The biggest city on the São Paulo coast, Santos is the home of the largest container port in South America. At the turn of the 20th century, the local economy was focused on coffee exports, which contributed to the city's wealth and development. Lined with neoclassical buildings, the cobblestone streets of the historic center are compact enough to explore on foot. The main attraction here, though, is the coastline, a full 7 km (4½ miles) long, and adorned with a large beachfront garden. Try visiting on weekdays or Saturday.
The return to São Paulo on Sunday afternoon can be nightmarish, particularly when the sun has been shining and paulistanos have descended en masse to the closest beach to the city.
