Flying from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo: what you need to know
Countless great adventures start at one of Rio De Janeiro's main airports, Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) or Santos Dumont Airport (SDU). Explore the options for booking a flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo leaving from either of these.
When it comes to landing in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) is a major gateway. Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) is another.
The average duration of a direct Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight is 1 hour 15 minutes.
Sao Paulo's timezone is UTC-3, which is the same as Rio De Janeiro.
The busiest route for flights from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo is from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU). Choose from 96 weekly services between these two airports. If you want to maximise your time on arrival, the earliest flight from GIG to GRU is the 04:00 Gol service. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the final scheduled service is at 23:55 with Gol.
For hassle-free travel, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. That way, you can comfortably board your Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight.
During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for international flights when you fly during a peak period in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo
Right now, R 496 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo. The cheapest price for a return flight is R 1,140. Remember fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
Book five months before you want to travel. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo flights.
The best month for scoring cheap plane tickets from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo is August. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare flight prices, then select the dates offering the lowest fares.
Finding a cheap flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as the price has dropped.
Find an affordable Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight with the help of our filters. Select your ideal duration, departure time and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Rio De Janeiro
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)
Take off from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) on a direct flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo. You can jet right into these Sao Paulo airports from GIG:
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
Well-known carriers that offer direct Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo plane tickets departing from GIG include:
The journey from central Rio De Janeiro to GIG takes about 1 hour 5 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a cab, you'll cover the 13 kilometres in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Have an early flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo? Avoid the stress of rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these stays close to Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport:
Of all flights departing from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport, 79.57% touch down on time at their destination.
Arriving in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
The distance from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to central Sao Paulo is roughly 21 kilometres. It'll take you around 30 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It typically takes 1 hour 20 minutes to get there on public transport.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping not long after at one of these hotels near GRU:
Follow your own route with a Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Foco, Localiza or Movida and chase adventure across Sao Paulo and beyond.
To get the best deal, book your vehicle from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport about two weeks ahead of your Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight.
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
After your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo has touched down, you can reach the city centre in around 15 minutes by car. Central Sao Paulo is approximately 8 kilometres from Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH).
The trip will take about 35 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo, settle in at a hotel close to VCP. These are some comfortable options that'll help you switch to relaxation mode:
Foco, Localiza and Movida make collecting a Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport rental car easy and quick. These suppliers are located in or around the terminal and will have you ready to go in a flash.
Score the best price by securing your ride from CGH three weeks ahead of time. You can also expect to have a greater selection of vehicles.
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
Step off your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo and travel to your hotel or start exploring right away. Central Sao Paulo is around 80 kilometres from Viracopos Airport (VCP) and typically takes 1 hour 15 minutes to drive there.
Public transport will take you there in roughly 3 hours 25 minutes.
Whether you'd like a zippy compact for a solo getaway or an SUV to fit the family, you'll find the ideal Viracopos Airport rental car for you. Explore wheels available here from companies such as Foco, Localiza and Movida.
If you're searching for a specific kind of vehicle, book your ride from VCP around four weeks ahead of your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo. This gives you a higher chance of getting your preferred car, as well as a better price.
Best time to go to Sao Paulo
It's time to work out your trip dates for your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo. July is the busiest month to visit Sao Paulo. If you like a more relaxed vibe, go in April.
The warmest month in Sao Paulo is February, with temperatures ranging between 18ºC (64ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF). Lock in your Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
July sees average temperatures of between 12ºC (54ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF). Look for cheap flights from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo around that time if you like cooler conditions.
More about Sao Paulo
After booking your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Sao Paulo:
Sao Paulo Museum of Art and Ibirapuera Park are a couple of leading attractions to put on your Sao Paulo travel itinerary. Keep the momentum going by heading to Paulista Avenue.
Explore more of Brazil
You've seen Sao Paulo, now it's time to explore other corners of Brazil. Travel around 499 kilometres north-east to Belo Horizonte to check off its top attractions. From Abilio Barreto Historical Museum to Matiz Arte Objeto and Deck Vertedouro, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
Curitiba is another well-known destination in Brazil and is around 338 kilometres south-west of Sao Paulo. No journey is complete without visiting Jardim Botanico de Curitiba, Museu Oscar Niemeyer and Largo da Ordem.
