Flying from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo: what you need to know
Begin your travels 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 departing from either of these.
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) are the primary entry points to Sao Paulo.
Around 1 hour 15 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight.
Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo are both in the UTC-3 timezone. That means you won't have to change your watch on arrival.
The most popular 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). There are 96 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from GIG to GRU is the 01:00 Gol option. If you prefer travelling later, the final departure is at 22:15 with LATAM Airlines.
To ensure you make it on your Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Travelling over a peak time such as July? 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 an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo
Right now, R 553 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 1,129. 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)
You can book a direct flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo leaving from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG). Begin your trip at GIG and then arrive at one of these Sao Paulo airports:
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
You'll have your choice of airlines that offer direct Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo plane tickets out of GIG. Reserve your trip with one of these:
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.
Want a hassle-free start to your journey? Stay near Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport. Whether you're taking an early flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels have you covered:
When it comes to Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 79.57% of flights complete their journey on time.
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 about 30 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It usually takes 1 hour 20 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo, 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 accommodation options near GRU:
Begin your adventure by picking up a Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Foco, Localiza or Movida to explore Sao Paulo and beyond.
To secure the lowest price, book your vehicle from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport around two weeks in advance of your Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight.
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) is roughly 8 kilometres from central Sao Paulo. After your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo, it'll take you approximately 15 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
You can expect the trip to take about 35 minutes on public transport.
There are some comfortable places to call home for the night near VCP. Settle in and get cosy after your Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo flight at one of these well-located options:
Forget about public transport schedules or waiting forever for a cab. Pick up a Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport rental car and let the journey unfold your way. Compare availability and rates from Foco, Localiza and Movida.
Avoid paying extra. Reserving your ride three weeks ahead of your arrival at CGH can get you a lower rate.
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
Travel to the centre after your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo has touched down. Central Sao Paulo is around 80 kilometres from Viracopos Airport (VCP) and takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to reach by cab or ride-share.
The journey will take roughly 3 hours 25 minutes by public transport.
Be in control of the next leg of your journey with a Viracopos Airport rental car. Foco, Localiza and Movida make getting on the road smooth sailing.
Enjoy a payoff when you plan ahead. Book your vehicle from VCP four weeks before your flight from Rio De Janeiro to Sao Paulo for the best deals.
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, take your pick from prime hotels that put you close to the action. Make one of these options your base for exploring Sao Paulo:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be hard to know where to start. Sao Paulo Museum of Art, Ibirapuera Park and Avenida Paulista are leading attractions which should be on any good Sao Paulo itinerary.
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.
