There are many things to do in Sao Paulo, both cultural and entraining. The gay pride festivities are huge attraction to both tourists and locals, and takes place every year. This event is home to the world's largest gay pride parade. In fact many parts out of Sao Paulo are very gay and lesbian friendly and therefore more conservative travelers may want to look elsewhere, otherwise tourists looking for a good time and party atmosphere are likely to find it n much of the city. Other attractions include the Sao Paulo aquarium, as well as the play center which is a large amusement park located within the city. Wet and wild Sao Paulo is a popular water park that is frequented by both residents and tourists especially during the hot summer months.

There is no one main shopping district in all of Sao Paulo rather think of Sao Paulo shopping as an experience to be spread across the entire city. Like other areas in Brazil there are an incredible deals to be found on locally produced items, especially locally made fashion. However Brazil has a very high import tax making imported electronics or imported wines incredibly expensive. Even though Sao Paulo is considered to be one of the most expensive cities in Latin America it is still quite inexpensive by European standards. The biggest concern a traveler should have is always making sure that they have local currency available as most all shops in Sao Paulo will only accept local currency, and credit cards are only acceptable in about 75% of the stores and restaurants.

In order to drive in Sao Paulo a temporary new drivers permit must be obtained. These are trivial to get, and if you have an international driver's license must still be obtained. Car parking is handled on an hourly basis throughout most of the city, and hefty fines are imposed for people who do not pay parking fees. Car hire in Sao Paulo is fairly simple and straightforward. Although many tourist attractions can be visited either on foot or using the public transportation system there are still some areas that are not quite linked up by public transit yet, therefore renting a car may be a necessity in order to get some destinations.

Sao Paulo restaurants have a lot to offer the hungry traveler, and can be found in a wide range of budget options. For the more budget minded tourist all-you-can-eat restaurants that charge by the weight of the plate are very popular among locals. Similarly small caf‚s and informal restaurants dot the city and offer tourists a fantastic authentic Brazilian meal without a hefty price tag. Sao Paulo is home to many hotel chains that are found internationally both in the upscale and budget market. Finding a Sao Paulo hotel depends mostly on your travel budget. International tourists will welcome the large number of hotel chains available including Renaissance, Holiday Inn, Hilton, and Marriott. Budget travelers may wish to consider renting motel rooms as they are usually quite cheap and rented by the hour.