Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo referred to as Sampa by locals and Brazilians 

City Overview

Sao Paulo is the capital of Brazil and has the largest economy in Latin America.

The metropolis of Sao Paulo is also home to several of the tallest skyscraper buildings in Brazil and the city has cultural, economic and political influence both nationally and internationally. It is home to monuments, parks and museums such as the Latin American Memorial, the Ibirapuera Park, Museum of Ipiranga, São Paulo Museum of Art.

The city holds events like the São Paulo Jazz Festival, São Paulo Art Biennial, the Brazilian Grand Prix, São Paulo Fashion Week and the ATP Brasil Open.

Sao Paulo is a cosmopolitan city with large Lebanese, Italian and Japanese population. Sao Paulo is also home to the largest Jewish population in Brazil, with about 75,000 Jews.

People from the city are known as paulistanos after the main Paulista Avenue which runs for almost 3 kilometres though the city.

The São Paulo gay pride parade in March is the largest gay pride parade in the world. The GLS scene (Brazilian slang for Gay, Lesbian & Sympathizers) has a more underground feeling in Sao Paulo. There are a few mega clubs with very muscular go-go boys, electro DJ's and after-hours parties are popular.

There are the gay sex clubs in Sao Paulo which are typically saunas frequented with local and several escort saunas (prostitution is legal in Brazil) with rent boys, tourists, businessmen and local Paulistanos to give the places a meet and mingle atmosphere for a steamy time. In the centre around the Jardim area there are cool cafes, elegant restaurants, swanky shops, cocktail lounges and the richer local gays whom hang out in this area.

Getting Around

Sao Paulo is a huge busy city that never sleeps. The city has an extensive transport network to move the large population of the city around. The bus and underground are the most popular public transport used by locals. The buses can get particularly busy during rush hour.

Airport Transfer

Sao Paulo has two main airports, Sao Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport ( GRU) for international flights and a national hub, and Congonhas-São Paulo Airport (CGH) for domestic and regional flights.

Sao Paulo Guarulhos International, also known as "Cumbica" is 25 kilometres  (16 miles) north east of the city centre in the neighbouring city of Guarulhos.

The Airport Bus Service is a bus service from the Government of São Paulo and runs to the centre. You can buy your ticket on exiting the airport outside and just wait for the next bus to arrive.  The journey time all depends on the traffic but typically takes about ninety minutes.

The cheapest option if you have time is to take the bus number 257 Tatuapé metro station and then take the metro to anywhere in São Paulo.

Taxi are available at Guarulhos airport outside the terminal where you tell them your destination address and they will confirm the fare which you prepay and they will give you a ticket and the taxi should arrive within a few minutes. Due to the weakness of the Brazilian currency taxis are much cheaper for foreigners than in the past.

Places to stay

Brazil is a relatively open-minded country and therefore there are a number of gay friendly bed and breakfasts, boutique hotels and guest houses where you will be welcome. All places to stay bookable on this site you are assured are gay friendly and you will be welcome.

There are places to stay which are sex hotels or motels and rented by the hour so not be confused with places to stay overnight.

Sightseeing

Many of Sao Paulo's tourist attractions are in different area of the city so you'll find the Metro a good way to travel between them.

The Sao Paulo Museum of Art, known locally as MASP opened in 1968 but has the most representative and comprehensive collection of western art in Latin America. You'll see works by Impressionists and modern masters - Renoir, Van Gogh, Matisse, Manet, Debret, Picasso, Miró, along with 73 works of bronze sculpture by Degas alone.

Ibirapuera Park was laid out by landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, with buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The immense green space with its monuments, museums, playgrounds, gardens, trails, lakes, and performance spaces is a leisure paradise for the people of Sao Paulo.

The Museu de Arte Contemporânea (Contemporary Art Museum) is inside Parque Ibirapuera. This museum was completed in 1957 and houses the excellent Museum of Contemporary Art with more than 8,000 pieces and Latin America's largest collections of 20th-century Western art.

Sé (Cathedral) is a neo-Gothic cathedral was built on the site of an earlier cathedral and took from 1913 to 1967 to complete. Its building was interrupted by two world wars. It was consecrated in 1954, on the 400th anniversary of the foundation of São Paulo.

Mosteiro de São Bento (Benedictine Monastery). This Benedictine monastery and its church were founded in the late 16th century, but the current church dates only from 1910-22. There is an active brotherhood of monks whom manage the monastery. Stop in the monastery shop to buy cakes, breads, and chocolates made by the brothers.

Paulista Avenue is the main avenue in centre of the Jardim area of the city and around this area the richer gay community hang out and live.

Bars, Clubs & Parties

The majority of bars, cafes and restaurants in Sao Paulo are in two different area of the city.

Around the Consolacao \ Rua Frei Caneca area you will find one are of the city popular with the gay community. Many people refer to this area as Gay Caneca. There is a very cruisy shopping centre selling lots of men’s clothing. Along Frei Caneca and the surrounding street are lots of bars, cafes and restaurant popular with the gay community living in this part of the city.

Nightlife in Frei Caneca is in the local bars which are gay or gay friendly for guys to hang out drink beer and cocktails inside the bars on outside on the terraces or open air standing on pavement.

The second area of the city is downtown Largo do Arouche / Centro. This area was the main gay area from many years back. Largo do Arouche is dirty, a bit dangerous, but never boring. This “gayborhood” flourishes as a home for bears, cubs, daddies, lesbians, twinks and transsexuals all together. The bars and clubs in Largo do Arouche are all about having a cheap good night out. Most of the party is actually in the middle of the street on Avenida de Carvalho in front of the most popular bars. Fun to see another side of the city’s gay community,

The Week is the biggest gay club in Sao Paulo. The Week brings you a club with go go boys, models, muscles and good music from great DJs. Open late until early hours of next day so go after 1 am. Address Rua Guaicurus 324.

Cafes & Restaurants

Sao Paulo due to cosmopolitan nature of the city has a lot of choice for places to eat and types of food. Brazilian BBQ is popular with meat eaters and just steak with rice and beans very popular with the locals.

Just search with your eyes when looking for somewhere to eat to see what other customers are being service and how cute the other customers or waiters are.

Saunas

In Brazil prostitution is not illegal so you find some saunas are frequented with escort guys.

380 is a bar which hosts sex parties. There are two bars, dance floors, darkrooms and even showers for when it’s time to go home.  Address Rua Álvaro de Carvalho, 380

Blackout Club is a downtown sex club that attract locals and tourists into its darkened maze of gloryholes, slings, and cabins.  Address Largo Arouche, 205

Chilli Pepper is a 24 hour hotels and sauna combined in the down town area. The Chilli Pepper attracts a mixed crowd. Address Largo do Arouche, 610

Labirinttu’s Club is located in the heart of Consolacao which promotes itself as “more than a sauna.” With a full bar and weekly party nights Labirinttu’s offers dark rooms, cubicles, and steam rooms.  Address Rua Frei Caneca 328

Termas Fragata is a sauna/brothel with Brazilian rent boys. If this is your thing agree a price and do not pay more than agreed. Address Rua Francisco Leitao 71.

Shopping

Rua Frei Caneca has a shopping centre that has a number of small men’s boutique shops and popular with tourists and locals buying local and foreign branded menswear.

Main LGBT Events

Without doubt Sao Paulo gay pride is the biggest gay event in Brazil and the world. The parade passes along Paulista avenue and to downtown taking several hours and attendance at the event is huge. The parade has a great friendly atmosphere.

Other

Currency – Brazilian Real (BRL)

Language - Portuguese

Visas - Not needed for travellers from the US, Canada and Europe

Best Time To Visit – November - March

Timezone – Brasilia Standard Time - GMT + 3 hours

Homosexual Activity - Legal