Airport to city: getting from GRU, GIG, SSA and BSB

From São Paulo’s Guarulhos airport (GRU), a free aeromóvel takes you to the train. The Expresso Aeroporto then costs R$ 5.40 (about US$1, checked Oct 2026) into the city. In Rio, the BRT from Galeão (GIG) costs R$ 5.00, and in Salvador (SSA) the metro costs R$ 4.10. Brasília (BSB) has a public bus to the Esplanada at the standard Federal District fare.

This page covers arrivals at GRU, GIG, SSA and BSB. Conversions use R$ 5.08 per US$1, the rate used on money in Brazil.

The four airports at a glance

Each of the four airports has a cheap public link and an app or taxi option. The table compares them.

App ride prices are averages, not fixed fares. They rise at rush hour, late at night and in heavy rain.

São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU)

GRU sits in the city of Guarulhos, outside São Paulo. The average car ride from São Paulo covers about 30 km and takes about 46 minutes, often much longer at rush hour.

The aeromóvel and the train

The cheapest route is the free aeromóvel plus a train at R$ 5.40. You can reach Aeroporto-Guarulhos station from the terminals for free, by bus or by the aeromóvel. The aeromóvel is a 2.7 km train on a raised track. It stops at each of the three terminals and at the station. Since September 27, 2026 it runs from 4:00 to midnight, with two vehicles carrying up to 200 people each.

From the station you have two trains, both at R$ 5.40 (about US$1, checked Oct 2026):

• Expresso Aeroporto. It links Aeroporto-Guarulhos and Palmeiras-Barra Funda, with stops at central stations including Luz, Brás and Guarulhos-Cecap. Departures run every hour, daily.
• Line 13-Jade. This regular line is the other option. It connects with Line 12-Safira at Engenheiro Goulart station.

The private operator Trivia Trens runs Lines 11, 12 and 13 and the Expresso Aeroporto. Its takeover in 2026 had a rough start, and the state transport company CPTM supervised a phased handover until Trivia took over full operation on October 26, 2026. Check timetables and fares on the operator’s site before you travel.

Check before you go: if your flight lands very early or late, confirm the first and last Expresso departures with the Trivia Trens customer service line or at the station. If the train is not running, use the coach or an official taxi.

Airport Bus Service

Airport Bus Service runs coaches from GRU to Congonhas airport, the Tietê and Barra Funda bus terminals, Hotel Ibis Barra Funda, Praça da República and Rua da Consolação. Buses into the city leave from Terminals 2 and 3.

The República route costs from R$ 39.90 (about US$8, checked Oct 2026) and takes about 40 minutes on average. Tickets are valid for 12 months.

What to know before you board:

• Ticket desks are at Terminal 2 East and West.
• Cards are accepted on every line. You can also buy from the driver up to 10 minutes before departure.
• There is no luggage limit, and bags are not weighed.
• Children under 5 ride free if they do not take a seat.
• Lines that board at bus terminals add a terminal fee of R$ 2.20 (about US$0.40, checked Oct 2026).

A hotel circuit with nine stops runs from Avenida Paulista and República to GRU. On that route, you buy tickets from the driver.

Taxis and apps at GRU

Guarucoop runs the official taxis at the arrivals areas of Terminals 1, 2 and 3, 24 hours a day. It takes credit and debit cards, and it gives a 20% discount for cash on trips from the State of São Paulo to the airport. Ask for the fare to your address at the Guarucoop desk before you ride, or call +55 11 2440-7070 (also WhatsApp).

Uber pickups at GRU are on the second curb outside each terminal, at an Uber boarding totem or a “Transport App” sign. The app gives you a 6-digit PIN to share with the driver. Request the ride only after you clear customs and collect your bags.

Rio de Janeiro Galeão (GIG)

Galeão is on Ilha do Governador, north of the center. The average car ride from the city covers about 22 km and takes about 32 minutes.

BRT and metro

The BRT plus metro is the cheapest way to the South Zone. The BRT TransCarioca Parador runs from Galeão to Terminal Alvorada in Barra da Tijuca and to Madureira. Both routes pass Vicente de Carvalho, where you change to Metro Line 2. At Madureira you can change to SuperVia trains.

The BRT costs R$ 5.00 (about US$1, checked Oct 2026) and runs every day from 4:00 to midnight. The BRT stops are Galeão Tom Jobim 1 and Galeão Tom Jobim 2. Rio raised its bus and BRT fare from R$ 4.70 to R$ 5.00 on January 4, 2026.

The metro alone costs R$ 7.90 (about US$1.60, checked Oct 2026). BRT plus metro on a Jaé card costs R$ 9.70 (about US$1.90, checked Oct 2026). Metro Lines 1, 2 and 4 run from 5:00 to midnight Monday to Saturday, and 7:00 to 23:00 on Sundays and holidays.

To reach the metro at Jardim Oceânico, take BRT line 38 to Terminal Alvorada. Then take line 2 to Jardim Oceânico.

Buses to the Centro and Niterói

A direct seated bus runs from Galeão to Terminal Gentileza for R$ 15.00 (about US$3, checked Oct 2026). It boards at Terminal 2 arrivals. Terminal Gentileza is a large bus and BRT hub on the edge of the Centro, with onward city buses and the VLT light rail.

City line 328 runs from Bananal to Candelária, in the Centro, via the airport. Auto Viação 1001 runs line 1760D to Charitas in Niterói for R$ 18.00 (about US$3.50, checked Oct 2026), plus coaches to Búzios and Macaé.

Municipal lines such as 328, 915 and 925 charge the standard city fare, R$ 5.00 since January 2026. Older fare signs at the airport may still show lower prices. Pay with a contactless card or a Jaé card where accepted.

Taxis and apps at GIG

Regular taxis wait at Level 0, Door A, near domestic arrivals. The companies are Aerotáxi and Aerocoop. Executive taxis wait at Door B. Fares follow the meter or the city’s regulated table, so ask the taxi desk for the table price to your neighborhood before you get in. The city’s common taxi rate since January 2, 2026 is R$ 6.30 (about US$1.25, checked Oct 2026) to start plus R$ 3.85 (about US$0.75, checked Oct 2026) per km (see Uber, 99 and taxis).

The Uber pickup point is on the arrivals level. Turn left after you leave arrivals.

Salvador (SSA)

Salvador’s airport lies north of the city, near the beaches of Itapuã. The average car ride from the center covers about 19 km and takes about 25 minutes.

Metro Line 2

Line 2 (Azul) runs from Aeroporto station to Acesso Norte, where it meets Line 1. The station is a short walk from arrivals, and a free shuttle links it to the terminal.

The metro costs R$ 4.10 (about US$0.80, checked Oct 2026). Metro plus city bus, BRT or STEC costs R$ 5.90 (about US$1.20, checked Oct 2026). Trains run daily from 5:00 to midnight.

How to pay:

• Tap a contactless credit or debit card at the turnstile for one trip.
• Buy a QR code ticket at the blue machines or in apps such as RecargaPay.
• Machines take Pix, cash, and Visa, Mastercard or Elo cards.

Bags must fit within 150 x 60 x 30 cm.

Line 2 still has a station named Rodoviária, beside the old bus terminal in Iguatemi. That terminal closed on January 19, 2026. Intercity buses now use the Novo Terminal Rodoviário in Águas Claras, beside the BR-324 and next to the Águas Claras metro station on Line 1. To reach it, change from Line 2 to Line 1 at Acesso Norte and ride to Águas Claras.

Line 1 runs from Águas Claras to Lapa, in the center of Salvador. For the Pelourinho or Barra, the simplest option with bags is an app ride or taxi. If you travel light, ride the metro toward the center and finish with a short app ride. Station names may change after the terminal move, so follow the line maps inside the stations. For help, call Metrô Bahia on 0800-071-8020.

Taxis and apps at SSA

Two accredited taxi cooperatives work at the airport, 24 hours a day. Check the driver’s ID and the car before you get in. Ask the cooperative desk for the price to Barra or the Pelourinho before you leave, and confirm whether the driver will use the meter.

App rides meet at a signposted pickup point. The airport has free Wi-Fi to book the ride.

Brasília (BSB)

Brasília’s airport sits south of the Plano Piloto, the planned center. The average car ride covers about 16 km and takes about 20 minutes. The average UberX price is R$ 33 (about US$6.50, checked Oct 2026).

Linha 11 runs from the airport to the Esplanada dos Ministérios. Federal District buses charge one of three fares: R$ 2.70, R$ 3.80 or R$ 5.50 (about US$0.55, US$0.75 and US$1.10, checked Oct 2026), depending on the line.

Check before you go: confirm the airport bus fare, hours and the line to the Rodoviária do Plano Piloto at the stop on arrival, or on the Semob-DF website. Buses are less frequent at night and on Sundays.

Regular taxis and radio taxis wait on the access road in front of the domestic arrivals exit. Safer Black sells prepaid executive taxis at a fixed price by destination, payable by card, inside domestic arrivals or on the ground floor. Ask a regular driver for an estimate before you leave, or buy the fixed fare at the Safer Black counter. App rides use the signposted Praça Pick-up.

Safety at arrivals

Airport arrivals are where most travelers meet their first scam attempts. Express kidnappings and robberies happen in unlicensed taxis and in cars using fake ride-hailing accounts. Follow these rules:

• Do not hail taxis on the street.
• Use the authorized taxi booths found at most Brazilian airports.
• Ignore drivers who approach you inside the terminal, including those who say they work for an app.
• Wait at designated pickup areas and check the plate and driver in the app.
• Arrange pickup in a secure area.

Registered taxis have white plates with red characters, or red plates with white characters. For app rides, read Uber, 99 and taxis in Brazil.

Rail, bus, taxi or app

The right choice depends on your bags, your arrival time and your budget. Use these rules of thumb:

• Light bags, daytime arrival: take the train in São Paulo, the BRT and metro in Rio, or the metro in Salvador.
• Heavy bags or a group: an app ride or official taxi often costs about the same per person as the coach.
• Late night arrival: take an official taxi or an app ride from the marked pickup point. Public transport thins out after 22:00.
• Rush hour in São Paulo: the train avoids road traffic, which can double the car journey time.

Before you land

1. Get mobile data working on arrival. See Brazil eSIM and SIM card guide.
2. Carry a contactless card and some small notes. See money in Brazil.
3. Keep your phone out of sight on the curb and in the car.
4. Book app rides only inside the app, at the marked pickup point.

For more on street safety, read is Brazil safe.