Flying from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo: what you need to know
Planning your holiday begins with working out where you'll fly out of in Johannesburg. O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is the city's main airport, so check out your options for booking a flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo departing from here.
Arrive in Sao Paulo at Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) or Viracopos Airport (VCP).
Hop on a direct Johannesburg to Sao Paulo flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 10 hours 10 minutes.
Sao Paulo is five hours behind Johannesburg and observes the UTC-3 timezone.
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) is the most popular route between these two cities. There are six weekly departures to pick from. If you prefer starting your day later, the last flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo is with LATAM Airlines at 15:20. Go for the first JNB to GRU departure with South African Airways at 09:50 to maximise your time in Sao Paulo.
Give yourself plenty of time to catch your Johannesburg to Sao Paulo flight. It's generally best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for international flights whenever you're flying during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo
$430 is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo. Return flights start from $610. These prices may change depending on availability and demand.
Book one month before you want to travel. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap Johannesburg to Sao Paulo flights.
The best month for finding cheap plane tickets from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo is April. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare all available prices, then choose the dates that offer the biggest savings.
Locking in a cheap flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as the price has dropped.
Select your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Johannesburg to Sao Paulo flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest.'
Flying from Johannesburg
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Depart from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) on a nonstop flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo. From JNB, you can fly directly to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
LATAM Airlines is a leading airline that offers direct Johannesburg to Sao Paulo plane tickets from JNB.
Consider adding a stopover to potentially find a cheaper Johannesburg to Sao Paulo flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from O.R. Tambo International Airport. Break up your trip (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these airports:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD)
Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Located around 23 kilometres from central Johannesburg, JNB can be reached in about 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
Looking for a convenient hotel near O.R. Tambo International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from check-in:
Of the flights that depart from O.R. Tambo International Airport, 77.1% land on time at their destination.
Arriving in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to central Sao Paulo takes about 30 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 21 kilometres away.
It usually takes 1 hour 20 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing soon after at one of these hotels near GRU:
Explore without limits with a Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Foco, Localiza or Movida and see more of Sao Paulo and beyond.
For the lowest price, book your vehicle from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport around two weeks in advance of your Johannesburg to Sao Paulo flight.
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Central Sao Paulo is about 8 kilometres from Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH). As soon as your flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo has hit the runway and you've made your way out of the airport, the drive should be around 15 minutes.
If you hop on public transport, you'll reach the centre in 35 minutes or so.
Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and unwind at a hotel close to VCP. Here are a few options where you can kick back after your flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo:
Forget about public transport schedules or waiting in a long cab line. Pick up a Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport rental car and let the journey unfold your way. Check out the rates and availability from Foco, Localiza and Movida.
Secure your first choice, not your last resort. Reserving your ride from CGH three weeks in advance often means lower prices and a wider range of vehicles.
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
Travel to the centre after your flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo has arrived. Central Sao Paulo is about 80 kilometres from Viracopos Airport (VCP) and takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to get to by car.
If you travel by public transport, expect a journey of about 3 hours 25 minutes.
Whether you're looking for a compact for a solo adventure or a full-size SUV to move the whole family, you'll find the right Viracopos Airport rental car for you. Explore the types of wheels available from names such as Foco, Localiza and Movida.
Around four weeks before your flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo is a good time to secure your ride from VCP. You're likely to snag a better deal or catch some early booking discounts.
Best time to go to Sao Paulo
July is the busiest month for flights from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo. To travel when it's less crowded, visit Sao Paulo in April.
The warmest month in Sao Paulo is February, with temperatures ranging between 18ºC (64ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF). Book your Johannesburg to Sao Paulo ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
If you like travelling in cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo in July when temperatures average between 12ºC (54ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF).
More about Sao Paulo
After booking your flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these options your base for exploring Sao Paulo:
Sao Paulo Museum of Art and Ibirapuera Park are just the start of the big attractions to put on your Sao Paulo must-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Avenida Paulista.
Explore more of Brazil
Sao Paulo has its own special appeal, but there are so many other corners of Brazil you'll want to see. Around 499 kilometres north-east of Sao Paulo, a trip to Belo Horizonte will keep you on the go. Start with leading attractions like Abilio Barreto Historical Museum, Matiz Arte Objeto and Deck Vertedouro.
If you want to check out another corner of Brazil, consider Curitiba, roughly 338 kilometres south-west of Sao Paulo. Jardim Botanico de Curitiba, Museu Oscar Niemeyer and Largo da Ordem are the start of reasons to visit.
