Florianopolis Travel Guide: What to See, Do, Costs, & Ways to Save

Florianópolis is located in southern Brazil, and is composed mostly of the island of Ilha de Santa Catarina. Florianópolis, or Floripa for short, has been attracting surfers and sun worshippers for years. It has become one of Brazil’s most popular beach destinations and is famous for its massive parties. Floripa is the ideal location for fun in the sun, offering visitors an endless array of beaches, excellent seafood, quaint Azorean fishing villages, and awesome nightlife. It’s an especially popular stop for young travelers seeking fun.

Things to See and Do
Typical Costs
Budget Tips
Related Guides
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Booking Resources

Florianópolis

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Florianópolis

1. Lagoa de Conceição

The centerpiece of Santa Catarina is the magnificent Lagoa de Conceição. Shallow waters and year round high winds make the Lagoon a world-class windsurfing location, while the buzzing nightlife and pretty fishing village of Costa da Lagoa seal the deal. This the island’s best tourist spot.

2. Try the seafood

The seafood on Florianopolis is nothing short of delicious. The area is famous for its oysters but also look out for the Seqüência de camarão – literally, “shrimp sequence”. It’s a huge meal consisting of seafood appetizers and entrées featuring shrimp, crab, fish, and octopus.

3. Enjoy the beaches

Probably the main reason that you would set foot in this town is to chill out on the beach. There are 42 of them, many of which have secluded little coves and great swimming or surfing. The beaches in the south of the main island are less crowded than the north.

4. Go surfing

There is a lot of good surfing in the area, and one of the world’s major surfing events, the Santa Catarina Pro, takes place annually. Barra de Lagoa is just 5 minutes outside the city and is the best beach for beginners.

5. Take a hike

Excellent hiking trails can be found on the island’s southern tip. One of Florianopolis’ most beautiful and secluded beaches, Lagoinha do Leste, is only reachable by hiking. There are also plenty of trails around the island’s other great lagoon, Peri Lake.

Other Things to See and Do

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1. Get wild and enjoy the nightlife

Named the party destination of the year in 2009 by the New York Times, you know you’re in for a good time when you land in this town. In the summer, most of the nightlife is concentrated around the beaches, while in the winter, the fun moves to Lagoa da Conceição. But no matter the season, there is always a massive party to be found.

2. Try sandboarding

If surfing’s not your thing, then you could give sandboarding a try. The island is covered in white sand dunes, and sandboarding is an exhilarating way to spend an afternoon. Basically, lie on a piece of wood and fly down the dunes for just about $5 USD per hour. What a deal.

3. Riberão da Ilha

This traditional Azorean fishing village in the southwest is famous for its oysters, secluded beaches, cobbled streets, and colorful houses. The Acoriano Casario church and the Ethnological museum are the two main attractions. Eat your way through the town.

4. Visit the Old Forts

The forts were originally built to help combat the threat of invasion from the Spanish in the 18th Century, but nowadays are manned by roving band of camera wielding tourists. You can take a boat to the Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim and Santo Antônio de Ratones forts.

5. Go parachuting

There are many parachuting clubs in the area—some of which include overnight lodging. This can run on the pricey side, but it is well worth the thrill.

6. Party during Carnival

Brazil is famous for Carnival, and while Rio gets all the press, anywhere in Brazil can be fun. Beginning shortly after the January surfing championships and going through late February, the area becomes a giant outdoor party with food, fun, drinks, crafts, parades, and a lot of dancing. Make sure you book accommodations well in advance.

7. The Sao Joaquim National Park

Spanning over 50,000 acres, this national park is an endless forest of native plants and wildlife. You’ll need a vehicle to explore this park. If you don’t go with a guide, make sure to take a map as it’s easy to get lost.

Typical Costs

Hostel prices – Dorm rooms (8-10 beds) range between 30-60 BRL per night. Privates cost around 100 BRL for a double room with an ensuite bathroom. You can book your hostel with Hostelworld.

Budget hotel prices – Prices for a double room in a centrally-located 2-star hotel will be around 300 BRL. The prices increase as you get closer to the beach. Some hotels offer free breakfast and WiFi. Use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. Airbnb has a large selection. Shared rooms start at 33 BRL and whole apartments are around 100 BRL.

Average cost of food – Florianópolis is a big budget travel destination, so there are a lot of cheap food options to take advantage of. It’s easy to find cafes and street food for only a couple of dollars. Sit-down restaurants can be expensive here and will set you back 50 BRL per meal with a drink. Grocery shopping is very cheap, costing about 70-100 BRL per week.

Transportation costs – Local buses cost 2.90 BRL per trip, but the buses don’t run often and are slow. Taking a taxi starts at 4.60 BRL and are about 4 BRL per mile. Depending on how long you are there and how much you plan on getting around, renting a car could be more cost-effective. Rental cars start at 35 BRL per day.

Suggested daily budget

170-250 BRL / 50-75 USD (Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, eating and cooking, and using local transportation. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. If you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more, expect this to be higher!)

Money Saving Tips

Por Kilo – As with elsewhere in Brazil, restaurants that have you pay by the kilo for your food is a good deal. Look out for these cheap options.
Visit the market – If you’re staying at a hostel with kitchen facilities, it’s a good idea to stock up on food at the market and eat like the locals. Otherwise, stick to the street food and cheap cafes.
Couchsurf – Nothing’s cheaper than sleeping for free. Couchsurfing connects you with locals who will give you not only a free place to stay, but also a local tour guide who can introduce you to all the great places to see.
Save money on rideshares – Uber is way cheaper than taxis and is the best way to get around a city if you don’t want to wait for a bus or pay for a taxi. The Uber Pool option is where you can share a ride to get even better savings (though you can get your own car too). You can save $15 off your first Uber ride with this code: jlx6v.

My Must Have Guides For Traveling to Florianópolis

How to Get Free Flights

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Conquering Mountains: The Guide to Solo Female Travel

Kristin Addis writes the solo female travel column for this website and her detailed guide addresses all the concerns women have about traveling and gives the specific advice and tips you need to conquer the world and stay safe.

How to Teach English Overseas

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How to Travel the World on $50 a Day

My New York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach how to master the art of travel so that, no matter how long you want to travel for, you’ll save money, get off the beaten path, and have a more local, richer travel experience.