Sao Paulo

Where to stay

Most hostels cluster in Vila Madalena and Pinheiros, two adjacent neighborhoods on the west side where the restaurants, bars, and street art are concentrated. Vila Madalena has its own stop on Metrô Line 2 (Green), which connects directly to Avenida Paulista and the rest of the system, so you are not dependent on ride-shares to get around.

Getting around

• Get a Bilhete Único card at any metro station on arrival. It covers both metro and bus rides and cuts the per-trip cost significantly compared to paying cash each time.
• Eat your main meal at lunch. A prato feito (PF) at a neighborhood spot in Pinheiros or Bela Vista runs cheaply and comes with rice, beans, protein, and salad. The same restaurant charges more at dinner for a smaller plate.
• Beco do Batman, the street art alleyway in Vila Madalena, is free and genuinely worth seeing, but go on a weekday morning. Weekend afternoons bring crowds thick enough that you spend more time dodging selfie sticks than looking at the murals.

When to go

Hostels fill fast and rates jump during Carnival (February or early March, depending on the year) and around New Year's Eve. April through June and August through October offer the most availability and the steadiest prices.