Travelling from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG) to Sao Paulo: what you need to know
The average duration of a direct flight from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo is 1 hour.
Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (where Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport is located) are both in the UTC-3 timezone. This means there's no time difference to consider.
With 81 flights a week between the two airports, Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG) to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) is the busiest route. Gol operates the earliest flight at 01:00. If you prefer to get more out of your day before taking off, the latest flight from GIG to GRU is with LATAM Airlines at 22:15.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to board your GIG to Sao Paulo flight.
You can expect bigger queues in popular months such as January. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for a domestic departure will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
Book a direct Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo ticket and enjoy a quicker route to your destination. GIG has nonstop flights to these Sao Paulo airports:
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Viracopos-Campinas International Airport (VCP)
Top carriers that offer direct flights from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo include:
GIG is around 13 kilometres from central Rio de Janeiro. If you're catching a taxi, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour.
Catching an early flight from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo? Avoid the stress of rushing to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these hotels near GIG:
80% of flights departing from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport reach their destination on schedule. Given its strong performance rating, you're unlikely to experience delays when flying out of GIG.
How to find the cheapest flights from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG) to Sao Paulo
R 727 is the cheapest price we've seen for a one-way Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo flight. A round-trip ticket right now is R 1,495. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares could change.
Score cheap flights from GIG to Sao Paulo by booking three months ahead. According to our research, that's the best time for bagging a bargain.
Organise your trip for August. That's the best month for scoring the biggest deals on Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo tickets. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Never miss a deal on cheap flights from GIG to Sao Paulo by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification on the app when fares go down.
Tailor your flights with filters. Select your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo.
Airports in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to the centre of Sao Paulo takes about 45 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 26 kilometres away.
It typically takes 1 hour 10 minutes if you're using public transport.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo. Reserve one of these accommodation options near GRU instead:
Booking your ride from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport about two weeks before your flight from GIG to Sao Paulo can help you lock in the lowest rate.
Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH) is roughly 10 kilometres from the centre of Sao Paulo. Once you've disembarked your flight from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo, it'll take you around 25 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a taxi or ride-share.
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take about 50 minutes.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel close to CGH. Here are a few options where you can tuck yourself in after your GIG to Sao Paulo flight:
Lock in the lowest price by reserving your ride from CGH three weeks ahead of time. You'll also have access to a greater selection of vehicles.
Viracopos-Campinas International Airport (VCP)
Step off your flight from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo and head straight for your hotel or start taking in the sights right away. The centre of Sao Paulo is around 97 kilometres from Viracopos-Campinas International Airport (VCP) and typically takes 1 hour 30 minutes to reach driving.
If you travel by public transport, the journey time is about 2 hours 20 minutes.
Enjoy an unhurried start to your break by choosing a hotel near VCP after your GIG to Sao Paulo flight. Recover from a day of travel or just give yourself time to get your bearings in a new city at:
If you're looking for a specific type of vehicle, book your ride from VCP around four weeks ahead of your flight from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo. This gives you a better shot at getting your preferred car, as well as a better deal.
Best time to go to Sao Paulo
July is the busiest month for flights from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo. To steer clear of the crowds, plan your trip to Sao Paulo in December.
The warmest month in Sao Paulo is February, with temperatures ranging between 18ºC (64ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Lock in your Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo plane ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
If you want cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from GIG to Sao Paulo in July when temperatures average between 12ºC (54ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF).
More about Sao Paulo
Start your Sao Paulo trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport to Sao Paulo, browse our selection of hotels including:
All great adventures should include a little sightseeing. Avenida Paulista, Ibirapuera Park and Pinacoteca Do Estado De Sao Paulo are essential stops on your Sao Paulo itinerary.
Explore more of Brazil
Belo Horizonte is just one of the many cities in Brazil waiting to be discovered after you've experienced Sao Paulo. Around 499 kilometres away to the northeast, check out popular attractions including Conjunto Moderno da Pampulha, Casa do Baile and Igreja São Francisco de Assis.
Curitiba is another well-known destination in Brazil and is around 338 kilometres southwest of Sao Paulo. No trip is complete without experiencing Oscar Niemeyer Museum, Eco Park and Jardim Botanico de Curitiba.
































