7 hours in GRU - what to do?
 

I am going to have a 7 hour layover in GRU before my connecting BA flight home. Besides sitting in a lounge, can anyone suggest a better way to use the time? I assume I'd realistically 4-5 hours to allow time to get back to the airport for the final flight. It's a Sunday if that makes any difference.

It makes a huge difference that it's a Sunday. On a Sunday I'd allocate 45mins each way for the drive to/from town (can take up to 3hrs on a bad weekday). UberX will cost you around BRL 75 each way.

You could head into town for a lunch/drink (maybe in Pinheiros/Vila Madalena), and maybe walk around Ibirapuera Park and check out the view from the rooftop of the Contemporary Art Museum (MAC-USP) next door. SP is a huge megalopolis and where you go will completely depend on your interests (food, culture, etc)

There is a movie theatre about 15 min away, I can’t remember the name, but it’s nice.

If you like meat and if your layover is around lunch or dinner time, consider visiting one of the great churrascarias. A very good one is only a 20min drive away from GRU, the name is OK Grill.

There’s a full-sized mall about 15 mins from airport (Internacional Shopping Guarulhos), but I imagine that’s not the kind of thing OP is after…

What Rafka said........you are lucky it is on a Sunday.

Otherwise, I'd have said to stay in the lounge.

I second the recommendation for Ibirapuera Park. There's so much urban stuff to see in Sao Paulo, but you'll appreciate the wide-open space after a long flight. On the side of the park is the Museu de Arte Moderna and many other activities. Walk over to the Museo Afro Brasil for something you won't find outside of Brazil.

For food, ask for recommendation. There are many things within walking distance. Enjoy!

Day pass or day room at one of the hotels with a pool in nearby Guarulhos town.