The city's shopping is international and sophisticated; it is even considered by some to be the best in South America. Fashions, gems and of course haivanas (the famous Brazilian flip-flops), rather than crafts tend to be key buys.

Iguatemi, Avenida Brig. Faria Lima 2232, is the king of the shopping centres. The Daslu department store, Avenida Chedid Jafet 131, boasts five floors of designer wear. At Clube Chocolate, Rua Oscar Freire 913, clothes, gifts and gadgets are on sale but there is also a cafe with a sand floor and palm trees, and a chic Martini bar.

The Sunday morning flea market, on Praça da Liberdade Square in one of São Paulo's oldest districts, is a good place to buy food and gifts and is the perfect antidote to the city's gloss.

Most shops close on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, but some shopping malls stay open all week and during the evening.