- About Sao Paulo
- Arriving Sao Paulo
- Vistor Information
- Sao Paulo City Layout
- Getting Around Sao Paulo
- Fast Facts: Sao Paulo

American Express You will find offices at Hotel Sheraton Mofarrej, Alameda Santos 1437, Cerqueira Cesar (Tel: 011/251-3383), Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 5:30pm; and at Guarulhos International Airport (Tel: 011/6412-3515), daily from 6:30am to 10pm.

Area Codes The area code for Sao Paulo is 011.

Banks/Currency Exchange Most banks are located along the Avenida Paulista. Banco do Brasil, Av. Paulista 2163, Centro (Tel: 011/3066-9322); Rua Sao Joao 32, Centro (Tel: 011/3234-1646); and Guarulhos International Air­ port , open daily from 6am to 10pm (,C~C 011/6445-2223). Bank Boston , Av. Paulista 800, Centro (Tel: 011/289-3574), open Monday through Friday from 11am to 3pm. Citibank, Av. Paulista 1111, Centro (Tel: 011/5576-1000), open Monday through Friday from 11am to 3pm .

Car Rentals The following car-rental companies operate in the city of Sao Paulo: Avis, Aeroporto de Congonhas (Tel: 0800/118-066 or 011/3253-2088); Budget, Rua da Consola4ao 328, Centro (Tel: 0800/142-499 or 011/3256­ 4355); Hertz, Rua da Consolaqao 307 (Tel: 0800/701-7300); Localiza, Rua da Consola4ao 419 (Tel: 0800/992-000 or 011/3231-3055); and Unidas, Rua da Consola4ao 355 (Tel: 0800/121-121 or 011/3256-2233). Rates start at R$100 (US$33) per day for a small (very small: Fiat Palio, Ford Ka, or Clio) car with air-conditioning. Insurance adds another R$30 (US$9.90) per day.

Consulates Australia , Al. Min. Rocha Azevedo 456 (Tel: 011/3082-7242); Canada , Av. das Na4oes Unidas 12901 (Tel: 011/5509-4321); United States, Rua Padre Joao Manoel 933, Cerqueira Cesar (Tel: 011/3081-6511); Great Britain , Rua Ferreira de Araujo 741 (Tel: 011/3094-2700); New Zealand, Alameda Campinas 579, 15th floor (Tel: 011/288-0307).

Dentist Dental office: Dr. Marcelo Erlich, open 24 hours, English spoken, Rua Sergipe 401, suite 403 , Higien6polis (Tel: 011/3214-1332 or 011/9935-8666).

Electricity Generally Sao Paulo 's voltage is 110; some hotels have plugs for both 110 and 220 volts.

Emergencies Police (Tel: 190; Fire Brigade and Ambulance Tel: 193).

Hospitals Emergency rooms can be found at Albert Einstein Hospital, Av. Albert Einstein 627, Morumbi (Tel: 011/3747-1233); and Hospital das Clini­ cas, 255 Av. Doutor Eneias de Carvalho Aguiar s/n (Tel: 011/3069-6000). Ask your hotel for a referral to the nearest clinic.

Internet Access In Pinheiros: FNAC Centro Cultural, Avenida Pedroso de Moraes 858 (Tel: 011/3976-0022), open daily 10am to 10pm R$12 (US$3.95)/ hour. On Av. Paulista: Sebo Paulista, Av. Paulista 1919 (Tel: 011/3285-2443), open daily t0am to 10pm , R$9 (US$2.95)/hour. Near Pra~a Republica: Speedy 4.0, Rua 24 de Maio 77 (2nd floor of mall) (Tel: 011/3361-3533), open Monday through Friday 8:30am to 8pm , Saturday 8:30am to 2pm , R$3 (US$1)/hour. In Higienopolis: E-Office Work Park , Rua General Jardim 715 (Tel: 011/3257-0446), open Monday though Friday 9am to 10pm , Sat­ urday 9am to 6pm , R$4 (US$1.30)/hour.

Laundry & Dry Cleaning A laundromat is called a lavanderia. For dry cleaning ask for a seco. Quality Cleaners does dry cleaning and laundry, Rua Jose Maria Lisboa 879, Jardim Paulista (Tel: 011//3885-9772). Bright Laundrettes has a 2-hour express service or an overnight service, Alameda Joaquim Eugenio Lima 1696, Cerqueira Cesar (Tel: 011/3887-0973).

Mail Look for the yellow-and-blue sign saying correios to locate a post office. Downtown: Rua Libero Badero 595, Centro (Tel: 011/3838-7009), and Rua Haddock Lobo 566, Cerqueira Cesar (Tel: 011/3838-8632). The branch at the international airport of Guarulhos is open 24 hours.

Newspapers Your best bet for international papers are the newsstands around the Pra4a da Republica and the FNAC Centro Cultural.

Pharmacies Pharmacies can be found everywhere; they are called farma­ cia or drogaria in Portuguese. The following are open 24 hours a day: Drogaria Sao Paulo, Rua Augusta 2699, Cerqueira Cesar (Tel: 011/251­ 0061); Drogasil, Rua Brigadeiro Faria Lima 2726, Jardim Europa (Tel: 011/ 3812-6276); and Droga Raia, Av. Sao Luis 35, Centro (Tel: 011/3259-331). If you need something, most pharmacies will deliver 24 hours a day, usually for a very small surcharge (R$4-R$10/US$1.30-US$3.30); contact your hotel's front desk to place an order at the nearest one.

Police Emergency number Tel: 190. Tourist Police, Av. Sao Luis 92 (1 block from Pra~a da Republica), Centro (Tel: 011/3214-0209), and Rua Sao Bento 380, fifth floor, Centro (Tel: 011/3107-5642).

Safety During the day the tourist areas are generally safe for walking; in the evening the safest neighborhoods are Jardins, Higienopolis, and the residential areas of the city. The main areas to avoid at night are the quiet side streets of Centro, particularly the empty shopping streets around Praca da Se and Bixiga. The area around the Praca da Luz is definitely to be avoided after dark, unless you're looking to score some crack. At night, traveling by taxi is strongly recommended-don't rely on public trans­ portation. The U.S. State Department has reported incidences of armed robbery and widespread pickpocketing in Sao Paulo , though this has not been our experience. As in any large metropolitan area with great dis­ parities between rich and poor, it's wise to observe commonsense precau­ tions: Don't flash jewelry and large amounts of cash, and stick to well-lit and well-traveled thoroughfares.

Taxes The city of Sao Paulo charges a 5% accommodation tax, collected by the hotel operators. This amount will be added to your bill. There are no other taxes on retail items or goods.

Time Zone Sao Paulo is in the same time zone as Rio , 3 hours behind GMT.

Visa Renewal Your visa is valid for 90 days from the day of arrival. If you are staying longer than 90 days you need to extend your visa at the Poli­ cia Federal, Av. Prestes Maia 700, Centro (Tel: 011/223-7177, ext. 231); open Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm. The fee is R$63 (US$22), and you may need to show evidence of sufficient funds to cover the remain­ der of your stay as well as a return ticket.

Weather Sao Paulo 's summers, December through March, are hot and humid. Temperatures rise to the high 90s Fahrenheit (mid-30s Celsius). In the spring and fall, the temperatures stay between the high 70s and 90s (mid-20s to mid 30s Celsius). In the winter, June through August it, can cool off to a minimum of 59'F (15°C), but during the day temperatures can sometimes rise to the 70s or mid-80s Fahrenheit (20s°C). Those traveling to Sao Paulo between May and September should bring some cold weather clothes, the equivalent of what someone would wear in New York or Chicago in the fall. Most rain tends to fall in the summer (Dec-Feb); Janu­ ary is especially wet. When it rains heavily the city is prone to flooding, particularly the area around the Tiete River. If you have to catch a plane or a bus keep an eye on the weather and give yourself extra time.