Flying to São Paulo
Routes we sell to São Paulo. Search your dates for live fares.
Johannesburg (JNB)
about 9 hours 30 minutes · Non-stop
Best time to fly
Weather, crowds and fares move together in São Paulo. These are the trade-offs.
April to September
Cooler and drier — the most comfortable months, though it can be grey.
October to March
Warmer and wetter, with heavy afternoon rain in the summer months.
February
Carnival. Extraordinary, and accommodation prices to match — book far ahead.
Before you go
Language
Portuguese, and English is not widely spoken outside international hotels. A translation app is genuinely useful.
Yellow fever
Vaccination is recommended for parts of Brazil and may be required for onward travel. Check for your itinerary.
Time zone
Five hours behind South Africa, so westbound jet lag is mild.
Sensible precautions
As in any large city, be deliberate about valuables and check which areas are advisable at night.
About São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in the southern hemisphere and Brazil's financial centre — vast, dense and far more about food, art and nightlife than beaches.
It is also the main gateway into South America from South Africa, with the shortest crossing of the South Atlantic and onward connections across the continent.
Getting in from the airport
Guarulhos International (GRU) is about 25 km from the centre, though São Paulo traffic can make it slow. Airport buses serve the main districts and ride-hailing is widely used.
Entry requirements for South African passport holders
Brazil has generally admitted South African passport holders for short tourist stays without a visa arranged in advance, though Brazil has been reintroducing visa requirements for some nationalities. Confirm the current position with the Brazilian embassy or your airline before travelling.
Entry rules change. Confirm the current requirements with the destination's embassy or consulate before you travel — this page is a guide, not an authority.
Flying to São Paulo, answered
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