Campinas

• The main district of Campinas contains two high-rise areas: Downtown, the oldest part of the city and main shopping area and transport hub, and just next to it, Cambuí, an affluent neighborhood with several restaurants, bars and hotels. The rest of the main district is mostly composed of low-rise suburbs of different social profiles, with points of interest relatively spread.
• Sousas and Joaquim Egídio, adjacent to each other, offer lots of nature and a charming historic center. Several gated communities have also popped up in this area.
• Barão Geraldo is the district that contains UNICAMP, plus several companies and research centers. It is basically a collection of calm suburbs, but with good infrastructure of commerce and services, and a substantial number of restaurants and bars.
• Nova Aparecida is a more industrial/suburban district and should not be of interest to a visitor.

Campinas is certainly not a main tourism destination, attracting more business travellers, international students and research visitors than conventional tourists. It offers however a number of interesting things to do for the casual visitor, such as exploring the city's coffee farming heritage and its lively nightlife.

History

Campinas started as a simple outpost for Portuguese settlers on 1774. It become a municipality on 1797, with the name of Vila de São Carlos. The city grew and prospered in subsequent decades with sugarcane farming, followed by coffee farming by the end of 19th century. After the decline of the coffee farming, Campinas started to re-emerge after the 1930s by means of industry development and more diversified exported-oriented agriculture. It eventually became the center of Brazil's major important industrial areas, which includes nearby municipalities such as Paulínia, Americana and Valinhos, collectively forming the Campinas metropolitan area. The creation of State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), in 1966, also resulted in the city becoming one of the country's most important centers of research and technology, hosting several research institutes and technology startup companies.

Culture

Campinas' culture can be described as a mix of the urban, cosmopolitan São Paulo city and the rural, caipira culture of the countryside of the São Paulo's state. The city's many bars and clubs play international pop music as much as sertanejo music. Demographically speaking, Campinas is similar to São Paulo, with a strong Portuguese and Italian heritage as well as a sizeable population of descendants of Japanese as well as migrants from the Northeast of Brazil.

By plane

Campinas has its own an international airport, but many international and domestic visitors arrive from São Paulo's airports.

By Viracopos International Airport

• Campinas' international airportThe airport has a range of food options, but only a few are open after 22:00-23:00.

To arrive from the airport to the city, one can use the following options:

• TaxiTaxi prices from the airport are either by meter or by fixed price according to the destination. Fixed prices are not mandatory - taxi users have always the option of choosing to use the meter, but generally there is not much difference between both. By fixed price, as of Oct 2015, a trip to UNICAMP would cost R$ 141 (flag 1) or R$ 181 (flag 2). To the intercity bus terminal , R$ 81 (flag 1) or R$ 103 (flag 2). The full list of destinations can be found in the EMDEC website.

• Local busThe cheapest option. Line 193, that has a 30 minutes time delay and cost R$4,50, this line stops at the main Campinas streets and at the main local bus station, from which you can get buses to other points of the city and to other local bus stations without extra cost.

• Lirabus Shuttle Bus

  phone: +55 19 3234-1000
  The shuttle bus operated by LiraBus is a cheap option and good if you have luggage. It stops at Largo do Pará Square (city center) and at the intercity bus station, where you can get a bus to other Brazilian cities or a taxi.

• Rent a carThere are two car rentals at the airport and the prices for economy class cars are close to R$70 a day.

By Guarulhos/Congonhas airports

The airports of Guarulhos and Congonhas are both about 1:40 minutes away by car. Cab trips are somewhat pricey but you can take a shuttle from Lirabus that goes directly to Campinas and take about 2 hours. It costs R$40 from Guarulhos, R$35 from Congonhas, and will leave you at Largo do Pará Square, one block from Hotel Ibis, or at Terminal Multimodal Ramos de Azevedo (Rodoviária). From there you can get buses or taxis to other points of the city.
A far less attractive option is to use the Airport Bus Service from EMTU that goes to Terminal Rodoviário Barra Funda and stop at Terminal Rodoviário Tietê, where you have to take an intercity bus to Campinas. This option is both more expensive and takes a longer time (about 3 hours) than the LiraBus direct bus, so it would typically only be used in an emergency.

By car

• From São Paulo, via the SP-330 Anhangüera or SP-348 Bandeirantes highways.
• From Vale do Paraíba, via SP-65,Dom Pedro I highway.
• From the Macro region of Mogi-guaçu, via SP-340, Adhemar de Barros Highway.
• From South (Valinhos and Vinhedo), via SP-91 (Campinas - Valinhos)
• From the Macro region of Sorocaba, via SP-75, Santos Dumont Highway)
• From the Monte-mor, via SP-101 (Campinas - Monte-mor)
• From Valinhos, via SP-83, Anel Viário Magalhães Teixeira
• From Indaiatuba, via SP-73, Lix da Cunha Highway (access for the Royal Palm Plaza)
• From Morungaba, via SP-81, Estrada das Cabras
• From Vinhedo, via SP-324, Miguel Melhado Campos Highway
• From Paulínia/Arthur Nogueira, via SP-332, General Milton Tavares de Souza Highway

By bus

Buses to Campinas arrive at Terminal Multimodal Ramos de Azevedo (Rua Dr. Pereira Lima - Centro), in (Botafogo). Bus tickets can even be reserved and purchased by Internet for the main bus companies. You would need to check on the bus station which company serves to a certain destination in particular.
Buses from São Paulo are however quite frequent (4-5 departures per hour) and reserving in advance is seldom necessary. The two companies that operate buses from São Paulo are Viação Cometa and Lirabus . The ticket costs R$25 and the trip takes about 1 hr 20 min (often more because of traffic in São Paulo).
However, do not use such buses if you just want to get to the Viracopos airport (there are buses from São Paulo that go directly to the airport).

By train

The only passenger train operating in Campinas is the weekend touristic ride to and from Jaguariúna (see #Do section). At some point in the future, Campinas is expected to be linked by high speed train to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and by commuter train to São Paulo and Jundiaí.

On foot

Downtown Campinas, containing most of the city's shopping and historical buildings, is a relatively large area but still easier to be explored on foot, given the large amount of traffic. The center of Sousas/Joaquim Egídio is also an excellent area to walk.
Other areas of Campinas don't offer much in terms of sightseeing, but calm, green suburbs like Parque Taquaral, Nova Campinas, and Cidade Universitária (in Barão Geraldo), can offer a nice leisurely stroll.

By bicycle

Campinas has a very limited network of cycleways; there is for instance one that links the center of the Barão Geraldo district with the UNICAMP, and another surrounding Parque Portugal. It is better to cycle in calmer suburbs, with small amount of traffic. Cycling is a popular means of transport for the students of UNICAMP.

By bus

Despite being a city with more than 1 million inhabitants, Campinas does not have any mass rapid transit system, although a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is under implementation. Buses are hence the only option of public transport; check the EMDEC company website for routes and itineraries.
As with most large Brazilian cities, buses are confusing, and can be overcrowded and slow (as they often get stuck in traffic), but they are relatively frequent and reach practically everywhere.
Although it is not easy to find where are the bus stops and which bus to catch, people on the street will be glad to help if they can understand you. There are several main bus terminals, where you can transfer from one line into another. Some urban buses even go to neighbor cities as Jaguariúna and Paulínia.
Campinas has adopted a prepaid smartcard for paying buses, the Bilhete Único, that allows you to take multiple buses in a 2-hour period paying only a single tariff (R$3,30 as of May 2013). A visitor can obtain a Bilhete Único for free in the main bus terminals, by bringing an identiy document and charging as little as R$9,00 (two tariffs).

By car

If driving a car, be aware that some avenues have been converted to one-way streets to form a ring around downtown. Sometimes it can be tricky to find your way back and be careful not to get into the wrong way on one of those avenues.
After 22:00 until 06:00, some traffic lights are turned off and just blink yellow. Don't be scared, this is not effect of a Martian invasion. For safety reasons, you are not supposed to be stopped at red lights late at night.
Be aware, however, that during normal hours red lights and speed are enforced by cameras everywhere in the city, so stick to the speed limits and don't cross red lights.

Downtown

Like many others large Brazilian cities, Campinas' Downtown suffers from urban degradation. However, it contains several buildings of historical and architectural value, many associated with São Paulo state's glorious coffee farming era between the 19th and 20th centuries.

• Catedral Metropolitana de Campinas

  phone: +55 19 3231-2085
  address: Praça José Bonifácio, no number - Centro
  Inaugurated in 1883, after more than 70 years of construction. It was finished by the famous local architect Ramos de Azevedo, wWith façade in Neoclassic style, and interiors in Baroque style. It is unique among churches in Brazil, by virtue of being entirely sculpted and carved in dark jacaranda wood.

• Praça Bento Quirino

  phone: 7
  This public square is where Campinas was founded, in 1773. It contains the Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Colégio Bento Quirino, Jóquei Clube Campineiro, a monument to the local politician Bento Quirino, and the graveyard and monument of the local opera composer Carlos Gomes (some of these are actually in the adjacent Praça Antonio Pompeo).

• Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Carmo

  phone: +55 19 3231-2327
  address: Praça Bento Quirino - Centro
  The former central church of Campinas, inaugurated during the foundation of the city. However, a large portion of the building was reconstructed in 1939, giving its current neo-Gothic appearance. Its nicely decorated interior is open to visit 7 days per week (check the website for the time table).

• Jóquei Clube Campineiro

  phone: +55 19 3232-1680
  address: Praça Antonio Pompeo, 39 - Centro
  The social quarters of the Campinas Jockey Club, built in 1925 in eclectic style with art nouveau and neo-Renaissance element. The building maintains its original function.

Solar do Visconde de Indaiatuba

address: Rua Barão de Jaguara, 1252 / 1276 - Centro

Built in 1846 in colonial style as a residence for a well-known aristocrat. Now it functions as a public notary.

Solar do Barão de Itapura

address: Rua Marechal Deodoro, 1099 - Centro

Mansion built in 1883, in Renaissance style, as a mansion for a local aristocrat. It hosts a private university.

• Museu de Imagem e Som de Campinas

  phone: +55 19 3733-8800
  address: Rua Regente Feijó, 859 - Centro
  Campinas' Image and Sound museum, located in a colonial-style mansion built in 1978 for a local aristocrat. Contains one of the few cinemas in the city where it is possible to watch non-mainstream movies.

• Capela da Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte

  address: Rua Benjamin Constant, 165 - Centro
  Small church built in 1978 in Imperial style. It is part of the Santa Casa de Misericórida hospital.

• Solar do Barão de Ataliba Nogueira

  address: Rua Regente Feijó, 1.087 - Centro
  Former aristocratic mansion built in neo-Renaissance style. It was used as a hotel and hosted two cultural centers that eventually were closed down.

• Campinas Central Station

  phone: +55 19 3705-8000
  address: Praça Marechal Floriano Peixoto - Centro
  Campinas' imponent central train station and one of the main postcards of the city. Inaugurated in 1872 and deactivated in 2001. It hosts now a (sporadically used) cultural center.

• Museu da Cidade

  phone: +55 19 3231-3387
  address: Avenida Andrade Neves, 33 – Centro
  Campinas city museum, that occupies the old factory of Lidgerwood Manufacturing, built in 1868 and deactivated in 1922. It is now a musem dedicated to the history and culture of the city, including the native-Brazilian communities that inhabited the area.

• Bosque dos Jequitibás

  phone: +55 19 3231-8795
  address: Rua Cel. Quirino, 02 - Bosque
  A public park and an Atlantic rainforest reserve just adjacent to Downtown. It contains a number of attractions: the Campinas Aquarium, Caso do Caboclo (a historical rural house), the Campinas Natural History Museum, a theater for children, and a minizoo.

• Colégio Culto a Ciência

  phone: +55 19 3232-3511
  address: Rua Culto à Ciência, 442 - Botafogo
  School founded in 1873 as private school, which used to be frequented by scholars and aristocrats. Now it is a public school.

• Igreja do Nazareno

  phone: +55 19 3234-5600
  address: Rua José Paulino, 1829 - Guanabara
  A former elastics fabric factory built in 1921 by an important local manufacturer. Now it is a temple of a protestant church.

• Antigo Colégio Sagrado Coração de Jesus

  address: Rua José Paulino, 1359 - Centro
  A female-only catholic school, in eclectic style, built in 1909. The school has transferred its activities to another building since 1980.

• Casa de Saúde Campinas

  phone: +55 19 3736-3400
  address: Praça Doutor Toffoli, 28 - Centro
  Built by the Italian community as a cultural and recreation center in 1881, becoming a hospital in 1918.

• Escola Estadual Carlos Gomes

  phone: +55 19 3231-3033
  address: Av. Anchieta, 60 - Centro
  A large public school constructed in 1903, and maintaining the same function. As of April 2013, it is in terrible condition; the state government has promised to restore the building.

• Palácio da Mogiana

  address: Av. Dr. Campos Sales, 427 - Centro
  Palace in eclectic style built in 1910 to be the headquarters of Companhia Mogiana de Estradas de Ferro, a rail company. The company ended its activities in 1972, so the palace is now, together with the Campinas Central station, a memory of the rail transport in the region.

• Igreja de São Benedito

  address: Rua Cônego Cipião, 772 - Centro
  Church built in 1885 in neoromantic style, intended to be a catholic temple for Afro-Brazilian slaves. The church was finished just a bit before the end of slavery in Brazil. In front of the church is the "Mãe-Preta" statue, constructed by freed Afro-Brazilians.

• Antigo Externato São João

  address: R. José Paulino, 479 - Centro
  Built in 1909 by the Catholic Church as a school for poor children. It stopped functioning as a school in 1994, and now it hosts charity and social work, still aimed at poor children.

Main district suburbs

• Parque do Taquaral

  phone: +55 19 3705-8000
  address: Av. Dr. Heitor Penteado, no number
  Excellent place for exercising, it is a favourite local spot for running, walking or ridding a bike. It is a very popular place among families and well recommended for kids. It contains a number of attractions:

• Lagoa do TaquaralThis lake is also known as Lagoa Isaura Teles Alves de Lima.

• Electric TramThe park has 3 km of track that carry four historic trams that served the city from 1912 to 1968.

• Beethoven AmphitheaterThis 2700-seat conch-shaped amphitheater is a replica of the one in New York City's Lincoln Park.

• Campinas Planetarium

  phone: +55 19 3252-2598
  Look for the pyramid-shaped building

Largo do Café

address: Av. Dr. Heitor Penteado, no number

This nice wooded park is a nice spot for birdspotting, a relaxed stroll, or a quiet read. It also contains the coffee museum:

• Museu do Café

  address: Av. Dr. Heitor Penteado, 2145
  Here one can learn about the history of the city and São Paulo State, the products that were cultivated and how they impact the state's (and nation's) economy and politics, and especially about the people who made it possible: slaves, immigrants and their descendants.

• EsPCEx

  phone: +55 19 3744-2042
  address: Av. Papa Pio XII, 350 - Jardim Chapadão
  A school for Army recruits, it is an impressive construction with beautiful colonial architecture. Visiting the interior of the facility, however, is only possible under appointment (check website for available times). Visiting the annex church does not require appointment, though.

• Casa Grande e Tulha

  address: Rua Arlindo Joaquim de Lemos, 1300 - Jardim Proença
  Remnants of Campinas oldest coffee farm, finished in 1830.

• Capela Santa Cruz

  address: Praça XV de Novembro - Cambuí
  The oldest surviving church of the city, in colonial style, built in an unknown date in the 18th century — it is older than the city.

• Liceu Salesiano Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora

  phone: +55 19 3744-6800
  address: R. Baronesa Geraldo de Resende, 330, Guanabara
  Built in 1897 by the Catholic church, it is an impressive construction and reputedly one of the best private schools of Campinas.

• Monsenhor Emílio José Salim Ecological Park

  phone: +55 19 3252-9888
  address: Rodovia Heitor Penteado, km3 - Vila Brandina
  This 247-acre park used to be part of an old coffee farm called "Mato Dentro". Landscaped by the renowned Brazilian landscape designer Burle Marx, it has the "Casa Grande" (Big House) museum, housed in what used the be the farm owners residence. You can see the disparities of the lifestyle of the farm owners and workers, as well as the local environment and ecology. You can also walk one of the many trails or take advantage of the sporting facilities, such as courts, fields and playgrounds. On Sundays there is an organic agriculture fair as well.

• Castle Tower

  phone: +55 19 3241-6931
  address: Praça 23 de Outubro
  A 27-meter castle-style water tower with an observation deck on top which provides fine views of much of the city.

• Cemitério da Saudade

  phone: +55 19 3734-6178
  address: Avenida da Saudade, 1880 - Ponte Preta
  Founded in 1880, this historical graveyard contains several sculptures of international artists, and graves of several famous campineiros. A must-visit is the Monumento aos Heróis de 32, a mausoleum containing the remnants of 34 campineiros who died in the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932.

Sousas and Joaquim Egídio

• Sousas CenterThe cozy district center of Sousas, around Rua Cel. Alfredo Augusto do Nascimento next to the Atibaia river, is an attraction on itself, with brick roads and several constructions from the coffee farming era (late 19th/early 20th century), like the Capela São Sebastião (constructed in 1889), the Igreja Matriz de Santana (1894), the subprefecture building (1912).

• Joaquim Egídio CenterThe district center of Joaquim Egídio is at Av. Dr. Heitor Penteado, a bit further from Sousas. It is small but charming area, also filled with historical constructions, like the Capela de São Joaquim e São Roque (constructed in 1870).

• Serviço de Saúdr Dr. Cândido Ferreira

  phone: +55 19 3758-8600
  address: Rua Antônio Prado, 430 - Sousas
  Psychiatric hospital founded in 1924.

• Capela de Santa Cruz

  address: Near Av. dos Expedicionários 91 - Sousas
  Simple wooden chapel built in the end of the XIX century. Not to be confused with the church of same name in Cambuí.

• Observatório Municipal de Campinas Jean Nicoli

  phone: +55 19 3298-8566
  address: Monte Urânia, Serra das Cabras, Joaquim Egídio
  An astronomical observatory open to visitors during Sundays, offering expositions, telescopic views and other activities.

Barão Geraldo

• Mata Santa Genebra

  phone: +55 19 3749-7200
  address: Rua Mata Atlântica, 447 - Bosque de Barão
  A large Atlantic forest reserve, with 2,5 million square meters. It contains some trekking options and a butterfly zoo.

• Campinas-Jaguariúna steam locomotive ride

  phone: +55 19 3207-3637
  address: Rua Dr. Antonio Duarte da Conceição 1.500
  Tourist steam locomotive ride starting at the historical Anhumas train station towards the Jaguariúna train station, in Jaguariúna. Only on weekends. Call or send an e-mail (in Portuguese) for prices, exact departure and return times.

• Ciclofaixa CampinasLike São Paulo, during Sundays and holidays several exclusive cycling lanes are open in Campinas. However, in Campinas these temporary cycling lanes remain open only until 13:00. There are two routes: the first links Lagoa do Taquaral (north) to Largo do Rosário (Downtown), and another links Parque Linear do Capivari (Downtown) to Bosque Augusto Ruschi (southeast). Check the website for maps and other information.

• Carduelis Birdwatching tours

  phone: +55-19-98100-8806
  Carlos Enrique conducts ornithological tours in Campinas or in and around São Paulo State.

Sports

• Estádio Brinco de Ouro da Princesa

  phone: +55 19 2136-3400
  address: Av. Imperatriz Dona Tereza Cristina, 11 - Jardim Proença
  Stadium of the Guarani football team, with capacity for 32,341 people.

• Estádio Moisés Lucarelli

  phone: +55 19 2101-7200
  address: R. Antônio Francisco de Andrade, 1900 - Jardim Proença
  Stadium of the Ponta Preta football team, with capacity for 19,728 people.

Theater and culture

For a city of its size, Campinas is somewhat underwhelming in terms of cultural options, mostly due to the proximity to São Paulo, that tends to get the most relevant performances and expositions. Theatrical performances are mostly in Portuguese; check websites such as for a list of ongoing performances in the Campinas metro area.

• Teatro Municipal José de Castro Mendes

  phone: +55 19 3272-9359
  address: Praça Correa de Lemos - Vila Industrial
  Campinas municipal theatre, hosting a variety of performances.

• Teatro Iguatemi Campinas

  phone: +55 19 3294-3166
  address: Av. Iguatemi, 777 - Vila Brandina
  Theatre that frequently hosts high-end performances. If you are fan of Brazilian soap operas, it is your best bet in the city to see famous TV actors.

• SESI Campinas

  phone: +55 19 3772-4100
  address: Av. dos Amoreiras - Parque Itália
  SESI Campinas offers a wide range of cultural activities, including concerts, theater and expositions, at low prices.

• Casa do Lago

  phone: +55 19 3521-1708
  address: Rua Érico Veríssimo, 1011 - Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz - Barão Geraldo
  Located inside the UNICAMP, Casa do Lago offers free expositions, performances and cult movie exhibitions during the weekdays.

• DowntownDowntown Campinas is the main shopping area of the city, and you probably can find cheaper products here than in the suburbs or shopping malls. A good place to start your shopping is the pedestrianized Rua Treze de Maio (where the Catedral Metropolitana sits), that contains all major chain stores like C&A, Pernambucanas and Americanas. Downtown streets shops are typically open M-F 08:00-19:00, Sa 08:00-17:00. During December, before Christmas, working hours are generally extended.

• Central Market

  phone: +55 19 3232-3679
  address: Av. Benjamim Constant, Praça Carlos Botelho - Centro
  Nice place to find exotic food and to feel the charm that Campinas had in its past. It is downtown close to two main bus stations, which takes some of this beauty away but makes the local easily accessible. It is a great spot for people watching.

• Hippie Fair

  phone: +55 19 3232-4168
  address: Praça Imprensa Fluminense, no number - Cambuí
  The art crafts fair now is officially called "Feira de Arte, Artesanato, Antiguidades, Esotéricos e Quitutes de Campinas" but with such a long name, all the locals still call it by its old and more charming name: Feira Hippie. The fair started in the 1970s and since then a lot has changed: its location, size, and products, and today actual hippie vendors are rare. This is a must-do in Campinas. It is possible to buy all kinds of arts and crafts: paintings, jewellery, clothes, house articles, shoes, bags, etc. The food section is an amazing trip through local and Brazilian cuisine: pasteis (fried dumplings), empanadas, and pies share space with regional food and as well as dishes brought by immigrants and fully adopted by the Brazilians, such as yakisoba and sushi.

Shopping malls

Like any decent-sized city in Brazil, there are a number of American-style shopping malls, typically including a food court, movie theater, and a variety of shops.

• Campinas Shopping

  phone: +55 19 3727-2300
  address: intersection of the Anhanguera and Santos Dumont Highways
  Easily accessible by car as it is in the intersection of 2 roads. With 168 shops.

• Galleria Shopping

  phone: +55 19 3207-1333
  address: Rodovia Dom Pedro I, km 131.5 - Jardim Nilópolis
  Shopping mall with a nicely decorated internal garden (with a waterfall), making it popular among couples. 208 shops.

• Iguatemi Campinas

  phone: +55 19 3131-4646
  address: Av. Iguatemi, 777 - Vila Brandina
  The oldest shopping mall of Campinas, containing 9 restaurants (in addition to the food court), 8 cinema rooms and a theatre. With 281 shops.

• Shopping Jaraguá Conceição

  phone: +55 19 3512-8999
  address: Rua Conceição 233 - Centro
  Located in Downtown Campinas and with small size, it is the only non-suburban shopping mall of the city. Working hours are similar to street shops (not open on Saturday evenings and Sundays). With 37 shops.

• Shopping Parque D. Pedro

  phone: +55 19 3756-7500
  address: Av. Guilherme Campos, 500 - Jardim Santa Genebra
  A very popular mall, not only for Campinas's citizens but for the whole region- tour buses arriving with visitors from neighboring cities is not uncommon. You can find pretty much anything you need in the almost 400 stores, but come prepared to walk. There are around 40 options of places to eat, 15 movie screens, bowling alley, gym and night clubs. If you are not inclined to crowds, try to avoid visiting it during weekends and holidays. Kids love this mall, where they can play in the themed resting places. The area where the mall was constructed was part of the Santa Genebra forest and some of the centenary trees that were cut down or found dead during construction were preserved through chemical processes and are now exhibited inside the mall. It is routine to see people taking pictures with the dead trees as background since the artist who worked on them really did an amazing job.

• Shopping Unimart

  phone: +55 19 3241-1071
  address: Avenida John Boyd Dunlop, 350 - Jardim Aurélia
  Shopping mall of more modest size, located not far from the city center. With 133 shops.

• Parque das Bandeiras Shopping

  phone: +55 19 3728-4000
  address: Av. John Boyd Dunlop, 3900
  The newest shopping mall of Campinas, the first constructed in the populous Southwest suburbs. With 280 shops.

While, like most of the state, Campinas has the fairly typical paulistano range of Italian, Japanese, Middle Eastern, and standard Brazilian food, it doesn't have anything much that might be called campineiro food. The two most notable things might be the local penchant for arugula salad (salada de rúcula) and the local lancherias' habit of serving their sandwiches cut into bite size pieces, dubbed the "angel-mouth cut" (corte boca-de-anjo). Among desserts, you should not miss the torta holandesa (Dutch pie) which, despite its name, was invented in Campinas.

Main district

• Almanara

  phone: +55 19 3255-0477
  address: Av. Iguatemi, 777
  Specializing in Middle Eastern dishes, or the Brazilian equivalent thereof, with esfiha, couscous, baba ghanouj, tabouli, falafel, and other dishes.

• Bar do Alemão

  phone: +55 19 3254-3148
  address: Av. Benjamin Constant, 1969
  Restaurant that started in the nearby city of Itu, which is famous for the extra size of everything, the restaurant follows the pattern of the city where it was created. Be sure to ask for the "Parmegiana" the most famous dish in the house: deep fried breaded beef, taken to the oven covered with cheese and tomato sauce, served with rice and french fries.

• Chef Theo

  phone: +55 19 3255-4333
  address: Rua Sampaio Ferraz, 175 - Cambuí

• Kilimanjaro Galleria

  phone: +55 19 3207-3332
  address: Rodovia Dom Pedro I, km 131.5

• Kilimanjaro Iguatemi

  phone: +55 19 3295-0051
  address: Av. Iguatemi, 777

Papai Salim

phone: +55 19 3235-3364

address: Av. Benjamin Constant, 1307

Middle Eastern food.

Pizzaria Braz

phone: +55 19 3251-4444

address: Av. Benjamin Constant, 1963

Rosário

phone: +55 19 3232-8400

address: Rua Gal Osório, 941

Steaks including file mignon and even Kobe beef, chicken and turkey dishes, pastas, seafood, and fish served Brazilian-style.

Via Castello

phone: +55 19 3284-3960

address: Avenida Doutor Alberto Sarmento, 516 - Bairro Castelo

Good pizza cooked in a big wooden oven.

Sousas and Joaquim Egídio

• Feijão com Tranqueira

  phone: +55 19 3298-6682
  address: Etr Joaquim Egídio Cabras
  Restaurant elected several times as "The Best of the City" for typical Brazilian food, and a visit there evokes the whole experience of countryside Brazil. The house speciality, as the name sugests, is feijão com tranqueira: bean soup cooked with bacon, sausages, sun dried meat and other delicious things. In their backyard, there is a mini-farm, and kids love to see the animals, walk around the lake and play on the playground.

Barão Geraldo

• Greg Burguers

  phone: +55 19 3289-6400
  address: R. Maria Tereza Dias da Silva, 664 (Estrada da Rhodia)
  Hamburguer restaurant.

While in terms of cultural options, Campinas is not quite what you expect from a metropolis, its nightlife will surely not disappoint you. Cambuí is the "city center" of bohemian life, but good bars can be found everywhere, Barão Geraldo including. Campinas' clubs, mostly contained in the affluent northern and eastern suburbs, attract crowds from the entire region. The musical scene is dominated by sertanejo (Brazilian country music) and electronic music, although there are options for all tastes, including MPB and rock'n'roll.

Main district

• Água Doce Cachaçaria - Cambuí

  phone: +55 19 3308-7416
  address: Dona Presciliana Soares, 118 - Cambuí
  Part of a large chain of cachaçarias. With 150 types of cachaça, Northeastern food, instrumental music on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, MPB music from Thursdays to Saturdays.

• Cachaçaria São Joaquim

  phone: +55 19 3295-3580
  address: Rua dos Contabilistas, 8 - Jd. Novo Cambuí
  Club specialized in live sertanejo.

• Celeiro Bar

  phone: +55 19 3256-1325
  address: Rua Luís Moretzshon Camargo, 18 - Jd. Santana
  Bar and sertanejo club. Serves several drinks based on cachaça.

• City Bar

  phone: +55 19 3252-5296
  address: Av. Júlio Mesquita, 450 - Cambuí
  Corner bar and snack shop with a happy hour atmosphere. If you get hungry, try their celebrated bolinho de bacalhau.

• Da Vinci Bar e Restaurante

  phone: +55 19 3294-8838
  address: Rua Sampaio Ferraz, 503 - Cambuí
  Bar that offers lunch 11:30-14:30 and live music after 19:00.

• Dom Quixote

  phone: +55 19 3295-6907
  address: Rua Sampaio Ferraz , 496 - Cambuí
  With live music without extra charge. Serves boca-de-anjo snacks.

• Funny's Club

  phone: +55 19 3367-0719
  address: Rua Bento de Arruda Camargo, 270 - Taquaral
  Club specialized in electronic music, with three different environments.

• GiovannettiThe most famous beer in town, with three locations:

• Giovannetti Cambuí

  phone: +55 19 3234-9510
  address: Rua Padre Vieira, 1277 - Cambuí

• Giovannetti Dom Pedro

  phone: +55 19 3209-1641

• Giovannetti Rosário

  phone: +55 19 3231-2830
  address: Rua General Osório, 1059 - Centro

Gold Street Club

phone: +55 19 3756-7888

address: Parque Dom Pedro Shopping - Santa Genebra

Upscale electronic music club. Despite its name, it is not located in the street but in a shopping mall. The different prices give access to different areas of the club.

Ópera 7

phone: +55 19 3201-2350

address: R. Bento Arruda Camargo, 256 - Taquaral

Club specialized in live music, including pop, rock and 80s bands.

Sebastian Bar

phone: +55 19 3212-1508

address: Rua Dona Maria Umbelina Couto, 79 - Guanabara

Specialized in live rock music, with two environments: bar (with tables) and dance floor.

Seo Rosa Bar

phone: +55 19 3255-1180

address: Rua Emilio Ribas, 567 - Cambuí

Often packed and known as a "flirting" bar.

Sousas and Joaquim Egídio

• Aldeia Santo Antônio

  phone: +55 19 3756-7888
  address: Rua Xavier Mayer, 80 - Sousas
  Club with sertanejo on Fridays and electronic music on Saturdays.

• Água Doce Cachaçaria - Joaquim Egídio

  phone: +55 19 3308-7416
  address: Avenida Dr. Heitor Penteado , 1147 - Joaquim Egídio
  The original Água Doce Cachaçaria shop. With 180 types of cachaça and overall 600 types of drinks.

Barão Geraldo

• Bar Lado B

  phone: +55 19 3249-0014
  address: Av. Albino José Barbosa de Oliveira, 1240

• Bagdá Café

  phone: +55 19 3289-0541
  address: Avenida Santa Isabel, 233
  Bar and Arab snacks.

• Empório do Nono

  phone: +55 19 3289-0041
  address: Av. Albino J. B. Oliveira, 1128 - Barão Geraldo

• Ponto 1

  phone: +55 19 3289-2378
  address: Rua Eduardo Modesto, 54 - Barão Geraldo
  Boteco. Th-Su live music

• Água Doce Cachaçaria - Cambuí

  phone: +55 19 3289-5464
  address: Av Dr. Romeu Tórtima , 593 - Barão Geraldo
  Part of a large chain of cachaçarias. With 200 types of cachaça and Northeastern food. Offers cheap chopp between 17:00-20:00.

• Ibis

  phone: +55 19 3731-2300
  address: Av Aquidaban 440 - Centro

• Mariano Palace Hoteis

  phone: +55 19 3232-8344
  address: Rua Saldanha Marinho, 1165
  Good breakfast included.

• Mercure Hotel

  phone: +55 19 3733-7700
  address: Avenida Aquidaban 400 - Centro

• Royal Palm Plaza

  phone: +55 19 2117-8000
  address: Av. Royal Palm Plaza, 277 - Jardim Nova Califórnia

• Sleep Inn Galleria

  phone: +55 19 2137-2200
  address: Av. Dr. Carlos Grimaldi, 1653 - Jardim Conceição

• Village Residence Hotel

  phone: +55 19 3243-0844
  address: R. Dr. Salvador Penteado, 176 - Bairro Castelo
  One of the cheapest hotel in Campinas. If you want to have a quiet place to stay this is the best place. It is simple but a decent place to stay.

• Travel Inn

  phone: +55 19 3045-8100
  address: Rua Major Solon, 535 - Cambuí

Campinas is pretty much similar to São Paulo in terms of crime problems. During the day, most of the city is considerably safe - exceptions are the "Crackland" area in the Botafogo neighborhood (Downtown) and some lower class suburbs. Fortunately, the intercity bus terminal has been moved from Botafogo, so there is no need anymore for a visitor to wander this area.
The Downtown area is not safe during the night and should be avoided. Cambuí and most affluent suburbs are relatively safe during the night, but take a cab or drive yourself if you have to walk anything more than a few blocks. If you just want to fool around during the evening, a safer bet is to go to one of the city's shopping malls.
The districts of Barão Geraldo, Sousas and Joaquim Egídio are safer than the main district, but crime does happen and staying alert to your surroundings during the night is always a good idea.

Campinas is just south of the Circuito das Águas Paulista (Paulista Water Circuit), a collection of mineral spring towns over the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range. Even if you are not interested in mineral springs, it is still worth a visit as it is a scenic area with cozy and charming towns, offering also options for radical sports and ecotourism.

• Águas de Lindóia - One of the most popular mineral spring towns of the state
• Amparo - The largest city of the Water Circuit, with an impressive XIX century heritage
• Jaguariúna - Famous for its annual rodeo and sertanejo festival
• Lindóia
• Monte Alegre do Sul - Lovely small town surrounded by beautiful nature
• Serra Negra - With lots of nature and "family-friendly" activities
• Socorro - Popular destination for shopping of locally made-clothes and radical sports

Outside the Circuito das Águas Paulistas, there are some other places worth a visit:

• São Paulo - The cosmopolitan state capital, with endless options of gastronomy and culture, is easily accessible from Campinas by bus
• Vinhedo - Containing the Wet'n'Wild and Hopi Hari theme parks, both only from Campinas
• Águas de São Pedro - Tranquil mineral spring town
• Holambra - The Brazilian "Little Netherlands", famous for its annual floral exposition