ONE DAY in SP during a 9 hr. layover

New York, NY
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ONE DAY in SP during a 9 hr. layover
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Hi,

Was hoping to have some veterans and locals help us.

We have two options:

Fly GIG-NYC with a one-hour layover in SP (GRU) or have a 9 hr. layover and probably see some of the City.

Given that we are returning on a weekend, we don't care when we land in NYC as long as it is sometime on Sunday.

Our 9 hr. layover option brings us into GRU at 12.10pm leaving at 9.10pm.

keeping an hour for delays and deplaning (no passport control and luggage issues - given we will be coming from Rio), an hour to arrive before next departure GRU-NYC at 9.10pm, leaves us with about 7 hours.

Would you advise traveling into SP on this schedule?

What can we do or see given it will be a Saturday?

What to expect in terms of travel time to-from GRU to the City?

Many thanks

Princeton, New...
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1. Re: ONE DAY in SP during a 9 hr. layover
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It is possible to see some of the city, but it will be tight. I would recommend that you contract a taxi at the airport to take you into the city. If you head straight to the Mercado Central you can have lunch and visit a remarkable food market at the same time. Then take a taxi to the historic center, have the driver take you by the major sites, continue on to Avenida Paulista and Jardins for a casual walk and drink at any of the cafes or little bars around there. By 6pm I would grab a taxi back to the airport.

You may be able to talk the driver into being your taxi for the whole day, but GUARCOOP is a cooperative that doesn't always bend their rules. Other taxis are private and are more than willing to be yours for the day.

Sao Paulo, SP
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2. Re: ONE DAY in SP during a 9 hr. layover
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Good suggestion Dj,

But don´t forget Italian Building, if possible. The second tallest building in the city, to see and fell all São Paulo, IT´s Amazing! (oldtown)

The panoramic views is 360 degree of the city and more than 40 km of visible horizon. On the top floor, there is a italian restaurant, The Terraço Italia.

http://www.terracoitalia.com.br

Ps. Entrance is R$15 per person. There is a piano bar & lounge.

Could be contact a city tour service, because the driver taxi at guarulhos Airp. don´t speak good english.

Enjoy

:-)

San Francisco...
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3. Re: ONE DAY in SP during a 9 hr. layover
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Hi

You should be able to take a small tour given your time, but never forget the traffic problem in Sao Paulo. My wife is there now, and said July used to be light traffic, but she thinks it is worse now. As Passport control you'll still have to go through the Policia Federal at the airport in Sao Paulo which can also take time.

Ciao

New York, NY
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4. Re: ONE DAY in SP during a 9 hr. layover
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Thanks so much for the suggestions, its tempting to just take a whole day if possible in SP. The cab for-the-day idea is fantastic!

Toronto, Canada
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5. Re: ONE DAY in SP during a 9 hr. layover
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Hi TravellerNYC1: Having traveled many times to Brasil (specifically through GRU) I have to tell you to expect the unexpected! I don't know your carrier of choice for your trip - but know that either in Rio or in SP you'll have to clear outbound Brazilian immigration procedures. If you are flying a Brazilian carrier GIG-GRU you may be in for a ATC hold - similar to NYC ATC holds. Not neccesary the case for international carriers -- but if you are flying a US flagged carrier from RIO to SP then the flight (although internal) may be considered an international flight. If you are flying TAM or GOL the flight MAY or MAYNOT be considered domestic OR International! Even though it IS domestic. It sometimes depends on where the plane just came from and/or where it is continuing on to - which determines whether or not it arrives/departs from the domestic/international areas of the terminals. Confused yet? There is more. IF you do go through immigration in Rio then technically you've left the country by the time you arrive in SP. You'll have to re-enter the country, even though you didn't leave. If you didn't "check out"in Rio you have to in SP. If you leave the airport and return, if you are already checked in for your US flight (in RIO) you still need to leave ample time to get through the international departures immigration line. It can be an absolute killer in the evening as the majority of the US flights are departing at that time. If you are arriving NYC on Sunday your flight is therefore on a Saturday night - at least you're not dealing with M-F traffic if you choose to visit SP, but don't be fooled, it can be hairy, especially if it has been raining. Do you speak Portuguese? Taxi drivers don't speak English. Pre pay your taxi at the blue & white kiosk on the arrivals level - they speak English. Your best bet is to high tail it to Ave. Paulista and walk the street. It'll give you the feeling of a huge modern city -- MASP museum is there and right across the street an amazing jungle in the middle of the city. Loads of shops and restaurants. Have fun!!!

6. Re: ONE DAY in SP during a 9 hr. layover

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