Under $100: São Paulo, West

With a population of 20 million in its metropolitan area, São Paulo is Brazil’s biggest city, as well as most diverse. $100 will get you just a bit more than 300 Brazilian reals. Here’s how to use it in a day.

Taxis tend to more expensive here compared to other larger cities, and visitors will most likely use the city’s rail network, composed of subways and surface trains. Single rides cost R$3.50 with no limit, and you can also purchase credits for smartcards, which will make things easier and slightly cheaper if you take the bus, as swiping the magnetic strip will get you three hours of bus rides.

A Painted Phonebooth on Avenida Paulista © Adauto De Araujo | Dreamstime

If you’re in town on a Sunday, Avenida Paulista is a definite stop on your itinerary. The street is a blend of historic buildings and modern architecture, splitting the city between the old Centro and the up-and-coming West. Avenida Paulista has two outdoor markets open on Sundays, one for antiques under the art museum, and a handicrafts market across the street. The area also has a plethora of restaurants that are perfect for lunch. For a quick bite, try Black Dog, the city’s famous hot dog franchise, where a meal will cost around R$10. If you want something heavier, there is a range of delicious street food vendors that charge you per kilo (think half a kilo per person).

The Sao Paulo Museum of Art © Casadphoto | Dreamstime

Once you’ve eaten your fill, walk it off with a visit to MASP, São Paulo’s famous art museum, considered to have one of Latin America’s best collection of European art, in addition to exhibits on Brazilian, African and Asian culture. Entrance is R$25, but there is free admission all day on Tuesday, and after 5 p.m. on Thursday. While MASP is impressive, São Paulo is also known for its street art, so try to take a stroll down Beco de Batman, located on Vila Madalena in the West Side. “Batman Alley” acts as a sort of testing ground for the city’s artists, a constantly morphing, open-air gallery where nearly every space is either filled, or has been painted over and will inevitably be filled again.

Beco de Batman Street Art on Vila Madalena © Nicolas de camaret | Flickr

You’ve no doubt heard of Fogo de Chão, the famous Brazilian steakhouse that has spread around the world, but now that you’re in São Paulo, you have a range of options for dinner at a churrascaria. Though it will run you R$100, Vento Haragano is well worth the price for an authentic Brazilian barbecue. The restaurant has a folk-style ambience, with Alexandre Reider landscapes decorating the walls and servers wearing gaucho attire.

A Sao Paulo Boteco, Brazilian Bar © Jairo | Flickr

São Paulo has a great nightlife, though it tends to start later than in the States. Before you’re in the thick of it, try one of the city’s Brazilian bars, called botecos. These are essentially bars stripped down to serving just beer, snacks and maybe caipirinhas if the bartender is feeling particularly daring. Astor is one of the city’s most well known, located in Vila Madalena, but if you want to try something more experimental, try SubAstor, located directly underneath. The place is headed by Italian mixologist Fabio la Pietra, who enjoys utilizing an eclectic palate of tastes including butter, capers and even saffron worth its weight in gold.