A vast city of culture, cuisine, and nonstop urban energy.
How much time do you have?
Our recommendations take into account your actual arrival and departure times, airport processing, and transit friction.
From CGH
🏢
Under 3h
Stay airside
🚕
3–6 hours
Quick city stop
🗽
6–10 hours
Full exploration
🌃
10+ hours
Multi-neighborhood
IMMIGRATION0m
TRANSIT15m
EXPLORE3h 35m
RETURN15m
BUFFER25m
Recommended Itinerary
Your layover plan
Arrive & Immigration
~0 min · CGH
Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
Congonhas is a domestic-only airport, with no international immigration required.
Transit into the city
15 min
CGH is 9 km from the city centre. City bus line 5346 connects to Metro Line 5 at Santo Amaro in about 30 min for R$4.40. Rideshare is 15 to 30 min depending on traffic, R$25 to R$50.
Explore São Paulo
~3h 35m of free time
At GRU or CGH, stay airside—GRU is massive and congested, while CGH has limited amenities and tight security flow.
We recommend you stay airside: São Paulo traffic is intense and unpredictable.
A very limited nearby visit is possible only with light traffic.
Stay near the city center and enjoy museums, food, and walking. Transit is extensive, but distances are long, so limit plans to one side of the city.
Return to CGH
15 min back to airport
Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
Set an alarm 40 min before your departure gate closes
Back through security
~25 min buffer before gate
Re-entry security at CGH typically takes 10-20 min
Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them
Where to Eat
Best eats for a layover
Short on time? Stay airside.
What to See
Top sights for your time window
Under 4 hours? Most city sights won't be feasible. Check the Itinerary tab for airside-only recommendations.
Practical Info
What you need to know
Currency
Brazilian Real (R$). Cards widely accepted across the city. Carry some cash for small stalls, buses, and tips.
Language
Portuguese. English is limited outside luxury hotels and main tourist areas, so a few Portuguese phrases help.
Visa
US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders need an eVisa as of April 2025. UK and EU travelers get 90 days visa-free. Verify before travel — visa rules change.
Transit
Airport Bus Service (Linha 257) from GRU to Tiete bus terminal in about 45 min for R$53, every 30 min. CPTM Line 13-Jade connects GRU to the metro at Engenheiro Goulart in 25 min for R$4.40. Uber is R$80 to R$150 to the centre depending on traffic.
Weather
Subtropical highland climate, with warm wet summers (Dec to Feb) and mild dry winters (Jun to Aug). April through May and September through October are the most comfortable months for a layover.
Tipping
Not expected. A 10% service charge is typically included on restaurant bills; rounding up taxi fares is common.
Emergency
190 (police). 192 for ambulance. 193 for fire.
Time Zone
BRT (UTC-3). Brazil stopped observing daylight saving time in 2019.
Stay connected with an eSIM
Data from arrival, no roaming fees. Instant activation via Airalo.
