What to do in Florianópolis – 2-day itinerary on the island of magic

Discover what to do in Florianópolis, alone, with friends or with family. Discover an itinerary with 2 days in Floripa full of incredible experiences!

It's no surprise that Florianópolis is one of the capitals that most attracts tourists in Brazil.

With 42 beaches, paradisiacal settings, trails, great restaurants and nightlife, the city is perfect for those who want to relax and have fun. Furthermore, with so many entertainment options, it is easy to find activities for all types of travelers, making this a great destination for trips with family, friends, couples or even alone.

Another positive point is that the Magic Island It's not very big, and in a few days you can see the main tourist attractions. So, if you are looking for an adventure for a weekend or a long holiday, the city is a super cool option.

And this isn't just an impression from someone who visited once, right? I lived on the island for 25 years, and although I recognize that there are yes several other interesting places, in two days I can show my favorites to friends who come from abroad.

And, as I already take my acquaintances to do this tour whenever they visit me, there's nothing better than sharing it with you and the other blog readers, right?

Here is my favorite itinerary, with my best tips on what to do in Florianópolis. It includes the best and most famous beaches, restaurants, bars, clubs, viewpoints and other attractions. All this so you can return home with the certainty that you've visited some of the coolest places on the island. 😉

Do you have more time in the city? So take a look at the end of the post and I’ve included other cool tours.

How to get around Florianópolis

The best option for getting around Florianópolis is to rent a car.

The public transport system on the island can reach most places, but with long and time-consuming routes. In high season, when traffic is chaotic and traffic jams last for hours, any minute you can save is already an advantage. Imagine arriving in Floripa and wasting a morning stuck in traffic just because the bus was late?

With your own vehicle you can start the day early, escape the crowds and avoid traffic, as well as making it easier to get from one attraction to another.

When I was younger and didn't yet have a driver's license, my friends and I needed to choose just one beach to spend the day, because it took hours to get from one beach to another by bus. This was when it wasn't necessary to first take a bus to a terminal, and then another to a second beach. Impossible when you only go to the city for a few days, right?

By car, however, you can visit three or even more points in one afternoon! When my friends from other states came to visit me, for example, I drove the itinerary for this post and sometimes even had time to enjoy more on some beaches.

By renting a car you:

• You have the freedom to start your day early and leave each location whenever you want, without worrying about bus schedules;
• You can go to attractions that are further away, without worrying about how far you will have to walk if the point is far away;
• You can visit a greater number of tourist attractions and attractions.

To rent your car and still save the most, make your reservation with Rentcars. The company is a partner of the blog and works with the best rental companies in the world, in addition to offering installments, exclusive conditions and even best price guarantee.

Don't know how or don't want to drive?

It's okay, just reduce your itinerary a little so you don't spend so much time in traffic. At the end of each day I have put together a reduced itinerary so that you can make the most of your stay in the city even without a car.

Where to stay in Florianópolis

If you were spending days on the island and just wanted to relax and enjoy the sea, I would recommend staying on one of the beaches. As in this case the situation is different and you want to visit several places in a short time, my suggestion is to stay in the city center. This way you have easy access to the south, north and east of Floripa.

The best hotels in the region are:

Majestic Palace Hotel

Imagine yourself in the most famous hotel in Florianópolis? Majestic has a privileged location, next to one of the main shopping malls and overlooking the seafront. The property has free Wi-Fi, parking, spa, restaurant with à la carte dinner and an outdoor pool with sensational views. Booking rating: 8,6.

Ibis Florianópolis

Close to the seafront, the Public Market, the famous Hercílio Luz bridge and the bus terminal, this hotel chain is perfect if you want to save money but still maintain a certain comfort. Booking rating: 8,0.

Are you going alone and want to make friends, or do you want to save as much as possible? So make a reservation at Floripa Hostel, which is practically on the same street as Ibis and has a supermarket very close by.

Are you going to spend several days on the island and want to be closer to the beach? Then check out this post with tips on the best neighborhoods and hotels to stay in Florianópolis.

What to do in Florianópolis – Weekend or holiday itinerary

Day 1 – North of the Island and Santa Monica

To start the day, take the SC-401 towards north of the island. This tends to be the favorite region for tourists, as it has easier access (compared to the south) and some of the most famous beaches, such as Jurerê and Canasvieiras.

Halfway along the way, make a stop at Baker from Seville from the Casa e Design shopping mall. This bakery is very popular among locals and a great place to have breakfast. Don't forget to try the mini cheese breads!

After that, head towards Jurerê and take a stroll around the international part of the neighborhood to see the huge, luxurious homes. If it's out of season, I recommend making the trip to Forte beach by car (the entrance is on the side of the Beach club P12), and enjoy yourself there as the sea is super calm and doesn't usually get crowded.

The way there, however, is very steep and practically one-way, which causes major traffic jams in the summer. If your trip is during this season, make your way to Praia do Forte on foot or go straight to the sands of Jurerê. Remembering that this is the most visited beach on the island, and that it tends to fill up with both tourists and locals. If you want a quieter corner, stay closer to P12.

At lunch time, visit the open shopping – open-air shopping center – and enjoy lunch at the Café Culture. If you want a style meal buffet lines, my favorites are station 261 at the gas station (I swear the food is wonderful) and the Point at Jurerê Sport Club.

If you are by bus, my suggestion is to enjoy Jurerê until mid-afternoon. By car, head to Canasvieiras via the Canasjurê, take a walk around the neighborhood and head towards Brava Beach. The place is beautiful, very popular with young people on the island, and it even has a small trail that allows you to see the scenery from above.

In the late afternoon, take the opposite direction of SC-401 and stop at Saint Anthony of Lisbon to watch the sunset. This neighborhood has remnants of Portuguese colonization and you can find bakeries selling typical foods, handicrafts and great restaurants. I recommend just having a snack if you're hungry and finding a good spot on the sand to watch the sun go down, as of the suggestions on what to do in Florianópolis, this is one of the most popular!

After that, stop by the hotel to take a shower and rest until dinner time. My suggestion is to know the Soul Brothers Hamburgueria, which serves gourmet burgers inside a gas station. The experience is super different, but I guarantee that the food is wonderful and at a great price. If you want to go out for a drink afterwards, behind the gas station there is the My office, a cheap bar popular with university students. If you want something fancier, the Tailtail It's also close by and has great drinks.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at Seville Baker on SC-401
• Forte beach
• Jurere Beach
• Lunch in Jurerê (Café Cultura, Estação 261 or Ponto)
• Driving through Canasvieiras
• Brava Beach
• Sunset in Santo Antônio de Lisboa
• Soul brothers
• My Office or Rabodigalo

(In bold is the itinerary for taking public transport.)

Day 2 – South of the island, Lagoa da Conceição and Via Gastronomica de Coqueiros

Now that you know the north of the island, it's time to get to know the south, where the most beautiful beaches are, and the east, where Lagoa da Conceição is located.

Start the day by taking the SC-405 heading south. This route was extremely poorly planned when it was made, so the reversible lane is always in the least convenient direction, several sections are just one lane and in the summer after 9 am it is almost impossible to beat the traffic. Leave the house EARLY!

Go towards the Campeche and, when you arrive at Avenida Pequeno Príncipe, stop for breakfast at the Sehat Market, an organic place that also serves Thai dishes at other meals. Then proceed to the Campeche beach and spend the morning there enjoying the sea.

At lunch time, head to the Conceição Lagoon through SC-406. The lagoon is huge, with several beaches nearby and several restaurants and shops in the area. little center. Before getting there, however, I recommend stopping at Boka's (super traditional restaurant) and order a portion of breaded shrimp. For two people, ¼ portion is enough leftover.

In the afternoon you can enjoy any of the beaches in the region – Mole, Joaquina or Galheta, the latter of nudism. Personally I prefer the joaquina, where you can also play in the sand dunes, take great photos on the rocks at one end of the beach and the sea is rough but not too rough. At Mole beach the waves are bigger and the sea is full of surfers, and Galheta isn't really my style, rs.

In the late afternoon, drive to the Praia Mole Viewpoint to get a spectacular view of the island, and then get to know the lagoon center.

A Conceição Lagoon It has great bars and restaurants, so if you're staying nearby, you can just take a shower and eat there. I recommend the Peru flavor, with Peruvian food for an unforgettable meal.

If you are staying in the center, my suggestion is to end the night in Via Gastronomica de Coqueiros, on the other side of the bridge. Yes, many people don't know but this part of the continent also belongs to Florianópolis! For dinner, bet on Maria Coxinha, drumstick bar with several different flavors. To end the night, have one of the great caipirinhas at Boteco Ze Mané.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at Sehat Market;
• Campeche Beach;
• Lunch at Boka's in Lagoa da Conceição;
• Joaquina Beach
• Praia Mole Viewpoint
• Lagoon Center
• Dinner at Lagoa or Via Gastronomica de Coqueiros

(In bold is the itinerary for taking public transport.)

Are you coming to town on Friday night?

So start enjoying it now! Dine in Public market in the center and, if you want a drink to end the night, you can either order a beer in the stalls there or go to the bars on Victor Meirelles, like No class or the Madalena Bar. In the latter, people usually take their drinks and stay out on the street.

Are you leaving on Monday after lunch?

So take the opportunity to get to know the North seaside, where residents often walk or cycle. The city has Yellow and Grin, so you can use your cell phone to rent a bike or electric scooter.

After that, go to XV Square in the city center, to see the famous figira, a century-old tree that has been on site since 1891. From there, head to the Public market and have lunch in one of the pits – I usually stay in 06, but the most famous is 32.

More time in the city and don't know what to do in Florianópolis?

If you are going to spend a few more days in Floripa, my suggestion is to visit other beaches. You can find the best on the island in this blog post, but it's also worth paying a visit to those on the mainland. If you want some suggestions, I recommend reading the posts on the Addicted to Travel blog about What is the Embaú Guard like?, and the Map in the Hand on what to do in Bombinhas!

You can also go on trails, like the one at Lagoinha do Este (super famous and great for photos) or the one from Necktie, which is much easier. Another super cool tour is to visit the Campeche island, which can be seen when you are on the beach of the same name. Several boats make the journey there, and the water is so clear that you might even mistake it for Arraial do Cabo or the Caribbean, lol.

You can also Take advantage of visiting nearby cities! Here on the blog there is a post about things to do in Balneario Camboriu, and on the Vamos por Aí blog there is a super cool post with itinerary through the center of Blumenau!

And there you have it, the best tips on what to do in Florianópolis on a weekend or holiday! This 2-day itinerary is perfect for those who are visiting the city for the first time and don't have much time.

Do you have any questions? Do you think there was an unmissable tour missing? Tell me in the comments!

Some links in this post are affiliate links.