For a pleasant escape from Sao Paulo’s traffic, hop on one of the city’s modern electric commuter trains and ride to the end of the line. You’ll discover that the seemingly endless urban sprawl is finite after all. Several of the lines reach rural areas with relatively quiet roads to walk along or pleasant, rather sleepy towns that will provide a welcome slowdown from the urban hulabaloo.
(On occasion, I’d unwind by getting off at the end of the line and then walking back to a previous stop before reboarding. You can buy a daily rail pass that lets you do this.)
The route to Jurubatuba was especially interesting; following a canal with wide, grassy parkways and ending in a quiet, park-like town with a marina just across from the station. There, one could also board an antique diesel-powered rail motor car and ride further down the line. Alas, it broke down a few minutes after I boarded it. I had better luck at Itapevi, where a similar but less wheezy car took me out to the sleepy town of Amador Bueno. (It means ‘Good Lover’ --- need I say more?)
The busiest commuter rail terminal consists of two passageway-connected stations, Bras and Roosevelt, with four lines originating fom them. Another busy one is Barra Funda, with an attractive line west to the aforementioned Itapevi. Metro Linha 3 will take you to either. If you take my suggested walking tour, you can board the first train that comes along, in either direction, at Luz Station. One will take you west to Barra Funda; the other will take you east to Bras/Roosevelt.
There are many more things to see and do in the greater Sao Paulo area than theaters, fountains and world-class traffic. The train is a cheap and pleasant way to get out of town and experience them.