Salgado Filho International Airport

Salgado Filho International Airport is about 9 km from downtown Porto Alegre, in the Anchieta district on the north side of the city. The drive usually takes 15 to 20 minutes outside rush hour, and longer at weekday peak times when traffic builds toward downtown. Taxis and ride apps cover the trip around the clock.

Yes. Floods closed Salgado Filho airport on May 3, 2024, and flights moved temporarily to Canoas Air Force Base. Domestic flights returned to the airport on October 21, 2024, on a shortened runway, and full operations on the 3,200 m runway resumed on December 16, 2024. International flights, including Copa Airlines to Panama, followed that same month.

Porto Alegre airport has one passenger terminal, Terminal 1, which handles all domestic and international flights. Check-in, baggage claim, arrivals and departure gates are in the same building. The former Terminal 2 stopped handling flights in 2019 and now serves as Fraport Brasil's administration building, so you do not need to transfer between terminals.

Azul, GOL and LATAM Airlines run most flights, connecting Porto Alegre with São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Curitiba, Florianópolis and other Brazilian cities. International service includes Aerolíneas Argentinas to Buenos Aires, LATAM to Santiago and Lima, Copa Airlines to Panama City and TAP Air Portugal to Lisbon. All of these airlines use Terminal 1.

Yes. Taxis from the Cootaero cooperative wait at the official stand just outside the arrivals area in Terminal 1. They run 24 hours a day and accept credit cards. Use only this stand, a ride app or a driver you booked in advance, and decline offers from people approaching you inside the terminal.

Not easily at the moment. The Aeromóvel people mover that connected Terminal 1 with Trensurb's Aeroporto train station has been out of service since the May 2024 floods damaged its equipment. Reconstruction work started in September 2026 and is expected to take about 12 months, so plan on a taxi, ride app or bus for now.

Yes. Uber and the Brazilian app 99 both operate at Salgado Filho airport, with pickups outside the arrivals area of Terminal 1. Average Uber trips between the airport and the city take about 17 minutes over roughly 9 km. Surge pricing can apply when many flights land at once or during heavy rain.

It depends on your passport. US, Canadian and Australian citizens have needed a Brazil e-visa again since April 10, 2025, and airlines check for it before boarding. Many European and South American travelers can enter visa-free for tourism. Check the rules for your nationality with Brazil's consular services before you travel.

Gramado is in the Serra Gaúcha hills, roughly two hours by car from Salgado Filho airport via BR-116, depending on route and traffic. Citral runs intercity buses from the airport to Gramado and Canela that take about 2.5 hours. A private transfer or rental car gives more flexibility, especially for evening arrivals.

Yes. Bento Gonçalves and the Vale dos Vinhedos wine region lie in the Serra Gaúcha north of Porto Alegre and are reached by road from the airport. Most visitors use a rental car, private transfer or intercity bus. Caxias do Sul, the largest city in the Serra Gaúcha, is also reached by road from the airport.

Porto Alegre uses Brasília time, UTC-3, with no daylight saving time. Unlike tropical Brazil, the city has four seasons: summers from December to March are hot and humid, while winters from June to August are cool and damp. Brazil's currency is the real (BRL), and cards are widely accepted.

Fraport Brasil, part of Germany's Fraport group, has operated Salgado Filho airport since January 2018, taking over from Infraero. The airport handled about 7.5 million passengers in 2025, close to its level before the 2024 floods, when traffic dropped to about 3.9 million because of the five-month closure.