São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro: flight, bus or car

At a glance

São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro by flight

Two pairs of airports matter.

From Guarulhos (GRU), where most long-haul flights land, domestic flights connect with Galeão (GIG) and Santos Dumont (SDU); check the airline sites for current nonstop schedules. Guarulhos has three terminals. Azul’s domestic flights use Terminal 1. Gol and LATAM domestic flights use Terminal 2. LATAM international, Azul international, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, American, United, Delta, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways, TAP, Iberia and others use Terminal 3. If you arrive from abroad, allow time to change terminals. On separate tickets you also collect and re-check your bags.

Congonhas (CGH) is the city airport in São Paulo, and Santos Dumont (SDU) is Rio’s city airport next to the centre. This route is known locally as the ponte aérea; check the airline sites for current schedules and flight times. It suits travellers who spend a few days in São Paulo first: see our São Paulo trip guide.

To get from Guarulhos to Congonhas, the Airport Bus Service runs line 258 from the Terminal 2 bus terminal (open 06:00 to 22:00). We do not quote fares; check the airline sites for your date.

By bus

Auto Viação 1001 gives these details for the route:

• usually 6 to 7 hours, about 440 km mostly on the Via Dutra; night trips tend to be faster;
• departures in São Paulo from Rodoviária Tietê, Rodoviária Barra Funda and Rodoviária Jabaquara;
• arrival at Rodoviária Novo Rio in Santo Cristo, Rio’s main bus terminal;
• departures through the day and night;
• classes Convencional, Executiva, Semi Leito and Cama.

You buy the seat on the bus company’s website. A night bus saves a hotel night, but plan a light first day in Rio.

There is no direct bus from Guarulhos airport to Rio. From the Terminal 2 bus terminal the Airport Bus Service runs line 472EX1 to Tietê and line 472 to Barra Funda, and then you still have the 6 to 7 hours to Rio. After a long-haul flight we would take the domestic flight.

By car on the Via Dutra

The main road is the Via Dutra (BR-116), about 440 km. The RioSP concession (Motiva group) runs it, together with the Rio-Santos road.

It is a toll road. On the São Paulo end the toll is electronic, with no booths: 21 gantries between km 205 (Arujá) and km 231 at the entry to São Paulo, charging by distance. With a toll tag you pay automatically. Without one, the gantry reads the plate and you pay within 30 days on pedagiodigital.com, in the Motiva Rodovias app or on WhatsApp, by credit card or PIX. With a rental car, ask the rental company how it settles these tolls.

The coast road via Paraty

The longer route follows the ocean on the Rio-Santos road (BR-101), through Ubatuba, Paraty and Angra dos Reis. It is a road for two or three days, with a night in Paraty. Read Paraty from Rio, Ilhabela and Ubatuba and Ilha Grande from Rio.

The Rio-Santos road also has electronic tolls in Rio de Janeiro state, with gantries at km 414 (Itaguaí), km 447 (Mangaratiba) and km 538 (Paraty). The 30-day rule is the same. Self-service machines along the road and two partner points in Paraty and Mangaratiba take payment; the partner points also take cash or debit cards.

Arriving in Rio

From Galeão you go into the city by taxi, ride app or transfer; from Santos Dumont the VLT tram (lines 1 and 3) connects with the metro. All options are in the Rio airports guide. From Novo Rio bus terminal in Santo Cristo, a taxi, ride app or booked driver is the simplest way to the beach districts with luggage; the VLT tram does not take large items.

How to choose

• Just landed in Guarulhos from abroad: take a domestic flight on from GRU, ideally on the same ticket.
• A few days in São Paulo first: Congonhas to Santos Dumont, both close to the city centres.
• On a budget and not in a hurry: the bus from Tietê, by day or overnight.
• Family, children or a lot of luggage: a car with a driver on the Via Dutra.
• Two or three days to spare: the coast road with a night in Paraty.

How we help

We do not sell air or bus tickets. We meet you at Galeão or Santos Dumont when your flight from São Paulo lands, or book a car with a driver from São Paulo to Rio, including the coast road with a stop in Paraty. Our team stays in touch along the way. See airport transfer in Rio and private driver in Rio.

What to tell us in your request

• where you start in São Paulo (airport, hotel) and where you stay in Rio
• date, and flight number if you fly
• number of adults and children (ages, for child seats)
• luggage
• Via Dutra or the coast road, and how many nights on the way
• language you want us to write in: English, Spanish or Portuguese

Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm. Check entry requirements on official websites. Write to us.