A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basel vs. Sao Paulo for Attractions, Nightlife, Food, and Families

Should you visit Basel or Sao Paulo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Sao Paulo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Basel

Basel is a easily accessible, beautiful, and vibrant city. With stunning beauty, Basel attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Basel travel costs.

Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is a cultural, dynamic, and vibrant city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Sao Paulo travel costs.

Basel and Sao Paulo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Basel or Sao Paulo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Sao Paulo than Basel, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Sao Paulo is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Basel is known for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Basel is popular for its many museums and its nice old town. Sao Paulo is popular for its large size, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class nightlife scene. It is also home to Ibirapuera Park.

How is Basel different from Sao Paulo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sao Paulo and Basel. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Basel or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for its sights and museums. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Sao Paulo are among the most recognizable in the world. While many visitors overlook Sao Paulo for other destinations in Brazil, those that do visit will be rewarded with a large number of museums and sights. It's the largest city in South America, and there's plenty to do. Highlights include Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte Contemporânea, and the cathedral

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Basel. The city is filled with history. Head to Minster Hill to see the beautiful historic church and Münsterplatz. There are also several unique museums around town including Jean Tinguely Museum, the Paper Mill Museum, the Historical Museum, and the Museum of Art.

Is the Food Better in Basel or Sao Paulo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Sao Paulo is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Sao Paulo. The city offers a huge mix of fine dining restaurants, street food vendors, family-friendly restaurants, and large local markets. The cuisine has many influences such as the Portuguese, West Africa, and even the Middle East. Popular dishes include the street food coxinha, feijoada (black bean and beef stew), and cachooro-quente (local hot dogs).

Basel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Food around town can be expensive, but there are some outdoor markets where you can buy fruit and a bratwurst for a reasonable price. The city is known for its breads, soups, and pastries, which are all delicious.

Is Basel or Sao Paulo Better for Nightlife?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

People head to Sao Paulo just to party. As the economic hub for Brazil, you'll find tons of bars, clubs, and venues throughout the city. The best neighborhood for a party is Vila Madalena, which is filled with restaurants and bars. For live music and food trucks, check out Rua Augusta. There are also many different neighborhoods in this megacity, and many have a lively energy and plenty to do at night. Every night you should be able to find something different to do.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Basel. The city's nightlife comes alive as the sun sets. There are bars, pubs, and dance clubs that stay active until the early morning hours.

Is Basel or Sao Paulo Better for its Old Town?

Basel is a great city for its historic old town charm. However, Sao Paulo does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Basel to see the historical old town. The charming old town is fun to explore on foot with its quaint streets and meandering alleys. The beautiful architecture and ornate fountains give the area a unique personality. On the hottest days you may even see locals swimming in some of the fountains.

Sao Paulo does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Basel or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Sao Paulo make it a world-class shopping destination. The shopping opportunities are diverse, from megamalls to local markets, and international boutiques. There are many great neighborhoods for shopping, like Jardins, where you'll find high end stores. The main shopping street is Rua Oscar Freire. Downtown Sao Paulo has a mix of retail stores and market stalls that sell everything from cheap fashion to inexpensive odds and ins.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Basel. The old town is filled with shops that you can wander through as you explore. Popular shopping streets include Freie Strasse and the area around Marktplatz, where you'll find boutique shops and interesting trinkets. You can also head to the city's oldest department store - Manor.

Is Basel or Sao Paulo More Beautiful?

Basel is a great city for its scenery and beauty. However, Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Basel attracts visitors from all around. Situated along the river, this city is beautiful to explore on foot.

Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Basel or Sao Paulo Better for Families?

Basel is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Basel. The city has an impressive zoo, a really unique toy museum, as well as Aquabasilea with its pools and slides. It's also compact enough that little legs can explore and enjoy everything that it has to offer. If the weather's warm, head for the river to cool off.

Sao Paulo is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy a visit to the zoo or one of the kid-friendly museums around town. There are also a number of parks, some kid-friendly restaurants, and even an amusement park.

Is Basel or Sao Paulo Better for Couples?

Basel and Sao Paulo are both good to visit as a couple.

Basel makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Nice restaurants, interesting museums, and several great spas make this a nice place for a romantic trip.

Sao Paulo is a good city for couples to visit. The city is filled with culture and you'll find many great activities that will make for an exciting couples trip. There are parks and museums, bars and restaurants, and theaters where you can see a show. Many couples enjoy a visit to the Botanical Garden of Sao Paulo or a stroll through Ibirapuera Park. You can watch the sunset with a view of the city from one of the many rooftop bars and then enjoy some samba dancing on the town.

Is Basel or Sao Paulo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Basel and Sao Paulo are good destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Basel. There are a few hostels and a really useful City Pass that make this city an option for backpackers and budget travelers. It's also a major transit center so accessibility is convenient. If you're traveling around Europe by train, you'll likely pass through Basel at some point.

Sao Paulo is a good city to visit for backpackers. While it's overlooked by many travelers, backpackers who linger for awhile will enjoy the city's authenticity and cultural scene. There are also a number of hostels around town.

Is Basel or Sao Paulo Better for Students?

Basel is a great city for its student-friendly activities. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Basel is a great city to visit as a student. The University of Basel brings in international students from around the world. The city makes a nice base for exploring Europe, but it's also a bit expensive which can be challenging on a student income.

Sao Paulo is a good city to visit for students. The city is large with a diverse population and plenty to offer students. There are good educational institutions and a great international vibe as well.

Is Basel or Sao Paulo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for its public transit. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

With a huge network, the transit system in Sao Paulo can get you around easily. It's a huge city, so you'll likely make use of the metro during your trip. There are six lines to the metro system and they provide convenient access to many of the city's top attractions. The city also has many bus routes as well.

The public transit in Basel can get you to most places easily. Trams and buses make it easy to get around town.

Is Basel or Sao Paulo a more walkable city?

Basel is a world-class destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its walkability.

Basel is a very easy city to get around on foot. The old town and most of the major attractions are easily accessible on foot.

Sao Paulo is very walkable. It's a megacity that has a wide range of neighborhoods. The city center is generally very walkable, but because of its size, you'll want to have an itinerary planned out for each day.

For even more information, also check out Is Basel Worth Visiting? and Is Sao Paulo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sao Paulo or Basel?

How long in Basel or Sao Paulo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Basel and Sao Paulo. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Basel, and 2-3 days is enough time in Sao Paulo.

Families should spend more time in Basel than Sao Paulo. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Basel, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Sao Paulo than Basel. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Sao Paulo that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sao Paulo than Basel if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sao Paulo.

One day in Basel or Sao Paulo?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Basel. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Basel has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Each neighborhood in Sao Paulo has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Basel or Sao Paulo?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the vibrant destination of Basel. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sao Paulo. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Basel or Sao Paulo?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural city of Basel. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Sao Paulo is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the big city destination of Sao Paulo. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Basel or Sao Paulo?

Basel is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

You'll find food and shopping around the dynamic big city of Sao Paulo. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland, The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basel and Sao Paulo, we can see that Basel is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basel is in Europe and Sao Paulo is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Sao Paulo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sao Paulo and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Basel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basel than you might in Sao Paulo.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basel Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Basel or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Basel. When comparing the sizes of Basel and Sao Paulo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Basel or Sao Paulo?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sao Paulo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Basel has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Basel or Sao Paulo in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Basel as well as Sao Paulo. The summer months attract visitors to Basel because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sao Paulo this time of year.

In the summer, Basel is cooler than Sao Paulo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Basel in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 25°C (77°F)in January.

It's quite rainy in Sao Paulo. Basel usually gets less rain in July than Sao Pauloin January. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March in Sao Paulo is the rainy season.

Should I visit Basel or Sao Paulo in the Autumn?

Both Sao Paulo and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Basel this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Sao Paulo for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Basel is generally much colder than Sao Pauloin April. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 13°C (56°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

In October, Basel usually receives more rain than Sao Pauloin April. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Sao Paulo is June to August.

Should I visit Basel or Sao Paulo in the Winter?

Both Sao Paulo and Basel during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Basel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Sao Paulo in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Basel. Basel is much colder than Sao Paulo in the winter. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 19°C (66°F)in July.

Basel usually gets more rain in January than Sao Pauloin July. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year. June to August is the dry season in Sao Paulo.

Should I visit Basel or Sao Paulo in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Sao Paulo. Many visitors come to Basel in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Sao Paulo for the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Basel is much colder than Sao Paulo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Basel in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 21°C (70°F)in October.

In April, Basel usually receives less rain than Sao Pauloin October. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Sao Paulo.

Typical Weather for Sao Paulo and Basel