Brazil - Public Transport GRU-Metro

Is public transport a viable option to travel from GRU airport into SP?

Looks like bus #257 has frequent service to Tatuape Metro station http://www.emtu.sp.gov.br/sistemas/linha/resultado1.htm?numlinha=16890

Is this a safe choice for a foreigner? How about in the evening (say 9pm)?

if you are less than fully confident, don't speak portuguese and/or have bags to manage and you're travelling alone, then I'd suggest the only sensible "budget" option is the airport bus to Republica or (better) the hotel-circuit version of the bus, which might be able to drop you near your destination. There's a ticket office where you can pay by credit card.

You're not going to be in mortal danger on public transport, but it's not a particularly user-friendly, comfortable or intuitive system, and it will spit you out onto dark streets. Better to get used to it when you are more relaxed!

Thanks to the exchange rate and brasilian inflation the taxi fare from the airport begins to become efficient (versus the airportbus+city taxi) if you are not travelling alone. You could try to generate a taxi-share ....

I don't speak Portuguese, and I travel fairly light.

I found that bus 257 to/from the Tatuape station works pretty well. The stop isn't very well marked in front of the airport, but it is one lane out from the terminal, on the arrivals level, on the T1 side but near the area between the terminals. The bus itself is marked on the side as "airport service".

Most importantly the bus driver makes change, so you don't have to worry about exact change.

If you can read maps, the metro & companion suburban trains are pretty easy to use. They can be crowded and Sao Paulans seem to be in a hurry, but I found the system entirely usable even if you don't speak the language.

Very easy to use. Nothing to be afraid of as a foreigner.

BTW. When is the CPTM Line 14 going to happen?

Very easy to use. Nothing to be afraid of as a foreigner.

BTW. When is the CPTM Line 14 going to happen?

In the next couple of years, Sao Paulo will have a few more subway stations from Lines 4 and 5, but nothing is said about Line 14.

As seacarl said, the 257 bus to the Line 3/Red Tatuape Metro (subway) station works pretty well, costs R$4 and takes 55 minutes. You can find here the schedule:
http://www.emtu.sp.gov.br/sistemas/l...numlinha=16890

You can also get the airport special bus to downtown. It costs R$35 and stops at many hotels and at CGH airport.

A taxi ride should cost from R$100 to R$140. It's quite far from the city

Sao Paulo is an amazing global city and I'm sure you will love it.

Cheers!

BTW. When is the CPTM Line 14 going to happen?



I'm just thankful we now have linha 4:) My metro is Trianon, which was two changes and a lot of stations from Tatuape. Now there's only one change, fewer stations, and just a bit further to walk. Still not an attractive way of getting to and from the airport with anything bigger than a (small) back-pack!


Sadly, the Guarulhos link (line 14) is waaaay over the horizon in terms of planning.

I'll be arriving on a Saturday around noon.
How much time is it from GRU to the city (Paulista area hotels) using the Bus 257/Tatuepe vs. taking the Airport Shuttle Bus? I see the airport shuttle is like 30-50 minutes.
Thanks!