Region

São Paulo

Spend 3–4 days; stay in São Paulo city, use day trips for the coast (Ilhabela, Santos) and interior (Campos do Jordão, Holambra).

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Key facts · Brazil

Best months: Apr–May, Oct–Nov
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Brazilian real (BRL, R$)
Language: Portuguese
Plugs: N · C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast)
Time zone: Brasília time UTC−3

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 9Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…

South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.
Southeast Brazil ↗Cards and Pix are accepted almost everywhere; carry a small amount of cash for buses and small stalls.
Southeast Brazil ↗Avoid driving at night outside cities; intercity buses are the safer option for overnight legs.

São Paulo state is Brazil’s economic engine; base yourself in São Paulo city for culture and nightlife, then take day trips to the Atlantic coast (Ilhabela, Santos) and the interior (Campos do Jordão, Holambra).

Where to sleep

5 places in this region

Sleep base

São PauloCity guide
Metropolitan hub, museums, nightlife
Best Apr–May, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Open São Paulo →

Day trip

IlhabelaCity guide
Rainforest‑bordered islands, jungle trails
Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Ilhabela →
SantosCity guide
Historic coffee port, beaches
Open Santos →
Campos do JordãoCity guide
Mountain resort, cool summer climate
Best Apr–Jun, Aug–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Campos do Jordão →
HolambraCity guide
Dutch heritage, flower festival
Best Sep–Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
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Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

3 nights: São Paulo city 3, day‑trip Ilhabela or Santos
4 nights: São Paulo city 2, day‑trip Ilhabela, Santos, Campos do Jordão, Holambra

Traffic in Greater São Paulo can add 30–60 min to road trips, especially rush hour.
Ferry to Ilhabela may be cancelled in strong storms (Dec‑Mar).

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Ilhabela	São Paulo	120 min	≈18:00≈6:00 PM	Ferry + bus, about 2 h total; check ferry schedule
Santos	São Paulo	90 min	≈19:00≈7:00 PM	Train (CPTM) or bus, ~1 h 30 min
Campos do Jordão	São Paulo	150 min	≈20:00≈8:00 PM	Bus or rent a car; mountain roads can be slow
Holambra	São Paulo	110 min	≈19:30≈7:30 PM	Bus via Jundiaí, then local shuttle

Bags between cities

Luggage forwarding between São Paulo city and coastal towns is available via private couriers; arrange at hotels or bus terminals.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
São Paulo	×	×	ok	go	go	ok	ok	ok	go	go	ok	×
Ilhabela	×	×	ok	go	go	go	×	ok	go	go	go	×
Campos do Jordão	×	×	ok	go	go	go	ok	go	go	ok	ok	×
Holambra	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	ok
Southeast Brazil (country-wide)	–	–	–	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	–	–

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
São Paulo city	cool	cool	ok	best	best	wet	hot	hot	storm	best	best	cool
Coastal area (Ilhabela, Santos)	warm	warm	warm	best	best	wet	hot	hot	storm	best	best	warm

best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, greyhot: short walking windowswet: daily rainstorm: typhoon or flood risk

São Paulo city: Summer (Dec‑Mar) hot and rainy; winter (Jun‑Sep) dry and mild
Coastal area (Ilhabela, Santos): Higher humidity; storms common Dec‑Mar

Temperatures in São Paulo city range 12‑28 °C (82 °F) average; peaks 33 °C (91 °F) in summer, lows 5 °C (41 °F) in winter.Temperatures in São Paulo city range 12‑82 °F (28 °C) average; peaks 91 °F (33 °C) in summer, lows 41 °F (5 °C) in winter.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)	São Paulo city centre	Airport bus (Airport Shuttle) or Metro Line 13 + Line 3	~45 min door‑to‑door	Buses run every 30 min; Metro runs 24 h on Line 3
Viracopos International Airport (VCP) – Campinas	São Paulo city centre	Bus (Viação Cometa) or train (CPTM Line 7)	~1 h 15 min	Bus is cheaper; train requires transfer at Luz station
Rio de Janeiro (GIG) or other Brazilian cities	São Paulo city	Domestic flight (≈1 h) or long‑distance bus (≈6 h)	~1 h flight, ~6 h bus	Flights are frequent; bus is cheaper but slower

São Paulo: what we know, and what is coming

5 of 5 places open

On this page

5 places with their role: where to sleep, what to do as a day trip
How to split 3 or 4 nights
4 day trips with door-to-door time
Seasons month by month, from the cities’ own tables
What to do with the big bag between beds

Coming as the guide grows

Regional passes and cards, with a buy / skip verdict
Regional food: what, where and when it works

Meanwhile

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Not yet checked

Where to sleep: 1 base
Day trips: 4, 1 h 30 to 2 h 30
Nights suggested: 3–4 nights
Ways in: 3 listed
Best months: Apr, May, Oct, Nov (all zones)

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Open São Paulo Up to Southeast Brazil

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialSão Paulo state – Wikidata
secondaryWikivoyage: São Paulo (state), revision 5229711 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ask about São Paulo

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