Sao Paulo: Transportation

Air

Sao Paulo is home to 3 different aiports. The 3 airports servicing Sao Paulo are the Congohas Airport, Sao Paulo International, and Viracopos Airport. The international airport as the name implies, has countless incoming and outgoing flights to various cities around the world and Brazil. The other two airports are mainly used for domestic flights. Make sure you check which airport you will be using when booking flights.

From the airport you can catch a taxi or a bus to anywhere you need to go to in Sao Paulo.

Subway

The subway (called "Metrô") of São Paulo is considered one of the best ways to see the city. It is safe, clean, comfortable and quick but unfortunately it does not serve many southern districts. There are currently three metro lines, two of which intersect at Praça da Sé. The third runs along Avenida Paulista from Paraiso station. It operates daily from 5:00 a.m. to midnight. It's open from 5 am to midnight.

The metro is divided in color lines that connect different parts of the city:

Blue line: The blue line runs north-south
Red line: runs east-west
Green line: runs under Avenida Paulista from Vila Mariana to the new stations at Sumaré and Vila Madalena.

Bus

Since the subway network in São Paulo is not very extensive, buses are the most important means of getting around. The fastest route from A to B is via the corredores in the middle of the road, which only express buses are allowed to use. The express buses run faster than the city's average of nine miles per hour, which is why so many of the local people, the Paulistanos, prefer to ride them. The non-express Buses are slow and crowded during rush hours and not too safe. The tourist information booths are excellent sources of information about buses. Bus transfer points are at Praça da República and bustling Terminal Bandeiras, where you catch buses to any destination within the city.

To get a bus to stop, just stick your arm out horizontally. Bus stops are usually well marked, and have a shelter from the elements but not always (you will see only a pole with people standing around it, mainly in the suburbs). If you don't find anyone at the bus stop, go to the closest shop or bar and ask them where the bus stop is.

Taxi

There are many radio taxis operating in Sao Paulo and many owner-driven taxis as well. Radio Taxis are usually well maintained and reliable as well are radio taxis.

Owner-driven (called "Taxi Comum") are usually cheaper then some radio taxis but not them all. A few taxi drivers may take advantage that you may not know the city and choose the longest way to your final destiny.

Avoid hailing taxis on the street, especially at night, prefer calling Radio Taxis ("Rádio Taxi") they are usually safer and more reliable.

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