São Paulo Travel Forum

I will be arriving into Sao Paulo airport around Midnight (0:00). Is the airport safe at this hour? Thanks for any advice.

Hiya, sorry im not gouing to try answer this one, but I am interisted in the answer as I too am do in at Sao Paulo after middnight in Febuary, then gonna make my way to Manaus.
Well I hope the airport is safe, maybe not advisable to go outside into the town at that time.
Good Luck :)

First of all, Sao Paulo has two airports. The international airport, Garulhos, is quite a ways outside the city. It seems like any other large international airport anywhere in the world and is quite the same as far as safety. (You really have to approach Brazil with the right attitude. If you get off theplane feeling like something is going to happen, you might as well stay home.)
If you are staying in the airport waiting for another flight, most shops and restaurants will be closed. (See www.sleepinginairports.com for some ideas for spending the night there.)
Although there are safe, comfortable, relatively cheap shuttle buses into various points in the city, at that hour taking a cab is probably best. I would not take the pre-paid cabs that obviously carry tourists, just a regular one waiting outside. You don't mention where in the city you are staying, so I couldn't estimate the fare.

Both are quite safe, but since you'll arrive at 12pm, I'll assume you're asking about the international airport (the other airport closes at 10 or 11pm).

The airport is large and mostly deserted at that time, but there should be a cafe or two open. But it is safe - just avoid getting ripped off by the taxis. Instead of going by the meter or prepaying, negotiate a fare of R$75 (that is the going rate, but you'll pay a lot more by the meter) and refuse to pay the 50% intermunicipal extra (as Guarulhos is, technically, a different city). At this time of night, there will be little traffic, so the trip should take around 40 minutes.

You can also take the shuttle bus (around R$ 35, but I'm not sure), which drops you off at the major hotels.

There is a third alternative. Both TAM and GOL (local airlines) have shuttles between the two airports, for free. Even though it is supposedly for their own passengers, I have "hitched" a ride several times. From Congonhas airport, you can take a taxi for a lot cheaper. I am not sure if these shuttles run so late at night, but it may be worth checking out.