Brazil - What can I see in 12 hours from GRU?

I've got a 12 hour layover in GRU (9am-9pm) this coming Sunday and I'm looking for suggestions of what I can/should do while on the ground. My goals are to see a bit of the local life, have at least one good (local, large, cheap) meal and to not spend a fortune in general.

Any suggestions?

You have a visa for Brazil, right? :)

You have a visa for Brazil, right? :)

Yup...picking up my passport from the consulate in NYC this afternoon. Just in time for my trip which starts tomorrow.

Please follow this in the Brazil forum.

l'etoile
sr. moderator

Try starting with this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brazil/1197227-feijoada-sao-paulo.html

Don't know if the OP is traveling the same day as you, but similar situation.

I know GRU pretty well, SP not so much. The airport is not one in which you'd want to spend 12 hours. Apart from getting a day room at an airport-area hotel and sleeping (you're arriving from one overnight flight and connecting to another, brave person?), going into downtown SP sounds like a good idea. There is a tourist info desk in the airport so maybe they can give ideas on public transportation as well as tours.

I don't know anyone who wants to, or can, spend a "fortune." What's your budget? Could you afford a guided tour out of Guarulhos to take you into Sao Paulo? Otherwise I'd get a guidebook of SP and take a bus into the city from Guarulhos (not exactly next door, but doable in your time frame), and walk around, take the Metro, etc. I assume you'd have someplace to store your bags (or that they'll be checked through to your next flight already). Good thing it's a Sunday so you don't have to worry about traffic like on a weekday, but do allow plenty of time to get back to the airport. You'll have to go through immigration and customs upon arrival, of coruse. When you go back to the airport, you'll need to go through the usual security line (assuiming you already have the boarding pass for your onward flight and don't have to get in line for that), plus a quick stop at passport control.

If you want a big, cheap meal, don't expect great quality, but the two "traditional" chocies that come to mind are feijoada (pork and black bean stew, with lots of side dishes) or churrascaria (all-you-can-eat barbequed meat place). You could find either in Guarlhos itself and, of course, in SP. For each there is a wide range of places, from very basic and cheap to very fancy (well, as fancy as pork and beans can get) and expensive.

SoCal mentioned a day room at the airport. Here is a link in case you don't sleep well on planes:

http://www.fastsleep.com.br/

And some reviews on trip advisor:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g303611-d1017671-Reviews-Fast_Sleep_Guarulhos-Guarulhos_State_of_Sao_Paulo.html

I'll sleep when I'm dead. :D

At this point I'm pretty sure the plan is a Shopee and Pao do Queijo to fortify myself and then the bus into S.P. proper. Destination is Republica Square and then I'll mostly be playing it by ear. The food thing may prove difficult but, well, I've always managed thus far and I doubt it'll get too much worse this time around. ;)

SoCal mentioned a day room at the airport. Here is a link in case you don't sleep well on planes:

http://www.fastsleep.com.br/

And some reviews on trip advisor:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g303611-d1017671-Reviews-Fast_Sleep_Guarulhos-Guarulhos_State_of_Sao_Paulo.html

Actually I was talking about day rooms at area hotels outside of the airport, but I think I have seen this place mentioned in the link when I walked through GRU (in the interntional departures area). OP seems sure they don't need sleep (could be strong, or young, stupid and macho, but no matter, they seem to have their plans well set). I'm not a fan of Pao de Quijo etc., but lots of people eat there, so to each their own.

I have a similar trip in a few months.
Other then the two "traditional" food options mentioned, anything else local and not that expensive that's worth trying? I'm not a big fan of Feijoada, at least the type we have here in Portugal.

Has anyone taken bus 257 (http://www.emtu.sp.gov.br/aeroporto/resultado.htm?pag=aeroporto) which costs only 4 reais?

At this point I'm pretty sure the plan is a Shopee and Pao do Queijo to fortify myself and then the bus into S.P. proper. Destination is Republica Square and then I'll mostly be playing it by ear. The food thing may prove difficult but, well, I've always managed thus far and I doubt it'll get too much worse this time around. ;)



Unless you already made plans for your arrival in Sao Paulo on Sunday, here is a link to something that might be interesting as part of your 12 hour layover.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altino_Arantes_Building

The link is to Sao Paulo's Banespa Building. This was once the tallest building in the city. On the top of the building is an observation deck where you can see many landmarks of the city. The building and observation deck were "inspired" by the Empire State Building in New York.

You said you were first going to Republica Square (Praca da Republica). From that location, if you like to walk, it is only about ten or twelve blocks to the Banespa building. A cab ride would not cost more than a few dollars if you prefer not to walk.

The web address I furnished shows pictures of the building and area. Seeing this landmark might be a nice way to fill up the 12 hour layover.

By the way, there is no charge to go to the top of the deck but non Brazilians need a passport or at least a photocopy of the first page of a passport.

If you want an inexpensive place to eat before or after visiting the Banespa building, there is a large shopping center in the area called "Shopping light" where you will find many restaurants on the food level floor. Surprisingly, there is a very nice German restaurant in the food court with sit-down tables and menus.

Of course, there are many things to see and do in Sao Paulo. However, since your time is limited, seeing this building would be something you will remember for a long time, unless you do not like tall buildings.

There is also a small museum in the building.

Good luck on wherever you decide to go during your 12 connection time.
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That tower could've been nice but I stayed grounded today. There was a HUGE music festival this weekend so I pretty much enjoyed that as I wandered from Republica to some other square to the Mercado Municipal to the Cathedral. I stopped to enjoy the musical performances at a couple locations along the way and lunched at the Mercado. By the time I was done with the Cathedral I was done.

Back at the airport now and "enjoying" the rather sub-par RCC waiting for the flight to ORD.

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I'll write up a more coherent version with details when I'm back home and have slept in a real bed again.

Has anyone taken bus 257 (http://www.emtu.sp.gov.br/aeroporto/resultado.htm?pag=aeroporto) which costs only 4 reais?

Not I, but anyone with luggage may want to consider using the paid rental lockers/storage area at GRU -- after exiting customs, exiting the terminal building and heading (left usually for the OP's situation) toward the rental car counters and lockers on the exterior of the terminal building -- prior to taking that bus. The more expensive 33 BRL (in each direction) bus pick-up area is close to the paid baggage storage area on the exterior of the terminal building, and that's the one with which I'm familiar.

Not I, but anyone with luggage may want to consider using the paid rental lockers/storage area at GRU -- after exiting customs, exiting the terminal building and heading (left usually for the OP's situation) toward the rental car counters and lockers on the exterior of the terminal building -- prior to taking that bus. The more expensive 33 BRL (in each direction) bus pick-up area is close to the paid baggage storage area on the exterior of the terminal building, and that's the one with which I'm familiar.

UA arrives in Terminal 1 and the luggage lockers are to the right after you exit the building, not to the left. They are just past the bus ticket room. I paid the R$ 9 to store my bag for the day and took the R$ 33 bus each way (it was R$ 34.35 on the return with some extra tax added on). One in town I took the metro a couple times (R$ 2.90 each) and otherwise walked a lot.

Oh, and be ready for an extortionate R$ 12 fee at the ATMs in the airport arrivals hall. That was brutal.

UA arrives in Terminal 1 and the luggage lockers are to the right after you exit the building, not to the left. They are just past the bus ticket room. I paid the R$ 9 to store my bag for the day and took the R$ 33 bus each way (it was R$ 34.35 on the return with some extra tax added on). One in town I took the metro a couple times (R$ 2.90 each) and otherwise walked a lot.

Oh, and be ready for an extortionate R$ 12 fee at the ATMs in the airport arrivals hall. That was brutal.

No need to guess that you didn't take the CO flight then, which covers most of those SEA/EWR tickets via GRU on the cheap and involves turning left. :D

Would converting cash at Safra or one of the other bank/exchange places in the arrivals waiting area be a better deal than those ATMs?

UA arrives in Terminal 1 and the luggage lockers are to the right after you exit the building, not to the left. They are just past the bus ticket room. I paid the R$ 9 to store my bag for the day and took the R$ 33 bus each way (it was R$ 34.35 on the return with some extra tax added on). One in town I took the metro a couple times (R$ 2.90 each) and otherwise walked a lot.

Oh, and be ready for an extortionate R$ 12 fee at the ATMs in the airport arrivals hall. That was brutal.
Citibank has a R$12 fee. HSBC and Banco do Brasil has no fees.

No need to guess that you didn't take the CO flight then, which covers most of those SEA/EWR tickets via GRU on the cheap and involves turning left. :DI was on a CO ticket but UA metal. ;)

Would converting cash at Safra or one of the other bank/exchange places in the arrivals waiting area be a better deal than those ATMs?
Might be; I didn't check their rates. The rate the ATM gave me was actually pretty decent (1.57:1 which is darn close to the rates I'm seeing online) so the only real penalty was the R$ 12 fee (my bank doesn't charge one). I suppose it would depend on the rates at the banks and how much cash you're converting whether it is a better deal or not.

I didn't see HSBC at the airport (doesn't mean it isn't there) and I think the Banco do Brasil was the one I tried that said it didn't support Cirrus but I'm not sure of that either.

Would converting cash at Safra or one of the other bank/exchange places in the arrivals waiting area be a better deal than those ATMs?
Safra is the only bank in the arrivals area. Go two floors up, and you will find another bank/exchange bureau with much better rates. Don't remember the name, but I think it has some kind of red logo? They also accept a broad variety of currencies!

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Citibank has a R$12 fee. HSBC and Banco do Brasil has no fees.



Also, Bradesco Bank does not charge an ATM fee although their ATM machines take a bit getting used to considering the unusual wording Bradesco uses in their ATM machines for withdrawing cash from your non Brazilian bank account.

For example, if you want to make a regular cash withdrawal using your debit card (ATM card), you must press the button for "cash advance" which, to me, implies that you are asking for a loan of sorts. However, that is the terminology used at Bradesco. You are not asking for a cash advance even though the ATM wording calls your withdrawal a cash advance. The local currency you withdraw from the Bradesco bank is immediately withdrawn from the funds you have on deposit at your bank.

The exchange rate will be the same rate that is reported in various financial exchanges. And, there will not be any fee for using the ATM machine. -

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Citibank has a R$12 fee. HSBC and Banco do Brasil has no fees.

Fees can also be built into lower exchange rates. Citibank has an ATM at GIG that charges this R$12 fee? I would think it depends on what card you are using. I use my U.S.-based Citibank debit card at a variety of ATMs, including those of Bando do Brasil (e.g., at Fortaleza's airport as well as in town), and generally do not pay a separate fee.

Fees can also be built into lower exchange rates. Citibank has an ATM at GIG that charges this R$12 fee? I would think it depends on what card you are using. I use my U.S.-based Citibank debit card at a variety of ATMs, including those of Bando do Brasil (e.g., at Fortaleza's airport as well as in town), and generally do not pay a separate fee.

Not only at airports, but also Citibank in city center. At least in Rio.
Fees are probably waived since you are a Citibank client?

Has anyone taken bus 257 (http://www.emtu.sp.gov.br/aeroporto/resultado.htm?pag=aeroporto) which costs only 4 reais?

I took bus 331 from Terminal 2 to Metro Tautupe -- shopping mall and train/subway stop -- and then from there took the Metro. The bus was air conditioned and comfortable (even as it was full) but basically no room for luggage beside a backpack or something else that sits on your knees or between your legs in the seats.

It was BR$4.05 (or something like that) in cash on the bus plus a "unitario" ticket of BR$2.90 bought at the Metro Tautupe ticket booth.

Much cheaper way into the city than the "Airport Service Bus" which is BR$33 each way, but it involved two subway transfers which were very easy and timely for me to get to the Trianon-MASP area.

Here are some photos from the Mercado Municipal. It was a great place for lunch (sandwich & beer for BRL 16, and that was the most expensive sandwich on the menu) and to take a break from being outside. Plus, a lively and bustling market. I'm a fan.

http://gallery.millerworks.net/Travel/Sao-Paulo-042011/IMGP0162/1259872986_fGRk8jQ-M.jpg

http://gallery.millerworks.net/Travel/Sao-Paulo-042011/IMGP0158/1259872907_VmrfzHV-M.jpg

http://gallery.millerworks.net/Travel/Sao-Paulo-042011/IMGP0172/1259873106_vPFj8xQ-S.jpg (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewanderingaramean/2011/04/a-visit-to-the-mercado-municipal-in-sao-paulo-brazil/)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jsxtGy43R4

Click on any of the photos for more...

Has anyone taken a free shuttle to an airport hotel for lunch and a poolside nap? Just wondering how easily this is done.

I have a 7 hour afternoon layover in GRU and would love to head to the market posted by sbm12 for a spot of lunch.

Do I have time? I read on another website that 7 hours is not enough time to do anything meaningful because of the traffic and distance of GRU from Sao Paulo

I don't need a visa, I speak Spanish and rusty continental Portuguese picked up when I lived in Lisbon. I don't like Admirals Clubs.

Worth a punt? Any way of wangling this

It will be tight on 7 hours. You'll probably make it in and back but not much time to spare. And if you hit rush hour traffic and get stuck all bets are off.

It will be tight on 7 hours. You'll probably make it in and back but not much time to spare. And if you hit rush hour traffic and get stuck all bets are off.

Does GRU to SP just have regular buses? Just asking, never been before. Brazil invented BRT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_rapid_transit), no buses with dedicated lanes? No train? No metro?

Thanks for chipping in sbm12

There are regular city buses and there are dedicated airport express buses. No rail and no dedicated lanes. That's why traffic can mess you up.

I have a 7 hour afternoon layover in GRU and would love to head to the market posted by sbm12 for a spot of lunch.

Do I have time? I read on another website that 7 hours is not enough time to do anything meaningful because of the traffic and distance of GRU from Sao Paulo

I don't need a visa, I speak Spanish and rusty continental Portuguese picked up when I lived in Lisbon. I don't like Admirals Clubs.

Worth a punt? Any way of wangling this

7 hours and some rudimentary Portuguese? I would give it a fair shot. Assuming your 7 hours are morning to afternoon/evening, here's how I would play it.

- Hour 0 : Arrive at GRU
- Hour 1 : After clearing immigration, depart GRU, via cab, for Mercado Municipal
- Hour 2-3.5 : Arrive at the market. Dig in. Have a mortadella sandwich at Bar do Mane for me will you.
- Hour 3.5 : Leave for GRU.
- Hour 4.5 : Arrive GRU, checkin for flight

Caveat. If rain in forecast at all, forget about it. Also, it should take you ~1hr to get from GRU to MM. If it takes more than that, factor that into the return trip. I would not take the public bus. That could easily add another hour or more.

Enjoy!

7 hours and some rudimentary Portuguese? I would give it a fair shot. Assuming your 7 hours are morning to afternoon/evening, here's how I would play it.

- Hour 0 : Arrive at GRU
- Hour 1 : After clearing immigration, depart GRU, via cab, for Mercado Municipal
- Hour 2-3.5 : Arrive at the market. Dig in. Have a mortadella sandwich at Bar do Mane for me will you.
- Hour 3.5 : Leave for GRU.
- Hour 4.5 : Arrive GRU, checkin for flight

Caveat. If rain in forecast at all, forget about it. Also, it should take you ~1hr to get from GRU to MM. If it takes more than that, factor that into the return trip. I would not take the public bus. That could easily add another hour or more.

Enjoy!

Interesting, so the journey is potentially an hour each way on a good day?
I will already be checked in for my flight out so hopefully go straight to the gate when I get back.

How much to budget for a taxi? I am planning on picking up necessary Reais on a quick trip to Tabatinga beforehand.

Mortadella? Really? Have you seen how they make that?

Thanks for your comments

Interesting, so the journey is potentially an hour each way on a good day?
I will already be checked in for my flight out so hopefully go straight to the gate when I get back.

How much to budget for a taxi? I am planning on picking up necessary Reais on a quick trip to Tabatinga beforehand.

Mortadella? Really? Have you seen how they make that?

Thanks for your comments

Yeah, I would say 1 hr average would work. There are these prepaid counters right as you exit the departure area. Those are legit and should run about BRL$100 max based on destination. Budget the same for the return. Or since you are spending only an hour or 2, you can consider asking the cab driver to wait for you. They like these long rides and will most likely do so.

Bar do Mane is special man. One of those sandwiches puts me in a instant coma ... almost a religious experience. There are also these bacalao fritters (codfish I think) if you prefer that.

The bacalao looked good but I had a pernil sandwich. The idea of going with the mortadela wasn't working for me at all. And I agree that about an hour each way is what the transit time will be, assuming not rush hour. If you want to save a few bucks the express bus into town was quite nice and pretty fast.