Itaquera, and the way the East Zone connects

Itaquera carries a good deal of the East Zone's daily life. The area around the Corinthians-Itaquera transport hub brings subway and rail services together with shopping and public space, and it is the reference point most people in São Paulo use when they talk about this side of the city. From there the rest of the metropolis opens up without much effort.

Match days and concerts at Neo Química Arena fill the surrounding streets with people, and the stadium is the main reason many visitors travel into the region at all. For something calmer, Sesc Itaquera spreads across a large green site with pools, sports facilities and a cultural programme that runs through the year, and it is used by residents rather than tourists.

Parque Guarani itself is residential and quiet by comparison. Expect neighbourhood bakeries, small restaurants, pharmacies and everyday shops instead of a visitor strip, which is a large part of why the hotel suits guests who are in São Paulo to get things done. Tietê Ecological Park sits a short drive north for anyone with a free morning and an interest in open space.

Guarulhos International Airport is roughly nine kilometres away, which makes this a workable base for early departures and late arrivals without staying inside an airport hotel.