Brazil

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Florianópolis

Brazil's Magic Island of beaches

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Florianópolis Plan a trip around Brazil

Best time to visit: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Currency: BRL
Time zone: UTC-3
Country: Brazil

Photo: Ezarate, CC BY-SA 3.0

Florianópolis is a coastal city in southern Brazil, mostly built on Santa Catarina Island, with dozens of beaches, a large lagoon and forested hills. People come for surfing, seafood, nature trails and a relaxed island lifestyle that is safer and calmer than Brazil's big coastal cities.

Largest cities

São Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Brasília
Salvador
Fortaleza

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Brazil
Capital: Brasília
City population: 587,486
Population of Brazil: 214.2M
Country area: 8,515,767 km²
Official language: Portuguese
Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL) · 1 USD ≈ 5 BRL
Time zone: UTC-3
Calling code: +55
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 24 m
Plugs: A / B / C · 127V / 220V
Emergency numbers: 190 (police) · 192 (ambulance) · 193 (fire)
Best time to visit: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	28°	29°	28°	25°	23°	21°	20°	21°	23°	23°	25°	27°
Low	22°	22°	22°	19°	16°	14°	13°	14°	16°	18°	19°	21°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$35
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$85
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$225

Plan a trip to Florianópolis

Top things to do

Free
Lagoa da Conceição
Walk or cycle the shore of the island's largest lagoon, with restaurants, bars and organic markets around it; the hilltop 18th-century church gives a wide view.
- Half day
- Lagoa da Conceição
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Joaquina Beach
A long surfing beach with lifeguards, showers, bars and restaurants; sandboards can be rented for the nearby dunes.
- Half day
- Eastern beaches (Joaquina, Mole, Barra da Lagoa)
- Good for kids
Free
Mole Beach
Green hills and rock formations frame this well-known surf beach with eco-friendly lounges and a lively summer scene.
- Half day
- Eastern beaches (Joaquina, Mole, Barra da Lagoa)
Free
Barra da Lagoa
A fishing village with calm water good for learning to surf, plus the TAMAR turtle project; penguins sometimes appear in the canal in winter.
- Half day
- Eastern beaches (Joaquina, Mole, Barra da Lagoa)
- Good for kids
Free
Historic centre and Municipal Market
See colonial buildings, the Cruz e Sousa Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the old fig tree around Praça XV, then eat at the 1898 public market.
- Half day
- Centro (historic centre and mainland)
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Hercílio Luz Bridge
The 1926 bridge is the city's postcard symbol linking island and mainland; it is a good short stop, especially lit up in the evening.
- Half day
- Centro (historic centre and mainland)
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Ribeirão da Ilha
An old Azorean district with a historic square, the Nossa Senhora da Lapa church and an ethnological museum, known for oyster restaurants.
- Half day
- Southern island (Campeche, Armação, Ribeirão da Ilha)
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Campeche and southern beaches day trip
Spend a day driving the southern coast from Campeche to Armação and Morro das Pedras, with surf beaches, quiet villages and seafood stops.
- Full day
- Southern island (Campeche, Armação, Ribeirão da Ilha)
- Good for kids
Free
Lagoinha do Leste trail
A full-day hike to an isolated beach and lagoon reachable only on foot; start early, carry water and wear proper shoes.
- Full day
- Southern island (Campeche, Armação, Ribeirão da Ilha)

Before you go

Entry and visas

British citizens can visit Brazil without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism; other nationalities should check their own visa requirements, as many can enter visa-free or with an e-visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, and you should ensure it is stamped on entry. For the most current rules, check the official Brazilian government immigration page or your nearest Brazilian embassy.

Official website

From the airport

Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN) sits about 12 km from the city centre and is reached by local bus or taxi in roughly 20–30 minutes. Long-distance buses arrive at Terminal Rita Maria in the centre, and the island is linked to the mainland by three bridges.

Getting around

Buses run from the centre to most beaches but often need a transfer at a regional terminal, so a rental car is the easiest way to explore the island.

Local tips

Summer (December–March) is hot, humid and crowded, with traffic jams and higher prices; the shoulder months are calmer and cheaper.
Portuguese is the everyday language and English is limited outside tourist hotels, though Spanish is often understood because of Argentine and Uruguayan visitors.
Carry some cash in reais for beach kiosks, buses and small restaurants, and use cards in malls and larger venues.
Beaches with strong surf have lifeguards in season; swim near them and take care on the ocean-facing eastern beaches.

Areas worth knowing

Centro (historic centre and mainland)
Eastern beaches (Joaquina, Mole, Barra da Lagoa)
Southern island (Campeche, Armação, Ribeirão da Ilha)
Northern beaches (Jurerê, Canasvieiras, Ingleses)
Lagoa da Conceição

Official travel advice

The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on September 29, 2026. The advice includes warnings against travel to some areas. Read it before booking.

Read the advice on GOV.UK