Top 10 Things to Do in Sao Paulo on a Backpacker’s Budget
Among Brazilians, São Paulo has a reputation as a city for wealthy elite, but this image isn’t entirely accurate. Bursting with lusty locals, countless museums, street vendors and hip hangouts, Sao Paulo has plenty to offer backpackers in search of an urban paradise. OTP keeps you rolling finance-worry free while you’re down south with our list of Top 10 Things to Do in Sao Paulo.
Play in Ibirapuera Park
Photo By: Dax Faulstich Diniz Reis
The Sao Paulan equivalent of Central Park, Ibirapuera Park is a sexy oasis of lush greenery in a city crammed with cold, hard concrete. Hang with the locals and do some long-boarding past one of the many museums surrounding the park. Picnicking is fun and almost free — except for the small cost of a five-liter jug of Sangue de Boi. Check out sultry traditional music at the free open-air concerts on Saturdays and Sundays.
Eat Like a Paulistano
Photo By Amit Gupta
Like in most Latin countries, lunch in São Paulo is the most important meal of the day. As such, most restaurants offer lunch specials at highly discounted rates. To get the most out of your backpacking dollar (or Brazillian Real in this case), try one of the per-kilo restaurants (pay per kilo you consume) and be sure to chow down at a place crowded with workers on their lunch breaks.
OTP Tip: Half a kilo is usually enough for one person.
Should the thought of consuming half a kilo of food make you queasy, try a mortadella sandwich at the Hocca Bar at Mercado Municipal, or a cup of freshly squeezed juice (or buy a quarter kilo, you sissy).
Drink Brazilian Booze
Photo By: Paulo Pampolin
Paulistanos work and play hard, so there’s no shortage of bars. Grab an ice-cold glass of chope, Brazil’s draught lager, or try a caipirinha, made with lime-juice, sugar, and a dangerous dose of cachaça, sugarcane rum. OTP recommends the outdoor-only Bar da Dida, or, in case of rain, head over to the Flyer Bar for cheap drinks. Bohemian globetrotters might enjoy Mercearia Sao Pedro, an open-air bar which sells counterculture literature and VHS tapes (for that VCR you packed in your backpack upon departure) alongside their booze.
Party with Paulistanos
If you hit up a club in São Paulo before midnight, you will probably be the only one on the dance floor. The trick is to take an afternoon nap, eat a late dinner, hit the town around 1 or 2AM and not expect to come back before the sun rises. Most nightclubs charge a cover fee, usually around $20 R ($11.75 USD).You can keep costs to a minimum by scoping out places with no covers, such as Bar Secreto, an underground joint that boasts a constant line-up of well-known DJs. At Casa 92, which resembles a house party more than a club, there’s also a nice backyard so you can dry off from all the sweaty, clothed-sexin you will be doing inside.
Do Some Market Research
Photo By: Luiz Casimiro
After a night out filled with stale beer air, get fresh at one of São Paulo eclectic markets. The largest is Mercado Municipal, where you can find all kinds of fruit, vegetables, meat and exotic (to you) cuisine. It’s also a great place to grab a cafezinho (shot of espresso) and do some energized people-watching. Another market you shouldn’t miss is the Feira da Liberdade, located in the Japanese Quarter, where you can buy (or just look at, depending on your broke factor) Asian fast-food, jewelry, plants and knickknacks from one of hundreds of stalls.
Mosey Over to Some Museums
Photo By: Fernando Stankuns
They’re a bit pricier (aka not free), but as the cultural center of Brazil, São Paulo has some kickass museums. The São Paulo Museum of Art — one of the finest art museums in the Southern Hemisphere — is free for the public on Tuesdays. Brazilians live and die for football, (soccer), so it’s no wonder they would construct a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to the revered sport. Well-executed special effects like moving holographic images and simulated lightning make you feel like you’re at a real soccer match. This one’s free on Thursdays, so plan accordingly.
Go to a Soccer Game
Photo By: Gilberto Abelha Lisboa
If a real deal soccer match is what you’re after, well you can’t really afford it. A great alternative is checking out a Corinthians game. It’s not the glossy and glittery experience of a São Paulo FC game, but the team is widely supported by residents of the favelas (slums) and tickets and beer are cheap. The atmosphere is borderline chaotic but with enough booze flowing, you’ll be singing, yelling, and bear-hugging the guy next to you in no time.
Volunteer at a Favela
Photo Property of "Children at Risk"
When your body is angry at you for beating it up with partying and you feel like doing something productive, sign up to volunteer at a favela, even if it’s just for one day. Not only will you get to immerse yourself in the local culture, you’ll also contribute to a noble cause and improve the reputation of tourists in Brazil. Check out the American Society of São Paul for more information.
Scope out Some Graffiti Art
Photo Property of "Choque|Photos"
Ready for some unframed art? Pixacao is a form of graffiti art native to São Paulo, created to give a voice to marginalized populations living in extreme poverty. This shit is real. Many pixadores have fallen to their deaths attempting to create artwork on the sides of tall buildings. Stop by Beco do Batman, an alleyway in the Vila Madalena neighborhood that has become an unofficial gallery of street graffiti.
Minhoçao
Photo By: Iriz Medeiros
Every Sunday, the Minhoçao (an artery of the freeway that’s almost always clogged with traffic and pollution) is closed to motorized transportation and open solely for recreational activity. Instead of bumper-to-bumper traffic, you’ll see bicyclists, families strolling, and kids playing soccer. Minhoçao becomes a great place to practice some skateboarding tricks, spot political protests, catch a fashion show or the filming of a movie.
OTP Tip: The crazies (the guys who’ll steal your wallet for crack) come out after dark. Watch yourself.
Even in one of the world’s largest cities, there’s plenty to do on your tiny backpacker budget. Get your drink on, soak up some art and sport and remember (like you need a reminder) to stare blatantly at the incredibly gorgeous locals.
A sassy, spunky, and spontaneous globetrottress taking the world, one passport stamp at a time.
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