Areas in Florianopolis Explained

Traveling to Florianopolis in Brazil and wondering which is the best area to stay?

I have you covered!

I have visited all the most popular areas in Florianopolis and will share with you an honest guide on how to pick the best one for you!

In this article, I will cover these main areas:

Here is a summary that explains each and the difference between them:

Jurere - one of the fanciest areas where to stay. Luxary and botique hotels. Also, more expensive area. Some great clubs featuring world-class DJs.
Praia dos Ingleses Area - a popular beach holiday place for locals (from different states in Brazil). Affordable accommodation options and loads of restaurants. Very typical beach holiday spot. If you have been in Spain, on the Costa del Sol, it reminded me a lot of that.
Lake District - a beautiful area to stay in that will truly represent the unique vibe of Floripa.
Centro - the main economic and cultural center of the island.
Santo Antonio de Lisboa - a magical place to visit, but not for staying.
Campeche - my personal favorite place to stay. I might be biased, but I think it has it all and is a very convenient location.
Armação - simply a location that I would love to stay at for its authentic vibe, but because it is not too popular among tourists, there are only a few accommodation options, and the ones that are out there are very expensive. So it is not expensive because it is fancy, but because it is still not ruined by tourists.

Let's dive into each location and why it is a great or not-so-great option for staying.

Where to stay in Florianopolis

Jurere

Florianopolis is considered the more upscale area, in general, in Brazil. It is an island with money. Several big, well-known companies have offices there, and the property market offers some incredible options. They do come with a price. Although the rich part of the island you can find in several places, the main concentration is in Jurere. A lot of Brazilian celebrities and rich people have summer houses there.

The positive is definitely the hotel options, and it is quite a bustling area full of restaurants and shops. But I would mark it more as a holiday destination and not the one where you would stay long-term. I also think it is a bit out of the way from everything. If you are on holiday but still want to see the island, it is not the most convenient location.

Praia dos Ingleses Area

Now, under this section, I want to cover Ingleses Norte, Ingleses Centro, Ingleses Sul, and Ingleses do Rio Vermelho. It is basically one big North part region.

Very similar to Jurere, it is more a holiday location rather than a longer-term spot. Also located up in the northern part of the island, I believe it is far away from many interesting areas to explore in Floripa. The good side is that you still get a fantastic holiday spot in Florianopolis, but with way cheaper options than in Jurere, and if you want to go for a nice dinner or night out, Jurere is a short taxi ride away.

Lake District

So when talking about staying around the lake, it is quite hard to pinpoint one specific location, as the lake is huge and there are several small spots around the lake where to stay.

The pink pin is where I personally think is the best spot for short holiday stays. You have kayak, paddle, kitesurfing renting spots on that road and also many restaurants by the lake. As extra, you get the dunes (Dunas da Lagoa) behind you where you can try dune boarding and you are 20 minute walk away from Mole Beach which is one of the nicest beaches in Florianopolis. So you kind of get both - the lake and the beach.

So, while I personally think the location around the pink pin might be one of the best ones to stay around the lake, I also want to share that the area around Canto Dos Aracas (two yellow stars) is also lovely. BUT you will need a car if you want to stay there, which complicates things. That place is on the hill, and you get absolutely fantastic views of the lake from there. But it is a bit more remote, and you will need a car to get around and for basic grocery shopping.

Now, a highly recommended place to stay by the lake is Barra da Lagoa. I do agree it is a great location because you get both the lake and the beach, and also, there are surf rentals and restaurants, but I think it is too remote for those who want to explore the whole island. So again, if you just want to chill by the beach and surf, it might be a great location, but if you want to explore the whole island and do different things, then it is a bit out of the way. Maybe on the map it doesn't look like it, but the road that takes you to the Lake District always has traffic jams, so the trips to other places might be longer than you think.

Overall, if you look at booking sites, you will find several lovely, cozy accommodations around the lake with beautiful views. Just do your research, because in many places you will need a car to be able to enjoy your stay there.

Centro (Florianopolis City)

Before we dive into this section, I have to explain some basics. The island is actually called Santa Catarina, and Florianopolis is the main and largest city on this island. But for whatever reason, everyone refers to the whole island as Florianopolis (Floripa).

So another option is to stay in the biggest city of the island. If you are visiting Floripa for the beach and holiday vibes, then I don't think Centro (Florianopolis City) is the best option for you. The city is quite big and comes with everything that a big city offers - good and bad. If you are looking for a city base with an easy escape to beaches, then the Centro will be a good option, as the distances to all the best beaches are within 20 minutes to an hour. The city, of course, also offers more culture and events. When any big celebrations are on, Centro will also be the place where all the main events happen.

If you do decide to stay in Florianópolis City, then there are several amazing options with a pool, like Blue Tree Premium Florianópolis, LK Design Hotel Florianópolis or Majestic Palace Hotel, so you are in the city, but you also get the beach holiday vibe.

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

Now, Santo Antonio de Lisboa, I wouldn't mention as a potential location for staying, but because all the other bloggers do, I have to mention it, just so I can warn you. I personally do not think it is a good place to base yourself in. The beach is really small and not ideal for sunbathing. Hotel and restaurant options are limited. Absolutely beautiful and magical place to visit, but not for staying there. Definitely plan to have dinner in Santo Antonio de Lisboa, as they have some amazing seafood restaurants there.

Find out all the best things to do and places you can't miss out when in Florianopolis, in my Florianopolis Travel Guide!

Campeche

I personally think Campeche is the best place to stay in Floripa. It is a very central location, so you are an easy taxi ride away from all the main places you might want to visit. The beach is fantastic, wide and long, with loads of space. There are a few beach bars and vendors offering food and drinks at your beach chair. You can also rent beach chairs and umbrellas there. The beach has it all. Great for those who want to chill, walk by the shore, or play beach sports. The town has a main street where you will find anything you need. Quality grocery stores, pharmacies, surf shops. Also, near the airport. Campeche is quite big and it has different parts. I think the best 2 locations are near the main beach entrance or in the Rio Tavares area:

Armação

Now, you probably won't find this location described in any other blogs. This is purely my little find that I want to share with you, and if money weren't a problem, I would definitely stay in Armação during my next visit. This area features a beautiful beach, Matadeiro Beach, which is one of my favorites. It is by the Peri Lake and also has beaches. You are by many amazing hiking trails. For travelers like me, who like to hike, kayak, explore, and also chill by the beach, I think this location is perfect. The Armação town has a big grocery store, some restaurants. So you really have it all, and you are in a more local spot, as the accommodation options online are limited.

All the above locations feature some of the best beaches in Florianopolis. If you are planning your stay around the beaches, then here are some of the best ones to consider:

Matadeiro Beach - you will then likely want to stay in Armação.
Campeche Beach - officially, the Campeche Beach is divided into several smaller beaches, but really, all that long beach is one massive beach you can walk for a couple of hours. You can access it from several places in Campeche. Ideal for those who like to walk by the beach, and you will then want to stay anywhere in Campeche.
Joaquina Beach - this beach is hard to get to and not much around it, so if you want to stay by this beach, you only get a few hotel options.
Mole Beach - as I mentioned above, if you stay around the pink pin area, you will get access to both Mole Beach and the lake.
Praia do Santinho - the beach is a bit more remote, but has some amazing hotels to stay in by it, like Costão do Santinho Resort.

And then people highlight the Jurere Beach, but I went there and didn't find anything special. Like all beaches in Floripa, it was a nice but you get amazing beaches all around the island, so I don't see why I would purposely highlight it. Probably people mention it because it comes with all the fancy life, but that's not for me, so I personally don't see the appeal.

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Areas in Florianopolis Explained | Where to Stay | Brazil