What is the main airport called?
São Paulo/Guarulhos – Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU). It is the primary international airport serving São Paulo, Brazil. It is popularly known locally as either Cumbica Airport or Guarulhos Airport.
Arriving in São Paulo
The helpful staff at São Paulo Airport will greet you when you land and assist you with your travel needs. Once you collect your bags from the arrivals area, there are various transport options available to get you on your way.
Getting into São Paulo from São Paulo Airport
Getting into downtown São Paulo is easy, with a range of transport options to suit your needs. Choose from public transport, taxi, ride share, hotel transfers or car rental. There are several bus services available from São Paulo Airport. EMTU offers routes to different destinations such as Tietê and Barra Funda bus terminals, Transurbano provides transportation to some regions of Guarulhos on bus lines 331 and 488. LIRABUS has special bus lines that provide a shuttle service between Campinas and GRU Airport. Some airlines offer shuttle bus services to passengers with connecting flights in São Paulo Airport and also to Congonhas. You can take an express train from GRU Airport and get to São Paulo and the station is located close to terminal 1. There is a free shuttle from the airport to the station. Taxis are available outside each terminal and the trip time takes approximately 30 minutes. Alternatively, you may like to request a car through the Uber app to get to your destination. If you wish to explore more of São Paulo, it’s possible to rent a car from one of the car rental companies located outside arrivals.
Getting around São Paulo
Public transport, taxis, cycling, ride-share, walking and tours are various options to get around São Paulo. The São Paulo Metro is generally efficient, though its often crowded. It’s one of the largest metro systems in South America and is one of the best ways to travel around the centre of São Paulo. Trains are mostly used for long distance travel to nearby cities. Buses are another option, though there can be some traffic and operate through various routes through the city. Taxis are a convenient option, most drivers speak only Portuguese, so it’s best to have your destination written down in English or you may wish to request an Uber for a safe way to travel. Cycling is a popular way to get around, with a network of dedicated bike lanes in the city and it's easy to hire a bike from one of the many bike stations. Lastly, you may wish to join a guided tour to see the city sights.