Travelling in Brazil

São Paulo

  • We recommend the neighbourhoods of Jardins, Itaim Bibi, Vila Madalena and Pinheiros. Here are a vast range of hotels that we know to be good:

    • Liberdade: Japanese Neighbourhood in Central São Paulo

    • Ibirapuera Park: Japanese Pavillion (check when its open) and museums within.

    • Mirante do Santander at the City Centre with a quick visit to Subastor, Bar do Cofre (Bar at was the safe of this beforehand bank of São Paulo)

    • Beco do Batman for spotting some cool graffiti

    • Have a stroll at Jardins with a mandatory path via R. Oscar Freire, the open air shopping street of São Paulo, and Pão de Queijo Haddock Lobo for Gabi's favourite Brazilian Cheese Puff.

    • Go for an Opera Presentation at the Teatro Municipal de São Paulo, located at the City Centre and Gabi's first official work place as a Costume Assistant.

    • Visit MASP (Museu de Arte de São Paulo) in Av. Paulista followed by a walkaround this iconic avenue

    • Still in Avenida Paulista there are 2 more museums worth seeing: IMS (Instituto Moreira Salles) and Japan House São Paulo

    • Visit MAC USP, the Modern Art Museum in front of Ibirapuera Park and enjoy and drink or a very tasty meal at VISTA!, their rooftop restaurant.

    • Shop Around in any of these malls: Shopping Iguatemi (Gabi's personal favourite) C Shops, Shopping Higienópolis, Shopping Cidade Jardim.

    • Shop Around Vila Madalena for more typical Brazilian goods and some more colourful clothes. (R. dos Pinheiros is a good one)

    • Reccomended local and quite Brazilian stores: Moka Clube for coffee, Goiaba Urbana for Self-Care and Esotoric Items with a Brazilian Touch, Farm has Clothes for the ladies, Osklen has Clothes for everyone, Salinas has bikinis, Reserva has Clothes for the gents and Austral for clothes and swimwear for the guys.

    • Frevo R. Oscar Freire for the famous Brazilian-Arabic Beiruths (a sort of Sandwich) - Sergi's favourite!

    • Barbacoa for the Rodizio meat Lovers, expect a long wait and salty prices

    • Camelo Pamplona for pizza

    • Bráz Pizzaria for napoletan style pizza

    • Bráz Eléttrica for eletric oven cooked pizza, they have many locations

    • Veridiana for pizza

    • Fitó for a more chill vibe of Brazilian food by all women chefs

    • Ritz for a good Brazilian-contemporary dish and some drinks, they have two locations.

    • Spot is owned by the same owner of Ritz and another good contemporary option.

    • Tanuki for the best sushi in town

    • Sushi Do Culinaria Japonesa is another great sushi restaurant in Both its locations

    • Any well rated sushi/ramen places in Liberdade (there are many rodizios - all you can eat ones in this area)

    • Tordesilhas for a more elegant yet still relaxed vibe and Typical Brazilian Food

    • Astor Bar is the most tradicional Bar in São Paulo

    • Guarita Bar if you want specialty drinks made to your taste

    • SAJ is a great Syrian Lebanese restaurant, one of the biggest immigrant communities in São Paulo, including all of Gabi's family.

    • For some coffee and amazing chocolaty goods we reccomend both Kopenhagen and Dengo

    • Manioca is another great Brazilian Food Restaurant

    • Rubaiyat for an elegant Feijoada on Saturday or for Meat in General

    • Martín Fierro for Argentinian Meat and Empanadas

    • Corrientes 348 Jardim Europa for Argentinian Meat and Empanadas is another great option.

    • Previously mentioned Vista Restaurant at MAC-USP with beautiful views to the Ibirapuera Park and great Brazilian food.

    • Previously Mentioned Best Pão de Queijo according to Gabi, Pão de Queijo da Haddock.

    • Previously Mentioned Subastor Bar do Cofre, underneath the Mirante Santander where the safe used to be.

  • Many of these apply to Barcelona as well 😅

    • At the Centre of São Paulo security can be an item to pay attention to. As long as you visit it at day time and avoid places too far from the interest points or that are empty you should be fine!

    • It's reccomended not to take phones visibly anywhere in São Paulo, also to use bags that can be fully closed (zips) and keep attentive to them at all moments.

    • Jewellery should not be worn on the streets in general at the city, except for maybe when you take ubers/taxis and go somewhere in Pinheiros/Jardins/Vila Madalena/Itaim, but still nothing too fancy. Brand watches are also a risky wear.

    • If taking an uber, it's always advisible to get the uber comfort or the uber black rather than the uber x, their cars can be quite old.

    • Avoid public transport other than the Underground and be very attentive in it if you do take it.

Rio de Janeiro

  • We recommend the neighbourhoods of Ipanema, Copacabana, Leblon and around the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Here are some hotels that we know to be good:

    • Have a stroll or a bike ride around the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, enjoying a coconut bought in any trolley vender with views to the far-away statue of the iconic Christ.

    • Visit the Christ statue.

    • Visit Pão de Açúcar and head for a beer at the Muro da Urca afterwards, a wall with views to the Pão De Açúcar.

    • Walk Around Ipanema's centre, and maybe grab a bite around there.

    • Check a live Samba Circle at one of the oldest samba bars in Rio, BipBip

    • Enjoy a very Brazilian experience of the Beach, full of food and drinks vendors coming thorugh (most things are safe, just avoid home cooked goods and prawns at the sand. (check the security tips here bellow before headed to the beach!)

    • Visit the Copacabana Fort and enjoy a cold beer at their bar.

    • Take a guided tour visit to the lovely neighbourhood of Santa Theresa at the centre of the city, with beautiful views and a vintage cable car.

    • Visit Confeitaria Colombo, the most tradicional Patisserie in Rio De Janeiro, it's also at the city centre, maybe if you take your tour to Santa Teresa check out if they'll take you there.

    • Visit the Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã) and the Olympic Boulevard it's located near to so you can check out some very cool graffitti.

    • Reccomended stores: Farm has Clothes for the ladies, Osklen has Clothes for everyone, Salinas has bikinis, and Reserva has Clothes for the gents .

  • In Rio there a couple more tips than the ones for São Paulo, I'm Afraid 😅

    • We advise against wearing jewellery in Rio in general. Even if its not valuable goods we highly suggest not wearing it at the beach.

    • If you bring bags and things to the beach, don't leave them unattended at any time. Also keep them closed and nearby (maybe even knotted to the chair).

    • At the Beach of Rio there can be what we call Arrastão, a bunch of younger than 12 years old kids - mostly boys - that go alltogether perpendicularly to the beach in a line taking all they see that could possibly be of value. Earrings, necklaces, bags, phones. Hence why we suggest you to leave most important items at the hotel when you go for the beach. But it is quite unique and experience the beach in Rio, we both really did love it. Maybe take some cash and an old phone other than towels and t-shirts.

    • If taking an uber, it's always advisible to get the uber comfort or the uber black rather than the uber x, their cars can be quite old.

    • Try and always keep an eye to your belongings and especially not wear bags that cannot be zipped or properly closed.

    • Avoid public transport other than the Underground and be very attentive in it if you do take it.

    • Rio has this side of huge disparity that may seem intense when planning to keep safe, but we promise you its Natural Beauty and lovely people are worth a visit. (Sergi never even felt afraid there, granted with the Brazilian Gabi always looking out for things in a calm manner)

Beauty Between São Paulo And Rio de Janeiro

*The list is order of proximity considering the trip starting in São Paulo and ending in Rio de Janeiro, you may very well just do it from top to bottom if you are to begin your journey in Rio.

  • All our reccommendations are detailed above!

  • All our reccommendaions for the wedding can be found at our home page of every language!

  • Ilhabela is one of our favourite spots at the Southeastern coast of Brazil, it is in vast majority a Natural Reserve and super green.

    • The places where we have stayed there before are Ilhabela Homestay, DPNY Hotel and SPA and Casa Salga.

    • Our restaurant recommendations are: Pescadora | Cozinha do Mar, Pimenta de Cheiro, Manjericão and Viana.

    • Some of the best beaches there are Praia do Curral, Praia da Feiticeira and Praia da Siriúba.

    • Praia do Bonete, a beach at the other side of the Island is our very favourite program at the Islan. You can reach it either by a 4 hour hike or by boat which can be arranged at this agency. The hike to this beach is abundant and full of waterfalls. Beware for the wild life. Once you reach the beach the best food we found is in Pousada Canto Bravo. You can easily come back by boat if you make the hike to Bonete, just arranging it once on the other side.

    • Cachoeira do Veloso is a nice waterfall closer to the occupied areas for those who are less adventurous.

    *It is worth pre-booking the ferry (Hora Marcada São Sebastião - Ilhabela) for skip the queue entrances, especially since around our wedding dates there are two holidays and the road tends to get much busier.

  • This one is for those a little more sporty and adventurous.

    Saco do Mamanguá sea bag very close to Paraty Mirim which you only reach by a 40 minute boat ride away from the car parking at town (there are a few ones). We have stayed at Refúgio Mamanguá, an amazingly relaxing spot where you'd have breakfast and dinner as well. For lunch, in order to encourage local businesses they keep the kitchen closed. You can reach local restaurants by Kayak or Hiking. There is also no signal over there. They would give all recommendations of what to do at the Refúgio, but hiking the Pão de Açucar do Mamanguá and Kayakying through the manguezais all the way to the Rio Grande Waterfall are both amazing things to do.

  • Paraty is already in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

    It is a great small city where to see the typical Brazilian Colonial housing. All colourful and kept as intact as possible, the town has a great local culture centre and museum and many restaurants. It's the town where a very important book fair takes place and is knowing for being quite cultural. Also some pretty cool caiçara arts and crafts can be found here (mix of Brazilian Native, Portuguese and Black peoples very typical of the coast).

  • This is a peninsular part of Southeast Rio de Janeiro State, where family and family friends have spent quite some time and have told us to be also beautiful and abundant. We have only a more elegant recommendation of where to stay here, the Fasano Angra dos Reis Hotel. Surely there are other options around which you may consider taking a look at.

  • We are also told Ilha Grande is amazing, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. This is an actual Island (as is Ilhabela).

  • All our reccomendations are detailed above!

Salvador - Bahia

  • You'd need to fly over to Salvador. There are many flights from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to Salvador. If leaving from São Paulo, I reccommend choosing a flight from Aeroporto de Congonhas, the national airport at the city centre. Gol, Azul and Latam are the biggest Brazilian airlines. We would advise against travelling from Viracopos, a seemingly close by airport to São Paulo but that is in fact a little further at another big city at the State's countryside.

  • We recommend to stay in Vitória, Rio Vermelho or Barra, but we've seen that there are many good new hotels around the historical centre, Santo Antônio do Carmo and Pelourinho. These are places to visit certainly, but known to be a little bit trickier for foreign tourists.

    • Visit Pelourinho and check out the House of Carnaval Museum, as well as the Cathedral and the Church of San Francis (all made in Rococo Gold by the Portuguese)

    • Try and watch an Olodum event in Pelourinho, they are a famous Percussion Carnaval group that paint their bodies in white marks during those festivities.

    • Watch the Ballet Folclórico da Bahia, an African-Brazilian Dance spectacle.

    • have a stroll at Santo Antonio Além do Carmo, the neighbour to Pelourinho and home to many great restaurants - some with views (and indicated bellow). The colonial houses there are so well taken care of!

    • Go to the Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim for the views and to tie a typical fabric bracelet in the fence (picture taken by Gabi on the left)

    • Visit the local market, the Mercado Modelo for food and crafts.

    • Grab a bite at the Marina of Salvador.

    • Check out the sunset at the MAM terrace after you've visited this great Museum by the Sea.

    • In the region there is Praia da Gambôa, an important beach for the LGBTQI+ community and great for some picturesque dives.

    • Visit the Farol da Barra Lighthouse.

    • Visit the tip of Salvador to check out the Lighthouse of Itapuã.

    • Go to the House of Jorge Amado, one of Brazil's major writers and the man whose novel inspired Gabi's name. It's very close to the typical Acarajé do Rio Vermelho.

    • Take a trip to Praia do Forte for a couple of days and stay at a Pousada like this one which we love. There you can pay a visit to Projeto Tamar, the turtle protection project all over the Brazilian coast. Tehre are also many coral reefs and gret beaches where to snorkle or just sit and relax with a sweet coconut or a queijo coalho.

    • Amado is amazing, beautiful and elegant, it is one of the Marina Restaurants.

    • Soho is another Marina restaurant, serving great sushi.

    • Mistura Contorno is another very elegant seafood restaurant, there are often queues there

    • In Santo Antonio Além do Carmo our favourite and a local indication by a great friend is Poró, beautiful views, great food and decoration.

    • For a beach day there is Blue Beach Bar at Praia do Buracão.

    • For some African Inspired cuisine we suggest Zanzibar

    • The acarajé do Rio Vermelho is the best Acarajé of Bahia, and this is according to Gabi's stepdad born and raised in Salvador!

  • Salvador is pretty tricky, especially since people are usually so nice!

    • Especially in Pelourinho don't agree to any services offered or engage on conversations. People will offer you everything, especially the typical colourful fabric bracelets and the services of the Baianas (women in beautiful round big clothes). Don't engage. You can buy the bracelets at the Mercado Modelo or pretty much every store.

    • At the beach keep as close an eye on your belongings as in Rio de Janeiro's beach.

    • Avoid public transport other than the Underground and be very attentive in it if you do take it.

    • If taking an uber, it's always advisible to get the uber comfort or the uber black rather than the uber x, their cars can be quite old.

    • Try and always keep an eye to your belongings and especially not wear bags that cannot be zipped or properly closed.

Other Brazilian Destionations

  • The picturesque natural pools within Brazilian desert white thin sand dunes are one extremely relaxing area to visit. A car ride away from São Luís do Maranhão, which is a flight away from any other state capital in Brazil.

  • One of Brazil's most famous postcards are the many waterfalls at Foz do Iguaçu, also bordering Paraguay and Argentina.

  • There a are two states of Brazil that fall within the Amazon Rainforest: Pará, further south and Amazonas. The usual path there is to fly to Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state and then take boats to get deeper into the forest. Gabi has only even been to Pará and loved to experience the forest there. We only recommend this trip for experience nature lovers and more adventurous profiles.

  • The state of Minas Gerais is full of important historical cities - Ouro Preto, Tiradentes, Diamantina, amongst others - where most importantly gold mining was practiced during the colonisation times. A route through the central state of Brazil to visit these important colonial towns is one of Brazil's local tourim's most important trips. And if you do go to Minas Gerais we recommend visiting Inhotim, the Art/Botanical museum park near Belo Horizonte. It is breathtaking.

Brazilian Gastronomy*

*A special set of tips for you to know what to try of Brazil’s very best tastes according to us!

TYPICAL SOUTHEASTERN DISHES: (that can be found anywhere in Brazil)

TYPICAL NORTHEASTERN DISHES: (These are harder to find unless you are in the Northeast or at a restaurant that serves mixed Brazilian dishes)