São Paulo metro, trains, buses and airport transfers

São Paulo metro map and lines

The São Paulo metro and suburban rail network has 15 lines on the official July 2026 map, run by six operators. Metrô runs Lines 1, 2, 3, 15 and 17, and Motiva runs Lines 4, 5, 8 and 9. CPTM trains run Line 10 and, for now, Lines 11 and 12. One R$5.40 fare lets you change systems free at Luz, Brás, Palmeiras-Barra Funda and Tamanduateí.^{2 3 10 26}

• 1

  Line 1-Blue (Azul)

  Runs north to south from Tucuruvi to Jabaquara and is operated by Metrô.

• 2

  Line 2-Green (Verde)

  Runs under Avenida Paulista from Vila Madalena to Vila Prudente and is operated by Metrô.

• 3

  Line 3-Red (Vermelha)

  Runs east to west from Corinthians-Itaquera to Palmeiras-Barra Funda and is operated by Metrô.

• 4

  Line 4-Yellow (Amarela)

  Runs from Luz to Vila Sônia by way of Paulista and Pinheiros and is operated by the concessionaire Motiva.

• 5

  Line 5-Lilac (Lilás)

  Runs from Capão Redondo to Chácara Klabin through Brooklin and Moema and is operated by Motiva.

• 6

  Line 6-Orange (Laranja)

  Its first stretch runs from João Paulo I to Perdizes on weekday daytimes in assisted operation and is operated by LinhaUni.

• 7

  Line 7-Ruby (Rubi)

  Runs from Palmeiras-Barra Funda to Jundiaí and has been operated by TIC Trens since November 2025.

• 8

  Line 8-Diamond (Diamante)

  Runs west from Júlio Prestes to Amador Bueno and is operated by Motiva.

• 9

  Line 9-Emerald (Esmeralda)

  Runs along the Pinheiros River from Osasco to Varginha and is operated by Motiva.

• 10

  Line 10-Turquoise (Turquesa)

  Runs from Palmeiras-Barra Funda through Luz and Brás to Rio Grande da Serra and is operated by CPTM.

• 11

  Line 11-Coral

  Runs from Palmeiras-Barra Funda to Estudantes in Mogi das Cruzes and is currently operated by CPTM.

• 12

  Line 12-Sapphire (Safira)

  Runs from Brás to Calmon Viana and is currently operated by CPTM.

• 13

  Line 13-Jade

  Runs from Engenheiro Goulart to Aeroporto-Guarulhos and has been operated by Trivia under CPTM supervision since October 6, 2026.

• 15

  Line 15-Silver (Prata)

  Runs as a monorail from Vila Prudente to Jardim Colonial and is operated by Metrô.

• 17

  Line 17-Gold (Ouro)

  Runs as a monorail from Morumbi to Washington Luís by way of Congonhas Airport, Monday to Saturday, and is operated by Metrô.

Metrô publishes the official São Paulo metro map (opens in a new tab) as a PDF. Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 15 run daily from 4:40 a.m. to midnight. On Saturday nights, Lines 1, 2, 3 and 15 run until morning on a trial lasting to January 31, 2027. You can't change lines after midnight. Peak trains on Lines 1, 2 and 3 came about every 2 minutes 12 seconds in late 2025.^{2 6 7 15 17}

The free change between Metrô and trains at Tatuapé and Corinthians-Itaquera works only on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight, and all day on weekends and holidays.²⁶

New lines in 2026

The Line 17-Gold monorail opened on March 31, 2026 between Morumbi and Washington Luís, by way of Congonhas airport. Since September 30, 2026 it has run Monday to Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and it is free for now. Line 6-Orange opened its first six stations, João Paulo I to Perdizes, on July 3, 2026, free and on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at launch. The state said in July that the full line is due in 2027.^{11 13 14}

Commute times by metro

Live near the line you'll ride daily. In Metrô's 2023 survey, 46% of riders spent over an hour door to door. The table counts stops to the three main office areas from official station lists. Use it to shortlist areas before you check São Paulo rent prices.¹⁸

Our guide to neighborhoods with the best commutes scores every area on transit. For daily life around these stations, read about living in Pinheiros, Perdizes, Vila Mariana and Moema.

São Paulo metro fare and the Bilhete Único

Since January 6, 2026, a Metrô or train ride costs R$5.40 and a city bus ride R$5.30. The Bilhete Único makes transfers cheap, with R$9.38 for a bus plus rail trip. Dollar figures use R$4.99 to US$1, the Banco Central do Brasil PTAX rate for October 7, 2026.^{1 20 21 22}

For anyone working in São Paulo, the employer-paid Vale-Transporte card costs more, R$5.92 per rail ride and R$5.82 per bus. People 65 and over ride city buses free, and those 60 to 64 get a free monthly quota, as retiring in São Paulo explains.^{22 28 29}

Our São Paulo cost of living budgets put transport at R$220 to R$410 (US$44 to US$82) a month for one person.²²

How to buy São Paulo metro tickets

Sources 15 22 26 27 30 31 32 34 35 36 37

Bank card charges can post hours or days after the ride. Ticket offices only have to give R$20 in change and machines R$10, so carry small notes. Metrô's old magnetic paper tickets stay valid until October 31, 2026, when QR tickets and cards fully replace them.^{26 33 94}

São Paulo airport transfers

From GRU airport to the city center, the Guarulhos airport train costs R$5.40, the same as a metro ride. GRU, 25 km (about 16 miles) out, is where the nonstops to New York, Miami, Madrid and London left from in August 2026. Congonhas (CGH) has its own Line 17-Gold station and sent about 49 flights a day to Rio's Santos Dumont that month. Viracopos (VCP) is in Campinas.^{13 44 45 50 54 55 56}

How to get from Guarulhos airport to São Paulo

1. 1

   Reach the station

   Aeroporto-Guarulhos station is outside the terminals, so take the free GRU shuttle bus or the AeroGRU people mover. The station opens 4 a.m. to midnight, and until 1 a.m. on Saturdays.

2. 2

   Take the train

   The Airport Express runs via Guarulhos-CECAP and Luz to Barra Funda, hourly from 5 a.m. to midnight and about every 30 minutes on Sundays. CPTM's March 2026 timetable has Line 13-Jade every 10 to 12 minutes on weekdays to Engenheiro Goulart, for Line 12.

3. 3

   Change at Luz

   Luz's free transfer area puts you on Line 4-Yellow for Paulista, Oscar Freire in Jardins, Faria Lima and Pinheiros on the same fare.

4. 4

   Or go by road

   Airport Bus Service line 316 serves Avenida Paulista hotels, and Guarucoop taxis wait at every terminal.

Sources 8 16 26 45 46 47 48 50 51 52 53

Airport Bus Service drivers take credit and debit cards. The company puts Tatuapé to GRU at about 35 minutes on weekdays without traffic and 45 to 50 minutes at weekends. Changing terminals for a connection? The free shuttle runs 4 a.m. to midnight and can mean a wait of up to 15 minutes. Staying near Paulista? Our guide to living in Jardins covers the area around Oscar Freire station.^{49 53}

Congonhas airport metro

Congonhas airport is on the metro network through the Line 17-Gold monorail, whose station is a 60 m tunnel from the terminal. From Paulista, take Line 2 to Chácara Klabin, Line 5 to Campo Belo and Line 17 to Aeroporto de Congonhas. Line 17 doesn't run on Sundays or after 10 p.m., when the rank's prepaid taxi fares are the fallback.^{13 14 16 57}

Congonhas airport to Guarulhos

Airport Bus Service line 258 runs between Congonhas and GRU's Terminal 2, and its drivers take credit and debit cards. Taxis and ride apps are the other option. We found no published journey time for this transfer, so leave a wide margin.^{46 53}

Viracopos airport to São Paulo

Azul gives passengers with a confirmed booking a free bus between Viracopos and Congonhas. The trip is scheduled at about 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 40 minutes. VB Transportes and Lirabus coaches run from the Tietê bus terminal.⁵⁶

São Paulo bus system

SPTrans contracts 1,336 city bus lines with more than 13,000 buses, and 2,009 buses were zero-emission on September 30, 2026. Buses use 135.3 km of segregated corridors and 590.4 km of exclusive lanes, and the city runs 34 bus terminals. Pay by Bilhete Único, cash or an SPPass app QR ticket, which gives no transfers. Metropolitan buses to neighboring cities take the TOP card, and those with TOP validators also take contactless debit cards, but not credit cards.^{23 26 38 39 40 41 92 93}

• Sundays are free. City buses cost nothing on Sundays and on December 25, January 1 and January 25. Metrô and trains still charge.
• Paulistar circuits. Five free Sunday routes on electric buses link parks and cultural sites from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Night buses. The Noturno network runs 151 lines from midnight to 4 a.m.

Sources 22 42 43

Uber in São Paulo, 99 and taxis

Uber, 99 and licensed taxis all work in São Paulo, and 99 lists four ride types in the city. At GRU, Uber, 99 and Rhino pick up at the Terminal 2 Pick-up Plaza. City rules let app companies set prices up to a city ceiling, and drivers must register with the city.^{48 58 59}

Since August 11, 2025, taxis have charged a R$6.55 flag fall (US$1.31) plus R$4.80 per km (US$0.96). That makes 10 km by day about R$55 (US$11) before any waiting time. The Bandeira 2 rate adds 30% per km from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays and all day on Sundays and holidays. Ranks at Congonhas, Tietê, Barra Funda and Anhembi sell prepaid fixed fares.⁵⁷

Driving in São Paulo, traffic and the rodízio

Driving in São Paulo means planning around the rodízio, which rations peak traffic. One weekday a week, set by your plate's last digit, your car can't enter the Minianel Viário at peak hours. The boundary roads count too.⁶⁷

Foreign driver's licenses

Under CONTRAN Resolution 1,020 of 2025, a valid foreign license works for 180 days from entry if a convention or reciprocity covers your country. Carry it with ID and proof of your entry date. Licenses from 1968 Vienna Convention countries need an International Driving Permit. Canada recommends one, and the UK says paper-license holders may need one.^{60 61 62 68}

After 180 days you need a Brazilian CNH, which matters if you'll stay on a Brazil residence visa. That takes a medical exam and a psychological evaluation, plus a driving test if Brazil doesn't recognize your license. Confirm your case with DETRAN and add it to your São Paulo moving checklist.^{61 68}

Running costs

Regular gasoline

R$6.35 a liter

About US$1.27, ANP, week to October 3, 2026

Ethanol

R$3.91 a liter

About US$0.78, same survey

Zona Azul parking card

R$6.95

About US$1.39

IPVA vehicle tax

4% a year

Of a car's value

Sources 69 70 71

Buy Zona Azul parking in Estapar's app or at accredited outlets, not from street vendors. On the state's Siga Fácil free-flow roads, drivers without a toll tag pay online by plate within 30 days. Otherwise they face a R$195.23 fine (US$39) and 5 license points. Canada warns of armed thieves on motorcycles snatching belongings, carjackings at intersections and mass robberies in traffic jams.^{62 70 72}

Biking in São Paulo

São Paulo has 795.5 km (494 miles) of permanent cycling infrastructure on CET's map, mostly bike lanes and paths. Plan routes on that map and stay on marked lanes.⁶³

Bike Itaú, run by Tembici, has about 240 stations, and you don't need an Itaú account. A 15-minute ride costs from R$6.90 (US$1.38), a 24-hour pass R$32.90 (US$6.59) and a monthly plan R$43.90 (US$8.80). Expect a temporary R$20 hold on a credit card.⁶⁴

Under Decree 58,750 of 2019, shared e-scooters may use streets, bike lanes and cycle paths at up to 20 km/h (12 mph). Sidewalks and roads with limits above 40 km/h (25 mph) are off limits. A state court suspended the decree's helmet rule.^{65 66}

Is São Paulo walkable?

In parts. Our neighborhood scores rate transit access highest in Pinheiros, Jardins, Consolação, Bela Vista, Vila Mariana and Tatuapé.

Paulista without cars on Sundays

Under the Ruas Abertas program, often called Paulista Aberta, Avenida Paulista is car-free on Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Several Liberdade streets close to cars on Sundays too. Holiday closures can be canceled, as on May 1, 2026.^{73 74}

January averages 292 mm (11.5 inches) of rain over 17 days, against 32 mm in August (INMET, 1991 to 2020). See São Paulo weather by month. Keep phones out of sight, too. A G1 survey of police data counted 24,415 phone thefts on the metro and trains in 2025.^{75 86 87}

São Paulo to Rio, Santos and Campinas

Long-distance buses leave from Tietê and Jabaquara on Line 1 and from Barra Funda on Line 3. Intercity bus fares and state highway tolls rose 4.72% on July 1, 2026.^{2 76}

São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro by bus or plane

Buses from Tietê to Rio's main bus station listed for October 8 to 10, 2026 took 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours 30 minutes. Fares ran from about R$149 for an executive seat to R$300 for a sleeper (US$30 to US$60). The air shuttle is faster, with about 49 flights a day from Congonhas to Santos Dumont in August 2026, scheduled at 60 minutes. Our São Paulo vs Rio de Janeiro comparison covers the rest.^{55 95}

São Paulo to Santos and the cruise port

Viação Cometa runs coaches to Santos port from Jabaquara and from Guarulhos and Congonhas airports. The Concais cruise terminal is 76 km (47 miles) from São Paulo, and check-in closes 2 hours before sailing. Private cars can't enter the terminal and drop off at the Gate 3 express bay.^{81 96 97}

São Paulo to Campinas

No passenger train runs to Campinas yet. Buses listed for October 8 to 10, 2026, mostly from Barra Funda, took 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes. Fares ran from R$30 to R$154 (US$6 to US$31). Work on the Intercity Train (TIC) began on March 27, 2026. Jundiaí to Campinas trains are scheduled from 2029 and the São Paulo express from 2031, at up to 140 km/h (87 mph).^{77 78 79 80}

Day trips by heritage train

CPTM's Expresso Turístico heritage train leaves Luz at 8:30 a.m. for day trips to Jundiaí, Mogi das Cruzes and Paranapiacaba, starting back at 4:30 p.m. Find more ideas in our list of weekend trips from São Paulo.⁸²