Sao Paulo

São Paulo

With an endless horizon of high-rise towers and sprawling concrete, São Paulo may lack Rio’s beauty but, as Brazil’s most important city, it has a vitality and drive that makes its prettier rival seem a little provincial.

São Paulo is also one of South America’s best places to eat, drink and shop, whether in the stylish restaurants and boutiques of the green Jardins area, the upscale shopping of central Avenida Paulista or the hip bars of bohemian Vila Madalena. Flights to São Paulo also take you to fusion food heaven: with the largest Japanese community outside Japan living in its Liberdade neighbourhood, São Paulo is equally at home serving fresh Atlantic sushi as it is grilling local beef at one of its countless churrascarias (barbecue restaurants). And despite the city’s reputation as the capital of concrete, there’s welcome respite in the huge, central park, Ibirapuera, and on the sweeping beaches within a day trip of the city.