Travelling from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo: what you need to know
Begin your travels at one of Rio de Janeiro's main airports, Rio de Janeiro Internacional Airport (GIG) or Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU). Check out your options for booking a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo departing from either of these.
When it comes to touching down in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU) is a primary hub. Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH) is another.
The average time for a direct Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight is 1 hour 20 minutes.
Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are in the same timezone, UTC-3.
With 83 weekly flights between the two airports, Rio de Janeiro Internacional Airport (GIG) to Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU) is the busiest route. Hop on the earliest flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo with Gol at 01:00. If you'd like to get more out of your day before you fly, the latest flight from GIG to GRU is with LATAM Airlines at 22:15.
For a stress-free start to your trip, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. That way, you won't have to rush to board your Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight.
Flying during a peak time like December? School holidays and other popular seasons can mean longer queues and delays at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and arrive up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo
Right now, 29 € 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 61 €. Remember fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.
To secure cheap Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo flights, reserve your journey three months ahead of your departure.
Organise your trip for August. That's the best month for scoring the biggest deals on plane tickets from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo. If your travel dates are not set in stone, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across every month.
You don't need to search every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you as soon as a better deal is available on cheap flights from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo.
Pick your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Or sort your Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best.'
Flying from Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Internacional Airport (GIG)
You can book a direct flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo departing from Rio de Janeiro Internacional Airport (GIG). Hop on your plane at GIG and then come in for landing at any of these Sao Paulo airports:
Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU)
Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Sao Paulo Viracopos Airport (VCP)
Choose from a range of airlines offering direct Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo plane tickets with departures from GIG, including:
Located around 13 kilometres from central Rio de Janeiro, GIG can be reached in about 30 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport takes roughly 1 hour.
Need a handy hotel close to Rio de Janeiro Internacional Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo, these stays will have you moments from your departure gate:
79% of flights taking off from Rio de Janeiro Internacional Airport reach their destination on schedule.
Arriving in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU)
Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU) to central Sao Paulo takes around 45 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 21 kilometres away.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of around 1 hour 10 minutes.
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo. Check in to one of these accommodation options near GRU instead:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Foco, Localiza or Movida and explore beyond Sao Paulo's usual tourist stops.
Lock in the best possible rate by booking your ride from Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport about two weeks before your departure date.
Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH) is roughly 8 kilometres from the centre of Sao Paulo. Once you've hopped off your flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo, it takes approximately 25 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or taxi.
Travelling by public transport will take around 50 minutes.
There are some comfortable places to lay your head close to CGH. Kick back after your Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight at any of these perfectly located options:
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or waiting in a long taxi line. Grab a Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport rental car and take your trip in whatever direction you choose. Check out the availability and rates from Foco, Localiza and Movida.
Get first dibs on the best options. Reserving your ride from CGH three weeks ahead of time often means better prices and a bigger choice of vehicles.
Sao Paulo Viracopos Airport (VCP)
Set off for the city centre after your flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo has arrived. Central Sao Paulo is around 80 kilometres from Sao Paulo Viracopos Airport (VCP) and takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to get to by car.
Public transport can take you there in roughly 2 hours 20 minutes.
Begin your journey without stressing about how to reach your destination with a Sao Paulo Viracopos Airport rental car. You can book a set of wheels from reliable suppliers here like Foco, Localiza and Movida.
About four weeks before your flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo is the ideal time to book your ride from VCP. You're more likely to get a better rate or catch some early booking discounts.
Best time to go to Sao Paulo
July is the most popular month for flights from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo. To avoid the crowds, visit Sao Paulo in March.
When booking your Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo tickets, consider the weather you're most comfortable in. February is the warmest month in Sao Paulo, with temperatures ranging from 18ºC (64ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).
July sees average temperatures of between 12ºC (54ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF). Search for cheap flights from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.
More about Sao Paulo
Start your Sao Paulo trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo, explore our range of hotels including:
Ibirapuera Park and Av. Paulista are a couple of leading attractions to put on your Sao Paulo itinerary. Keep the momentum going by heading to Pinacoteca Do Estado De Sao Paulo.
Explore more of Brazil
Sao Paulo has plenty to offer, but there are so many other parts of Brazil just waiting to be discovered. About 499 kilometres northeast of Sao Paulo, a visit to Belo Horizonte will keep you on the move. Don't miss top attractions like Pampulha Modern Ensemble, Casa do Baile and Igreja São Francisco de Assis.
If you're eager to discover another well-known destination in Brazil, consider Curitiba, about 338 kilometres southwest of Sao Paulo. Oscar Niemeyer Museum, Eco Park and Botanical Garden of Curitiba are key highlights.
































