Downtown Shopping Walk (Self Guided), Sao Paulo

Downtown São Paulo is where you need to be for an extraordinary and eclectic mix of shopping opportunities. These are spread across several streets and attract people from far and wide.

Rummage through the market stalls and small shops of Rua Vinte e Cinco de Março. This is where rich and poor Paulistas come for such inexpensive items as toys, gadgets, textiles, cosmetics, home appliances and much more. There are always lots of bargains on offer, which is great news for anyone on a tight budget. Many come to shop here for the raw materials for their Carnival costume.

One of the neighborhood's outstanding attractions is the Municipal Market of São Paulo, known as Mercadão. It is housed inside an elegant building from the 1920s and sells a wonderful variety of foods, including meat, seafood, pastas, fresh fruit, vegetables, poultry and spices from all over the world. As you make your way through the market, pause to admire the beautiful stained glass windows that illuminate the huge market space.

Go up to the mezzanine level, where you will find numerous restaurants serving everything from simple tasty snacks to gourmet specialties. Get there early, because the eateries are always crowded at lunchtimes.