Flying from São Paulo gives you unmatched choice in South America, with dense domestic networks and far reaching long haul connections. Two major commercial airports serve the metro area plus a dedicated executive field, so you can pick the departure that fits your schedule and budget in one of the largest travel hubs in Brazil.
São Paulo’s scale means more frequencies, more time options, and more competition on popular routes, which can help value seekers. Guarulhos handles the bulk of international traffic with a modern long haul terminal vibe, while Congonhas puts you minutes from the city’s business districts for swift domestic hops. Peak periods such as Carnival and late December bring lively terminal energy and fuller schedules, while shoulder months tend to be calmer and often better for finding cheap flights from São Paulo, subject to change.
If you’re flexible on dates or even destinations, starting in São Paulo lets you pivot from quick beach weekends to transatlantic plans without backtracking. Whether you are chasing last minute flights from São Paulo to nearby capitals or planning a bigger trip, the metro’s connectivity makes onward travel simple.
From short hops to long hauls, routes from São Paulo cover everyday business trips and big bucket list escapes. Here are the types of journeys travelers book most often, with example times that are subject to change.
For short haul domestic trips, São Paulo–Congonhas sees frequent services to Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Belo Horizonte, with a typical São Paulo to Rio flight clocking about 1 hour 5 minutes nonstop, subject to change. These quick sectors are popular for weekend flights from São Paulo and short business days. On long haul, Guarulhos connects widely across Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. Example durations include São Paulo to Lisbon at around 9 hours nonstop and São Paulo to Miami at about 8 hours 20 minutes nonstop, subject to change. Ultra long haul options such as São Paulo to Dubai take roughly 14 hours 55 minutes nonstop, subject to change. Lisbon is a favorite launch point into Portugal, while Miami serves as a gateway to the Caribbean.
Europe bound travelers also favor cultural capitals like Paris for art and food, especially outside peak holiday weeks. Many of these routes are operated by major carriers based at Guarulhos and Congonhas, including LATAM Airlines, Gol Linhas Aéreas, and Azul Brazilian Airlines, giving you a solid mix of timings and cabin options. Seasonality matters. Brazilian summer holidays, Carnival in February or March, and year end travel see higher demand and often higher fares, while April to June and August to November typically bring steadier prices and easier availability, subject to change.
Booking smart can save a lot. For the best value, look to shoulder months such as April to June and August to November, when demand eases and cheap flights from São Paulo are easier to catch, subject to change.
Aim to book 4 to 6 weeks before departure for many routes to balance availability and price, and lock in earlier if you must travel during Carnival or late December. Flexibility helps, so try midweek departures and returns, consider cheap one way flights from São Paulo, and compare weekend flights from São Paulo against midweek alternatives.
Turn on Set a Price Alert for your route so you get notified when prices drop, then book as soon as a fare fits your budget. Explore Travel Hacks like self transfer, hidden cities, and throwaway ticketing when you want to open up more options. Planning a multi stop adventure across South America or beyond is easier with the Nomad Search Tool, which finds a cheap order for three or more cities based on your dates and stays. Manage it all on the Kiwi.com App to track price alerts and trips on the go. If you add the Kiwi.com Guarantee to your booking, Kiwi.com will handle automatic check in and place your boarding passes in the app once available, as described in the Guarantee.
Understanding the airports in São Paulo helps you choose the right departure, cut transfer times, and keep your trip smooth.
São Paulo Guarulhos International, IATA code GRU, sits about 25 kilometers northeast of downtown. It has three terminals, with Terminal 3 focused on international flights and offering the most modern facilities. The Airport Bus Service links GRU with key points in the city, including Congonhas Airport, Tietê Bus Terminal, and the Berrini area, with typical journey times around one hour depending on traffic, subject to change. GRU hosts many carriers and offers the broadest spread of international and long haul routes. São Paulo Congonhas, IATA code CGH, is roughly 8 kilometers south of downtown and handles mostly domestic flights. Two terminals, frequent services, and proximity to central neighborhoods make it a favorite for day trips and quick turnarounds. Taxis, ride hailing, and city buses provide simple access, with travel time varying by traffic. São Paulo Catarina Executive, IATA code JHF, lies about 74 kilometers from central São Paulo in São Roque. It is dedicated to general aviation and executive operations and does not host scheduled commercial services.
If you want to mix and match carriers to reach places not served by a single airline, Kiwi.com's self transfer hack can combine separate tickets into one trip. For extra reassurance, add the Kiwi.com Guarantee so you are covered if carrier changes stop your trip. Its Disruption Protection offers instant compensation in Kiwi.com Credit for replacement bookings or help to apply for refunds from carriers when disruptions affect your itinerary, and you also get automatic check in and 24, 7 instant chat support.