From average weather, 2021 to 2025: warm, sunny days with little rain score highest (the air stands in for the sea, which is not included). Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. The island is long and the traffic can slow you down, so pick a base near the middle and keep the first evening short.Details
From the airport
Florianopolis airport sits on the island, in the south, and a taxi or an app ride takes you to most bases in the middle or the north. Buses also run from the airport to the center. Allow extra time after a long journey.
Getting around
The island stretches from north to south, and the beaches are far apart. A rental car makes the days easiest, and buses and taxis work for single outings. Roads fill up at the start and end of the day, and in the high summer months they can be slow.
Roads and scooters
Island roads are narrow in places and shared with motorbikes, scooters, cyclists and people on foot. Drive slowly, give scooters room and park only in marked places. If you rent a scooter, ride only if you are used to it.
First evening
Settle in, eat something simple and watch the light go down. Day 1 starts in the old center and the Azorean village on the bay, so a base near the middle will keep the rides short.
Day 1. The north of the island and the old center and the bay
3 stops · 17.8 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningWorth a morning
Jurere
A wide beach on the north coast with a very gentle slope into the water. Walk the sand early and swim when it is warm.
Go whenMorning, when the sand is cool and the beach is quiet.
Local tip The water is shallow for a long way out, which makes it good for a gentle walk in the sea.
A long, sheltered beach with shallow water, popular with families. The water here is usually quiet, which makes it a good place for a slow swim.
Go whenMidday, when the sea is warmest.
Local tip This is among the calmer beaches on the island, but still swim where a lifeguard is on duty.
Lunch
Fish stew with pirao
A fish stew served with pirao, a smooth porridge made from the broth and manioc flour, a coastal dish across southern Brazil. Warming and filling.
Local tip Eat the pirao with a spoon from the broth, the way locals do.
About 26 min by car or transit11.5 km
3
EveningWorth the time
Santo Antonio de Lisboa
A small village on the shore of the bay, founded by settlers from the Azores. Walk the quiet lanes past the old white church, then sit by the water as the sun goes down.
Go whenLate afternoon, then stay for the sunset (about 6:31 PM).
Local tip Walk the lanes behind the waterfront to see the old Azorean houses, then come back to the shore for the light on the bay.
The shady square beside the cathedral, with a very old, wide spreading fig tree in the middle. A good place to sit and watch the center go by.
Go whenMidday, in the shade of the big tree.
Local tip Sit on a bench in the shade and watch the center go by. The square is a good meeting point if you are traveling in a group.
About 19 min walk1.6 km
3
EveningWorth a short look
Hercilio Luz Bridge
The long steel suspension bridge that joins the island to the mainland, the symbol of the city. Walk or ride near it in the evening and watch the lights come on.
Go whenEvening, as the lights come on (about 6:31 PM).
Local tip View it from the waterfront near the old center, where the whole span is in the frame.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 4. The south of the island and the lagoon and the east coast
3 stops · 22.1 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Hercilio Luz BridgeAbout 27 min by car or transit11.8 km
Where Day 3 ended.
1
MorningWorth the time
Praia do Campeche
A long, clean beach on the south east coast, with a small island in view just offshore. Walk the sand and look out at where you are going.
Go whenMorning, with the island in clear view.
Local tip Stay on the sand and look out at the island, which is a good way to see how far the boat has to go.
By boat, about 30 min3.1 kmOptions
BoatBoats leave from Armacao, not from Campeche beach.
CheckA named ticket from the city site and a daily limit apply.
2
MiddayCheck ahead
Campeche Island
A small protected island with white sand and clear water, reached by boat. Landings and numbers are limited to protect it, and boats do not run in rough weather, so check ahead and have a plan for the day.
Go whenMorning, before the heat and the afternoon wind.
Local tip The number of visitors and landings are limited to protect the island, and boats stay in port when the sea is rough. Check ahead and leave nothing behind.
The village is the island's oyster capital. Eat them straight from the water, raw with lemon, grilled with cheese or in a hot dish.
Local tip Choose a place that serves oysters you can see growing close by.
About 18 min by car or transit7.2 km
3
MiddayTry it or watch
Dunas da Joaquina
A great field of sand dunes behind Joaquina beach. People slide down them on boards, which you can try or just watch. Ask locally about a safe place to try it, and check ahead.
Go whenLate morning, once the light is bright.
Local tip Sandboarding is a popular thing to try here. Ask where the boards are rented, check the rules ahead and wear a hat, because there is no shade.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 5. The south of the island
3 stops · 22.2 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Dunas da JoaquinaAbout 31 min by car or transit15.1 km
Where Day 4 ended.
1
MorningWorth the time
Ribeirao da Ilha
An Azorean village on the bay, famous for its oysters, which are grown in the water just off the shore. Walk along the seafront and look at the old houses.
Go whenLate morning, for the oysters.
Local tip Walk along the waterfront and look out at the oyster beds in the water, then taste them where they are grown.
About 12 min by car or transit3.7 km
2
MiddayWorth a gentle walk
Lagoa do Peri
A large freshwater lagoon in a park among the hills. A flat path leads along the shore, and the water is quiet and green.
Go whenMidday, with shade along the path.
Local tip Walk the flat path by the shore, and check ahead on the rules for swimming and boating in the lagoon.
Lunch
A last seafood lunch
Fish, shrimp and rice at an unhurried table on the way back from the south. A fitting end to the week.
Local tip Order a caipirinha if you like. A small one is plenty after a long walk.
About 11 min by car or transit3.4 km
3
AfternoonWorth a short visit
Armacao
A fishing village on the south east coast, with a white church, a stretch of sand and boats pulled up on the beach. A quiet place for a late lunch.
Go whenAfternoon, for a late lunch by the water.
Local tip Walk the beach to see the fishing boats on the sand, then sit down for a seafood lunch.
Dinner
A seafood buffet
Seafood buffets are a regional habit: a table of fish, shrimp, rice, salads and sauces, and you take as much as you like. A relaxed way to try a bit of everything.
Local tip Start with a small plate, then go back for what you liked best.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Departure day
After the last day. You end near the center, a short ride from the airport, so the last morning can stay slow.Details
Last morning
Keep the last morning free. A coffee, a slow walk by the water and a last look at the bay are enough. Ask your host to hold your bags if your flight is in the evening.
Returning the car
Hand back the rental car the day before if you can, or on the way to the airport, and check the fuel rules in the contract. The airport is on the island, so the return is short.
To the airport
The airport is in the south of the island, and the main road to it can back up, especially on Fridays and Sundays and at the end of school holidays. Leave earlier than you think you need to.
A souvenir from the island
Ask before you take shells or sand from a protected beach, because some places do not allow it. A jar of local honey or a piece of handmade lace from a small shop is an easier thing to carry home.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Florianópolis?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, February to May and November to December are the best months for a beach trip to Florianópolis. This plan is built for early March, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 5 days in Florianópolis, planned for early March. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
Each day has about 7.1 to 23.7 kilometers between its stops, and 68.6 kilometers in all across 5 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.