Flying from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU): What you need to know
Your adventure begins at one of Sao Paulo's main airports, Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) or Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH). Check out your options for booking a flight from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) taking off from either of these.
The average length of a direct Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport flight is 1 hour.
Rio De Janeiro's timezone is UTC-3, which is the same as Sao Paulo. Santos Dumont Airport is located in Rio De Janeiro.
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is the most popular route. There are 28 direct weekly departures to pick from. If you prefer starting your day later, take the last flight with Azul at 2:50pm. Opt for the first GRU to SDU departure with Azul at 6:10am if you want to get going earlier.
Your flight from Sao Paulo to SDU won't wait if you're late, so get to the airport with time to spare. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead when you're flying internationally.
Peak travel periods mean busier airports, so plan to arrive even earlier. Give yourself at least two hours before a domestic flight and four hours for an international journey to keep to your schedule.
Airports in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
You can book a direct flight from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) out of Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
You'll find a direct flight from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport with Azul. This top carrier operates departures from GRU.
The most frequently booked airline between GRU and SDU is Azul.
Azul is the top-ranked carrier for punctuality on this route.
Located around 26 kilometres from the centre of Sao Paulo, GRU can be reached in about 30 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport is roughly 1 hour 20 minutes.
Searching for a comfortable hotel close to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport, these stays will have you sleeping moments from your departure lounge:
75.54% of flights that depart Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport make it to their destination on time.
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Consider starting your trip from Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH). You can book a direct Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) plane ticket from this popular hub.
You can pick from a range of airlines offering direct flights from Sao Paulo to SDU departing from CGH. Take off with any of these carriers and fly straight to your final stop:
Gol attracts the most bookings on the CGH to SDU route.
The most punctual carrier is LATAM Airlines. Its Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport to Santos Dumont Airport flights arrive as scheduled 74.81% of the time.
You can get to CGH from central Sao Paulo in about 15 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The journey by public transport takes roughly 35 minutes to travel the 10 kilometres or so.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before your Sao Paulo to SDU flight? Unwind in a hotel near Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport before your adventure officially begins. Here's where you can stay:
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport has an on-time performance of 73.8%. This figure shows how often flights that take off from this airport land at their destination on schedule.
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
Start your journey at Viracopos Airport (VCP) and head straight to your destination without stopping. You can book direct flights from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport out of here.
Buckle up and take off from VCP with Azul. This well-known airline offers direct Sao Paulo to SDU plane tickets.
The majority of passengers prefer to book seats with Azul from VCP to SDU.
With 77.89% of its services arriving as planned, Azul is the most punctual carrier on this route.
The journey time to VCP from central Sao Paulo is around 3 hours 25 minutes on public transport. If you prefer to travel by car, it'll take you about 1 hour 15 minutes to cover the 97 kilometres or so.
Sleep a little longer, move a little slower, and still make your Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport flight without having to rush. These accommodation options near Viracopos Airport make departure day effortless if you're flying out first thing:
The on-time performance record of VCP is 75.02%. To put it simply, that's how frequently flights that depart this airport arrive at their destination as planned.
About Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
Have a late flight from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport? Don't let it steal your sleep. Stay at one of these hotels near SDU and turn in quicker:
Follow your own route with a Santos Dumont Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Foco, Localiza or Movida and see more of Rio De Janeiro and beyond.
Lock in the best possible rate by booking your vehicle around three weeks ahead of your Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport flight.
Getting from Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to central Rio De Janeiro
Santos Dumont Airport is roughly 2 kilometres from central Rio De Janeiro. How long it takes to get to the centre by cab or car hire depends on the time of day. Do some research before you go.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 15 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
R 591 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport. A return flight starts from R 1,138. These fares may change based on availability and demand.
To find cheap flights from Sao Paulo to SDU, book in advance. Airlines tend to offer their most competitively priced fares when flights are first released.
Cheap Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport tickets are easier to find when your dates are flexible. Try using the 'Whole month' tool to compare fares throughout the month and then choose the cheapest day.
There's no need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment a better deal is available on plane tickets from Sao Paulo to SDU.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Choose your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport.
The best time to fly from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
April is the quietest month for flights from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), while June is the busiest. Choose the best time to go to Rio De Janeiro based on whether you like a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
The warmest month in Rio De Janeiro is February, with temperatures ranging between 22ºC (72ºF) and 33ºC (91ºF). Lock in your Sao Paulo to SDU plane ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
July sees temperatures of between 17ºC (63ºF) and 27ºC (81ºF). Search for cheap tickets from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.
More about Rio De Janeiro
After booking your flight from Sao Paulo to Santos Dumont Airport, find a hotel that puts you in a great location. Make one of these options your base for exploring Rio De Janeiro:
Every great adventure has to include a little sightseeing. Christ the Redeemer, Track Corcovado, Christ Redeemer and Rio de Janeiro Carnival are must-do's during your Rio De Janeiro adventure.
Explore more of Brazil
You've done Rio De Janeiro, now it's time to explore other parts of Brazil. Journey around 225 kilometres north-east to Campos dos Goytacazes to check off its leading sights. From Villa Maria Culture House to Lapa Square and Church São Judas Tadeu, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
If you're ready to explore another well-known destination in Brazil, head for Taubaté, about 241 kilometres west of Rio De Janeiro. Mirante do Parque Municipal do Itaim, Taubaté and Centro Cultural de Taubate are the start of reasons to visit.
