48 HOURS in São Paulo

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Brazil is INCREDIBLE!

  • 🌆 Exploring South America’s Largest City
    The travelers spend 48 hours in São Paulo, a bustling city with 12 million residents. They acknowledge that two days isn’t enough to see it all but aim to cover key highlights.
  • 🥐 Local Snacks & Walking Tour
    They begin with a free walking tour, starting with a cheese-and-spinach pastry. The guide introduces fun facts, including Brazil’s imperial past, and explains that São Paulo is larger than many entire countries.
  • 🍞 The Oldest Bakery in Brazil
    At Santa Tereza Bakery (opened in 1872), they sample traditional treats like pão de queijo (cheese bread), chicken-filled pastries, and brigadeiros (a beloved condensed milk and chocolate sweet).
  • 💒 Historic Churches & Ground Zero
    Stops include a 16th-century church, the neo-gothic São Paulo Cathedral, and the symbolic “Ground Zero” marker of the city.
  • 🥪 The Famous Bauru Sandwich
    At Ponto Chic, they try the Bauru, a sandwich with pork, tomato, and four cheeses, created by Casimiro de Abreu and now protected as a national dish.
  • 🌳 Ibirapuera Park Adventures
    Day two begins at Ibirapuera Park, one of São Paulo’s main attractions. They rent a novelty bike-carriage, enjoying the lively atmosphere filled with joggers and families.
  • 🍜 Japanese Street Market
    In the Liberdade district, known for Japanese immigration, they try unusual street foods like a corn-and-cabbage tempura pancake. The market is crowded and hot but offers a unique cultural fusion.
  • 🏛️ Cooling Off in the Cathedral
    To escape the 36°C heat, they revisit the city’s cathedral, appreciating its architecture and history.
  • 🚶 Walking on the Elevated Highway
    For sunset, they join locals on an elevated highway closed to cars on weekends, transformed into a pedestrian-friendly open-air gallery with street art, games, and social gatherings.
  • 🥤 Ending with Guaraná
    The trip closes with tasting Guaraná Antarctica, Brazil’s iconic soda, before reflecting on hidden gems that could be discovered with more time in the city.

Insights Based on Numbers

  • 12 million residents – São Paulo equals half of Australia’s population, showing its immense scale.
  • 1872 – Opening year of Santa Tereza Bakery, a living piece of culinary history.
  • 38 reais – Price of the Bauru sandwich, considered expensive compared to typical Brazilian meals.
  • 36°C – Heat wave highlighting the challenge of sightseeing in São Paulo’s climate.
  • 1 hour, 40 reais – Cost of renting the novelty bike-carriage in Ibirapuera Park, more for fun than efficiency.

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