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Talk about a city within a city! An estimated 17 million people live in `Greater Sao Paulo' (the city proper and its environs), making it the third largest metropolis on earth. It's home to more ethnic groups than any other part of the country, and contains Brazil 's biggest and best-educated middle class. Sampa - as the city's known to locals – is an intoxicating place, with art and entertainment on par with any world capital. Paulistanos (inhabitants of the city; inhabitants of Sao Paulo state are called paulistas) believe in working hard and playing harder, and despite constantly complaining about street violence, clogged highways and pollution, most wouldn't dream of living anywhere else.
Orientation
You can reach many places on the metro, Sao Paulo 's subway system, which is one of the best in the world.
The key downtown squares are Praca da Se, with the Se metro interchange station, and Pra4a da Reptiblica, with Republica metro station. In ethnic terms, the Liberdade area, just south of Praca da Se, is the Asian neighborhood. Bela Vista (also called Bixiga), to the southwest, is Italian. A large Arab community is based around Rua 25 de Marco, northeast of Praca da Se.
Avenida Paulista, running southeast to northwest a kilometer or two southwest of downtown and accessible by metro, is an avenue of skyscrapers.
GETTING INTO TOWN
A taxi from Aeroporto Congonhas to the center costs about US$17. For buses (one hour), walk out of the terminal and then to your right, where you'll see a busy street with a pedestrian overpass. Head to the overpass but don't cross; you should see a crowd of people waiting for the buses along the street, or ask for the bus to Terminal Bandeiras. The last bus departs at around lam.
From a stop just in front of the arrivals terminal at Aeroporto Guarulhos, buses run to Praca da Republica, Terminal Tiete bus station and Congonhas airport every 30 to 40 minutes (US$8). The same buses will also take you out to the airport from these places. A taxi from Aeroporto Guarulhos to the center costs about US$30.
Information EMERGENCY
Deatur (Tel: 0xxl 1-214-0209; Avenida Sao Luis 95; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri) A special police force just for tourists.
INTERNET ACCESS
Monkey Lan House (Tel: 0xx11-3253-8627; main office Alameda Santos 1217) Its Internet cafes all over the city are open 24 hours per day.
MEDICAL SERVICES
Einstein Hospital (Tel: 0xx11-3747-1233; Av Albert Einstein 627) One of the best hospitals in Latin America . It's in the southwestern corner of the city (catch bus No 7241 to Jardim Colombo from Rua Xavier de Toledo).
MONEY
Except on weekends, changing money is easy. Many travel agencies and exchange offices around the city offer good rates, but avoid the smaller ones downtown - some are illegal and will rip you off. Action Cambio (Shopping Light, Loja 130A;10am7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat) Citibank (Avenida Paulista 1111) These machines accept Visa cards.
Itau Bank (Rua Coriselheiro Crispiniano) Has ATMs and accepts MasterCard and Cirrus cards.
POST
Post office (Rua Libero Badard) The safest place to drop letters is at this main branch.
TELEPHONE
Cabinas (Rua 7 de Abril) Long-distance phone calls can be made from about 200m from Praca da Repriblica.
TOURIST OFFICES
Located at strategic points around the city, the Centrais de Informa4ao Turistica (CIT) booths are very helpful. One of the most helpful for non-Portuguese speakers is at Avenida Ipiranga (Tel: 0xx11-231-2922; Pra4a da Republica; 9am-6pm ). Other booths are on the ground floor of Shopping Light and near MASP (Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo ) on Avenida Paulista, as well as in Ibirapuera Park , Terminals 1 and 2 at the airport, and in the Tiete bus station.
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