Sessão


tourist information

  • Currency and Exchange:

    The currency in Brazil is Real .It is recommended that the exchange be made either in banks or specialized stores. There are several banks at Guarulhos International Airport, where the tourists can exchange their money.

  • Transportation:

    For a short trip within the city, a tourist should take a taxi or the subway. Taxi fare from Guarulhos International Airport to downtown ranges around US$30.00.

  • Business Hours:

    Regular business hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., even though some companies follow differentiated schedules, working from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., or around those hours. However, banks are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Shopping Malls open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday through Saturday, and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

  • Shopping:

    São Paulo has approximately 30 shopping malls around town, where people can find a huge selection of domestic and imported goods, including famous foreign brand names. In such centers there are post offices and shops for general services, in addition to taxi stands at the doors.

  • Stores and Restaurants:

    Most stores accept credit cards, however, few take traveler's checks (except hotels and some jewelry stores). Some exclusive shops (that deal with imported brand names) and fancy restaurants take dollars, but exchange differs and a tourist could be in disadvantage.

  • Tipping:

    Tipping is optional in restaurants or bars and ranges around 10% the total amount charged; tips are usually included in the check. Valet parking, porters, hairdressers and barbers are used to receiving tips, always at the client's option.

  • Health and Assurance:

    Not always medicine from foreign laboratories can be found in Brazil, therefore, a tourist should bring not only the medication he takes regularly, but also a medical prescription with general data on the medication, so that a similar product can be purchased, if that is necessary.

  • Climate:

    São Paulo's climate is rather variable and the 4 seasons of the year are not clearly determined. However, one must say that rainstorms are frequent in the summer (from January to March) and it does not rain much during the winter. Temperatures are high in the summer, sometimes over 35°C (95°F), whereas in wintertime, they may drop bellow 10°C (50°F).

  • Eletric Power:

    The city operates in 110 volts and 60 Hz.

  • Emergêncy:

    Military Police (phone: 190); Civilian Police (phone: 147); Fire Department (phone: 193).

  • Time Zone:

    Time in São Paulo is minus three hours related to Greenwich. The city is subjected to summer time from October to February, when the clocks are to be set one hour ahead.