When to go
São Paulo is south of the equator, so seasons flip. The mildest months are April through October — daytime highs 65–75°F, low humidity, almost no rain. Brazilian summer (December–February) is humid and frequently 90°F+. Carnaval (late February or early March) is fun in Rio but a non-event in São Paulo — the city empties out instead. Avoid if you wanted festival energy.
Getting there
LATAM, Delta, American, and United all fly JFK → GRU nonstop daily — about 10 hours southbound, 9 northbound. From EWR, United runs nonstops; everyone else connects. GRU airport is 25 km from central São Paulo (45 min by airport bus, 60–90 min by Uber depending on traffic, which is famously bad). Most international travelers connect at GRU on to Rio (GIG), Buenos Aires (EZE), or the Amazon (MAO).
Visa & entry
As of 2025 Brazil requires US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders to obtain an e-Visa before arrival — $80, done online at vfsglobal.com, takes 5 business days. EU and UK passports are visa-free. Six months’ passport validity required. The e-Visa is valid 10 years and multi-entry, so it’s worth the money if you’re visiting more than once.
Money
Brazilian Real (BRL) trades around 5.5 per USD. Pix (the instant-payment system) is dominant — locals rarely use cash even for street food. ATMs from Bradesco, Itaú, and Banco do Brasil work with foreign cards, though daily withdrawal limits are low (~R$1,000 per transaction). Carry small cash for taxis and feiras (markets). Uber works flawlessly and is cheaper than taxis.
What to see
São Paulo isn’t a "monuments" city — it’s a food, art, and nightlife city. Three days is enough: Avenida Paulista (Sunday morning, when it’s closed to cars), MASP (the floating art museum), Vila Madalena for street art and bars, Liberdade (the world’s largest Japanese diaspora neighborhood, great ramen), and one extraordinary churrascaria dinner. Day-trip to Paraty or the beach at Ubatuba if you want greenery. Then fly on to Rio or somewhere else — São Paulo is the start of the trip, not the whole trip.