Greater São Paulo

Paulistanos love the city of São Paulo [1], but with the greater metropolitan area possessing close to 20 million inhabitants, the urge can be strong to trade urban stress for the respite of the surrounding countryside.

Fortunately, the state of São Paulo [2] offers a great variety of getaway options. Just make sure you avoid long weekends and holidays when literally millions choose to escape. Not only will destinations be more crowded—and prices higher—but you’ll inevitably get stuck in the infamous traffic jams that can stretch for miles.

If you have some extra time, São Paulo has several other interesting attractions that are worth visiting, despite being slightly more far-flung.