Artur and Michelle walking hand in hand along a palm-lined beach, the surf and a forested headland ahead of them

Travel guide

Brazil

We lived in Florianópolis for a year, and these are the places we kept going back to. From sand dunes to mangroves, from city life to fishing villages, from surf beaches to waterfalls: you can find it all.

Places in Brazil

Michelle and Artur on the Hercílio Luz Bridge at sunset, when it is closed to cars and open to people walking

14 guides

Florianópolis

After living on the island for a full year from 2023 to 2024, we’ve explored its beaches, hiking trails, fishing villages and food spots, and narrowed it down to our 15 absolute favorites.

Field notes

14 guides from Brazil

Brazil15 Best Things to Do in Florianópolis + 3 We'd Skip (2026)

Ilha do Campeche from the air: boats anchored in the turquoise water off its white-sand beach, below the forested island

BrazilFlorianópolis Itinerary: 3 to 5 Days on the Island (2026)

Artur and Michelle with their arms raised on the Hercílio Luz Bridge at sunset, its tower behind them

BrazilWhere to Stay in Florianópolis: 4 Areas We Recommend + 1 We'd Skip (2026)

Ilha do Campeche from the air: granite boulders at the foot of its jungle-covered hill, and clear turquoise water over the white sand

BrazilThe 10 Best Beaches in Florianópolis + 3 We’d Skip (2026)

Ilha do Campeche from the air: a boat on the turquoise water beside the island’s granite boulders and forest

BrazilCampeche Island, Florianópolis: How to Visit Ilha do Campeche (Boats, Booking and What to Bring)

Michelle standing on a rock ledge at the top of Morro da Coroa, arms raised, with Lagoinha do Leste beach, its lagoon and the sea below

BrazilLagoinha do Leste Hike: Both Trails, Timing and What to Pack (2026)

Costa da Lagoa from the air: the fishing village’s houses and boat docks along the lagoon, with the forested hills behind

BrazilCosta da Lagoa Hike: The Trail, the Waterfall, Lunch and the Boat Back (2026)

Matadeiro beach in Florianópolis from the air: lines of swell breaking along the white sand, the green hill above and Armação beyond

BrazilSurfing in Florianópolis: The Best Surf Spots by Level, Lessons and When to Go (2026)

Lunch at Sabor da Costa in Costa da Lagoa: moqueca in a clay pot with rice, pirão, fries and salad, on a table by the lagoon with boats moored behind

BrazilWhere to Eat in Florianópolis: 25 Places We Kept Going Back To + 2 We’d Skip (2026)

A band playing on the small stage at Bar DeRaiz, near Lagoa da Conceição, lit green and blue

BrazilFlorianópolis Nightlife: Where to Go Out, Area by Area (2026)

Artur surfing a green wave in board shorts at Campeche beach, under a clear blue sky

BrazilFlorianópolis Weather by Month: The Best Time to Visit (From a Year on the Island)

Michelle at the #EU♥FLORIPA AIRPORT sign outside the terminal, under its timber canopy

BrazilFlorianópolis Airport (FLN): Getting to Every Part of the Island + How to Get Around (2026)

The Mercado Público in the center of Florianópolis from the air: its yellow façade and tiled roofs, café umbrellas outside and the city blocks around it

BrazilIs Florianópolis Safe? What We Learned After a Year Living There (2026)

Balneário Camboriú from the air: its tallest towers rising over Praia Central, with the river, the city and the green hills behind

BrazilBalneário Camboriú Day Trip from Florianópolis: Cable Car, Beaches and Is It Worth It? (2026)

Elsewhere in South America

4 more countries visited

All of South America

Argentina
Colombia
Paraguay
Peru

All destinations Where to stay in Brazil