GRU — São Paulo (Guarulhos) — Taxi Fare Guide
São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) has an official taxi rank operated exclusively by Guarucoop, the airport's authorized taxi cooperative. Book at the Guarucoop desk inside the arrivals area of Terminals 1, 2 or 3; for your safety, do not accept rides from drivers who approach you, as only Guarucoop cabs are permitted at the rank.
Fares are calculated by the cooperative's fixed tariff for your destination. A trip to Paulista Avenue or the central São Paulo area typically costs about R$140-180, and the journey takes anywhere from 45 to 80 minutes depending on the notoriously heavy traffic on the Rodovia Ayrton Senna and city ring roads. If you want to pay by card, you must settle at the information desk in advance; cash payments must be in Brazilian reais.
Most Guarucoop drivers and agents speak some English, but it helps to have your address written down. Ridehailing apps (Uber and 99) also operate at GRU with designated pickup points and are frequently cheaper than the official taxi, though pickup can involve a longer walk and app-based fares fluctuate with demand. Pre-booked private transfers are another reliable option for late-night arrivals.
| Destination | Approx. fare | Time |
| Paulista Avenue / Centre | R$140-180 | 45-80 min |
| Vila Mariana / Itaim Bibi | R$150-190 | 50-80 min |
| Congonhas Airport (CGH) | R$150-200 | 50-90 min |
| Nearby Guarulhos hotels | R$40-70 | 10-20 min |
Practical tips: Use only the official Guarucoop desk, arrange card payment before the trip, and carry some reais for cash-only cabs. Allow generous time for São Paulo traffic, and consider a ridehailing app or pre-booked transfer if you want to compare prices.
Other ways to the city
Guarulhos lies well outside the city, but there are several affordable public alternatives to a taxi.
- Airport Bus Service (executive coach): The most popular alternative, with comfortable coaches from all terminals to Paulista Avenue, Praca da Republica, Tiete bus terminal, Barra Funda and Congonhas Airport. Tickets cost roughly R$30-50 depending on the route.
- CPTM Line 13-Jade (train): A free shuttle bus links the terminals to Aeroporto-Guarulhos station, from where trains run to Engenheiro Goulart. There you connect to Line 12 for Bras and the metro network. The fare is only about R$5, making it by far the cheapest route, though it involves transfers.
- EMTU bus 257: A regular municipal-style bus to Guarulhos and the Tatuape metro area, cheap but slow and not ideal with large luggage.
- Intercity coaches: Direct services leave the airport for Campinas, Santos, Sao Jose dos Campos and Rio de Janeiro without needing to enter the city first.
- Inter-terminal shuttle: A free circulating bus connects Terminals 1, 2 and 3 with the train station and long-stay car parks.
São Paulo — Highlights in photos
Fares are researched from official and public sources and are approximate — always confirm the meter or fixed fare before you travel.