Peter e Bethânia

The local currency in Brazil is the Brazilian Real (BRL / R$).

Approximate exchange rates (may vary):

• € 1 ≈ R$ 6
• US$ 1 ≈ R$ 5

Here are some typical prices to give you an idea:

☕ Coffee: ~ R$ 5–8 (€ 1–€ 1.50 /US$ 1–US$ 1.50)

🍺 Bottle of beer (bar/restaurant): ~ R$ 10–15 (€ 2–€ 3 / US$ 2–US$ 3)

🍽 Casual meal (per person): ~ R$ 50–90 (€ 9–€ 15 / US$ 10–US$ 18)

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but it’s still a good idea to carry a small amount of cash for smaller purchase, beach vendors, or local spots.

March is late summer in Florianópolis, and the weather is typically warm, humid, and beautiful.

What to expect:

• Average temperatures: 24°C – 30°C (75°F – 86°F);
• Warm days and mild evenings;
• Occasional short tropical showers ( usually last 30min - an hour).

What to pack:

• Lightweight, breathable clothing;
• Comfortable shoes;
• Sunscreen and sunglasses;
• A light layer for the evening.

From Europe

If you’re traveling from Europe, one of the easiest options is flying with TAP Air Portugal, which offers a direct flight from Lisbon to Florianópolis in approximately 9 hours—making it the most straightforward route.

Another option, but takes longer, is to fly via São Paulo with major airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France, or KLM. These routes typically involve one connection in cities like Frankfurt, Paris, or Amsterdam, followed by a short domestic flight (around 1 hour) to Florianópolis. This is a very common and reliable route with plenty of flight availability.

From the United States / Canada

There are no widely available direct flights to Florianópolis, but there are several good options with just one connection:

Common routes include:

• Via São Paulo (GRU): fly to São Paulo, then take a short domestic flight (~1 hour) to Florianópolis.

• Via Rio de Janeiro (GIG): similar option with a quick connection onward to Florianópolis.

• Via Panama City (PTY) with Copa Airlines: a popular route with smooth connections into southern Brazil

Major departure cities like New York, Miami, Toronto, and Montreal typically offer these routes with only one stop.

Florianópolis is widely considered one of the safest destinations in Brazil. Having spent the past few years there, both Bethânia and I genuinely feel safer than in many popular European cities. That said, any destination that attracts tourism will also attract some bad actors.

🚗 Getting Around

We recommend using Uber to get around the island. It’s reliable, very affordable, and widely used. The app also includes a built-in translation feature, so any messages between you and your driver will automatically appear in your preferred language.

Public transport is available, but it can be inconsistent and less convenient, especially for visitors.

🏖 Vendors & Beach Purchases

Buying food, drinks, or souvenirs from beach vendors is very common and generally safe. Most vendors accept card payments. As a general rule:

• You should never need to hand over your card to a merchant/vendor;
• Always check the price before paying;
• Always tap yourself.