# Leaving São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU): the honest transport breakdown

> GRU is 25 km out of town, traffic is brutal, and the airport express bus is your friend. Uber works — but read this first.

- Published: 2026-07-22
- Updated: 2026-07-22
- Author: Airport Exit
- Canonical URL: https://www.airportexit.com/blog/leaving-sao-paulo-gru-airport-guarulhos

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Guarulhos (GRU) sits 25 km northeast of central São Paulo. In traffic, that's 90 minutes. There is no metro to the airport.

## Airport Bus Service (EMTU)

R$28–52 depending on destination. Comfortable coaches to Praça da República, Paulista, Congonhas Airport (for a domestic connection), Barra Funda, and Tatuapé metro. Every 30–60 minutes. This is what savvy Brazilians take.

## Uber, 99, InDrive

R$80–160 to central São Paulo. All three are legal at GRU. **Pickup is on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park across from arrivals** — do not accept a ride from anyone inside the terminal. Use 99 for the cheapest fare; Uber for the smoothest app.

## Taxi (Guarucoop)

Fixed-rate taxis via the desks in arrivals. R$150–220 to centro. Safe but overpriced.

## CPTM train (via Airport Express bus)

Take the free connecting bus to Aeroporto-Guarulhos CPTM station, then Line 13 to Engenheiro Goulart, transfer to Line 12 for Luz/Brás. R$5. Slow (90+ min total) but cheapest.

## Scams to watch

- Anyone offering a "taxi" inside the terminal — always unlicensed.
- ATMs inside arrivals — use the Banco do Brasil one, skip the standalone yellow ones.

Live guide: [GRU exit guide](/airports/gru-sao-paulo). Money & tipping: [Money at GRU](/currency-at/gru-sao-paulo).

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Source: Airport Exit (https://www.airportexit.com). When citing, please attribute to Airport Exit and link the canonical URL above.