated cars. It is quite a sight to see.

Nightlife in Sao Paulo

One thing that sets Sao Paulo apart from the rest of Brazil is that it is fairly accommodating with the gay nightlife scene. There is even a Gay Parade here, which is one of the main highlights of the year. Over 3 million people take part and it is the largest Gay Pride parade in the world. With that said, there are an abundance of Gay bars here. There are also plenty of straight bars and nightclubs. The nightlife here is electrifying. Alcohol is fairly cheap, which is good news to many college students looking to save a few dollars. There is always something going on or crazy to see and do. Cachaça (Brazilian rum), or a caipirinha (a signature drink made from Cachaça) are taken in shot glasses. Chopp is a popular beer and will only cost you $2 – $5. From the traditional salsa and meringue music to rock and hip hop, Sao Paulo has it all. You can mix it up or stick with just one club. Or maybe you want to spend a few nights trying out the different places around the city. Just be conscious because the clubs can get a bit expensive and most have entry fees. If you’re just looking to have fun without the extra expense, that’s possible too–there are so many options for nightlife that you can always find something you want to do. The bars and pubs are always bustling and some have special events and features, so keep you eye out for them.

Dining in Sao Paulo

When eating out in Sao Paulo, note that a 10% gratuity is usually added to your bill before you even pay. And additional tips are not necessary. If no tip is added, then a 10% tip may be appropriate, but no one goes over this amount. In Brazil it is considered bad luck and poor manners to rest your purse on the floor beside your chair. You may be offered a separate chair to put your purse on. Many tables in restaurants have hooks under them where you can hang your purse, so you should definitely look out for that. As far as restaurant choices go, this city has a very diverse selection. Mandioca is a type of chip covered in salt and is served before and during meals in many places. Tacacá is made up of shrimp, garlic, and chili pepper, and can also be called tacacazeira. Many other foods show resemblance of European influences, such as Italy and Portugal. Others areas of influence include Japan and the Middle East. Pizza and sushi are popular food items. You will be able to find lots of seafood and pastas too. Rice dishes with mangos and passion fruits are side dishes you may commonly see, and of course the local tropical fruits are amazing just on their own

Shopping in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo has everything from imported goods to local Brazilian items. The currency in Brazil is the Real (BRL). “Shoppings” is the term Brazilianz use for shopping malls, so you will hear it a lot. There are quite a few shoppings here with designer labels and goods. They can be expensive though due to the shipping costs. There are many local products that are just as nice and are actually native to the country so you can’t get them anywhere else. Students on budgets will appreciate the jewelry, clothing, accessories, and souvenirs here. Although Sao Paulo has the reputation of being the most expensive city in the area, it is still pretty affordable in terms of these goods, and compared to America and Europe it is not bad at all. Street vendors are open until around 6pm each day, however shopping centers may stay open as late as 10 pm.

Sao Paulo travel tips

• The official language in Sao Paulo is Portuguese.
• To make navigating the city a little bit easier, it’s nice to know a few key Portuguese terms before you go.
• The currency in Brazil is the Real (BRL).