Travelling from London to Sao Paulo: what you need to know
When planning your flight from London to Sao Paulo, you'll have your pick of airports to leave from. Consider London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) for your departure. Other possibilities include Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY).
When it comes to choosing where to land in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Viracopos Airport (VCP) are the major entry points.
Around 11 hours 45 minutes is how long you'll be in transit on a direct London to Sao Paulo flight.
The timezone in Sao Paulo is UTC-3, which is three hours behind London.
With 14 weekly flights between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) is the most popular route. Board the first flight from London to Sao Paulo with British Airways at 11:30. If you'd like to make the most of your day before taking off, the last flight from LHR to GRU is with British Airways at 22:20.
To ensure you make your London to Sao Paulo flight, leave plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
During popular months like July, you'll want to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for an international flight when you travel during a peak period in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Sao Paulo
Book nine months before flying. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap London to Sao Paulo flights.
The best month for picking up cheap plane tickets from London to Sao Paulo is December. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare flight prices, then select the dates that offer the lowest fares.
There's no need to check back in every day to find out if prices have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you as soon as there's a better deal on cheap flights from London to Sao Paulo.
Lock in a cheap London to Sao Paulo flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Jet off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a nonstop flight from London to Sao Paulo. From LHR, you can travel directly to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
Lock in your London to Sao Paulo plane tickets with British Airways. This airline is a popular choice for direct flights from LHR.
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to break up your journey — and perhaps even tour another city. When searching for London to Sao Paulo flights departing from London Heathrow Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Top options include:
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
LHR is about 26 kilometres from central London. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 55 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour.
In search of a convenient hotel close to London Heathrow Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from London to Sao Paulo, these stays will have you moments from your check-in counter:
68.18% of flights departing from London Heathrow Airport arrive at their destination on time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Visit friends or family or just take a moment to stretch your legs with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your London to Sao Paulo flight, here's where you can stop when setting off from London Gatwick Airport:
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
With public transport, you can travel from central London to LGW in around 30 minutes. The airport is roughly 40 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 1 hour 20 minutes.
It's your holiday, so why not book an additional night away? Consider kicking back in one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport the day before your flight from London to Sao Paulo:
69.26% of flights leaving London Gatwick Airport meet their expected arrival time.
Stansted Airport (STN)
You can lock in a ticket from London to Sao Paulo with one or more stops leaving from Stansted Airport (STN). Here are some of the most common stopovers between STN and Sao Paulo:
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
STN is around 48 kilometres from central London. Driving from the city centre to the terminal takes about 1 hour. If you're thinking about taking public transport, expect a journey time of around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Stay in bed a little longer and still make your London to Sao Paulo flight without having to rush. These hotels near Stansted Airport make departure day a breeze if you're flying out early:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that monitors how often flights arrive without delays. At STN, that rate is 64.73%.
Arriving in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to central Sao Paulo takes about 30 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 21 kilometres away.
It usually takes 1 hour 20 minutes to get there on public transport.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from London to Sao Paulo. Book one of these accommodation options near GRU instead:
Travel at your own speed with a Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Foco, Localiza or Movida and venture far and wide through Sao Paulo and beyond.
Booking your ride from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport around two weeks in advance can help you get the lowest rate.
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) is roughly 8 kilometres from the centre of Sao Paulo. After your flight from London to Sao Paulo, it'll take you approximately 15 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take about 35 minutes.
There are some comfortable places ready to welcome you near VCP. Kick back after your London to Sao Paulo flight at one of these perfectly located options:
Foco, Localiza and Movida make picking up a Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport rental car easy and quick. These companies are located in or around the terminal and will have you behind the wheel before you know it.
Snap up a deal by securing your ride from CGH three weeks in advance. You can also expect to have a greater range of vehicles.
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
Hop off your flight from London to Sao Paulo and travel to your hotel or jump right into sightseeing. Central Sao Paulo is around 80 kilometres from Viracopos Airport (VCP) and typically takes 1 hour 15 minutes to reach by car.
Public transport can take you there in about 3 hours 25 minutes.
Start your trip without worrying about how to reach your destination with a Viracopos Airport rental car. Find your perfect set of wheels with reliable companies here like Foco, Localiza and Movida.
Plan ahead and enjoy the payoff. Book your vehicle from VCP four weeks before your flight from London to Sao Paulo to access the best rates.
Best time to go to Sao Paulo
April is the quietest month for flights from London to Sao Paulo, while July is the most popular. Pick the best time to visit Sao Paulo based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
Before locking in your London to Sao Paulo tickets, think about what kind of weather you prefer. February is the warmest month in Sao Paulo, with temperatures ranging from 18ºC to 28ºC.
July sees average temperatures of between 12ºC and 25ºC. Search for cheap flights from London to Sao Paulo around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Sao Paulo
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Sao Paulo right here. Explore these options as soon as you've booked your flight from London to Sao Paulo:
All great adventures should include a little sightseeing. Sao Paulo Museum of Art, Ibirapuera Park and Paulista Avenue are must-visits when exploring Sao Paulo.
Explore more of Brazil
Belo Horizonte is just one of the many places in Brazil waiting to be explored once you've seen the sights of Sao Paulo. Around 499 kilometres to the north-east, popular attractions include Abilio Barreto Historical Museum, Matiz Arte Objeto and Deck Vertedouro.
Around 338 kilometres south-west of Sao Paulo, Curitiba is another essential stop in Brazil. No visit is complete without checking out Jardim Botanico de Curitiba, Museu Oscar Niemeyer and Largo da Ordem.