Sao Paulo: Brazil's Answer to New York

Feb. 9, 2010 — -- All eyes may be on Rio de Janeiro's carnival this week but another Brazilian city -- Sao Paulo -- can easily compete as Brazil's party capital. It's the city that never sleeps, the concrete jungle, a fast, furious corner of the tropics that is not all that it seems at first sight. It's the economic powerhouse of Brazil -- and it even beats Rio de Janeiro as the country's cultural center.

While Sao Paulo has no beaches or any of the breathtaking scenery that define Rio as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it more than makes up in other ways. It features world-class restaurants, museums, theatres and boutiques. It is only a couple of hours away from lush, tropical beaches fringed by Atlantic rainforest.

If you are a business traveller to Brazil, Sao Paulo -- the country's economic capital -- is more than likely to be part of your itinerary than Rio. It is one of South America's largest and most vibrant cities, so there'll be much to explore there.

Where To Stay

The city is huge and traffic gets gridlocked. So staying somewhere close to the main areas downtown or around Avenida Paulista, the city's main artery, is a good idea.

There are many apartment services to chose from. The apartments are clean, comfortable and sometimes cheaper to stay at than hotels. The Jardins area of the city is always a good bet, with many good self-service rooms for the travelling executive. It is also a secure part of the city.

There are also hotels aplenty, from the opulent Renaissance to the trendy Fasano, which boasts one of the best bars and restaurants in the city and is an architectural gem.