São Luís is served by Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport (IATA: SLZ), about 15 kilometres from the city centre. There are direct flights from São Paulo, Brasília, Fortaleza, and other Brazilian cities, as well as some international connections.
From the airport, taxis take about 30 minutes to the historic centre; agree the price before you get in. There are also bus connections to the city, though these are slower and more complicated with luggage. Ride-sharing apps work well in São Luís.
By road, São Luís is connected to the Brazilian highway network via Imperatriz to the south, but the distances are large — Fortaleza, the nearest large city to the west, is over 500 kilometres away. Most visitors arrive by air.