Congonhas Airport is named after the village near São Paulo where it was built in the 1930s. It's now one of three airports that serve the huge Brazilian city. It was formerly a very busy important hub and has a busy passenger terminal that is an acclaimed piece of modern architecture, although Congonhas is now purely a domestic airport. Visitors who hire a car at Congonhas Airport soon find it no longer stands in the countryside but in the Campo Bela district of São Paulo, with high-rise blocks in all directions. The city centre is five miles to the northwest.
São Paulo is Brazil's biggest city, and the seventh largest in the world, so visitors who hire a car at Congonhas Airport can explore a vast array of urban attractions. The highlights include the 1930s Banespa, the ‘Empire State Building' of Brazil, with great views over the city from the top. Elsewhere there's Brazil's largest zoo with an incredible 3,000 animal species, the imposing Museum of Art standing on pillars above the street, and the historic landmarks like the Municipal Theatre, the domed Cathedral and grand Paulista Museum. Don't forget though that's it's also a city that's perfect for browsing designer shops, chic coffee bars and bustling markets.
