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 terminals, and the main one is TICEN in the Centro, Av. Paulo Fontes, 701.
It is better to pay by card: with Cartão Cidadão a trip costs R$ 6.20, in cash or by QR — R$ 7.70 (2026 fares). The first Cartão Cidadão is free, issued at the Passe Rápido point in TICEN, Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00, telephone (48) 3112-1843.
From 5 January 2026 it is not possible to pay the driver in cash — cash is not accepted on board on ordinary or executivo lines. Cash is accepted only at the terminal cashier, and this is a transitional procedure for 2026, not permanent.
Living in Floripa without a car is realistic: the network covers daily routes from home to work and to the center. The bus does not help everywhere: in the south of the island and at distant beaches the intervals are long. The island is connected to the mainland by three bridges.
Six terminals and what departs from them
Transfers inside a terminal are free, the system also has time-based integration — about 2 hours; check the window, as it has changed.
| Terminal | Where | What it serves |
|---|---|---|
| TICEN | Centro, Av. Paulo Fontes, 701 | The main hub: everything arrives here and from here departs to the mainland |
| TITRI | Trindade | Trindade, Córrego Grande and the main entrance to UFSC |
| TILAG | Lagoa da Conceição | Everything around Lagoa plus lines to TICEN, TITRI and TIRIO |
| TIRIO | Rio Tavares | The southernmost terminal of the island, the whole south |
| TICAN | Canasvieiras | Northeastern part of the island: Canasvieiras, Ingleses, Santinho |
| TISAN | Santo Antônio de Lisboa | North and northwest |
A route is almost always built "to its terminal, transfer there". A direct line from neighborhood to neighborhood remains an exception, not the rule.
Card and how to pay
Types of cards: Cidadão — for those living here, Estudante — student, Turista is intended for visitors, Vale Transporte is issued by the employer, and Ticket Unitário is a single ticket.
| Payment method | 2026 fare |
|---|---|
| Cartão Cidadão | R$ 6.20 |
| Cartão Turista and corporate | R$ 7.20 |
| Cash, QR-code or PIX | R$ 7.70 |
| Executivo line (executivo) | R$ 20.00 |
Where to get one. The central Passe Rápido point — Av. Paulo Fontes, 701 (TICEN), CEP 88010-230, Centro, Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00. Telephone (48) 3112-1843, email [email protected]. The first Cartão Cidadão is issued free of charge upon identification and address confirmation; the Cartão Turista costs R$ 5.00.
How to top up. The Floripa no Ponto and Si.GO apps, terminal ticket offices, PIX machines. Online top-up does not reach the card instantly, so allow time before the trip.
What changed in 2026 and what it means
From 5 January 2026 cash payment on board ended on ordinary and executivo lines. What remains is the terminal cashier (a transitional arrangement for 2026), the app, the PIX machine and the QR on the validator.
For a visitor this means you can no longer board a bus "with cash in hand". Either a card, or a phone with the app, or a visit to the terminal cashier before the trip.
The island and the mainland: three bridges
- Ponte Hercílio Luz — a historic suspension bridge. Open to pedestrians and cyclists, and it is the most pleasant way to cross the channel.
- Ponte Colombo Salles (1975) — connects Estreito with the Centro.
- Ponte Pedro Ivo Campos (1991) — the main route to the airport and to the south; there is a pedestrian and cycling path under it.
The last two bridges are the road access to the island, and they become the city's bottleneck at rush hour.
Where the bus doesn't help
The network covers the city but not uniformly. The south of the island and distant beaches have infrequent service, and evenings and weekends even more so. Uber and 99 operate, on distant beaches a car can take a long time to arrive, and getting back is more difficult than arriving.
With your own car you get a separate expense and a separate risk: the municipal paid zone, its time limits and the fine for non-payment, see Платная парковка во Флорианополисе — зоны, тарифы и цена неоплаты.
Hence a caution about the "rent a car" advice in Florianópolis — a quick guide: it is right for a five-day visitor, but not for someone living here. The network covers daily "home — work — center" routes, but not "in the evening to a distant beach and back". Seasonal difference is described in Living in Florianópolis — the island through the eyes of a resident, not a tourist: in summer visitors are added to the usual traffic, and travel times increase in all directions.
Intercity buses, the airport and car rental are another topic, covered in Transport across Brazil — planes, buses, taxis, car rental (in Russian). How much this costs per month relative to salaries is calculated in Cost of living — how to measure it and why Florianópolis is more expensive.
Sources
- T1Consórcio Fênix — Florianópolis urban transport operator: Passe Rápido card types, fares, address and hours of central service point. Primary source on itselfconsorciofenix.com.br · primary source
- T1Consórcio Fênix — fares 2026 and ban on cash payment on board from 5 Jan 2026, transition period at terminal ticket officesconsorciofenix.com.br · primary source
- T1Consórcio Fênix — documents and cost by card types: first Cidadão free, Turista R$ 5.00consorciofenix.com.br · primary source
- T3Florianópolis city guide: six integration terminals and the neighborhoods each servesen.guiafloripa.com.br · other
T1 — primary: law, agency site, price list. T2 — secondary: press, specialist sites. T3 — other.