The easiest/cheapest way to get to SP from the airport (and vice versa), the bus service has…read moreseveral lines but the only one that I have used so far is the one that begins and ends at Maksoud Plaza. For around 45 reals (they advertise 42, but I was once charged 50, once 45 and a couple times it was actually 42) you get a very clean, comfortable bus, with free wifi (that actually works!!) and transportation to the area of the city that you need to be in. For some reason, GRU does not have a metro stop and so this is my preferred method of escaping the airport. (Just be aware that if you are on an international arrival, you will need to go to one of the other terminals to buy your ticket as they seem to only arrive at and leave from the domestic terminals for some reason.)

For a reliable taxi driver, it doesn't get any better than Marcos. I landed in Marcos' taxi by…read moreaccident when I was leaving Paulista Ave and immediately got a good sense about him. Clean taxi (Jetta), safe driving, quiet and pleasant, and following Waze to get me home while avoiding traffic. From this one good experience, I asked him if he used Whatsapp and whether I might be able to hire him for all the airport trips I make. A few days later, Marcos was waiting outside of my apartment after my whatsapp request, ready to take me to the airport. I've used Marcos at least 30-40 times since then and he remains as reliable and awesome as day one. He's super professional and tracks my incoming flights to make sure he's ready to pick me up from the airport as well. Marcos doesn't speak English, and while my Portuguese is only so-so, we communicate with no difficulty (thanks to my translation tool on my phone). He's even done long trips taking me to Embu das Artes (a cool artist town 40 minutes outside of São Paulo), he's driven my family from GRU airport to Ilhabela (and back!), and recently he moved me from São Paulo to Rio. Truly, they don't come any better, and more upstanding, than this guy. Best of all, he accepts cards and has wifi in his taxi! I'll never use another taxi driver when in São Paulo!

Coming from abroad you will probably get into SP from GRU Airport. You must know in advance this…read moreairport is about 25/30 Km from downtown São Paulo, and for the ride you will mostly find a lot of traffic. A cab into the city or to the local airport has a fixed price and will range from R$130-R$150 if you order at the cashier for Guarucoop. An UberX can range from R$60-R$80 depending on traffic, but if you are traveling solo and want a cheaper and comfy option, this shuttle might be the best. For only R$43/person you could get a bus to either República (metro station), Paulista Av, Itaim, Brooklin or Congonhas Airport. Each of this routes have their own time and schedule. Bus is comfortable, has A/C and a space to carry your luggage. Some of them have a functional WiFi and TV.

Our flight had a layover here in San Paolo , this is a very big airport, we had enough time to find…read morea bar & relax for a bit before our connecting flight to Rio. We had some Brazilian beer & cheese bread, bread was so tasty & the beers really hit the spot after the long travel. There were plenty of options for food & shopping, my only complain would be having the Latam lounge closer it was like all the way on the opposite side & since our time was limited we just couldn't waste the time looking for it. Overall decent airport with plenty of options.

Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo is huge. They have expanded it since my last visit…read moreand now have Terminal 3 for International flights. Terminal 3 is modern, has lots of places to buy food, drinks, and gifts both before and after you go through security. Both my arrival and departure went smoothly. Upon arrival you first go through immigration, then pick up your checked bags and then go through customs. I was surprised that all was rather easy. Of course, you need a visa before coming to Brazil from the USA. I usually go use the services of Travel Document Systems in Washington DC to obtain my visa because they check your application, help you revise anything that may need correction, then walk it through the embassy for you. TDS has always done an exceptional job and this time was no different. I had my visa in record time via email. When I departed São Paulo, I arrived to the airport very early (to avoid problems with the SP traffic. There are a multitude of ticket counter for many Airlines from around the world. I was flying with United, and their app included clear instructions as to how to find their counters. I was so early, my airline did not have their counter open yet, so I spent the time walking around, and enjoying a restaurant and a coffee shop. They have a Starbucks, but I recommend the Brazilian coffee shops more. Because I have heard stories of people's checked bags being opened and filled with drugs at the airport, I recommend using the services that wrap your bag with plastic prior to checking your luggage. It cost 199 reals, (about $37 USD), but to me it is worth it. I also open my bag at the airport and use my camera to document the contents prior to wrapping. The service includes a tracking service for which you register. Perhaps I'm overly cautious, but, especially when traveling alone, feel it is worth the investment. After checking my bag, I headed through security and immigration. The lines were long, so I do recommend you arrive at least 3 hours before your flight. The agents spoke English, but seemed pleased when I answered them in Portuguese. When entering Brazil, always keep your passport handy, as you'll need it to check into a hotel, and in case of needing to prove your identity. I was wearing my boots, and did not have to take them off to go through security. I did have to take out my laptop, tablet, phone, and quart sized bag of liquids (toothpaste, sanitizing gel, etc.). The Terminal is large, so it may take a few minutes of walking to reach your gate. There are many shops, Duty Free, and eateries available, as well as plenty of clean restrooms. Some of the restaurants are American known chains like TGI Fridays. If you buy a bottle of water inside the Terminal, you are now allowed to take it with you onto your flight (a change from several years ago). I had a pleasant experience this trip at Terminal 3 at Guarulhos Airport.

Can't have enough space for passengers, whole Line 9 runs quicker and with longer trains, still not…read moreenough quickness to allow a safe and pleasant ride. There are long queues to teller and yet not ATM so be prepared for time on queue if you have not your Bilhete Único.

The Sao Paulo subway is very easy to use, relatively clean and very convenient for a tourist. The…read moresystem is the shape of a spider, where the various line spread out to different parts of the city. Therefore, most of the lines do not require any transfers and are straight forward. I was able to get to the popular places like Liberdade, along Avenida Paulista, and Ibirapuera Park easily. However, it is not as extensive as a place like New York City. Therefore, certain places may require a bit of walking or a taxi .

This is fairly typical of the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tours you find in most touristy cities, but unlike…read morethose in major cities, this one doesn't have very many buses running. So, if you DO hop-off, make sure there is another bus still running after yours, so you can hop back on! This company doesn't have a live narration, but it almost works better with the pre-recorded narration, since each spot is described in Portuguese, English and Spanish, without having to wear headphones for English or Spanish. They have a number of different routes, each about 2 hours long. Take advantage of the 24 hour window with your ticket, and check out the different routes!

The whole tour in English can be done on foot with collaborative payment above 25 reais, passing…read morethrough the sights of São Paulo. The bus ride costs R $ 40,00 and also has a guide in English and Spanish. I leave daily Tietê, Congonhas, Paulista, Republic, Olido, Municipal Market and you can consult the weekly schedule of the city by smarphone. All the guides are accredited and qualified to answer all the tourist questions of the city. Look for Alice and her sharp English, she was very attentive to me. Excellent choice for a Saturday or Sunday without plans, or to introduce the city to friends from outside. ;) "Excellent choice to appreciate São Paulo from another angle"

AMBIANCE: So clean and crisp! And very artsy. I don't…read morerealize how art forward São Paulo was and it was immediately noted when you walk in. They sponsored this competition where local artists came in and they painted what they could in an hour and then the guests were to vote on the best one. It was trendy and cute. The gym (no pic -- sorry) was small, but the offered towels and bananas (no avoid cramps) so that was a nice touch. SERVICE: It was phenomenal. Room service was quick even though they said that it may take a while. And they offered the proper outlet add ons how anyone who was international. FOOD: Food was great! Love the buffet style food. I cannot get enough of the cheeseballs!!! So good. Again, was here for a week bc of work so it was comfortable and a joy to be at. We have a great view of the city as well!

This was a great hotel option in Sao Paulo. It's in a central location in a newer part of the city…read moreand close to a mall as well as smaller restaurants. There is a Metro station about a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel so it's a convenient way to get to most areas around this sprawling metropolis. The hotel itself is new and modern with an attentive staff. The rooms are modern and basic and provide everything one would need for a holiday or business stay. The breakfast was very good - a nice selection of fresh fruit, dairy products, meats, breads and pastries. They make egg items to order, which is also very nice. Pullman Hotel is a very good option for this city.