Travelling from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH): What you need to know
Start planning your trip by checking out the most convenient departure point for your flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH). Explore your options for taking off from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG) or Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), two of the city's main airports.
Take a direct Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 1 hour 15 minutes.
Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo (where Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport is located) share the UTC-3 timezone. That means you won't have to adjust your watch when you land.
With 24 direct flights a week between the two airports, Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG) to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH) is the most popular route. Gol operates the earliest flight at 8:50am. If you're eager to make the most of your day before leaving, the last departure from GIG to CGH is with Gol at 8:35pm.
Leave enough time to catch your flight from Rio de Janeiro to CGH. As a rule of thumb, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Show up at the airport even earlier during popular months like January. Aim for two hours before domestic departures and as much as four hours for international journeys. Once you've checked in, you can use any extra time to finalize your plans or simply relax.
Airports in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG)
Enjoy an uninterrupted journey from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG). Direct flights from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH) can be booked from here.
Gol is a popular airline that operates direct flights from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport jetting out of GIG.
Most travellers choose to fly with GOL Linhas Aéreas from GIG to CGH.
With 72.41% of its services landing as planned, GOL Linhas Aéreas is the highest-rated carrier for punctuality on this route.
GIG is about 19 kilometres from central Rio de Janeiro. If you're ride-sharing, catching a taxi or driving from the centre, it'll take you 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour.
Want a hassle-free start to your trip? Stay near Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are just what you're after:
Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport has a strong on-time performance, so you're unlikely to face delays. Departures from GIG touch down on schedule 80% of the time.
Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
Consider starting your trip from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU). You can book a direct Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH) plane ticket with departures from this hub.
You can pick from a range of airlines offering direct flights from Rio de Janeiro to CGH departing from SDU. Book a ticket with any of these carriers and skip the connections:
On the SDU to CGH route, LATAM Airlines is the go-to airline for most travellers on this route.
Among the carriers operating flights between Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport and Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport, GOL Linhas Aéreas leads in on-time performance.
SDU is about 5 kilometres from central Rio de Janeiro. It'll take you 10 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 20 minutes.
Flying out early in the morning? You might like to check in to one of these accommodation options near Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport the day before your Rio de Janeiro to CGH flight:
79% of flights taking off from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport arrive within the expected time frame.
About Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH)
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport. Get comfy at one of these accommodation options near CGH instead:
Booking your vehicle around three weeks in advance of your Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport flight can help you lock in a great deal.
Getting from Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH) to central Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport is around 10 kilometres from central Sao Paulo. It takes around 25 minutes or so to get to the city by car.
It takes roughly 50 minutes if you're travelling on public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH)
At the moment, R 332 is the best 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 R 800. Keep in mind fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
Book six months before your departure date. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from Rio de Janeiro to CGH.
November is when you're most likely to find a bargain on a Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport ticket. If you want to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices across every month.
Snapping up a cheap plane ticket from Rio de Janeiro to CGH is easy with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as a better deal is available.
Tailor your flights using filters. Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport.
The best time to fly from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH)
December is the quietest month for flights from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH), while July is the most popular. Find the best time to visit Sao Paulo based on whether you want a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in Sao Paulo is February, with temperatures ranging between 18ºC (64ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Book your Rio de Janeiro to CGH plane ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
If you like travelling in cooler conditions, look 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
After booking your flight from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Sao Paulo:
Ibirapuera Park and Avenida Paulista are just two of the top-rated attractions to put on your Sao Paulo to-do list. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Pinacoteca Do Estado De Sao Paulo.
Explore more of Brazil
Sao Paulo is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other parts of Brazil just waiting to be explored. Around 290 kilometres northwest of Sao Paulo, a visit to Ribeirao Preto will keep you busy. Start with leading sights like Japanese Garden, Basílica de Santo Antônio de Pádua and Museu do Café.
If you're ready to explore another well-known destination in Brazil, head for Piracicaba, roughly 145 kilometres northwest of Sao Paulo. Observatorio Astronomico Municipal, Historic Park Quilombo Corumbataí and Martha Watts Cultural Centre are the start of reasons to visit.
