The fastest way to travel around downtown is by Sao Paulo's Subway system. It's fast, reliable and clean, selected this year as the best public service offered in the city. The subways is set  so that the blue line travels north/south and the red line tracks East/West. The short green line roams underneath Avenida Paulista towards West. Purple line attends North by Santo Amaro and Morumbi, where some business takes place. Yellow line is under construction, should be ready in a couple of years. Though this means the options are limited at times outside the center of the city, the service is efficient when touring the city center and popular touristic places, check its website for further information. These Subways are available conveniently between 5AM to midnight. At peak times, it runs less than 1 minute gap, so don't worry if you missed it.  PDF map

The subway rate is BRL 2.30 and it doesn't offer passes. You need to pay each ride. There are 2 common transfer stations at Sé Station (orange and blue line) and Ana Rosa (blue and green line), you don't need to pay for transfers inside Subway. 

You can buy at almost every subway station (red booths) a card called Bilhete Unico, it works as a credit card, you need to buy a card and add few bucks on it. It works at major subway and train stations and bus lines. For bus, it works for 2 hours, you can change bus up to 4 times during this period. Each traveller must have their own card if using it for transfers, otherwise each trip will be charged. Using the Bilhete Unico grants you a rate of BRL3.30 for one subway ride and bus ride up to 2 hours (only bus). Normal rate is BRL 2.30 subway and also BRL 2.30 bus.

Another popular ground transportation is public buses, covering all the city. Bus Stops differ in each distric and may not even have it written. Waiting time varies, especially in hush hour, but most buses lines are schedule for a 8 minute gap between one and another. The buses can be very very packed with commuters especially during rush hour around 5 pm to 7pm. The buses run 4AM-midnight. It's very difficult to find a route, you should ask at hotels or Visitors Centre booths, because the website does not offer English and it's hard to use even for locals due the city size and number of lines.

The standard taxis available at the airport, can also be found anywhere around town. They are usually White color. There are many stops for taxi in the city. Most drivers probably won't speak English. The more reliable taxi, the Radio Taxis, are better and safer choices for tourists.   (i.e. Radio Taxi Sao Paulo (+55 011 251 1733) or Radio Taxi Vermelho e Branco (+55 011 251 1733) ). Some Taxi agencies offers city tours for a fixed rate, like São Paulo Taxi tour, with English speaker driver.

You may also rent a car, but since there is so much traffic in Sao Paulo and expensive parking rates, driving is not always recommended. There are certain streets marked as "Zona Azul", you need to buy a parking ticket before, otherwise you may get a fine. If the street does not have a Zona Azul sign, you can park. Downtown and Paulista zones usually have Zona Azul, so pay attention. Private Parking usually is charged by hour (from BRL2 to 6 per hour) or day (BRL 5 -10). In order to rent a car in Sao Paulo, drivers will need a credit car, a drivers license and a passport. You can rent a car at airports and at main avenues (Consolação in downtown, Paulista avenue in Paulista area) in well known stores as Hertz, Avis and Brazilian Localiza. Hotels may offer parking for their customers.

 There are private tourism agencies who offers tours in the city (mini vans) and walking tours in the downtown historical city centre.