Floripa guide
Every article is checked against primary sources — the law, the agency's site, the price list — and carries its verification date.
6 articles
Documents and visashow long you can stay and how to register
5 articles
Birth and kidsfrom pregnancy to school
4 articles
Doctors and pharmacieswhere to get care
5 articles
Housinghow to rent without overpaying
5 articles
Money and workpaying, banking and earning
6 articles
City and languagegetting around and learning Portuguese
4 articles
Nightlife and culturewhere to go out at night
6 articles
Surf and oceanwhere the waves are and where it is safe
Documents and visas
- checked Oct 2026
How long you can stay in Brazil and how to extend the period
The general rule in Brazil: 90 days on entry, plus one extension at the Polícia Federal of up to another 90 days, but a total of no more than 180 days per "migration…
- checked Oct 2026
CPF for a foreigner — what it's for and how to get it
CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas) — the tax identification number for individuals. Without it you can hardly do anything in the country: you cannot open an account,…
- checked Aug 2026
Registration with the Federal Police and the CRNM card
Anyone who entered on a temporary visa or received a residence permit is required to register with the Federal Police. The deadline is 90 days from the date of entry…
Birth and kids
- checked Aug 2026
Pregnancy and childbirth in Florianópolis — registration, tests, maternity hospitals, what to take with you
Go to the health center of your neighbourhood as soon as you learn about the pregnancy — there they register you, issue the Caderneta da Gestante and schedule…
- checked Aug 2026
Pregnancy and childbirth in Brazil — prenatal care, maternity hospital, insurance, rights
Any woman in the country has the right to receive prenatal care and give birth through SUS — the law speaks of “all women”, without qualifications about citizenship.…
- checked Aug 2026
Birth of a child in Brazil — registration, citizenship, documents
A child born in Brazil is Brazilian by birth, even if both parents are foreigners. The only constitutional exception is children of those who are in the country in the…
Doctors and pharmacies
- checked Aug 2026
Health care in Florianópolis — health centers, clinics, UPA and hospitals by neighborhood
For routine care — go to the health center of your neighborhood (Centro de Saúde, CS), there are 51 of them, they operate 07:00–19:00 on weekdays and are free for…
- checked Sep 2026
Medical care and insurance in Brazil
Emergency care in Brazil is provided to a foreigner free of charge — the public system SUS is obliged to accept any person in the country, including a tourist without…
- checked Sep 2026
Lab tests, ultrasounds and scans in Florianópolis — where to get them and how it works
Everything starts with a referral (pedido médico): without a paper from a doctor neither a public nor a private laboratory will perform the exam — except those that…
Housing
- checked Aug 2026
Renting housing — guarantees, deposit and tenant's rights
The tenancy law allows the landlord to require a guarantee, but only one of four — and demanding two at once is expressly prohibited under penalty of nullity, and under…
- checked Oct 2026
Real estate and long-term rental for a foreigner
A foreigner can buy urban real estate in Brazil — there are no citizenship restrictions, only a CPF and the standard set of documents at the notary are required. Rural…
- checked Aug 2026
IPTU and municipal charges in Florianópolis — calendar of discounts and revision of value
IPTU here gets cheaper if you pay early: a single payment in early January gives a 20% discount, in February 10%, in March 5%, after that only installments in 10…
Money and work
- checked Oct 2026
Money in Brazil — currency exchange, cards, Pix, cash withdrawal
Brazil is an almost cashless country, but Pix is unavailable to a tourist: it requires a Brazilian bank account, and that is opened only with CPF and, as a rule, proof…
- checked Sep 2026
Bank account in Brazil for a foreigner
A CPF is always mandatory — without it, no conversation with a bank can start. From there, it is residency, not citizenship, that matters: the law divides people into…
- checked Oct 2026
Cost of living — how to measure it and why Florianópolis is more expensive
The only single metric for cost of living that can be named honestly and with a date is the DIEESE food basket: in August 2026 in Florianópolis it cost R$ 850.90,…
City and language
- checked Jul 2026
Florianópolis — a quick guide
"Island of Magic": more than 40 beaches on one island, from glamorous Jurerê to wild southern coves, and the zone matters more than the hotel because it takes an hour…
- checked Aug 2026
Urban transport of Florianópolis — buses, terminals and card
The city is connected by a network of buses with transfers inside terminals: you get to a terminal, transfer to another bus and do not pay a second time. There are six…
- checked Aug 2026
Santa Catarina coast beyond the island — from Bombinhas to Imbituba
The Santa Catarina coast is divided into north of Floripa, dense, built-up, with nightlife and skyscrapers, and south, quiet, surfy and whale-oriented. To the north…
Nightlife and culture
- checked Aug 2026
Live music, bars and clubs in Florianópolis — where to go by neighbourhood
The island's nightlife is organised by neighbourhood, not by a single street, and literally everything depends on the neighbourhood you choose: music, price, dress code…
- checked Oct 2026
Brazilian electronic music festivals — calendar and clubs
Next confirmed events: Universo Paralello on Praia de Pratigi in Bahia from 27 December 2026 to early January 2027, Lollapalooza Brasil 19–21 March 2027 at Interlagos…
- checked Aug 2026
Cinemas and Theaters of Florianópolis — addresses of cinemas, film clubs and stages
The island has two different kinds of cinema. Chain cinemas are in the shopping centers Iguatemi, Floripa Shopping, Beiramar and Multi Open and show the same films as…
Surf and ocean
- checked Oct 2026
Where to surf in Florianópolis and Santa Catarina — spots by name and where there are lifeguards
A spot in Brazil is a beach with an organized scene: it has its own surf association, competition stages and people who negotiate with the city hall. In Santa Catarina…
- checked Aug 2026
Surfing — where, when, the rules and safety
According to the World Surfing Reserve documents, surfing is the second most popular sport in Brazil after football. Santa Catarina and the Rio coast are the two hubs…
- checked Aug 2026
Kitesurfing, windsurfing and wingfoil — Brazil's wind scene
Brazil's wind scene has two different poles. The Northeast — the world capital of kitesurfing: a steady trade wind, warm water, wind season July–December. Santa…
More in the guide
- checked Nov 2026
Beaches on the east of Florianópolis — Moçambique, Barra da Lagoa, Galheta, Praia Mole, Joaquina
The east of the island faces the open Atlantic Ocean with waves and cold water, good for surfing: Joaquina, Praia Mole, Moçambique. At Praia Mole there were 217…
- checked Nov 2026
Bayside and mainland beaches of Florianópolis — Santo Antônio, Sambaqui, Ribeirão, Coqueiros
The west coast of the island and the mainland part of the city face the bays, Baía Norte and Baía Sul: there are almost no waves, but the water is more often unsuitable…
- checked Nov 2026
Beaches of northern Florianópolis — from Daniela to Santinho
The north of the island lies on the coves of Baía Norte: the water is calmer and warmer than in the east and south, so families with small children go to Daniela,…
- checked Nov 2026
Beaches of the south of Florianópolis — Campeche, Armação, Matadeiro, Lagoinha do Leste, Naufragados
The south of the island — open ocean and wild coves. Campeche is the most dangerous beach in the state by number of drownings: 235 cases in January 2026. Matadeiro,…
- checked Nov 2026
Parks and reserves of Florianópolis — who manages, what is allowed, where to swim
About 41% of the land of Florianópolis is protected territory: 10 municipal areas managed by FLORAM, 3 state (IMA SC), 5 federal (ICMBio). Entrance to municipal parks…
- checked Nov 2026
Trails, waterfalls and viewpoints of Florianópolis — length, time, difficulty
Almost all of the island's trails are in municipal and state parks, free entry, a guide is not required. Short and easy: to the natural pools of Barra (600 m, 15…
- checked Nov 2026
Municipal pharmacies of Florianópolis: controlled and specialized medicines
Controlled medicines in the city are dispensed only at Farmácia de Referência Distrital pharmacies. Medicines of the CEAF program are dispensed by Farmácia…
- checked Nov 2026
Municipal schools of Florianópolis (EBM): addresses and phone numbers
The municipal schools of Florianópolis are called EBM (Escola Básica Municipal). The list with addresses and phone numbers is maintained by the municipal secretariat of…
- checked Nov 2026
Municipal nurseries and kindergartens of Florianópolis (NEIM): addresses and phone numbers
Municipal nurseries and kindergartens of Florianópolis are called NEIM. The list with addresses and phone numbers is maintained by the Secretaria Municipal de Educação:…
- checked Nov 2026
State schools in Florianópolis (EEB, EEF, EEM): addresses and phone numbers
State network schools are subordinate to the Secretariat of Education of Santa Catarina (SED): Rua Antonio Luz, 111, Centro. The registry of schools with phone numbers…
- checked Nov 2026
Fortresses and historical sites of Florianópolis — forts, Ponte Hercílio Luz, old center
Three 18th-century fortresses — Ponta Grossa, Ratones and Anhatomirim — are managed by UFSC university: Tuesday–Sunday 8:30–18:30, entrance R$ 20, reduced R$ 10, phone…