Florianopolis

Beaches, lagoons and island adventure

Florianópolis is a coastal city in southern Brazil known for its long sandy beaches and vibrant surf culture. The island setting provides calm turquoise waters ideal for swimming, snorkeling and paddleboarding year-round. Local markets sell fresh seafood and handmade crafts while restaurants serve traditional dishes like moqueca and churrasco. Bike paths run along many streets, making it easy to explore neighborhoods filled with colorful houses and public art. The mix of nature, outdoor activities and relaxed lifestyle attracts visitors seeking both adventure and calm seaside relaxation.

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City in Brazil

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.4

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	7

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in most hotels, surf schools, and tourist restaurants, but less so in small shops or local markets. A few Portuguese phrases help, especially outside the main tourist zones.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Florianopolis Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
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Famous for beaches and surf culture. Surf ocean waves, relax on sandy bays, hike coastal trails and enjoy lively nightlife.

Place score

6.8

Best at:

Sea

Beaches

Local cuisine

Surfing

Nightlife

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

👩 8

Solo

❤️ 8

Couples

Brazil – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	127 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type C , Type N Type C: Type N: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Brazilian Real (BRL) £1 ≈ R$7.11
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payment is widely accepted in urban areas but less so in remote regions. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in Brazil. Restaurants often include a 10% service charge. Additional tips are optional.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed in Brazil, and it is common in social settings.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces, with designated outdoor areas.

Carnival (February/March)	Expect parades and heavy crowds.
Independence Day (September)	National celebrations occur.
Christmas (December)	Family gatherings and public celebrations are common.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 190 (Police), 192 (Ambulance), 193 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	99, Uber, Cabify
Other:	Brazil is known for its natural beauty, vibrant culture, and Carnival celebrations. Avoid travelling alone in remote areas for safety.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Florianopolis, Brazil

🌦️

Jan

🌦️

Feb

🌦️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

☀️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌥️

Aug

🌦️

Sep

🌦️

Oct

🌦️

Nov

🌦️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, Dec.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Sep. - Nov.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Brazilian summer holidays mid December to February: accommodation books out months ahead and prices peak, especially Christmas to Carnival

Southern right whales can be seen July to November, best in August and September

Surf season runs roughly April to September, with the biggest swells in winter

Don't miss

🏄‍♀️ Swim and surf at Praia Mole’s scenic coastline
🌅 Walk the wooden trails above the Lagoa da Conceição dunes
🦐 Eat fresh seafood at sunset in Santo Antônio de Lisboa
🥾 Hike to Lagoinha do Leste for a secluded beach day
🏛️ Explore the colonial streets and architecture of the historic center
🎶 Join locals for samba and caipirinhas on the beach at night

You've been here?

Why travel to Florianopolis?

Floripa is a dream for beach lovers, surfers and anyone who wants a mix of nature, culture and nightlife. The island’s diversity is its charm: surf at Praia Mole, sandboard at Joaquina’s dunes, paddleboard on Lagoa da Conceição or explore colonial villages like Santo Antônio de Lisboa. The seafood is legendary-don’t miss fresh oysters or açaí bowls. The nightlife ranges from buzzing bars in Lagoa to live samba in the historic center. Downsides? Summer brings crowds and higher prices and the island’s public transport can be slow – renting a car or bike is best for exploring. Petty theft can happen at busy beaches or at night, so keep an eye on your things. Some beaches are only accessible by hiking and the weather can turn quickly – pack for sun and rain.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Ribeirão da Ilha
2 Hercílio Luz Bridge
3 Santo Antônio de Lisboa
4 Barra da Lagoa
5 Mercado Público Aldírio Simões
6 Praia Mole
7 Centro Histórico

🎡Places for activities

1 Praia Mole

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Lagoa da Conceição
2 Praia da Armação
3 Ribeirão João Gualberto
4 Praia Brava
5 Praia do Santinho
6 Mirante do Morro da Cruz
7 Campeche Island
8 Lagoinha do Leste

🛍️Shopping

1 Beiramar Shopping
2 Mercado Público Aldírio Simões
3 Rua Mandala

🎈Events

Carnaval de Florianópolis
Fenaostra Oyster Festival
Surfing Championships at Joaquina
Reveillon (New Year’s Eve)
Festival de Dança de Florianópolis
Ironman Brazil
Azorean Cultural Festivities
Winter Music Festival
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Beach Volleyball Tournaments

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Rent a car; beaches are spread out across the island.
Pick a base by vibe: Lagoa for nightlife, Campeche for calmer beaches.
Pack for wind and sun; weather can shift fast, even in summer.
Catch sunset at Morro da Cruz viewpoint, then save a taxi contact for the return.

How to travel to Florianopolis

Florianopolis International Airport (FLN) has direct flights from major Brazilian cities and some South American hubs. Long-distance buses connect to São Paulo, Rio and Porto Alegre. The city is linked to the mainland by three bridges. Taxis, airport shuttles and ride‑hailing apps provide easy transfers to the main districts.

Access summary

From FLN airport: Taxi, rideshare or bus to centre, about 20–30 minutes.
From São Paulo: Direct flights to FLN, around 1–1.5 hours.
From Rio de Janeiro: Direct flights to FLN, usually about 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Florianopolis

Floripa has options for every budget: surf hostels and pousadas in Barra da Lagoa, boutique hotels in Lagoa, resorts in Jurerê and cozy guesthouses in Campeche or Santo Antônio de Lisboa. Book early for summer and Carnaval. Some beaches have limited nightlife or food-check location before booking.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Rede Andrade Cecomtur

Hotel Evora by Rede Sagres

7.1

Faial Prime Suites

8.6

Blue Tree Premium Florianopolis

8.8

Intercity Florianopolis

8.5

Novotel Florianopolis

8.9

Costao do Santinho Resort All Inclusive

9.0

Interclass Florianopolis

9.5

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Florianopolis

The island is large and spread out – renting a car or scooter is best for flexibility, especially if you want to visit multiple beaches. Buses are affordable and connect most areas but can be slow and crowded in summer. Cycling is popular around Lagoa da Conceição and some beach areas. Taxis and ride-hailing apps work well in the main districts, but may be scarce in remote spots – always arrange your return if heading far south.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-51 %

Daily expenses in Florianopolis are around 51% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-6 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to BRL) is 6% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£26	£56	£158
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£7	£17	£42
🍝 Food per day	£15	£34	£98
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£5	£19

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£15
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£5.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£5.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£5
☕ Cappuccino	£1.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.90

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.90
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£11
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.90

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£6
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£55
🤧 Cold medication	£3.80
💇 Basic haircut	£7

Safety information overview

General safety

Florianopolis is one of Brazil’s safest cities, but petty theft can happen at busy beaches or at night — keep valuables secure. Avoid deserted areas after dark and always watch your belongings in crowds.

Health & Medical

Medical care is good, with clinics and pharmacies in the main districts. Tap water is generally safe, but bottled water is recommended. Mosquitoes can be an issue in summer — use repellent.

Accessibility

Most main beaches, hotels and shopping centers are accessible, but some trails and remote beaches have rough paths or stairs. Public transport is improving but not always fully accessible.

Tap water

Tap water is generally safe in Florianopolis, but most visitors prefer bottled water for drinking. Public fountains are rare — refill at your hotel and stay hydrated, especially in the heat.