Balneário Camboriú is a bubble, and a haven for Brazil’s upper class. Only 80 km (50 miles) north of Florianópolis, it might be a good option for a day trip if you’re staying there for longer.
Famous for its luxurious skyscrapers along the beach and its long promenade, it is often nicknamed the “Dubai of Brazil.”
In this guide, we cover the cable car, a bit of the beaches, how to get there, whether it’s worth it, and where to eat, go out and stay if you spend the night.
We were there. 5 May 2024 – 6 May 2024
Balneário Camboriú at a Glance: How We’d Do the Day
We went to Balneário Camboriú, but it wasn’t exactly a day trip: we stayed one night there, just to enjoy the city and get to know it.
During the day, we took the cable car up, and explored the city and the beaches in the center a bit. We even went on a quick trip to Praia Brava, just a little bit north. In Balneário Camboriú, we walked along the promenade, enjoyed the views, and checked out the famous street, the Ferris wheel and the breakwater by the canal.
- Distance: about 80 km (50 miles) north of Florianópolis, usually 1 to 1.5 hours by car
- Getting there: your own car, a bus from the Rita Maria bus terminal, Uber or a taxi, or a day tour from Florianópolis
- Our order for the day: Parque Unipraias, then the promenade and a beach chair at the main beach in the early afternoon, then the Ferris wheel
- Cable car: R$80 for adults, a return trip to Parque Unipraias and Laranjeiras beach, from 9:30 am (last boarding 4:30 pm)
- Staying the night: an apartment facing the beach on the main avenue, for the skyline at night
Here are our recommendations of where to stay, in case you also want to stay for a night: a sea-view apartment managed by Seazone or Frente Mar Luxo em BC.
Before You Go
Where Balneário Camboriú Is (and How Far from Florianópolis)
Balneário Camboriú is only 80 km (50 miles) north of Florianópolis, and it’s usually 1 to 1.5 hours by car. However, on weekends and at busier times, the BR-101 can get a lot more traffic, and this can make the drive a lot longer, especially if there are accidents, as there are no other options to get there.
Getting There: Car, Bus or Tour
You can get there in your own car (or a rental car), take a bus from the Rita Maria bus terminal, or even take an Uber or a taxi.
Buses run by Catarinense and Reunidas leave from the Rita Maria bus terminal, in the center of Florianópolis, to the bus station in Balneário Camboriú. The ride takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and tickets cost from around R$42 for a standard seat to R$66 for an executive one, plus fees.
You may also book a tour directly from a pickup point in Florianópolis, to spend the day there with many of the things we cover here already included.
The closest airport to Balneário Camboriú is Navegantes (NVT), about 35 km (22 miles) away; Florianópolis airport (FLN) is about 95 km (59 miles) south.
Our Day in Balneário Camboriú
- Parque Unipraias, to check out the view and the park in the middle of the Atlantic Forest: a great place. From there, you can also reach some less crowded and more chill beaches, like Laranjeiras.
- Optional: the Oceanic Aquarium, in Barra Sul, in the middle of the day, with more than 170 species in 30 habitats.
- Take a stroll on the promenade, rent a beach chair (cadeira de praia) at the main beach and enjoy the early afternoon.
- End up on the Ferris wheel for a ride.
For a similar tour with a guide, starting in Balneário and including the tickets, check out this city tour with lunch and the cable car.
Things to Do in Balneário Camboriú
Unipraias Park and the Cable Car to Laranjeiras Beach
On a weekday, the Unipraias cable car had no lines: we just got in straight. However, on weekends or holidays, it can take longer.
The ride is scenic, and with some clouds, like we had, it makes for a very moody vibe.
Taking the cable car up to Parque Unipraias (Unipraias Park) is a great way to enjoy the views over the city: you can walk the Atlantic Forest trails, ride mountain coasters and enjoy treetop walkways. There are lots of child-friendly activities.
The cable car has three stations: Barra Sul, at the south end of the city’s beach, Mata Atlântica, up in the park, and Laranjeiras, down on the beach on the other side. The whole return trip is 3,250 m (2 miles) and takes about 30 minutes without stops. Tickets cost R$80 for adults, cover one return trip on the same day, and let you stay on Laranjeiras beach and ride back later; the park opens from 9:30 am, with the last boarding at 4:30 pm.
Up in the park, the Youhooo! mountain coaster runs 710 m (0.4 miles) through the forest at up to 60 km/h (37 mph), and the ZipRider zip line takes you 750 m (0.5 miles) down from the Mata Atlântica station to Laranjeiras, close to the beach. Both cost extra: R$40 for the coaster and R$78 for the zip line.
Praia Central and the Skyline
The Praia Central promenade will give you a neck ache from looking up at these impressive high-rises. Many are signed by big-name designers, and their entrances alone are quite impressive.
The two Yachthouse towers, at 294 m (965 ft), are the tallest buildings in Brazil, and One Tower, at 290 m (951 ft), was certified in 2022 as the tallest residential tower in Latin America. The beach in front of them was widened from about 25 to 70 m (80 to 230 ft) in 2021.
On the sand, a beach chair costs around R$15 to R$20 to rent, and an umbrella R$30 to R$100.
The Big Wheel (FG Big Wheel)
An iconic setting at the north end of the main avenue. Now called Roda FG, it is 65 m (213 ft) across, with 36 cabins, and a ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Tickets bought online cost R$74 for adults.
Tip
Our favorite view of the city is at the northern end of the beach promenade, driving up to the Mirante Estrada da Rainha, close to the Ferris wheel.
Barra Sul
Barra Sul is the south end of Praia Central, where the Rio Camboriú meets the sea, behind a breakwater. It’s where the cable car to Parque Unipraias leaves from, and the Passarela da Barra, a 190 m footbridge that rises 57 m (187 ft) over the river, crosses to the old Barra neighborhood on the other side.
The Quieter Beaches South of the City
From Parque Unipraias, you can also reach some less crowded and more chill beaches, like Laranjeiras. The Interpraias road winds south along the coast from Barra Sul to a string of wilder beaches: Laranjeiras, the busiest, with restaurants and the cable car station; then Taquaras, Taquarinhas, Pinho, Estaleiro and Estaleirinho, quieter and with fewer facilities.
Where to Eat in Balneário Camboriú
At Distretto, we had an amazing cheesy pasta with some steak: just thinking about it makes our mouths water.
In Praia Brava, Voo Livre has an amazing all-you-can-eat feijoada on weekends: one of our favorite feijoada places in Brazil.
Staying the Night: Nightlife and Where to Stay
We stayed the night because we also wanted to go out to eat and enjoy a bit of the nightlife. During summer and high season, as in Florianópolis, Balneário Camboriú’s population increases significantly, and with that comes all the good stuff. Balneário Camboriú has about 139,000 residents (2022 census), and around a million people were expected in the city for New Year’s Eve 2024.
Nightlife in Balneário Camboriú
Balneário is also known for its lavish parties, so if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s also known as one of the best party areas in Brazil for this style of party (similar to the north of the island in Floripa).
- SHED Club: an upscale sertanejo (Brazilian country music) nightclub. It’s definitely a unique experience if you’re not from Brazil and have never been to a sertanejo nightclub.
- Green Valley: not quite in Balneário, but very close, in Camboriú. Famous for its EDM parties, it’s also event-based, so check their lineup and event calendar before committing. It has been voted the best club in the world by DJ Mag five times.
Where to Stay in Balneário Camboriú
In case you want to stay one night there, here are a few recommendations. If you’re only staying for a night, staying on the main avenue is a great experience, to also see the skyline at night from inside one of those high-rises.
For that, the best options are apartments rather than hotels. They tend to have bigger windows, you know what you’re getting into, and you’re guaranteed the view. You lose some of the comforts of a hotel, like breakfast and room service, but for a night, it will be worth it.
Option 1: 3br Apt Sea View BBQ Garage, on Avenida Atlântica: a three-bedroom apartment on the beachfront, managed by Seazone, with sea views and a barbecue.
Option 2: Frente Mar Luxo em BC, Vista Cinematográfica da Orla: a three-bedroom apartment facing the sea, a few steps from Praia Central.
Beto Carrero World: Why We’d Skip It as a Day Trip
Beto Carrero World is the largest theme park in Latin America and is located in Penha, Santa Catarina, with more than 100 attractions: themed thrill rides, live cabaret shows, a zoo and horse riding. We especially loved the big entrance door to the park, which is super colorful and iconic.
It’s around 120 km (75 miles) north of Florianópolis, roughly a two-hour drive. It is doable as a day trip, but we wouldn’t recommend it; instead we’d advise staying a night or two in Balneário Camboriú or Penha, to enjoy the full day at the park. The park is about 37 km (23 miles) from Balneário Camboriú.
Is Balneário Camboriú Worth It? (Balneário Camboriú vs Florianópolis)
If you’re into this high-end scene and luxurious lifestyles, maybe going to Balneário to check it out is for you. If you prefer the magic of the island and don’t have that many days, then Florianópolis might be the best option for you.
Either way, getting to know different places is also a rewarding experience. We hope this guide helps!
FAQs About Balneário Camboriú
How far is Balneário Camboriú from Florianópolis?
About 80 km (50 miles) north, usually 1 to 1.5 hours by car on the BR-101. On weekends and at busier times, traffic can make the drive a lot longer, especially if there are accidents.
How do you get from Florianópolis to Balneário Camboriú by bus?
Catarinense and Reunidas run buses from the Rita Maria bus terminal, in the center of Florianópolis, to Balneário Camboriú’s bus station. The ride takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and tickets cost from around R$42 to R$66.
Is Balneário Camboriú worth a day trip?
If you’re staying in Florianópolis for longer, it might be a good option. Parque Unipraias and the cable car, the promenade and the beach, and the Ferris wheel fit in a day, but we stayed one night, to also go out to eat and enjoy a bit of the nightlife.
Which is better, Balneário Camboriú or Florianópolis?
If you’re into a high-end scene and luxurious lifestyles, Balneário Camboriú might be for you. If you prefer the magic of the island and don’t have many days, Florianópolis might be the best option. Either way, getting to know different places is a rewarding experience.
How much is the Unipraias cable car?
R$80 for adults (11 to 59), R$40 for children aged 6 to 10 and people over 60, and free for children under 6. The ticket covers one return trip on the same day, including the stop at Laranjeiras beach; the Youhooo! coaster and the ZipRider zip line cost extra.
Is Balneário Camboriú safe?
In the Atlas da Violência 2026, with 2024 data, Balneário Camboriú had about 9.4 homicides per 100,000 people, 277th of the 336 Brazilian cities with more than 100,000 people, counted from the most violent.
Can you visit Beto Carrero World and Balneário Camboriú in one day?
It is doable, but we wouldn’t recommend it: Beto Carrero World, in Penha, is around 120 km (75 miles) north of Florianópolis, roughly a two-hour drive. Instead, we’d advise staying a night or two in Balneário Camboriú or Penha, to enjoy the full day at the park.
What is the closest airport to Balneário Camboriú?
Navegantes (NVT), about 35 km (22 miles) from Balneário Camboriú, roughly a 40-minute drive. Florianópolis airport (FLN) is about 95 km (59 miles) south, and it has far more flights.
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