Florianopolis is a city with a unique layout. The mostly industrial part of town is situated on the mainland, while the tourist and cultural center of the city is across a bridge on an island. In this section of Florianopolis you will find beautiful, cobblestone streets and 42 beaches at your disposal. It is a medium sized city, by Brazilian standards (427-thousand residents), but a car rental in Florianopolis is still useful. With a vehicle you can access all that the city and island have to offer, but can still explore further afield: Uruguay is just to the south and São Paulo not far to the north.
Explore with a Rental Car in Florianopolis
Visiting downtown Florianopolis is a complete pleasure, both for culture hounds and history buffs. Visit the Metropolitana Cathedral, at least one of the four Spanish forts, and the Ribeirao da Ilha district with its cultural center and Ethnological Museum. There are also many shopping possibilities in the city center, including the oldest shopping mall in the state. Enjoy Brazilian, Italian, and Portuguese fare as the downtown has the best collection of restaurants as well. As is common in Brazil, the night in Florianopolis is quite a draw. Lagoa da Conceicao is where you will find the majority of the bars and clubs, while all along the beach there are dozens of entertainment options, especially in the summer.
The sheer number of beaches that ring the island provide good enough reason for a car rental in Florianopolis. The options closer to town will generally become packed in the busy season, but with a vehicle you will be able to choose any one of the outlying beaches to the north, south, and east. Take a day trip inland and visit one of the many small villages for a taste of the regional culture, or explore one of the hiking trails through lush, hilly terrain.