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Capital city of Santa Catarina, Brazil
Photo: Herr stahlhoefer, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Florianópolis ("Floripa" for short) is a coastal city in southern Brazil, the capital of the state of Santa Catarina. Most of the city's area consists of the island of Santa Catarina, connected to the mainland by two bridges, and only a small part of the island can really be called urban—the rest is full of gorgeous beaches and nature, including a large lagoon. Though famous for its beaches, Floripa also has great hikes and beautiful forested mountains. Here you can enjoy the outgoing culture and natural beauty of coastal Brazil in a less dangerous place than Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, or Recife.
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Near Praça XV de Novembro. It was built in the 18th century to be the residence and office of Santa Catarina's Governor. Later, it was rededicated in honor of the symbolist poet Cruz e Sousa.
One of the most beautiful buildings in the city, at Praça XV de Novembro.
The former city market place, this market on Largo da Alfândega still holds some interesting sights.
The postcard symbol of the city, inaugurated in 1926 linking the island to the mainland.
A large beautiful lake in the center of the island. Water sports, parcs, restaurants, colonial architecture.
36 km from the center, this old district of Florianopolis is a testament to Azorean immigration. Its historic center, in Frequesia, has a plaza which contains the Igreja Nossa Senhora da Lapa do Ribeirão (church), and the Ethnological Museum which houses documents and relics from the region's history.
In the center of the city, the Municipal Theater is an example of 1870s local architecture.
Old Fig Tree
This centennial Ficus tree is honored in the official municipal hymn of Florianópolis.
Quite nice little town on the calm west coast of the island. Multiple restaurants are directly at the waterfront. Also it is nice walk along the water heading toards Sambaqui.
Sea turtle conservation center and museum. The captive turtles in tanks, which are being kept to educate visitors and not to be released into the wild, are kind of sad. But the museum has lots of interesting information in Portuguese and English about sea turtles and conservation, including a 12-minute video. Founded in 2005, it is the most visited museum in the south of Brazil. Money spent for admission and at the gift shop goes to fund research, conservation, and turtle rescue.
A huge area of sand dunes stretching north from Praia da Joaquina and south from the area across the bridge to the east of the Lagoa da Conceição neighborhood. Yes, it's a popular spot for sandboarding, but it's also cool just to wander around and see the natural sand formations and the way the dunes slowly shift with the wind.
Jurerê Internacional
nudist beach
A challenging trail of around two hours from near Barra da Lagoa up through the mountains, with beautiful views of the ocean, that takes you to the beautiful Praia da Galheta.
A roughly two-hour hike through the forest along the side of the lagoon, passing through some small fishing villages that are only accessible by trail and boat. It also takes you past a historic building, the Sobrado da Dona Loquinha built by slaves around 1780, and near a waterfall a little ways away from the lagoon (follow the signs for cachoeira). A bit after the waterfall, you'll reach a town with some shops and restaurants serving very fresh seafood, at which point you can take a 45-minute boat back to Ponte da Lagoa (the bridge) for R$10 (pay when you get off), leaving about once an hour. On the boat ride, you can see the lovely little fishing villages on the water, followed by kitesurfers when you get close to Lagoa.
Vegan oriental restaurant. Food is creative, fresh and tasty. A lot of variety.
Sensational calzone. Lots of options. Clean place, quick service. Also branches in other locations.
Restaurant with well-diversified buffet of homemade food. Simplicity and good service. Clean and organized environment.
Good food, with that taste of home cooking. Air-conditioned environment and excellent service. Very good atmosphere.
Homemade food, well made and with the right seasoning. It has an upper part with good ventilation for sunny and hot days.
Cozy place with well-seasoned food. Always diversified menu, very tasty. Plenty vegan options.
Fantastic burgers. very good homemade green mayonnaise. Everything very fresh, clean and tasty. It is hidden behind a green residence on a small street at a dead end street.
Great Brazilian homemade food. Nice atmosphere. Attentive and efficient service
Campinas - São José. It is further across the bridge but worth the effort. The restaurant offers a nice cheap à la carte barbecue with free garlic bread and salad.
Praia do Pântano, in the south of the island. Interesting restaurant where the custom is for customers to hang slips of paper on the wall to mark their passage. The custom comes from pre-electricity days when people would use the slips to let friends know what part of the beach to find them in. Specializing in seafood at moderate prices. Try the Tainha Grelhada.
This restaurant serves local cuisine from 19:00. Pier 54's cellar contains over 250 labels of different wines and champagnes. The restaurant offers a wide range of healthy dishes, made from ingredients local to the region.
Named after a famous ballerina, this bistro is a great romantic spot for two. It only has five tables and some veranda space. The bistro offers a wide variety of cuisine, ranging from leafy green salads to filet mignon. Alcohol is also served on this cozy, beach front bistro.
Estrada da Barra da Lagoa, 2377 - Barra da Lagoa. Restaurant in the margins of Lagoa da Conceição offering traditional dishes. Try the "Congrio Chileno à Moda do Chef".
Centro. Nightclub with two floors, 3 bars, a rotating dance floor, and a room with free internet access. Caters to the gay community.
Local chain of bars and nightclubs.
SC 402 - Rod. Maurício Sirotsky Sobrinho, Km 1 - Jurerê Internacional.
Open year-round on the boardwalk of Jurerê Internacional.
Lagoa da Conceição.
Avenida Beira Mar Norte, under Hercílio Luz bridge. Night club with 2 levels, 3 bars, dance floor, live music, and dedicated parking. Popular with the over-35 crowd.
A nice gay/lesbian bar downtown, free entrance.
Fresh seafood served at the city's fishmarket. Excellent service. Go on Saturday morning.
Delicious breakfast and internet wifi. Private rooms are with TV, frigobar and air-conditioner.
Friendly staff, fast wi-fi.
R. Santos Saraiva, 416 - Estreito. One of the oldest hotels in Florianopolis, Hotel Bruggeman comes with modernized amenities. Rooms are fully refurbished. Hotel Bruggeman is comprised of 84 apartments and suites, each equipped with a TV and refrigerator.
It is in the privileged area of Lagoa da Conceição, with a view of its hill and close to the best beaches of Florianópolis.
Beachfront to the beautiful Praia Mole, which is central, since it is the closest beach to the Lagoa da Conceição town.
In the north of the island, Floriparadise is the hostel for those wishing to be immersed in local culture and art. The hostel is across from the local beach while close by is the vibrant area of Ponta das Canas which turns into a tourist mecca in the summer. The hostel offers a variety of local activities and linen is included in the price as well as WiFi throughout the whole hostel. Your hosts can also speak English which will help your travels immensely if you cannot speak Portuguese. Dorms start at R$25 Apartments start at R$35
Centro, 5 minutes from the bus station, Ibis Hotel has a 198 rooms with air-conditioning. There is a 24-hour bar, and a restaurant serving traditional cuisine on the premises.
Lagoa da Conceição, This hotel offers no-frills rooms with AC, TV and telephones with a nice cafe for breakfast, lunch or coffee on the ground floor. Includes parking, and is 100 m from the beach, which as close to "on the beach" as you can get at this beach. Perfect for surfers, and Mole Beach is a 5-min drive away.
Sea front hotel in a marvelous area on the Cachoeira do Bom Jesus sea front with an unforgettable view. All the apartments are composed of a dormitory, a bathroom, a living room, a complete kitchen, air conditioning, telephone, TV and safe. Brasilian "colonial" breakfast and beach service included. Free internet Wi-fi service for guests in lobby area.
Beautiful cabins, with a view of Lagoa da Conceição, between the Mole beach and Joaquina beach. Some of the features of the hostel are breakfast, TV, fridge, Internet, parking space, pool adult and child and Ofurô.
Very nice all-inclusive resort and spa. Very kid-friendly. It's a bit out of the way though, but it is serviced by the yellow bus lines, and it does provide rental car facilities. The beach (Santinho) is extremely clean and beautiful.
746 - Centro on the main street of the city next to Shopping Beiramar. Various services such as air-con with remote control, a coffee shop, fitness center, piano bar, restaurant, spa, breakfast service, concierge, heliport, swimming pool, 24-hr room service, business center, convention center, minibar, and broadband internet.
Planned as a boutique hotel, there are 120 rooms, 2 suites, and one presidential suite. Pool, sauna, convention accommodations.
R. Artista Bittencout, 14 - Centro. In a good location near Praça XV and the Cathedral, this hotel has 21 presidential suites, 8 luxury suites, and 89 luxury apartments.
Jurerê. The hotel is 20 m from the beach.
A small, quiet and charming hotel with personalized service in the trendy and popular neighborhood of the city, Lagoa da Conceição. An elegant Portuguese style residence of the 19th century with 11 suites. Beautiful and unique design, old style furniture, pleasant garden, relaxing area and pool.
Around 200 shops.
Barreiros. The oldest shopping mall in the state, opened in 1982. In neighboring São José, within ten minutes of the city center. It has 180 shops and 7 movie screens.
Shopping center with 160 shops and 8 movie screens.
Bairro Santa Mônica. 200 shops and 7 movie screens. This cinema has one of the largest screens in Brazil. All are modern and stadium seating style.
From the city center, dozens of buses go to all the beaches on the island. The bus system has drawbacks since transfers are necessary at regional terminals to get around.
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