6+ Hours at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport - Header image

6+ Hours at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport

Maeve Power
Spend your 6+ hour layover exploring the city or the surrounding area instead of sitting in the terminal. Check out these options for a longer layover at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport.
Spend your 6+ hour layover exploring the city or the surrounding area instead of sitting in the terminal. Check out these options for a longer layover at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport.

Head downtown

If you have an extended layover at GRU, make the most of your airport downtime by using it to explore the surrounding area. The quickest and easiest way to get downtown is via taxi. Public transport links are available, but make sure you leave plenty of time to get back to the airport and through security before your next flight. Downtown Sao Paulo is full of museums, beautiful architecture, and city parks. Spend your day soaking up the culture of this vibrant city. For more information on what to do on your layover in Sao Paulo, visit the Lonely Planet Guide to Sao Paulo.

Avoid downtown

If you have a more extended layover but don't want to spend it downtown, instead head for Parque Ecológico do Tietê. The sprawling park is featuring native plants & animals, recreational activities & a museum. Spend your airport downtime walking by the river and enjoying the beautiful views of the Tietê river. Located 15 miles from the airport, the quickest and easiest way to get there is by taxi. Alternatively, you can take the CPTM L13 train from the Aeroporto-Guarulhos station to Eng. Goulart. The station is a two-minute walk from the entrance to the park.

Transport Options

Bus: The airport is well connected to downtown Sao Paulo and the surrounding areas via a bus system. For fares, schedules and route information on bus routes that go to and from the airport visit the GRU airport websiteTrain: The airport is connected to the local train system via a station in Terminal 1. The train will take you from the airport to the Guarulhos Station from which you can transfer to lines that run to downtown Sao Paulo and other surrounding regions.

Overnight Layover?

If you have an overnight layover at GRU and want to get a good night's sleep, there are many options available to you at and near the airport. Slaviero Fast Sleep is located in the airport terminal and offers sleep cabins for rent to passengers. The sleep cabins come equipped with a double bed or a bunk bed, tv, free wifi, and a private bathroom.For a more traditional hotel experience, head for the Sao Paulo Airport Marriott Hotel. The hotel offers a free airport shuttle between 06:00 and 00:00.

Luggage Storage

Malex Luggage StorageDrop your bags off at Malex and spend your airport downtime luggage free. Malex Luggage Storage is located in Terminal 2 and 3.
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