Experience in São Carlos, Brazil by Andzelika

What is it like to live in São Carlos? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Sao Carlos is a little city positioned around 250 km from Sao Paulo. There are 2 main top universities in Brazil, plus many universities around the city and that makes it so calles "student city". Nevertheless, that gives the huge spirit to the city - main entertaiments are organised by students for students.

Living in Sao Carlos is very calm, main spots are situated close all together, although to get to the farer places you need to use a bus or ask some firend for giving a lift, as public transport is rather poor.

Sao Carlos is not a metropoly where you will experience life in every possible way, but this is the place, where you will meet a lot of passionated people and the great minds gathered in one city dedicated for the best univercities in Brazil.

What is the student lifestyle like in São Carlos?

Following my first rewiev above, the best part of night life is just find a spot where the youngers make a party, although they are a few pubs where you can enjoy beer and music. However they are not cheap so it is your choice which option will you choose :)

How much does it cost to live in São Carlos?

Depands on the accomodation - they are privite rooms in students houses or apartments which you can share or rent of your own. These criteria are followed by the discrit (some of them are considered to be more dangerous than the others) and the conditions of the flat. The average price of apartment for two people is around R$ 1000 -1200, which makes R$ 600 per person. Not bad, right?

Is it difficult to find accommodation in São Carlos? Is there any advice you can give?

I find it is not as the number of republicas (houses rented by group of students - don't mistake with dormitories, it is not the same. Republicas are more similar to houses from american movies ;) ) and apartments to rent is high.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Food in Brazil has tendency to mix everything possible on the plate - this comes yet from colonial period. The same we can find in Sao Carlos - many restaurants offer food per kilogram and you can choose from open buffet. In that way Brazilians have a way to mix everything on the plate ;) Prices for them are around 40 r$ per kg.

What places would you recommend visiting in São Carlos?

Two campuses of University of Sao Paulo - these are the places where students work hard, but the atmosphere, nature and conditions can reward all the effort of studying. Even better when you are just visitior, not a student ;)

However, my favourite place so far was the Ecological Park in UFScar - the second univercity here. It was like a little..wait..quite big zoo with all the species coming from Brazil. What is more, it was for free and had delicious ice-creams. The only disadvantage of this place is the distance - not very close to the center.

Is it good to eat out in São Carlos? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

There are many places to eat, some worse, some better and it really depands on the taste. I personally like "mamae natureza" as they serve delicious vegetarian food, but tiny bars with snacks (snacks in the size of tiny loaf of bread :p) are very tasty too. Many people reccomend restaurants with grilled food (churrasco)- something what Brazilians simply adore, so they are worth to try either.

Is the nightlife good in São Carlos? Where is good to go?

BlackBird, GiG and few more pubs, which are nice, but expensive as they are only FEW in the city ;) Lifenight is quite poor for outsiders, but stay with the students and they will show you the right way to party.

What advice would you give future students heading to São Carlos?

Don't come if you like big metropolies - come if you enjoy litties towns. Traffic jam here doesn't steal time ;)