Getting Around Campinas
Campinas is a large city in the state of São Paulo, and getting around it takes a little planning. The good news for visitors is that the places you are most likely to want to see — the historic centre, the shopping streets, and a few green, calm suburbs — are manageable without a car, while longer hops across town are best handled by bus, taxi, or ride-hailing app.
Is There a Metro or Tram?
No. Despite its size, Campinas has no mass rapid transit system, and there is no metro or tram network to rely on. A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system has been under implementation, but buses remain the only form of public transport in the city.
On the rail side, the only passenger train operating in Campinas is a weekend touristic ride to and from Jaguariúna. Longer-term plans to link Campinas by high-speed train to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and by commuter train to São Paulo and Jundiaí, have been discussed but are not yet a reality for travellers.
Buses: The Backbone of Public Transport
Buses reach practically everywhere in Campinas and are relatively frequent, but be prepared for a learning curve. As in most large Brazilian cities, the network can be confusing, buses can be overcrowded, and they are often slow because they get stuck in traffic. Finding the right stop and the right line is not always easy, but people on the street are generally glad to help if they can understand you.
Several main bus terminals act as transfer points between lines, and some urban buses even run to neighbouring cities such as Jaguariúna and Paulínia. The Central bus terminal is where most local and regional routes stop.
- Paying your fare: Campinas uses a prepaid smartcard called the Bilhete Único. It lets you take multiple buses within a two-hour period for a single tariff.
- Getting a card as a visitor: You can obtain a Bilhete Único for free at the main bus terminals by bringing an identity document and charging it with a small initial amount — enough to cover a couple of fares.
- Planning routes: Check the EMDEC company website for routes and itineraries before you set out.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are a straightforward option, particularly for trips that would be awkward by bus or late at night. At Viracopos Airport, taxi prices are either by meter or by fixed price according to destination; fixed prices are not mandatory, and passengers always have the option of choosing the meter instead. In practice there is generally not much difference between the two. The full list of fixed-price destinations is published on the EMDEC website.
Ride-hailing apps are widely used in Brazil and are a convenient alternative for getting around Campinas, though the source material does not detail specific operators — as with any city, it is worth checking availability and wait times when you arrive.
Walking
Downtown Campinas, which holds most of the city's shopping and historical buildings, is a relatively large area but is still easier to explore on foot given the heavy traffic. The centre of Sousas/Joaquim Egídio is also an excellent area to walk.
Outside these areas, there is less sightseeing on foot, but calm, green suburbs such as Parque Taquaral, Nova Campinas, and Cidade Universitária (in Barão Geraldo) make for a pleasant leisurely stroll.
Cycling
Campinas has a very limited network of cycleways. There is one linking the centre of the Barão Geraldo district with UNICAMP, and another surrounding Parque Portugal. Cycling is best confined to calmer suburbs with light traffic; it is a popular means of transport for UNICAMP students.
Driving
If you drive, note that some avenues have been converted to one-way streets to form a ring around downtown, which can make it tricky to find your way back — be careful not to enter one of those avenues the wrong way.
Between 22:00 and 06:00, some traffic lights are turned off and simply blink yellow. This is normal, and for safety reasons you are not supposed to be stopped at red lights late at night. During normal hours, however, red lights and speed limits are enforced by cameras throughout the city, so stick to the limits and do not run red lights.
Arriving at Viracopos International Airport
Campinas has its own international airport, Viracopos (VCP), one of the main airports in the state of São Paulo and the main hub of Azul Brazilian Airlines. It has flights to Fort Lauderdale, Lisbon and Orlando, plus seasonal flights to Punta del Este. Many international and domestic visitors, however, arrive via São Paulo's airports instead.
From Viracopos into the city, your options are:
- Taxi: Priced by meter or by fixed price depending on destination. Fixed prices are not mandatory — you can always ask for the meter — but there is usually little difference between the two.
- Local bus: The cheapest option. Line 193 runs roughly every 30 minutes and stops at the main Campinas streets and at the main local bus station, from which you can connect to other points of the city and to other local bus stations at no extra cost. Pay on board.
- Lirabus shuttle: Runs hourly and is a cheap option that is good if you have luggage. It stops at Largo do Pará Square (city centre) and at the intercity bus station, where you can pick up a bus to other Brazilian cities or a taxi.
- Rent a car: Two car rental agencies operate at the airport, with economy-class cars available.
Arriving from São Paulo's Airports
Guarulhos and Congonhas airports are both roughly an hour and forty minutes away by car. Cab trips are somewhat pricey, but a Lirabus shuttle runs directly to Campinas and takes about two hours. It drops you at Largo do Pará Square, one block from Hotel Ibis, or at the Terminal Multimodal Ramos de Azevedo (the rodoviária), from where you can continue by bus or taxi.
A far less attractive option is the Airport Bus Service from EMTU, which goes to Terminal Rodoviário Barra Funda and stops at Terminal Rodoviário Tietê, where you must then take an intercity bus to Campinas. This is both more expensive and slower than the direct Lirabus service, so it would typically only be used in an emergency.
Arriving by Intercity Bus
Buses to Campinas arrive at the Terminal Multimodal Ramos de Azevedo on Rua Dr. Pereira Lima in the centre (Botafogo). Tickets can be reserved and purchased online for the main bus companies, though you will need to check at the station which company serves a particular destination.
Buses from São Paulo are very frequent — several departures per hour — so reserving in advance is seldom necessary. Viação Cometa and Lirabus are the two companies operating this route, and the trip takes about an hour and twenty minutes, often longer because of traffic in São Paulo. Note that these buses are not the right choice if you are heading straight to Viracopos Airport; there are separate buses from São Paulo that go directly to the airport.
Arriving by Car
Campinas is well connected by highway from several directions. From São Paulo, use the SP-330 Anhangüera or SP-348 Bandeirantes. Other key approaches include the SP-65 Dom Pedro I from the Vale do Paraíba, the SP-340 Adhemar de Barros from the Mogi-guaçu region, and the SP-75 Santos Dumont from the Sorocaba region. Local highways link Campinas with nearby towns such as Valinhos, Indaiatuba, Paulínia and Morungaba.