GRU São Paulo Guarulhos Airport Guide for 2026
Terminals, lounges, customs, transfer to CGH and VCP, and how to track every flight in and out of South America's busiest international hub.
Quick facts
São Paulo–Guarulhos (GRU / SBGR) is the largest international gateway in Brazil and South America. It runs three passenger terminals (T1, T2, T3) on a single airfield and handles long-haul traffic for LATAM, GOL, Azul, plus most North American, European, Asian, and African flag carriers.
- IATA / ICAO: GRU / SBGR
- Terminals: T1 (Star Alliance regionals), T2 (most domestic + Avianca, Air Canada, Delta), T3 (most long-haul: LATAM, AA, BA, LH, AF, KL, EK, QR)
- Time zone: America/Sao_Paulo (BRT, UTC−3, no DST)
GRU, CGH, or VCP?
São Paulo has three commercial airports. Domestic shuttles to Rio (SDU) leave from CGH (Congonhas), low-cost LATAM and Azul fly from VCP (Viracopos) in Campinas. If you're connecting between airports, factor in 60–120 minutes of road transfer plus traffic — this is one of the world's worst commuter cities.
Customs & immigration
US/EU passports clear immigration in 15–60 minutes; weekend mornings after long-haul wave-banks can hit 90 minutes. Brazil eliminated reciprocal visas for US/Canada/Australia in 2024 — but carry proof of onward travel; gate agents at the origin sometimes ask.
Lounges worth knowing
- Star Alliance Lounge (T3) — solid food, good views.
- GOL Smiles Lounge (T2) — domestic, recently refurbished.
- American Airlines Admirals Club (T3) — small but quiet.
- Plaza Premium (T2 + T3) — the Priority Pass option.
Track your GRU flight
FlightyFlow handles GRU's busy long-haul wave bank well, with predictive delay alerts that often fire 30–60 minutes before LATAM and GOL post official updates.
Frequently asked
How long does it take to get from GRU to downtown São Paulo?+
By Airport Bus Service (ABS) it's 60–90 minutes to Praça da República in normal traffic. Taxis and Ubers are 45–75 minutes off-peak and easily two hours during rush.
Is the GRU connector train running?+
Yes. CPTM Line 13 runs from Guarulhos–Cecap to Engenheiro Goulart, where you can transfer onto Line 12 and the metro network. It's slower than a taxi but reliable and cheap.
Track your next flight with FlightyFlow
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