The underground Metrô (tel: (11) 3371 7411; website: www.metro.sp.gov.br) is modern, clean and efficient. It is also one of the safest and quickest ways to get from A to B in São Paulo. The two main lines run north-south and east-west, with a smaller line running from northwest to southeast, and two further sections under construction. The Metrô connects with overground rail stations (giving access to a further six lines) and with all the city's bus stations.

Buses take the majority of the city's huge population to and from work. Routes can be difficult for the visitor to understand, and petty crime and overcrowding are perennial problems. To cope with rush hour crowds, São Paulo recently introduced the world's longest bus: a 25m- (82ft-) long Volvo built in three sections and with doors on both sides.

Visitors should look out for the Bilhete Único, which is a rechargeable smartcard ticket giving access to discounted journeys on all public transport. Trains and the Metrô run from 5am till midnight, and buses stop running at 1am.

Rádio Táxi Vermelho e Branco (tel: (11) 3146 4000) have a large fleet of red and white taxis which can be pre-booked. Taxis hailed on the street or at a white taxi rank are slightly cheaper.

Hire cars are available from Avis, Rua Da Consolaçao 382 (tel: (11) 3259 6868; website: www.avis.com), Hertz, Rua Da Consolaçao 431 (tel: (11) 3258 9384; website: www.hertz.com) and Sixt, Alameda Barao de Limeira, 943 (tel: (11) 3669 5000; website: www.e-sixt.com). Getting behind the wheel in São Paulo can be a fraught affair, with endless traffic jams and confusing one-way systems. Constant lane switching and noisy aggressive drivers add to the mix.

Reliable bikes can be hired from the cycling association Sampa Bikers, Rua Baluarte 672, Vila Olímpia (tel: (11) 3045 2722; website: www.sampabikers.com.br), who also run city and park tours as well as night runs for the adventurous.