February, the most popular month to visit Brazil, particularly because of its world famous event CARNIVAL. Some Brazilians even say that the new year does not start until after Carnival, so what better way to celebrate the beginning of the new year than with a trip to Brazil? Needless to say, the country is so big and fabulous that visiting it any time of the year would still be a great choice.
When people mention Brazil, they usually talk about São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. That’s because these are the two biggest cities in the country. They also are great cities to celebrate Carnival in, consistently being ranked among the top 5 best cities for Carnival.
But let me tell you – there is so much more that these cities offer other than the Carnival. Culture, art, history, nature, seriously anything you can think of is found there. So I definitely recommend doing a trip that allows you to explore it all. But if you are limited with time, and need to pick between the cities to visit, the activities you want to do, the vibe you want to experience, you will definitely ask yourself, Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo?
Unfortunately, I haven’t been to Carnival yet, but I did have the same dilemma when I was planning my trip to Brazil, because I was constraint with 5 days off only! Due to my FOMO, I eventually decided to squeeze 3 days in Rio and 2 days in São Paulo. I saw a lot and explored both places, but if you have more time, definitely stay for a minimum of one week in each city. Specially if you plan on attending Carnival, you would need around 10 days in each city to explore the main highlights.
Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo (SP) are like brothers with different personalities. If I want to briefly compare them, I would say Rio is like Miami whereas SP is like New York. Continue reading for a more thorough comparison, of Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo?
Rio de Janeiro
Scenery
Rio is known to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is a city by the water, in the middle of a jungle! You have the beach, surrounded by beautiful mountains, and waterfalls in between city streets. I have never seen such a mix before.
Rio also has so many landmarks that are known across the globe: the Christ redeemer, the Copacabana beach, the Tijuca forest, the sugarloaf mountain among many others. The city is truly gorgeous.
Culture
Rio is known for its laid back, relaxed culture. People of Rio value leisure and entertainment. In Rio people are more friendly, open to talk to you and always down to have a good time. While I was there, I was shocked to see the beaches packed with people, everyday of the week. I remember thinking, do people not work here?! Speaking of the beach, people in Rio work really hard to have a muscular, fit and tanned body. But in general, everyone is usually out with simple clothes and flip flops. It is a very chill vibe.
In terms of Art, the city provides a lot of museums, but also street art such as in Lapa and the Olympic Boulevard. I would definitely recommend booking a walking art tour!
Food
The food scene is definitely more laid back in Rio than SP. The city provides a lot of Brazilian, Japanese, Italian options with a casual vibe. Choices are usually provided around an outdoor and healthy lifestyle, so fruits, jus, acaí bowls and snack bars are prominent throughout the city.
Nightlife
Can you say Rio without saying party?
Starting with the Carnival, as I mentioned before, Rio is one of the most famous cities to celebrate Carnival in. Every year around 5million people hit the streets of the city to join the parades, the beach parties, the shows, the balls and other events. Rio Carnival is famous for its incredible over the top samba parades at the Sambadrome that feature thousands of performers, with extraordinary crazy colorful costumes. There are around 500 blocos, which are street bands that mobilize the crowds, occurring at the same time across the city. Rio is truly the Carnival of all Carnivals.
Other than the Carnival, the city provides a lot of bars and nightclubs, indoor and outdoor, in areas such as Lapa and Copacabana for more chill vibes, and Ipanema and Leblon for more up-scale places. There is also a lot of Samba places that the city provides, however I still preferred the nightlife in SP. I felt like it was a bit more diverse.
São Paulo
Scenery
SP does not provide so much natural beauty as much as Rio. The city is mostly characterized by its tall skyscrapers, broad highways and big centers. The nearest beach is 2h drive from the city center, and there aren’t as many parks in the city. I would say SP has a completely different charm than Rio.
In terms of landmarks, here also, Rio wins. SP has lesser known landmarks than its brother city. However there are still some important spots such as Ibirapuera park, avenue Paulista and other museums. If you are a city person, you will definitely enjoy it!
Culture
The culture in SP is definitely a bit more stiff than Rio. People are always on the go, going to work and trying to gain more power and money. Leisure is not a daily activity, but a reward to hard work. The weather, usually gloomy, doesn’t help as well. People in SP are a bit more reserved and selective, not always open to talk to strangers.
In São Paulo, locals care about their looks, their clothing and fashion. In fact, style could indicate one’s wealth. So people dress to impress making fashion an important element in their life. There is also a big hipster vibe growing in the city.
In terms of Art, the city is known for its cultural museums, art festivals as well as street art. For the best graffiti, Batman’s alley in Vila Madalena is a must!
Food
The food scene is definitely more rich in SP than Rio. The city provides all kinds of restaurants and tastes, with many high-end, Michelin star, options. The city offers a lot of Japanese, Italian and Arabic options among many other, with a more fancy, luxurious, business-oriented atmosphere. If you are into that, you would love the food scene in SP.
Nightlife
I think one of the places with the best nightlife I have yet seen! SP is known for its crazy party scene where the night doesn’t start before midnight and doesn’t end before 8am. The streets are usually packed with people dancing and singing everywhere. The music from each place contributes to the overall outdoor music creating such a beautiful chaos. From electronic to reggaeton to hip hop and house, SP provides parties for every taste. The city also has some of the biggest festivals, hosting famous DJs.
In terms of Carnival events, SP also offers some insane parades and street parties. Some decades ago, these were much smaller but today they can easily rival those seen in Rio. I do think that Rio is still more extravagant and outrageous in its celebrations. But regardless, you won’t have any boring time in SP!
Overall, both cities have so much to offer, it depends on what you are looking for. If you want a relaxing trip with a lot of culture and nice beach time, Rio is the place to be. If you are looking to experience high-end restaurants and a crazy nightlife with some exploration, head to SP!
