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A Guide to Carnival in São Paulo Brazil 2020

While Rio de Janeiro is better known for the Carnival in Brazil (known as Carnaval in Brazil), São Paulo has a lot to offer when it comes to carnival.

When is carnival in Brazil 2020?

The carnival festival takes place  every year between Friday before Ash Wednesday and Ash Wednesday. This year, those dates fall between the 21st of February and the 26th of February.

A carnival parade occurs for several nights in São Paulo in the Sambódromo do Anhembi. Tickets can be bought at the Sambadrome or at https://ingressosligasp.com.br/ (You need to register to buy tickets and the site has no English).

What are Carnival “Blocos”?

As well as the main event that happens in the Sambadrome, small street parades or “blocos” happen all over the city.

The Best Shopping Centers in São Paulo

Whether you’re looking for the latest fashion trends, distinctive Brazilian design or just an afternoon window shopping, São Paulo’s many shopping centers can satisfy any shopping cravings. While those in Rio de Janeiro have their beaches, Paulistas have shopping malls. The following is a round up of the city’s best shopping centers to prepare you for a shopping spree in São Paulo.

Shopping Iguatemi

Shopping Iguatemi was first opened in São Paulo in 1966 though it doesn’t look like it. A very fashion focused mall, it contains many international brands and several Brazilian ones.

Here, you can shop or browse the high end brands as well as a few more affordable ones such as Zara and C&A’s flagship store. There is a good food court and a cinema for when you need to rest your feet.

Shopping Pátio Higienópolis

A very pleasant shopping center with a variety of shops, with a lovely outdoor patio. The center stands out as a pet-friendly place to shop. Located in a well off neighbourhood, it has a variety of mid-range shops, a cinema and a food court among its offering. Well located and easy to get to, this mall is a very popular place to shop for locals.

Shopping Cidade Jardim

One of the newer shopping centers to be built in São Paulo, Shopping Cidade Jardim is about one of the fanciest malls in São Paulo. A luxurious shopping center in an affluent neighbourhood, here you can find the designer brands like Hermes, Dior, Louis Vuitton as well as some more accessible brands like Zara, Hering and Japanese variety store Daiso.

A combination of green open space and natural light, this open air shopping center with balconies of beautiful exuberant vegetation helps bring the outdoors inside and makes for a very nice place to shop the luxury brands.

There is also a food hall, a cinema, an excellent gym and restaurants on the top floor with some great views of the city.

Morumbi Shopping

Located to the south of the city center, Morumbi Shopping is a highlight of this affluent neighbourhood. Morumbi Shopping has something for everyone with over 480 stores. It has a large selection of international retail brands like Sephora, Coach, Zara, Intimissimi and Tommy Hilfiger as well as Brazilian ones like Animale, Bobstore, Renner, Colcci and Hering. There is a good selection of casual dining and more cosy restaurants. The shopping center is easy to get to on the metro line making it an even more popular option with making it an even more popular option with locals. Check out the new Kitkat store.

Also, if you haven’t had enough of shopping, hop on over to Market Place just across the road from Morumbi Shopping  for a smaller retail center with its own shops and naturally lit food court that gives it its own charm.

Shopping Cidade São Paulo

Shopping Cidade São Paulo is conveniently located halfway down Avenida Paulista right in front of Trianon-Masp metro station. This mall opened in 2015, has a good variety of stores, a cinema and a good food court on the top floor popular amongst those working nearby, especially at lunch time.

JK Iguatemi

If luxury is right up your alley, hop on over to JK Iguatemi in the wealthy Vila Olímpia/Itaim Bibi neighbourhood. It may not be the largest shopping center in this list but it boasts international luxury brands such as Chanel, Moncler, Prada and BVLGARI, brazilian ones such as Le Lis Blanc, Schutz and Animale, as well as a cinema and various dining options. Try the brigadeiro at Maria Brigadeiro, a popular Brazilian dessert popular all over Brazil.

Shopping Eldorado

Shopping Eldorado’s convenient location easily accessible by public transport as well as by car means it is always busy. Its size and variety of shops also makes it a popular option. Opened in 1981, it is a one stop shopping center with supermarket, restaurants, food court, laundrette, kids’ amusement center Kidzania, gym, cinema, spa and even a passport office as well as many other retail stores.

Galeria do Rock

For those looking for something a little different, Galeria do Rock has hundreds of small stores over seven floors selling rock and hip hop music and apparel. There are stores selling skateboarding gear, t-shirts and apparel, tattoos and piercings, vintage records and many other stores that appeal to a younger crowd.

And More…

Sometimes the best shopping mall is the one you can get to in a hurry. Shopping Villa Lobos in the well off neighbourhood of Altos de Pinheiros is a naturally lit center with upmarket stores, cinema and various dining options. Shopping Bourbon, located beside the Allianz Parque. Shopping Center 3 is very well located on Avenida Paulista and a popular lunch spot for people working nearby. Shopping Vila Olímpia is popular with the well off residents in the area.

If you are looking to renovate and decorate your home, head to Lar Center, a shopping center with over 100 stores specialised in home decor, furniture, appliances,lighting and construction materials.

The Best Beaches in São Paulo State

São Paulo is known as a concrete jungle and the financial hub of Brazil. The beaches along the coast of São Paulo state are less well known but just an hour’s drive to the coast from São Paulo lies some of the most stunning beaches. The most striking ones lie on the northern coast of São Paulo. Ubatuba, Ilhabela, Guarujá and São Sebastião has some of the nicest beaches that folks living in São Paulo city can enjoy on a weekend break.

With such a large coastline, there are many beaches to choose from and everyone’s got a favourite.

Ubatuba

Halfway between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Ubatuba is famous for its surfing and pristine beaches surrounded by mountains and untouched tropical forest.

Itamambuca Beach

white sandy beach surrounded by mountain
Flickr/Alexandre Mello

To the north of Ubatuba, Itamambuca beach is a location for national and international surfing competitions. You’ll sometimes find big waves and a younger crowd practicing their surfing. There’s also a shallower area where bathers can enjoy a view of the Atlantic Forest.

Praia do Cedro (Cedro Beach)

secluded beach with rocks surrounded by trees
Flickr/vcheregati

This small secluded beach is accessible only by a trail and surrounded by tropical forest feels like an oasis of tranquillity.

Praia do Félix (Felix Beach)

Felix Beach is a long beach of white sand. To the left is an area with strong waves loved by surfers. To the right, the waters are calmer for those who want to bathe. A really pleasant beach for a stroll or for a sit down at one of the kiosks serving food and drink.

Praia do Prumirim (Prumirim Beach)

A beautiful tranquil beach surrounded by nature. The water is deep near the shore for those who enjoy swimming but less suitable for kids. The waves can be strong and attracts surfers.

Ilhabela

Ilhabela (meaning beautiful island in portuguese) is the largest island along Brazil’s coast and has some of the most beautiful sandy beaches surrounded by wild tropical forest. One thing to note – if heading to Ilhabela – bring inspect repellent.

Praia do Bonete (Bonete Beach)

sandy beach with small waves surrounded by nature
Flickr/vcheregati

Access by boat or a 4-hour trail, Bonete is a beautiful secluded beach favoured by surfers and tourists. This remote secluded beach is surrounded by natural foliage.

Praia de Castelhanos (Castelhanos Beach)

On the eastern side of the island is Castelhanos beach accessible by a one hour rough terrain drive or by boat. This remote beach surrounded by untouched forest, white sandy beach and crystal clear water make  for a wonderful day trip.

São Sebastião

While some of the beaches further up the coast can be more secluded – frequented by those looking for their own piece of paradise of surfers chasing the perfect waves, the beaches closer to São Paulo have more people and can have more of a party mood.

Maresias

Maresias beach is probably the most famous beach in São Sebastião with 5km of sandy beach surrounded by nature. It is a favourite among surfers. This beach is more built up than some others on this list with a variety of restaurants and shops nearby. Maresias attracts a younger crowd who when the sun goes down, head to the nightclubs nearby.

Praia de Juquehy (Juquehy Beach)

Juquehy beach is one of the most beautiful in the area. The long stretch of sandy beach with its calm waves sees many families come for some rest and relaxation. The area has restaurants, bars and decent accommodation options nearby.

Guarujá

Guarujá is a little over an hour’s drive from São Paulo, it is a popular destination for families from São Paulo looking for a weekend break and can get quite busy.

Praia da Enseada (Enseada Beach)

crowded beach with people and beach umbrellas surrounded by high rise buildings
Flickr/ Luciano Nunes de Sousa

The Enseada beach is the longest beach in Guarujá with 7km of sandy beach to walk along. This is a great family beach. The wide stretch of beach allows for kiosks serving food and drink. In the evening, there are many good options of places to eat and drink nearby.