A Travel Price Comparison for Brazil Florianopolis vs. Curitiba for Food, Nightlife, Attractions, and Families

Should you visit Florianopolis or Curitiba?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Florianopolis or Curitiba? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Florianopolis

Florianopolis is a vibrant, relaxing, and scenic city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Florianopolis travel costs.

Curitiba

Curitiba is a active, vibrant, and cultural city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See Curitiba travel costs.

Florianopolis and Curitiba: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Florianopolis or Curitiba?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Florianopolis than Curitiba. While Curitiba is larger than Florianopolis, Florianopolis has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Florianopolis is popular for its sandy beaches, world-class surfing, and beautiful nature. It is also home to Praia Mole. Curitiba is popular for its performing arts, walkability, and culture.

How is Florianopolis different from Curitiba?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Curitiba and Florianopolis. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Florianopolis or Curitiba?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Florianopolis and Curitiba.

Florianopolis offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a number of science and cultural museums in the area that will introduce you to the region's local wildlife and history.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Curitiba. There are a variety of museums around town that include a number of history museums, a few art museums, and other cultural museums that are worth checking out.

Is the Food Better in Florianopolis or Curitiba? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Florianopolis and Curitiba both to be excellent destinations.

Florianopolis has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Perhaps the most popular local dish is feijoada, which is a stew that's slow cooked in a clay pot. It's a great dish for sharing and it originated in the region's African slave population. Another common food is pão de queijo, which is a dough that is made from cassava root flour. Also make sure you try the seafood, which is available in many restaurants around town.

Dining out in Curitiba is an experience not to be missed. The official dish of the town is carne de onça, which first originated here and is a beef tartare that's served on flat bread. There are also many other traditional and authentic Brazilian restaurants around town, so this is a great place for a foodie to explore.

Is Florianopolis or Curitiba Better for Nightlife?

Both Florianopolis and Curitiba have excellent vibes after the sun sets.

Florianopolis has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The nightlife scene can vary between peak tourism times and the low season. There are plenty of bars around town that cater to the locals, and you can expect these to be open year round. Alternatively, there are also places that specifically open during the summer months and will close during the off season.

The people in Curitiba know how to have a good time. Like most cities in Brazil, you'll find a great nightlife scene with plenty of bars and restaurants. Some of the best neighborhoods for nightlife are Batel, which is one of the most international parts of the city, Itupava Street, which is lined with Brazilian restaurants and bars, and São Francisco, which is popular with the student population because of its affordability.

Is Florianopolis or Curitiba Better for Resorts?

Florianopolis is a great city for its luxury resorts. However, Curitiba is not a resort destination.

In Florianopolis, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. You'll find a wide range of resorts that include everything from 5 star to more budget-friendly. There are also all-inclusive resorts and smaller, more personal places.

Curitiba is not a resort destination.

Is Florianopolis or Curitiba Better for Beaches?

Florianopolis is a must-visit destination for the beach. However, Curitiba is not a beach destination.

Florianopolis is considered to be a world-class beach destination. There are miles of beautiful beaches that are popular for surfing. Joaquina Beach is one of the most popular beaches, particularly with surfers, but Mole Beach is quickly catching up in popularity. Campeche Beach is one of the widest and longest stretches of beach on the island.

Curitiba is not a beach destination.

Is Florianopolis or Curitiba Better for Hiking?

Florianopolis is a great city for hiking. However, Curitiba is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Florianopolis for the hiking trails. The island is filled with beautiful jungles, striking beaches, and many dramatic settings that make it a great place to hike. The hikes also vary in length and skill level, so there really is something for everyone.

Curitiba is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Florianopolis or Curitiba?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Florianopolis and Curitiba.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Florianopolis. You'll find shopping malls and boutique retail shops that make for a great shopping experience.

Many visitors go to Curitiba to go shopping. The city has large shopping malls and many great fashion boutiques. It's a great place to spend some time shopping.

Is Florianopolis or Curitiba Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Florianopolis or Curitiba.

Florianopolis is a family-friendly city. There are many outdoor activities, sports, beaches, and parks in the city. If your kids like to run around and have fun, you'll find some diverse experiences here.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Curitiba. The city has parks and museums that are great for kids. In particular, the botanical gardens and Bosque Alemao appeal to young visitors.

Is Florianopolis or Curitiba Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Florianopolis and Curitiba make for a good place to visit.

Florianopolis makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy the beautiful beaches and walking paths in the area. There's impressive natural beauty and a touch of undiscovered charm.

Curitiba is a good city for couples to visit. The city has some great parks and restaurants that make it a pleasant place to explore with your significant other.

Is Florianopolis or Curitiba Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Florianopolis and Curitiba are both good destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Florianopolis. While it's not the most popular destination in Brazil, it does have a huge appeal with surfers.

Curitiba is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. The nightlife and music scene, combined with a great public transit system, make this a good, but often overlooked destination for backpackers in Brazil.

Is Florianopolis or Curitiba Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Curitiba is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Florianopolis is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

The public transit in Curitiba can get you around easily. There's a great public transit system here that includes a metro system, trolleybuses, and buses.

You'll find some public transit in Florianopolis, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses around town, including buses that travel between the downtown and the beaches.

Is Florianopolis or Curitiba a more walkable city?

Curitiba is an excellent place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Florianopolis is not a walkable destination.

Curitiba is a very walkable city. It is a walkable city that is fun to explore on foot, but as always, take precautions in certain areas, particularly at night.

Florianopolis is not a walkable destination. Most people get around the city with a vehicle.

For even more information, also check out Is Florianopolis Worth Visiting? and Is Curitiba Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Curitiba or Florianopolis?

How long in Florianopolis or Curitiba?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Florianopolis and Curitiba. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Florianopolis than in Curitiba. Usually, 3-4 days is a good amount of time for Florianopolis, and 2-3 days is enough time in Curitiba.

Families should spend more time in Florianopolis than Curitiba. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Florianopolis, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Florianopolis than Curitiba. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Florianopolis that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Florianopolis or Curitiba?

The city of Florianopolis offers food and shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the vibrant destination of Curitiba. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Florianopolis or Curitiba?

Florianopolis is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Curitiba. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Florianopolis or Curitiba?

Florianopolis is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the active destination of Curitiba. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

A week in Florianopolis or Curitiba?

Florianopolis is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Curitiba. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Florianopolis and Curitiba, we can see that Curitiba is more expensive. And not only is Florianopolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Florianopolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Florianopolis and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Curitiba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Curitiba than you might in Florianopolis.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Curitiba Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Curitiba?

Curitiba has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Florianopolis. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis and Curitiba, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.