Travelling from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH): What you need to know
Your next great adventure starts at one of Rio De Janeiro's main airports, Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) or Santos Dumont Airport (SDU). Check out your options for booking a flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) jetting off from either of these.
Expect to be in the air for 1 hour 20 minutes. That's the average journey time for a direct Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport flight.
Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo (where Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport is located) share the UTC-3 timezone. That means you won't need to adjust your watch once you land.
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) is the most popular route. There are 27 direct departures a week to pick from. If you prefer starting your day later, take the last flight with Gol at 8:35pm. Go for the first GIG to CGH departure with Gol at 8:50am if you want to get going earlier.
Give yourself enough time to catch your flight from Rio De Janeiro to CGH. Generally, it's best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
In high season, expect longer queues and be there earlier. Aim for at least two hours ahead for domestic flights and up to four hours for international trips.
Airports in Rio De Janeiro
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) provides a hassle-free way to reach your destination. Nonstop flights from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) can be booked from this terminal.
You can get away on a direct flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport with Gol. This popular airline operates departures from GIG.
Gol is the airline most travellers choose for flights from GIG to CGH.
Gol ranks highest for on-time performance. A dependable 81.07% of its departures on this route land as scheduled.
Travelling from central Rio De Janeiro to GIG takes around 1 hour 5 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a cab, you'll cover the 18 kilometres in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Searching for a convenient hotel near Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport, these accommodation options will put you just around the corner from the terminal:
Of all flights departing from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport, 79.57% arrive on time at their destination.
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
You can book a direct Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) plane ticket with departures from Santos Dumont Airport (SDU). Work out whether departing from SDU makes the most sense for you.
When setting off from SDU, you can pick from a range of airlines that operate direct flights from Rio De Janeiro to CGH. Take to the skies with any of these carriers:
Gol is the top choice for bookings on the SDU to CGH route.
Among the carriers operating flights between Santos Dumont Airport and Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport, LATAM Airlines has the best track record for timeliness.
SDU is around 2 kilometres from central Rio De Janeiro. It'll take 5 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes approximately 15 minutes.
Get a head start on your holiday with an additional night away from home. Before catching your Rio De Janeiro to CGH flight, stay in one of these hotels close to Santos Dumont Airport:
When it comes to flight punctuality, Santos Dumont Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 78.67%.
About Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
If you're arriving on a late flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these options near CGH:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Foco, Localiza or Movida and explore beyond Sao Paulo's usual tourist stops.
Lock in the best possible rate by reserving your ride around three weeks before your Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport flight.
Getting from Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) to central Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport is about 8 kilometres from central Sao Paulo. How long it takes to get there by cab or car hire will depend on the time of day. Do some research before you go.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey of around 35 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Right now, 26 € is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is 60 €. Remember fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
Get your hands on cheap flights from Rio De Janeiro to CGH by booking six months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for finding the biggest deals.
November is when you're most likely to land a good deal on a Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport ticket. If you'd like to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
Save time looking for cheap plane tickets from Rio De Janeiro to CGH by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a new discounted fare appears.
Filters make it easier to track down a bargain for your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport. Pick the flight times, carriers and stops that look good to you. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to find the best price quickly.
The best time to fly from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
It's time to decide your travel dates for your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH). July is when most people travel to Sao Paulo. If you prefer a quieter vibe, think about going in April.
Book a Rio De Janeiro to CGH plane ticket departing in February if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Sao Paulo to range from 18ºC (64ºF) to 28ºC (82ºF).
If you want cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport in July when temperatures are between 12ºC (54ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF).
More about Sao Paulo
Start your Sao Paulo trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport, browse our range of hotels including:
Avenida Paulista and Ibirapuera Park are a couple of top-rated attractions to put on your Sao Paulo to-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Pinacoteca Do Estado De Sao Paulo.
Explore more of Brazil
Ribeirao Preto is just one of the many cities in Brazil waiting to be explored after you've seen Sao Paulo. Around 290 kilometres away to the north-west, check out popular attractions including Japanese Garden, Basílica de Santo Antônio de Pádua and Cristo Redentor, Parque Das Oliveiras.
If you're interested in discovering another major stop in Brazil, consider Piracicaba, roughly 145 kilometres north-west of Sao Paulo. Igreja Senhor Bom Jesus do Monte, Trees Park and Observatorio Astronomico Municipal are the start of reasons to visit.
