Sao Paulo Airport Information

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Copyright (c) 2013 Philip Lord

Sao Paulo is Brazil's largest city and a world financial powerhouse. It has two airports, the international airport, Guarulhos (GRU), and domestic only Congonhas (CGH) airport. Guarulhos airports are often very busy and can be an absolute transportation hell at times.

Sao Paulo International Airport, Guarulhos (GRU)

Although the official name is Guarulhos-Governador Andre Franco Montoro, it is more commonly referred to as Aeroporto Internacional Guarulhos de Sao Paulo. Guarulhos (pronounced gwa-RULE-yoos) sits 21 kilometres northeast of central Sao Paulo and a semi-direct public bus runs from the airport to the Tatuap subway station. From there a one-way subway trip will cost about $1.50. The specialized Airport Bus Service is around $17.50 each way with a journey time of 1 to 2 hours, depending on traffic, and connects Guarulhos airport with quite a few major hotels, the main bus terminal, and Sao Paulo's various business districts as well as Congonhas airport.

Taxi from Sao Paulo Airport

Taxi cabs can be obtained at the airport and at pontos de taxi throughout the city. All cabs have meters and most now come with GPS monitors that the passenger can see from the backseat. Most drivers, however, speak very little English. Taxis between Guarulhos and central Sao Paulo cost about $100 to $120 one way, regardless of traffic (journey time is somewhere between 45 minutes to 2 hours). Guarucoop is the exclusive provider of taxi services from the airport, which means they have the monopoly, but any cab company may drop passengers off at Guarulhos. Be aware that not all international credit cards will work at the Guarulhos taxi booth and therefore prebooking a taxi is recommended. An excellent company offering taxis from Sao Paulo airport to city hotels is Sao Paulo Airport Transfers who provide an online booking service and free call number from the USA and United Kingdom.

Keep in mind that one of the world's most mind-boggling evening rush hours coincides with check-in times for night departures to North America and Europe and therefore the journey from the city to Guarulhos airport can take as long as 3 hours.

Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport

Sao Paulo's domestic-only airport is the Aeroporto de Sao Paulo, Congonhas and is 8 kiolmetres south of downtown Sao Paulo. Congonhas airport is connected to the Sao Judas subway station via bus 675I-10. Taxis from Congonhas airport to Sao Paulo hotels and business districts cost anywhere from $25 to $50, depending on traffic. As mentioned, pre-booking with Sao Paulo Airport Transfers may be the easiest option and ensures a fixed rate.

Guarulhos Hotels

Within Guarulhos airport, Fast Sleep offers small sleep cabins with an external shower (if you need just a few hours to nap and freshen up), as well as "suites" with private bathrooms. For full-service hotels in the area, both the Marriott and the Caesar Park are located on the airport's periphery, with free shuttle service to the terminals. Less expensive options, such as the Mercure and the Hotel Monaco, are located in the Guarulhos city.

Congonhas Hotels

Congonhas is located within a developed area of Sao Paulo and therefore there is a choice of several nearby hotel, including the Blue Tree Premium, the Ibis and the Transamerica.

Time to fill at Guarulhos Airport

The mediocre and expensive shopping and dining options means that Guarulhos is not a great place to spend longer than you have to. Wi-Fi is available, but only free for departing passengers, who can get the password from any of the information kiosks in the terminal by showing their boarding pass. Like a lot of places in Brazil, the people-watching is great.

Time to fill at Congonhas Airport

Tthe well-kept Congonhas airport still has a touch of the glamour of early air travel, and the excellent mural of Brazil on the departures level would delight any Art Deco aesthete.Unfortunately the food options are merely adequate with the usual overpriced coffee and snack bars.

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