797 From Venezuela, joined Aug 2005, 1821 posts, RR: 26 Posted (4 months 2 hours ago) and read 1071 times:
Dear a.netters,
I'm flying to Sao Paulo (GRU) in less than a week's time. I have a 14-hour layover and have no idea what to do.
I have many Brazilian friends who have warned me against walking around by myself. I'm from Caracas, so I know the drill.
I'd love to take a tour of the city and end the day eating 40 lbs of good Brazilian beef at a local Churrascaria. Perhaps some spotting would fit nice into my schedule as well.
Would any of you savvy travelers advise me a good tour operator, or perhaps a good self-do type of plan?
I'd appreciate your input!
Thanks a lot
Enrique
Flying isn't dangerous. Crashing is what's dangerous!
rwy04lga From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 2155 posts, RR: 7 Reply 1, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1041 times:
1) It's such a LONG drive into the city and cabs are expensive.
2) There isn't really ANYTHING to see or do.
3) The LONG, expensive, cab ride back to GRU.
4) Traffic is so horrendous you'd risk missing your flight if you didn't return early enough.
For so much time spent on the road and so little time spent in the city, why bother at all? While some might argue that there is, indeed, something to see in SP(I've heard there are good restaurants), IMHO the 'money spent/frustration stuck in traffic/risk of missing flight' isn't worth it.
You'd almost be better off flying to SDU, catching a short-ride cab to Copacabana Beach or Sugar Loaf for a few hours. Might you leave for CCS from SDU or GIG?
The early bird gets the worm, BUT...the second mouse gets the cheese!
TW From Germany, joined Jul 2011, 56 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 998 times:
The airport is really boring, so If you do have the money and the patience then you could go to SP, but I tend to agree with the previous post.
Taxi costs about 135 reais and takes between 40 minutes and 3h. You can also take a bus for 30 reais. If it rains don't bother going to SP, stay at the airport. I dont think SP is dangerous, especially in the Zona Sul so you could walk around there. I love SP for the restaurants, bars, clubs, but I don't think that there is a lot for you to do there. There a football museum in a stadium that's supposed to be nice, dont remember the name though.
DanVS From Brazil, joined Jul 2009, 221 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 914 times:
Hola Enrique,
14 hours is long enough to go to SP and back to the airport.
Traffic will depend mostly on the time you arrive. The worst traffic during the week are between 07:00 and 10:00 and from 17:00 and 20:00. Out of these times and on weekends, you can plan to get to/from GRU in 40-50 min.
You don't need to take the expensive taxis to/from the airport. Since you're alone, take the Airport Bus Service to the hotels in Paulista Avenue. They cost R$ 35 (US$ 17) each way and depart almost every hour (see link below).
Paulista avenue is the financial center of the city, and offers restaurants, malls and the Museum of Art of Sao Paulo (MASP). From there, you can go to Edificio Itália, in the old dowtown, from the top of which you'll have a nice view of many parts of the city.
There are many companies which sell guided city tours, such as this one (just an example, I never used it):
In these places, there's not only meat, but the price includes large buffets of salads and seafood. These churrascarias are not cheap, though. Expect to pay around US$50 (buffet + steaks).
When going back to the airport, leave 3-4 hours before your schedule departure time, and avoid rush hours if possible.
Crime: while Sao Paulo is definitely not a safe city, you'll probably have no problem to walk around alone near Av Paulista and the neighborhoods immediately south of it. Make sure you don't walk around showing off your Rolex nor your fancy camera. Sao Paulo is the most cosmopolitan city of Brazil, and you'll not feel like a tourist.
I suggest you to post your question in travel forums, such as TripAdvisor or Lonely Planet, where you'll probably get more answers.
OK, after reading the menus at those churrascarias you suggested, I'm ready to go myself! Which of those 3 would you MOST recommend? Having been to Porcao in Ipanema (and loving it), is there one in SP?
The early bird gets the worm, BUT...the second mouse gets the cheese!
RodRB From Brazil, joined Feb 2010, 119 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 months 3 weeks 5 days ago) and read 843 times:
Quoting rwy04lga (Reply 4): OK, after reading the menus at those churrascarias you suggested, I'm ready to go myself! Which of those 3 would you MOST recommend? Having been to Porcao in Ipanema (and loving it), is there one in SP?
Rubaiyat should be awesome. It belongs to the same owner that Cabaña Las Lilas in Buenos Aires, which has one of the best beefs I have ever eaten!!
Fogo de Chão is very similar to Porcão and it's also expensive.
DanVS From Brazil, joined Jul 2009, 221 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 months 3 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 834 times:
Quoting rwy04lga (Reply 4): Which of those 3 would you MOST recommend?
The ones that I indicated are famous for the food quality and ambience.
Personally I cannot recommend any, since I'm not a fan of steak. The last time I've been to a churrascaria was about 15 years ago...
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From Venezuela, joined Aug 2005, 1821 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 2155 posts, 
From Germany, joined Jul 2011, 56 posts, 
From Brazil, joined Jul 2009, 221 posts, 
OK, after reading the menus at those churrascarias you suggested, I'm ready to go myself! Which of those 3 would you MOST recommend? Having been to Porcao in Ipanema (and loving it), is there one in SP?
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