Bus and Coach Services in São Paulo

Details and contact information on the regional and city bus transport system. Also information on long distance travel in Brazil by coach...

The bus system in São Paulo is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Company of Urban Transport (Empresa Metropolitana de Transportes Urbanos - EMTU) and beneath them private companies manage the network under the supervision of São Paulo Transporte SA (SPTrans).

• SPTrans (in Portuguese)
  At: Rua Boa Vista, 236, 01014-000 São Paulo
  Tel: 0800 771 0118 (24 hours)
• EMTU (in Portuguese)
  Tel: 0800 724 0555

Bilhete Único (Unified Ticket)

The Bilhete Único is a pre-paid, rechargeable smart card that allows the user to pay for a certain number of journeys in a fixed period of time on the city's public transport: Metrô, mini bus, bus and train network.

Bilhete Único cards can be bought online or from lottery shops (lotéricas) in São Paulo and can be recharged at lottery shops, at metro stations, authorised outlets or online through an individual's account. The card cannot be recharged on the transport itself.

• For full information: Click here (in Portuguese)

Buses in São Paulo

• For information on bus services in São Paulo Tel: 156
• For information on bus services to Guarulhos Airport Tel: (11) 2221 0244

Buses (Ônibus) serve all suburbs and regions in São Paulo. There is a separate lane for buses (and taxis with passengers) and the buses in São Paulo stop running at different times depending on the station.

The private bus companies from São Paulo go to all regions of Brazil and Mercosul countries (Common Market of the South, made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). The longest journey is 3,883 Km to Santiago in Chile.

In São Paulo, the main bus stations are Tietê, Barra Funda and Jabaquara:

• Terminal Rodovario Tietê
  At: Av. Cruzeiro do Sul 1800, Santana, 02030-000 São Paulo
  Tel: (11) 6221 0155
• Terminal Barra Funda
  At: R. Mária de Andrade 664, Barra Funda, 01154-060 São Paulo
• Terminal Jabaquara
  At: R. dos Jequitibás, Jabaquara, 04321-090 São Paulo
• For further information on the Terminals and the facilities available: Click here

Bus Tickets, Timetables and Fares

The EMTU website allows a user to search for timetables and fares: Click here (in Portuguese). Under the menu Linhas de Ônibus, select a departure point (Selecione a origem) and a destination town (Selecione o destino).

The Bilhete Ônibus Metropolitano (BOM) is an electronic rechargeable card that allows the user to pay for a certain number of journeys in advance on the São Paulo bus network.

Frequent travel

The frequent traveller card (Cartão Fidelidade) can be purchased for 8, 20 or 50 journeys.

• For further information: Click here (in Portuguese)

Free travel

The metro, the CPTM trains and bus routes (ônibus) offer free transport to:

• Those over the age of 65
• Children under the age of five

The disabled are entitled to a free travel pass (bilhete único especial).

Airport shuttles

A special airport shuttle service is available from Guarulhos Airport to the major bus and metro stations in São Paulo.

Shuttle buses connect the major bus and metro stations in central São Paulo with Guarulhos and Congonhas Airports.

• For details on connections between São Paulo and the airports: Click here (in Portuguese)

Disabled Passengers

Passengers with reduced mobility or other disabilities may be entitled to free train travel. To benefit, a medical certificate must be obtained.

• Tel: (11) 5021 3838, (11) 5021 4224 or (11) 5021 4343

Coach Travel

Long distance coaches run from São Paulo to many major Brazilian cities, including Rio de Janeiro.

Main coach companies in São Paulo include:

• Expresso Brasileiro
  Tel: (11) 2221 0155
  e-mail
• Expresso do Sul
  Tel (11) 4004 0004
  
• Itapemirim
  Tel: 0800 723 2121
  
• Autoviação 1001
  Tel: (11) 4004 5001
  

Travelling with pets on coaches

Small domestic pets may only travel on coaches if the following documents are presented:

• Valid vaccination certificate
• Recent health certificate from a veterinarian (Certificado Zoosanitãrio)

Pets must travel in a container no larger than 20cm wide, 25cm high and 40cm long.