Travelling from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU): What you need to know
Begin your journey 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 Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) departing from either of these.
Around 1 hour is how long you'll be in the air on a direct Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport flight.
Rio de Janeiro (where Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport is located) and Sao Paulo share the UTC-3 timezone. Easily coordinate travel plans without worrying about time differences.
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is the most popular route. There are 28 direct weekly flights to choose from. If you prefer starting your day later, hop on the last flight with Azul at 2:50pm. Opt for the first GRU to SDU departure operated by 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 show up at the airport on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead when you're travelling internationally.
During popular months such as July, it's a good idea to get to the airport well in advance. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for international flights when you fly during high season in general.
Airports in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
You can find a direct flight from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) leaving from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
LATAM Airlines is a leading airline that offers direct flights from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport jetting out of GRU.
Most passengers prefer to book seats with LATAM Airlines from GRU to SDU.
Among carriers on this route, Azul Airlines has the highest rate of on-time arrivals.
GRU is around 26 kilometres from central Sao Paulo. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by picking one of these stays close to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport:
When it comes to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport's on-time performance, 71% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Catching a flight out of Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH)? Direct Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) plane tickets are available from here.
When leaving from CGH, you can pick from a variety of airlines that operate direct flights from Sao Paulo to SDU. Soar above the clouds with any of these carriers:
LATAM Airlines is the most frequently booked airline flying from CGH to SDU.
GOL Linhas Aéreas is the most punctual carrier flying from Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport, with 79.39% of its services arriving as scheduled.
Using public transport, you can travel from central Sao Paulo to CGH in around 50 minutes. The airport is roughly 10 kilometres away, and making the trip by car takes approximately 25 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before catching your Sao Paulo to SDU flight? Check in to a hotel near Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport before your trip officially begins. These stays are calling your name:
When it comes to keeping flights punctual, Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 75%.
Viracopos-Campinas International Airport (VCP)
One flight, zero drama. You can take a direct flight from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport departing from Viracopos-Campinas International Airport (VCP).
You can fly out of VCP with Azul. This reputable carrier offers direct Sao Paulo to SDU plane tickets.
Most travellers prefer to book seats with Azul Airlines from VCP to SDU.
Azul Airlines is the most punctual carrier on this route, with 74.55% of its services reaching their destination on time.
From central Sao Paulo, VCP is around 97 kilometres away. It'll take you roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to get to the airport by car and 2 hours 20 minutes or so on public transport.
Set yourself up for a smooth departure — stay close to Viracopos-Campinas International Airport and know you'll make it to your boarding gate with time to spare. Get comfy at one of these hotels the day before if you have an early Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport flight:
Flights that take off from VCP touch down at their destination within the scheduled time frame 74% of the time.
About Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport. Get comfy at one of these accommodation options near SDU instead:
Booking your ride around three weeks ahead of your Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport flight can help you find the best deal.
Getting from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to central Rio de Janeiro
Central Rio de Janeiro is around 5 kilometres from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport and takes about 10 minutes to reach by car. Work out your options for getting into the city, whether that's with a taxi, car hire or ride-share.
Travelling on public transport will take you roughly 20 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
Currently, R 549 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is R 1,002. Keep in mind fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
Don't leave everything to the last minute. You're more likely to walk away with cheap flights from Sao Paulo to SDU if you book ahead. Airlines often offer some fantastic early bird rates.
Affordable Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport tickets are easier to find when you have flexibility in your schedule. Try using the 'Whole month' tool to compare fares across the month and then pick the cheapest day.
Save time searching for cheap plane tickets from Sao Paulo to SDU by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Filters make it easier to land a deal on your flight from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport. Choose the airlines, flight times and number of stops that line up with your plans. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to find the lowest price right away.
The best time to fly from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
Picture the kind of break you want when deciding the best time to fly. December is the quietest month to visit Rio de Janeiro. March is when most people book flights from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), which may be perfect if you enjoy travelling when it's busier.
Book a Sao Paulo to SDU plane ticket departing in February if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Rio de Janeiro to range from 20ºC (68ºF) to 36ºC (97ºF).
July has temperatures of between 14ºC (57ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Search for cheap tickets from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.
More about Rio de Janeiro
Once you've booked your flight from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Rio de Janeiro:
Track Corcovado, Christ Redeemer and Christ the Redeemer are a couple of top attractions to add to your Rio de Janeiro to-do list. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Rio de Janeiro Carnival.
Explore more of Brazil
Campos dos Goytacazes is just one of the many places in Brazil waiting to be discovered once you've seen Rio de Janeiro. Around 225 kilometres away to the northeast, popular attractions include Campos History Museum, Barbosa Guerra Museum and Campos dos Goytacazes Museum.
Around 241 kilometres west of Rio de Janeiro, Taubaté is another essential stop in Brazil. No visit is complete without checking out Antiga estação de Trem de Taubaté- EFCB, Cachoeira dos Macacos and Convento Santa Clara.
