Most international travelers only spend enough time in São Paulo to change planes at its busy airport. However, despite its vast size, beachlessness, and—some would say—lack of visual appeal, the city of São Paulo is one of the world’s most vibrant, diverse, and often surprising metropolises. For a dose of sophisticated urban living—with all the culture, fine dining, and shopping that entails—it is definitely worth spending a couple of days here.

If you’re a true urban soul, stick around for a whole week in order to explore the city’s many neighborhoods and take advantage of its fantastic nightlife. In a pinch, you can always make a quick day trip or overnight getaway to the coast or mountains.

When planning a trip to São Paulo, there are several things to keep in mind. In terms of the weather, summer months are often unbearably hot and sticky in the capital (a fact made worse by pollution), with sudden downpours that, due to poor drainage, can cause flooding in the streets.

Summer, however—along with long weekends, “winter break,” and other holidays—is also when millions of residents hightail it out of the city (transforming it into a pleasant “ghost town”) and migrate to the coast. At these times, popular resorts get very crowded, meaning that advance reservations are a must.

In winter, temperatures can plunge to 10°C (50°F). This isn’t a big deal if you’re equipped with the proper clothing, but be aware that many places don’t have heating. The mountains, in particular, can get very chilly.