For work I have the option of traveling to either São Paulo or Dublin and spending a week there. My travel experience is limited to Germany and a few Caribbean islands. I’m American btw. What would be the better option?
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I'm Irish and I would still say Sao Paolo. Dublin is a pretty grimy place...city centre is small and full of heroin addicts, then the suburbs stretch out for miles but there's nothing really worth doing in them.
Now I would say that IRELAND for a week would be well worth a visit. We have beautiful countryside and a rich culture...if you stay in Dublin though you won't see those hills and valleys and lakes and instead of culture you'll see a pastiche of Irishness at tourist shops and shit, (compare actual Japanese culture to weebs). I'd say stay in Dublin for a day and a night, then the following morning take a bus to Galway, Kerry, Cork or Donegal and try to spend a couple of days on the West Coast
Dublin is the obvious safe option but it's incredibly boring
Sao Paulo is much more lively but it can also be quite dangerous for a foreigner
>quite dangerous for a foreigner
Less dangerous than for a local. No reason to go to shitty neighborhoods, where most of crime happens. Besides that, the South America precautions.
Do not use israeliteelry/watches, don't flash much money and use your devices only inside places (it's been quite common to have your smartphone stolen by a n. in a bike). If using tinder, either get a date in a decent public place (mall, bar in a good neighborhood) or, if she's dtf, just tell her to go to your hotel room. Some stupid coomers get dates with tinder girls from shitty neighbothoods and, when they drive to meet them, are greeted by their favela criminal partners. That is more for boomer coomer locals though. But meeting in a public place or getting her in your room (she will pass through the hotel lobby and they will make sure she's alone) is fine.
Sure, it's not a safe country by any standards. Still it's pretty safe for Brazil and latin america.
Born and raised in São Paulo. It is not a touristic city and 7 days here seems a stupid idea. You could stay 5 days perhaps. Or get 10 and split with either ilhabela or Paraty/Ilha Grande (Angra dos Reis).
I mean, there are 3 decent/good museums (pinacoteca, ipiranga, MASP), the oldtown is worth it to spend a day (during daylight and in a weekday as it is a dangerous region otherwise), there are some parks... But nothing really remarkable. I'm not sure about nightclubs as I was never into them and it's been a long time since I've ended partying. But it seems that nowadays they do not have the same weight like 10-20 years ago.
Shopping options are good but much more expensive than western countries (clothes and eletronics). Dining is good and price is ok for a foreigner.
Tbh can't see a reason to come here unless you're staying a few days prior to travelling in Brazil/South America (biggest airport in the continent), have business in the city or visiting friends/relatives. That or cooming.
Never been to Ireland but I guess it would be easier to travel inside the country as distances are smaller.
Most people do not speak english but São Paulo is one of the few cities in the country with an actual middle class so it is doable.
Anyway, stay in Jardins neighborhood, close to Paulista avenue. If you do not find anything in your budget, Pinheiros, Vila Mariana or Paraiso. No reason to stay in other neighborhoods. Do not fall for the american hotels meme (hilton, hyatt). They are located in a financial district with horrible traffick and in a horrible place to walk.
I mean, you could come here, go straight to Ilhabela (4 hour drive), come back to São Paulo after a few days and stay the rest of your trip here. Not sure if it's worth it due to time in the road though.
Why would it be stupid to stay in one of the world's biggest cities for a week? It's even stranger that you would say this about your hometown. A week is enough time to get a taste of the Brazilian cuisine. Sao Paulo has beautiful sunny warm weather in the forecast, with delightfully cool nights. Dublin is a bit on the cool and cloudy side even in midsummer, with frequent rain in the forecast. Of course, with Ireland being such a small country, it would be easy to rent a car and go on excursions after business is concluded for the day. Less of a language barrier in Ireland as well. Ireland has an absurdly low murder rate as well, far far below Brazil's. But I feel one should not miss a chance to visit a world city, especially on the company dime.
I like living here. I'm used to it and there are good things to do. Although the city is ugly (but impressive anyway). But for tourism it is not a good city though. Not much to see. You have no reason to see 80% of the city itself (really) and our culture is fast paced and focused on work (at least for brazilian standards). That said, I skipped that you said it was for work. So maybe it's worth it staying at other neighborhoods. Stay really close to where you have meetings though. Traffick jams are a big deal.
Like I said before, there are good restaurants. You could try some more upscale brazilian cuisine, churrascaria (all you can eat barbecue) or a meat restaurant (but argentinian ones are better), all you can eat sushi, and some comida mineira (food from the state of Minas Gerais). Besides, could try some street food like pastel and go to a nice Padaria (big deal in São Paulo]). Also try coxinha and brigadeiro. In a sunny day, go to a bar and drink some chopp (very light beer from the tap). If you will be working might make sense. Would not recommend to anyone to spend 7 days here as a tourist though.
Not OP but I wanted to ask you some more questions about SP. I like to run, and SP (Brazil really) is one of my bucket list places to run a marathon. The three biggest races in Brazil are maratona international De São Paulo in April. Maratona do Rio in June, and Maratona internacional de Floripa in August. Which of those 3 cities would you recommend?
>how is the weather in SP in April?
>any cool parks or nature to see?
>is it true that there is a large Japanese population in SP?
>how do you get around? Walk? Uber? Taxi? Is there public transportation?
>is it true that there is a large Italian population in SP? Is Brazilian pizza a thing?
>how much money would should I bring?
>do people in SP speak English?
>hotel or Airbnb?
Not him, but I've been there and can answer some of these
>is it true that there is a large Japanese population in SP?
Yes, can even find jap escorts
>how do you get around? Walk? Uber? Taxi? Is there public transportation?
Uber is cheap, but traffic is shit. The metro is good, but since Sao Paulo is ran by morons you'll have to go to the ticket window and pay cash for each ticket if you don't have a Brazilian government ID number
São Paulo is the huge metropolis, Rio is the brazilian postcard and only big city that is really worth visiting in Brazil and Florianopolis is a small capital city with good scenery. Can't say anything about marathon as I've never runned more than 2km but if there's only one city you should visit here it is Rio.
>weather
Unpredictable. Usually around 20-25C but could be as cold as 8C some week if there's some polar air mass or above 30C. Usually rains a lot for a few hours of the day.
>any cool parks or nature to see?
Not the best place to nature. The most famous park is Ibirapuera as it is surrounded by upper middle class/upscale neighborhoods and it's quite central. Lots of museums there and close by. Nature wise there's Horto Florestal about one hour from the city centre (but still in the city of SP), where there is at least one waterfall, some hiking trails; it's an urban forest.
>japanese in São Paulo
Yes, lots of them. My neighbors are japanese descent, every class I took had at least one japanese descent person, and any middle/upper class place you'll see them. There's a neighborhood (liberdade) known for being "built" by japanese that has lots of things related to japense culture. Nowadays is mostly for show but there is still some character. Used to go to karaokes there not to mention jap food.
>get around
The subway system is small for the size of the city but reliable and very clean. Also cheap although
is right. God way to cross long distances. Would not recommend during rush hours though. But being driven during those hours also sucks. Uber is cheap and it's the best way in general to move in the city. Buses are ok but take too long. Would not use them unless something specific. Taxis are faster than ubers as they take bus lanes but more expensive. Not sure if a foreigner would be charged more though. Walking is ok but the city is huge. So just walk in your neighborhood. Not tthe best pavements though. (1/?)
> Italian population in SP? Is Brazilian pizza a thing?
Yes. The same as japs but in every class at least 20% had italian surnames. Also some neighborhoods with italians (but nothing worth seeing). Pizza is a thing. Specially in São Paulo. I recommend Camelo or Veridiana for a good brazilian pizza. There are other venues, of course, some of italian style. But try the brazilian one. We usually use forks and knives to eat it.
>>how much money would should I bring?
No idea. 1 USD = 5 BRL. Uber trip of 3 miles is about 25 brl. A bus/subway ticket (one trip) is about 5 brl. A heineken (330ml) 12 brl at a bar, 5 brl at a market and 20 brl at an expensive bar. A three course meal at a top notch restaurant (without drinks) would cost you 250 brl. At a good restaurant a one course meal about 50-60. A Big Mac with fries and coke about 30 brl. Museum tickets about 50 brl unless it is a free entrance day (usually tuesdays).
>>do people in SP speak English?
The middle classes get by. Not in a conversational level but enough. In more upscale neighborhoods you'll find more upper class people that can hold a proper conversation. In shops and services, however, unless catered for foreigners or posh places, you'll have a hard time finding staff that speak english. You can get help from other costumers though. People do try to help foreigners.
>hotel or Airbnb?
Can't say. Never got an Airbnb here but been to some hotels. I do prefer them pretty much everywhere. So I guess hotels. Up to you though. But 90% of middle class partment buildings have 24 hour doorman. That's good for safety reasons but can be a hassle for someone who do not live in the building. The doorman might check your ID every now and then, it might be forbidden to bring guests...
>Paraty
Solid advice
You can’t coom in a Angloid/Celtic shithole anon
If work are paying for everything, I say go to Dublin, since accommodation and food and drink are pretty expensive.
There's not a ton to do, but assuming that you're working some of the time, there's enough to see and do in the evenings and when you do get time away from your work.