Paulista Avenue Area

Main commercial boulevard with museums, cultural centers, constant activity. Relatively safe during the day because of crowds and police, but pickpockets are common. Don't walk alone at night.

São Paulo's main street - wide boulevard with office towers, cultural centers, museums, never stops moving. Weekdays it's packed with business people, street vendors selling juice and phone stuff, tourists going to MASP or other attractions. Sundays the whole avenue closes to cars - families biking, street performers, food vendors. Feels safer than most of São Paulo because of constant crowds, lighting, police. You can walk through here to Jardins or downtown during the day, but keep your phone hidden - pickpockets work the crowded sidewalks and metro stations. Diverse mix - office workers, students, tourists, locals. Everything from quick lunch to sit-down restaurants, people eating alone is normal. Some English in tourist spots near museums and upscale cafes. After dark stick to the main avenue, don't wander side streets. Take Uber instead of walking far.