São Paulo International Airport (GRU) - or Cumbica International Airport, in Guarulhos, is served by Airport Bus Service, with bus lines that take you to subway stations and certain hotels at lower rates than taxis.
Navigation of the Airport Bus Service website was never easy for non-Portuguese speakers. Unfortunately, as of this writing, a site makeover has suppressed schedules altogether.
On the site, you'll find the hotel circuit schedule, with the approximate time the bus runs by each hotel at hourly intervals throughout the day.
Below you will find all schedules, copied from Airport Bus Service brochures.
If you only have carry-on luggage - like a backpack - this is the way to ride to and from Guarulhos Intl. Airport on a budget: fare cost is R$3,40 (less than US$2).
These are regular city buses (just a little more expensive). They pick up passengers at bus stops, but if traffic is good, the ride to the subway may take less than 30 minutes.
Though the seats are pretty comfortable, the cars don't have A/C or a luggage compartment. Bulky suitcases that obstruct the aisle are not allowed.
Then there's the subway ride. But if you're not too tired after your flight, go for it. When I travel light, sometimes I do.
Check at Guarulhos International Airport Tourist Information Office exactly where you need to wait for the more affordable bus to Tatuapé Subway Station. You will leave the airport through the main doors, walk to the left and cross the street, but not all the way - just to the median.
The bus stop is across from the more expensive bus. Get on the bus through the front door and pay the driver or the cobrador (cashier) at the turnstile.
At the Tatuapé Station, people at the information desk might not speak English. Show them the name Airport Service and they'll direct you to the stop, if only with a hand-drawn map.
These buses take Airton Senna Avenue.
5:05a - 5:25a - 5:45a - 6:05a - 6:25a - 6:50a - 7:10a - 7:30a - 7:50a - 8:10a - 8:40a - 9:10a - 9:35a - 10:05a - 10:35a - 11:05a - 11:25a - 11:45a - 12:10p - 12:40p - 1:10p - 1:35p - 2:05p - 2:35p - 3:05p - 3:35p - 4p - 4:25p - 4:45p - 5:05p - 5:30p - 5:55p - 6:15p - 6:35p - 6:55p - 7:15p - 7:35p - 7:55p - 8:20p - 8:50p - 9:20p - 10:15p - 10:50p - 11:15p - 12:10a
These buses take another route to Tatuapé Station (Assis Ribeiro Ave.): 6:15a - 8:15a - 11a - 12:20a - 4:10a - 6:10a - 8:40a
5:30a - 6:05a - 6:40a - 7:10a - 7:40a - 8:10a - 8:40a - 9:10a - 9:50a - 10:30a - 11:10a - 11:45a - 12:15p - 1p - 1:40p - 2:10p - 2:45p - 3:20p - 4p - 4:20p - 5:10p - 5:40p - 6:10p - 6:40p - 7:10p - 7:40p - 8:10p - 8:50p - 9:25p - 10:05p - 10:30p - 11:10p - 12:10a
Via Assis Ribeiro Ave.: 6:15a - 8:10a - 11a - 4:10a - 8:40a - 11:15a
5a - 5:20a - 5:40a - 6a - 6:20a - 6:45a - 7:10a - 7:30a - 7:55a - 8:25a - 8:50a - 9:10a - 9:35a - 10:10a - 10:40a - 11:10a - 11:40a - 12p - 12:20p - 12:45p - 1:15p - 1:35p - 2:25p - 2:50p - 3:15p - 3:45p 4:10p - 4:35p - 5:05p - 5:25p - 5:45p - 6:05p - 6:35p - 6:55p - 7:10p - 7:25p - 7:40p - 8p - 8:20p - 8:40p - 9p - 9:30p - 10p - 11:10p - 12:10a
Via Assis Ribeiro Ave.: 4:55a - 6:50a - 8:05a - 9:45a - 12:15a - 5:20p - 10p
Via Assis Ribeiro Ave.: 4:55a - 6:55a - 8a - 9:30a - 12:15p - 5:30p - 10p
Guarulhos International Airport Executive Buses:
These are comfortable cars, with air conditioning, a restroom and luggage compartments in which you can stow large items before you board. Help yourself to the cups of mineral water in a cooler at the back of the bus.
Tickets cost R$31,20 (US$15) and can be purchased with a credit card at the Airport Bus Service booth at Guarulhos International Airport or at the Tietê Bus Terminal.
If you take the bus near your hotel, you will need to pay the driver in cash only. The driver should have change, but try to have tens and twenties rather than just a R$100 bill.
Rush hour delays are routine in São Paulo. But on my last trip, the 6:35pm airport-bound bus left Tietê 35 minutes late; apparently, it was 10 minutes late in leaving its point of origin at Barra Funda. A company inspector on board said he would report the issue.
The final stop is at Avenida Faria Lima Ave. 3825.
6:10a - 7:30a - 8:50a - 10:10a - 11:30a - 12:50p - 2:10p - 3:30p - 4:50p - 6:10p - 7:30p - 8:50p - 10:10 - 11:10p
Itaim/Faria Lima Ave. - Guarulhos Intl. Airport:
6a - 7:20a - 8:40a - 10a - 11:20a - 12:40p - 2p - 3:20p - 4:40p -6p - 7:20p - 8:40p -10p - 11:20p
Guarulhos Intl. Airport - Paulista/Augusta Hotel Circuit:
This bus makes a 20-minute stop at the República Subway Station.
6:10a - 7:10a - 8:20a - 9:30a - 10:40a - 12p - 1p - 2p - 3:10p - 4:10p - 5:20p - 6:30p - 7:30p - 8:40p - 10p - 11:10p
Guarulhos Intl. Airport - Barra Funda Station:
The bus stops at the Tietê Terminal for 20 minutes.
5:45a - 6:40a - 7:50a - 8:40a - 9:30a - 10:40a - 11:30a - 12:20p - 1:20p - 2:20p - 3:10p - 4p - 4:50p - 5:50p - 6:50p - 7:40p - 8:30p -9:35p - 10:15p
Barra Funda Station - Guarulhos Intl. Airport:
Via Tietê Bus Terminal. You can schedule pickups (phone 55-11-3392-131) at Novo Hotel Tietê, Holiday Inn (Anhembi) and Ibis Barra Funda.
6:20a -7a - 7:55a - 9:05a - 9:55a - 10:45a - 11:55a - 12:45p - 1:35p - 2:35p - 3:35p - 4:25p - 5:15p - 6:05p - 7:05p - 8:05p - 8:55p - 9:45p - 10:40p
Guarulhos Intl. Airport - República Subway Station:
5:40a - 6:10a - 6:40a - 7:10a - 7:40a - 8:20a - 8:50a - 9:30a - 10a - 10:40a - 11:20a - 12p - 12:30p - 1p - 1:30p - 2p - 2:30p - 3:10p - 3:40p - 4:10p - 4:50p - 5:20p - 5:50p - 6:30p - 7p - 8:10p - 8:40p - 9:20p - 10p - 10:40p - 11:10p - 12:05a* - 1:30a* - 3a* - 4:30a* (*These buses stop for 20 minutes at the Tietê Bus Terminal.)
República Subway Station - Guarulhos Intl. Airport:
5:40a - 6:10a - 6:40a - 7:10a - 8:10a - 8:40a - 9:10a - 9:50a - 10:20a - 11a - 11:30a - 12:10p - 12:50p - 1:30p - 2p - 2:30p - 3p - 3:30p - 4p - 4:40p - 5:10p - 5:40p - 6:10p - 6:50p - 7:20p - 8p - 8:30p - 9:10p - 9:40p - 10:10p - 10:40p - 11:40p
Guarulhos Intl. Airport - Tietê Bus Terminal:
5:45a - 6:40a - 7:50a - 8:40a - 9:30a - 10:40a - 11:30a - 12:20p - 1:20p - 2:20p - 3:10p - 4p - 4:50p - 5:50p - 6:50p - 7:40p - 8:30p - 9:35p - 10:15p - 11:10p - 12:05a - 1:30a - 3a - 4:30a
Tietê Bus Terminal - Guarulhos Int. Airport:
5a* - 5:45a - 7a - 7:40a - 8:35a - 9:35a - 10:25a - 11:15a - 12:25p - 1:25p - 2:15p - 3:15p - 4:15p - 5:15p - 4:15p - 5:05p - 5:55p - 6:35p - 7:35p - 8:35p - 9:35p - 10:25p - 11:15p - 12:30a* - 2a* - 3:30a* (*At these times, the ticket booth is closed. Pay the bus driver in cash at Platform 38.)
Guarulhos Intl. Airport - Congonhas Airport:
5:30a - 6a - 6:30a - 7a - 7:30a - 8a - 8:40a - 9:20a - 10a - 10:30a - 11a - 11:30a - 12p - 12:30p - 1p - 1:30p -2p - 2:30p - 3p - 3:30p - 3:30p - 4p - 4:30p - 5p - 5:30p - 6:10p - 6:50p - 7:30p - 8p - 8:30p - 9p - 9:30p - 10p - 10:30p - 11:10p - 12:05a - 1:30a - 3p - 4:30a
Congonhas Airport - Guarulhos Int. Airport:
5:30a - 6a - 6:30a - 7a - 7:30a - 8a - 8:30a - 9a - 9:30a - 10:10a - 10:50a - 11:30a - 12p - 12:30a - 1p - 1:30p - 2p - 2:30p - 3p - 3:30p - 4p - 4:30p - 5p - 5:30p - 6p -6:30p - 7p - 7:40p - 8:20p -8:50p - 9:20p - 9:50p - 10:20p - 10:50p - 11:10p - 12a - 1:30a - 3a -4:30a
