GRU or Congonhas: which airport are you using?
São Paulo has two main airports on opposite sides of the city. Guarulhos (GRU) is the international airport in the neighbouring city of Guarulhos, north-east of the centre. Congonhas (CGH) sits inside the city's south zone.
The GRU routes below are long enough that the choice between train, bus and taxi matters. From Congonhas the distances are shorter, and the section near the end covers it.
How do you get from GRU to São Paulo by train?
The train is the cheapest option, but it does not stop at the terminal doors. GRU Airport's train page says Aeroporto-Guarulhos station is next to the Terminal 1 parking area, and that a free shuttle links it to every terminal: one route runs via Terminals 1 and 3, another serves Terminal 2 directly.
Once at the station you have two services on the same Line 13 Jade tracks.
- Expresso Aeroporto. CPTM's airport page describes it as the fastest option, running to Palmeiras-Barra Funda at the standard R$ 5.40 fare, with luggage areas on board. CPTM's timetable lists departures from the airport between 05:00 and midnight, stopping at Guarulhos-CECAP, Brás and Luz. It runs to a fixed timetable rather than every few minutes, so check the next departure before you walk to the platform.
- Regular Line 13 train. It runs to Engenheiro Goulart, where GRU Airport says you change to Line 12 Safira towards Brás. GRU gives Line 13 hours as Sunday to Friday 04:00 to midnight, and Saturday 04:00 to 01:00.
Luz and Brás are both interchange stations with the São Paulo Metrô, so from there you can continue to Avenida Paulista, Sé or the Jardins. Check at the gate how your ticket handles the transfer.
The Airport Bus Service
The executive coaches are the road alternative, and the only public service that goes direct to Congonhas or the Paulista hotels. GRU Airport's bus page says the Airport Bus Service leaves from the Terminal 2 East Arrivals bus terminal between 06:00 and 22:00. Tickets are sold at a counter, from self-service machines in Terminal 2 West and Terminal 3, online, or from the driver.
EMTU publishes the lines and fares:
| Line | Destination | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| 472EX1 | Tietê bus terminal | R$ 43.45 |
| 472 | Barra Funda bus terminal | R$ 46.55 |
| 316 | Hotel circuit (Paulista) | R$ 50.75 |
| 258 | Congonhas airport | R$ 50.75 |
| 257 (suburban) | Metrô Tatuapé | R$ 8.35 |
Line 257 is an ordinary EMTU suburban bus rather than a coach, and GRU Airport says it boards at Terminal 2 West. It ends at the Tatuapé metro station.
Taxis at GRU
GRU Airport's taxi page names Guarucoop as the exclusive airport taxi service, with a fleet of 650 air-conditioned vehicles. Its desks are in Terminal 1, in Terminal 2 Arrivals East and West, and in Terminal 3 Arrivals, all on +55 11 2440-7070.
The airport does not publish a fare to the city. Ask at the Guarucoop desk for the price to your address before you get in, and ask whether it is fixed or metered. A road trip from Guarulhos into the centre is exposed to São Paulo's traffic, so allow much more time at rush hour than the train needs.
Which GRU option is best for you?
This table combines fares, hours and the kind of trip each option suits.
| Option | Cost per person | Runs | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expresso Aeroporto | R$ 5.40 | 05:00 to midnight departures | You are heading to Luz, Brás or Barra Funda, or the metro |
| Line 13 + Line 12 | R$ 5.40 | 04:00 to midnight (Sat 01:00) | You miss the Express, or land very early |
| Airport Bus Service | R$ 43.45 to R$ 50.75 | 06:00 to 22:00 | You go to Congonhas or a Paulista hotel with bags |
| Guarucoop taxi | Quote at desk | Ask at desk | You are a group, land late, or go door to door |
Worked example, one person. The train costs R$ 5.40 plus the shuttle, which is free. The hotel-circuit coach costs R$ 50.75, over nine times as much, and is worth it only if the coach stops at or near your hotel and you want to avoid the station and the metro change.
Worked example, four people with luggage. Four train fares cost 4 x R$ 5.40 = R$ 21.60, but mean four cases on the shuttle, the train and a metro transfer. Four hotel-circuit coach tickets cost 4 x R$ 50.75 = R$ 203.00. That R$ 203.00 is your benchmark: ask the Guarucoop desk for a quote to your address, and if it is at or below that figure, the taxi gives a group the same price with no changes and a drop-off at the door.
Late arrivals
The latest options run out in this order. The Airport Bus Service stops at 22:00 on GRU Airport's page, Expresso Aeroporto departures end around midnight on CPTM's timetable, and Line 13 finishes at midnight from Sunday to Friday, or 01:00 on Saturday. After that, Guarucoop is the airport's own option.
Getting into the city from Congonhas (CGH)
Aena, which runs Congonhas, lists three taxi operators in the South Wing, on the ground floor and in the basement: Rádio Táxi, Táxi Comum and Ponto 606, with hours listed as 06:00 to 23:00.
The cheapest route, according to Aena, is metro Line 1 Blue at São Judas station, linked to the terminal by city buses 609J-10 and 875A-10. The Airport Bus Service also calls at Congonhas, with Aena listing it from 06:00 to 21:00, which is the service to use for a direct GRU connection.
For the rest of your trip, see our guide to paying in Brazil with Pix, cards and cash. If you are flying on to Rio, our Rio airport guide covers Galeão and Santos Dumont, and our guide to renting a car in Brazil explains São Paulo's rodízio plate restriction.