Ditch the introductory guidebook for a crash course on all things Sampa with your savvy host in the city central, gliding past palm tree-lined squares at the towering neo-gothic epicenter of the sprawling city, Catedral de Sé, and dart along cobblestone streets dotted with 18th-century architecture to the founding spot of a now larger-than-life city. The National Theater dripping in embellishments and angelic statues await, the wonder along the bustling city and drop a pin at the Mercadão market teeming with locals to visit on the rest of your trip. Skip along the shadows of skyscrapers in economic hub Avenida Paulista, before meandering in the streets turned canvases in alleyway Beco de Batman, around the corner from your host's favorite local snack spot.