Getting to and from the Airport in São Paulo

Rebeca Duran

Staff Writer
The Brazil Business

Updated

31 October 2013

Are you going to São Paulo, but don't you have any clue about how to get to or from the Airport? This article gives the most important aspects about how to get around by public transit such as metro, train, and bus or by rental car and taxi.

The main problem when using cars and buses to get to the airport is the risk traffic. In big cities like São Paulo the traffic can be so unpredictable that, even out of the rush hour, the possibility of being stuck in traffic is great.

That's why the metro would be the safest alternative to get to an airport. In São Paulo, due to the proximity of the 2014 World Cup, two projects are in progress: a new train and a monorail, that will have stations in Guarulhos and Congonhas Airports respectively. Both aim to facilitate the passenger’s transportation inside the big city.

Congonhas Airport (São Paulo)

The Congonhas Airport is also known as the Airport of São Paulo, although it only has domestic flights, it’s the third busiest airport in Brazil. Located in the city of São Paulo, in the neighborhood of Vila Congonhas in the Campo Belo district, the Airport is about 11 kilometers away from the city center.

By Car Rental

At Congonhas Airport, it's possible to rent a car from different car rental companies. Company counters are located all over the passenger terminals. In order to rent a car, the passenger must go to one of the counters and ask for the service. The car rental companies operating at Congonhas and their respective telephone numbers are the following:

• Avis: + 55 (11) 2445 4294 and 2445 4345
• Hertz: + 55 (11) 2445 2107
• Lolcaliza: + 55 (11) 2445 2133 and 2445 2097
• Locar Alpha: + 55 (11) 3133 0555
• Unidas Aluguél de Carros: + 55 (11) 2445 4771.

By Taxi

Differing from some airports, Congonhas doesn't have any association with taxi companies. The taxis that served the airport passengers are common taxis, which have taxi stands located in the outside area of the departure area. Below there's the contact number of some of this stops:

• Cooperativa Táxi Comum: + 55 (11) 5533 6631
• Rádio Taxi Vermelho e Branco: + 55 (11) 5532 0676
• Cooper Luxo: + 55 (11) 3951 8849.

By Private Bus, City Bus or Metro

For those who want to use the metro to get to Congonhas Airport, the nearest station to it is the Station São Judas (blue line of the metro). The route between the station and the Airport must be done through the bus line 675I - Terminal Jõao Dias that passes next to the airport. In order to get from the airport to the metro, the same bus can be taken since this bus makes the return trip, but with a different name: Metrô São Judas.

To get by bus to or from the Congonhas Airport or other destinations in São Paulo, the best option is to use the online tool of the SPTrans, the São Paulo transportation system. The tool allowed the localization of every bus line that passes near the Airport of Congonhas.

Cumbica Airport (Guarulhos)

The International Airport of Garulhos – also known as GRU or Cumbica Airport – is the main and busiest airport in Brazil. GRU is located in the State of São Paulo in the city of Garulhos from 25 kilometers of São Paulo city center.

By Car Rental

In the GRU Airport different companies provide car rental services. The company counters are located in the passengers terminal 1 and 2 in the departure area. Below there's the car rental companies operating in GRU Airport and their respective telephone numbers:

• Avis: + 55 (11) 2445 4294 and 2445 4345
• Budget: + 55 (11) 2445 2262
• Hertz: + 55 (11) 2445 2107
• Lolcaliza: + 55 (11) 2445 2133 and 2445 2097
• Movida: + 55 (11) 2445 4638
• Unidas Aluguél de Carros: + 55 (11) 2445 4771.

By Taxi

To leave the Garulhos Airport by taxi, the cooperative Guarocoop it's the best choice. The cooperative is authorized by the airport to work exclusively there, conceding services with tabulated prices.

The company also offers 24 hours services with bilingual drivers and receptionists. Its fleet is comprised of more than 650 vehicles, all with air-conditioning. To get in touch with Guarocoop the company's number is +55 (11) 2440-7070.

But how do you get to the Airport? One method is to go to Guarulhos Airport using the cooperative Guarocoop, another way is by using radio taxi companies. These companies work in all of São Paulo city and provide very reliable services hired through telephone.

• Radio Taxi Vermelho e Branco: + 55 (11) 3146-4000
• SP Taxi: + 55 (11) 5074 0000
• Chame Taxi: + 55 (11) 3103-8100.

The passenger must dial the number, inform the pickup address and the intended destination to the attendant, that will find a vehicle close to the passenger. They will call back informing how long the taxi will take to arrive to the address. There's no need to schedule the radio taxi services, but it's recommendable to do so in order to avoid delays.

By Private Bus, City Bus or Metro

A popular option for passengers to get to or from the airport is public transportation. At GRU, the Airport Bus Service named as EMTU/SP provides a service of executive and suburban bus lines to attend the airport passengers with a lot of destinations.

The executive lines are more expensive than the suburban ones, at 36.50 BRL the value of the tariff plus the departure tax of 1.50 BRL in Barra Funda and Tietê Bus Terminals. The lines of this type offered by Airport Bus Service are:

The suburban lines are probably the cheapest alternative for passengers to get to or from the GRU Airport, but unfortunately they only offer one destination: Metro Station Tatuapé located in the eastern part of São Paulo. The tariff value is 4.45 BRL charged only for the following lines:

• 257 Guarulhos (Aeroporto Internacional de São Paulo)/São Paulo (Metrô Tatuapé)
• 299 Guarulhos (Aeroporto Internacional de São Paulo)/São Paulo (Metrô Tatuapé).

The Airport Bus Service only lets passengers circulate inside the São Paulo city. To bring or take passengers from or to countryside and coastal destinations, bus companies like Caprioli, Pássaro Marrom, Litorânea and Viação Cometa are the best options. All of them work in GRU Airport in the passengers terminals 1 and 2 in the disembarking floor.

Viracopos Airport (Campinas)

The Viracopos International Airport – VCP – is located in Campinas, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It's an important air traffic hub in Brazil and the largest air cargo center of South America. It is important for passenger traffic as well. The Airport is located on the Santos Dumont Highway, from 14 km of Campinas and 99 km from São Paulo.

By Car Rental

Viracopos Airport, just like the other airports, it has rental car company counters inside the airport area. So, in order to rent a car to or from Viracopos all you have to do is contact one of the companies below:

• Rogério Veículos Rent a Car: + 55 (19) 3241 4141
• Viracopos Viagens: + 55 (19) 3229 1945

By Taxi

At Viracopos, the cooperative Aerocoop provide taxi services for the users of the airport. The taxi cooperative has a fleet of 65 vehicles and the station is right in front of the passenger terminals, there's an attendance counter designated to accept credit cards payments, such as Master Card, Visa and Amex. To pay in cash, the person should speak directly to the taxi driver.

To more information: + 55 (19) 3725 5008.

By Private Bus, City Bus and Metro

There's no metro system in Campinas, but there's many buses lines working in Viracopos. The bus lines below offer transportation to and from Viracopos:

• Line 1.93: Viracopos – Bus Station and Central Terminal
• Line 1.98: Viracopos – Ouro Verde Terminal
• Line 1.96: Jardim Fernanda/Chácara Pouso Alegre – Ouro Verde Terminal.