São Paulo/Travel info

SÃO PAULO is the largest city in Brazil, the Western Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest Portuguese-speaking city in the world. It is a modern, cosmopolitan, melting pot city, and home to the largest Arab, Italian, Jewish and Japanese diasporas in Brazil. The city is further known for its mild and humid subtropical weather, its architecture, gastronomy, severe traffic congestion and hipsterism. The University and the school are located on a beautiful green campus, not so far from a number of safe and pleasant neighbourhoods to hang out, such as Pinheiros, Vila Madalena, and Jardins that can be explored by foot, bike or metro. Frequent and affordable local flights take you to the beautiful beach city of Rio de Janeiro (~50 minute flight) .

Air Travel to São Paulo and Ground Transportation

There are two airports in São Paulo.

Ubers, pre-paid taxis, buses and car-rental companies are available at both  airports. One way trips are about X (Uber) and Y (pre-paid taxi) from GRU to the hotel, and about X (Uber) and Y (pre-paid taxi) from CGH to the hotel.

The Airport Bus Service offers regular buses (which are less expensive than transportation by taxi) to the city center of São Paulo and some nearby hotels.

Getting to USP and around in São Paulo

IAG-USP is located in the Main Campus of Universidade de São Paulo (USP), about 15 km from São Paulo city center. See “How to get to IAG”.

São Paulo has an efficient Underground Metro and Bus system.The Metro Network Map can be found at this link. The Metro station nearest to the USP campus is Butantã (Line 4 – Yellow), located at ~4 km from IAG. From there, one can take the circular bus that connects to the USP campus. The route map of these circular buses can be found at this link.

  • 8012-10 : Circular 1 : Metro Butantã – Cidade Universitária
  • 8022-10 : Circular 2 : Metro Butantã – Cidade Universitária

A one-way ticket (Bilhete Único) for the Metro/Bus costs 4 BRL, and can be purchased at the ticket counters in Metro stations, or in cash from the changer in any bus.

More information:

Ride sharing apps like Uber, Cabify and 99 are extremely popular in Brazil, and recommended over regular taxi.