São Paulo runs one of the largest public transportation networks in South America, but it’s split across several different operators — a subway company, a separate commuter rail company, city buses, and metropolitan buses — each with its own turnstiles and rules. The good news: R$5.40 gets you onto the subway or a train, and the network reaches almost everywhere a visitor needs to go.
The basics
The backbone is the subway, four lines that meet in the center:
- Line 1-Blue — the original line, running north–south through the center.
- Line 2-Green — connects the eastern hospital district through downtown to the wealthy Vila Madalena area.
- Line 3-Red — the busiest line, running east–west from Corinthians-Itaquera through downtown to Palmeiras-Barra Funda.
- Line 15-Silver — an elevated monorail out to the southeastern suburbs.
Two more subway-branded lines — 4-Yellow and 5-Lilac — are run by private concessionaires (ViaQuatro and ViaMobilidade) under contract, but use the same fare and the same turnstiles, so you won’t notice the difference riding them.
Around the subway, CPTM runs a much bigger commuter rail network — several lines reaching far into the metro area, including the direct line to Guarulhos Airport. SPTrans manages city buses within São Paulo itself, and EMTU runs the buses that cross into neighboring cities, including the airport.
How to pay
The native fare system is Bilhete Único, a rechargeable card — but registering for one as a visitor is genuinely impractical, since it requires a Brazilian address. Skip it and use one of these instead:
- Buy a single-ride QR-code ticket (“Bilhete Unitário”) for R$5.40 at any station’s self-service machine or ticket booth, through the TOP app, via WhatsApp, or with Google Wallet. Pay with cash or card — no ID needed. It’s good for one ride on the subway or a CPTM train.
- Pay cash on the bus. São Paulo buses board through the front, past a fare collector or the driver, then through an onboard turnstile — bring close-to-exact change, since drivers can’t always make it. A small set of bus lines also takes a contactless card tap.
If you’re staying a while and want the cheaper combined bus-and-rail fare, ask about a Bilhete Único at an SPTrans service point — but for a short trip, the options above cover you.
Fares
| Fare | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | R$5.30 | Up to 4 boardings on different buses within 3 hours |
| Subway / CPTM train | R$5.40 | Single ride |
| Bus + subway/train integration | R$9.38 | Up to 3 bus boardings within 3 hours, plus 1 rail boarding in the first 2 hours |
| Age 60–64 | Free | Loaded onto a standard Bilhete Único, reloaded monthly |
| Age 65+ | Free | Bilhete Único da Pessoa Idosa |
Fares reset every January; these are the ones set January 6, 2026.
Getting from the airport
Most visitors fly into Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), which connects to the city by train and bus — no need to book a private transfer.
- CPTM Expresso Aeroporto — the direct option, running from the Aeroporto-Guarulhos station through to Palmeiras-Barra Funda, stopping at several central São Paulo stations along the way with transfers to subway lines. Cost: R$5.40, same as any other ride. A free shuttle bus or automated people mover connects the station to the airport terminals.
- Line 13-Jade is the other rail route into the airport, connecting to Line 12-Safira at Engenheiro Goulart station.
- EMTU bus 257 runs from the airport to Metrô Tatuapé, on the Red Line, for R$8.35, with a transfer built into the fare.
Apps to download
- Moovit — real-time bus and train directions, and one of the apps authorized to reload a Bilhete Único from your phone.
- TOP — the official app for buying a QR-code single-ride ticket on the subway and CPTM trains, without needing a registered card.
- SP Pass — the city’s official app for recharging Bilhete Único by Pix or debit card, and the pilot QR-code bus payment.
- Google Maps — solid for trip planning with decent live transit data.
When it runs
The subway and CPTM trains run daily from 4:40am to midnight. On an experimental basis running through September 2026, Lines 1, 2, 3, and 15 stay open all night between Saturday and Sunday — but station ticket booths keep their regular hours and close well before then, so buy or load your ticket before you head in for the night.
The rest of the week, once the subway and trains close, SPTrans’s Noturno network of late-night bus lines takes over, running from midnight to 4am and routed past subway stations and the city’s bus terminals.
Accessibility
Subway and CPTM stations offer priority boarding and service, elevator access, and priority seating on trains, backed by federal disability law — it’s a legal right, not just a courtesy. Guide dogs are permitted throughout the system, and staff are trained to assist riders who need it. Look for the priority line at the ticket barrier or elevator if you need it.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Unlike some cities, São Paulo’s subway and trains use real turnstiles — you tap in to enter, so there’s no ambiguity about whether you’ve paid.
- Rush hour, roughly 6–9am and 5–8pm, gets genuinely packed on the busier lines. Keep bags zipped and in front of you in a crowded car.
- Stand right, walk left on escalators — standard etiquette on a system this busy.
Good to know
- Two airports serve the city: Congonhas (CGH), closer in and used mostly for domestic flights, and Guarulhos (GRU), the international gateway this guide covers.
- Fares change every January — check for an update if you’re reading this guide well after 2026.
- A registered Bilhete Único card requires a Brazilian address, which is why this guide leans on the QR ticket for visitors instead.