The Basics

This is a quick guide to key travel information. For all the fun stuff, please check our Brazil guide, where we've curated all our favorite activities, restaurants, shopping, and more in-depth tips .

TO ARRIVE

All international flights and a limited number of local flights.
Direct flights are available from most major hubs in Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Guests travelling from Asia or Australia will need to connect, typically through a European or Middle Eastern hub.
Located in the Greater São Paulo area, and about 60-90mins from town, depending on traffic.
Local flights. Most convenient option for travelling within Brazil - it has hourly flights to Rio de Janeiro.
Located inside the city and a 15-35min drive from our recommended neighborhoods.

- Uber
- 99Taxi, a local app with both taxis and private cars.
- Rhino, for bulletproof cars (São Paulo only).
Bus, metro, and train are available and cheap, but do not connect all of the city’s neighborhoods, and you may have a 20 to 30 minute walk to reach your final destination.
Also available throughout. Licensed taxis have a red and white license plate.
They must follow the meter and must accept cards – only exception is if you order via 99Taxi and choose a fixed fare or cash option on the app.
Largest rental agencies are Localiza, Movida, and Unidas.
We can help arrange for a private car with an English-speaking driver - please notify us in advance.

TRANSPORT

PARTICULARITIES

Though violent crime is mostly reserved to favelas (slums), you should be mindful of petty theft. Standard safety advice applies: don't walk and text, ke
We recommend using a fanny pack, such as this one, particularly in crowds (sports games, public transport, etc.)
VISA and MASTERCARD are widely accepted, even by street vendors. Many places do not take AMEX.

Cash is rarely needed but you can carry small notes in Brazilian Reais (BRL). Avoid carrying large sums and get cash at the airport or hotel. Avoid street ATMs.
It's common to ask for PIX for small transactions - this is a type of local bank transfer you will not have access to. In the unlikely event there are no other payment options, contact us.