Getting around · São Paulo · Brazil
Getting around São Paulo
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dornicke, Public domain
Quick answer
São Paulo is vast and its traffic is notorious, so plan around the Metrô, which is clean, frequent and connects Paulista, Jardins, Pinheiros, Liberdade, the Centro and Ibirapuera's edges. Ride-hailing apps fill the gaps and are the normal choice at night. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- GRU, CGH, VCP
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Bilhete Único
Ways to get around
Metro
The Metrô has several colour-coded lines; the most useful are Line 2-Green under Avenida Paulista, Line 1-Blue through the Centro and Liberdade, and Line 4-Yellow to Pinheiros and Luz. CPTM suburban trains share stations with it.
Avoid weekday rush hours, roughly 7–9am and 5–8pm, when trains are packed.
Ride-hailing
Ride-hailing apps are widely used, inexpensive by international standards and safer than hailing cars on the street at night.
Bus
An extensive bus network with dedicated corridors covers the whole city; it is useful for Ibirapuera and areas off the Metrô, but routes are complex for first-time visitors.
Taxi
White taxis use meters and can be found at ranks and booked by app; fares rise at night and on Sundays.
Walking
Walking works within neighbourhoods such as Paulista and Jardins, Pinheiros and Vila Madalena, or the Centro, but distances between areas are large.
Cycling
Bike-share stations and protected lanes run along Avenida Paulista, Faria Lima and in Ibirapuera Park; cycling is most pleasant on Sundays.
Tickets and passes
Bilhete Único
The city's rechargeable transport card, valid on buses, Metrô and CPTM trains, with discounted transfers within a time window.
From the airport
Guarulhos (GRU), the main international airport, is about 25 km north-east of the centre; by road it takes about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on traffic, and the Airport Bus Service and CPTM Line 13-Jade train link it with the city. Congonhas (CGH), for domestic flights, is about 10 km south of the centre. Viracopos (VCP) in Campinas is about 100 km away, with airline coaches to the city.
Do you need a car?
No. Traffic, parking and car-rotation rules make driving in the city hard work. Hire a car only for coast or mountain trips such as Ilhabela or Campos do Jordão.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Santos | About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus | Frequent buses from Jabaquara bus terminal |
| Embu das Artes | About 1 hour by bus or car | Intermunicipal bus or ride-hailing |
| Paranapiacaba | About 1.5–2 hours by train and bus | CPTM Line 10 to Rio Grande da Serra, then local bus |
| Campos do Jordão | About 3 hours by road | Bus from Tietê terminal or car |
| Holambra | About 2 hours by road | Car or tour; buses via Campinas |
| Ilhabela | About 3.5–4 hours by road and ferry | Car or bus to São Sebastião, then a short car ferry |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in São Paulo?
No. Traffic, parking and car-rotation rules make driving in the city hard work. Hire a car only for coast or mountain trips such as Ilhabela or Campos do Jordão.
+How do you get from the airport to São Paulo?
Guarulhos (GRU), the main international airport, is about 25 km north-east of the centre; by road it takes about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on traffic, and the Airport Bus Service and CPTM Line 13-Jade train link it with the city. Congonhas (CGH), for domestic flights, is about 10 km south of the centre. Viracopos (VCP) in Campinas is about 100 km away, with airline coaches to the city.
+What is the best way to get around São Paulo?
Metro: The Metrô has several colour-coded lines; the most useful are Line 2-Green under Avenida Paulista, Line 1-Blue through the Centro and Liberdade, and Line 4-Yellow to Pinheiros and Luz. CPTM suburban trains share stations with it.