🇧🇷 Joinville: Brazil’s hidden gem
What if I told you that there is a completely different Brazil: safe. And this is the honest truth. In Santa Catarina, on the shores of Babitonga Bay, the largest city in the state is located – Joinville. At one time it was a German and Swiss colony, so now a large percentage of the local population are ethnic Germans with blond hair and eyes.
But what’s even more surprising is that Joinville is actually of French origin. And this is not all the amazing achievements of the city. After all, it was mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records as the place where the largest dance festival in the world took place. Every year, Joinville brings together dancers from all over the world to its streets.
The town attracts tourists with a variety of interesting places, beautiful views and delicious cuisine. Let's get to know him better.
How to get there?
There is an airport right in the city, but there are not many destinations. You can fly here from the Brazilian Sao Paulo, Campinas and Porto Alegre. Despite the fact that Joinville is not a particularly popular city among tourists, ticket prices can be very steep. Therefore, it is worth checking the cost in nearby cities: Navegantes, Florianopolis or Curitiba. And then take care of transfers from the airport, because even taking into account renting a car, you can save a lot.
When to go?
Despite the location of the city and views of the bay, in the city itself people only swim in the rivers. Therefore, you can visit Joinville in any season of the year. The temperature in summer is 30 degrees, and in winter – 24-26. I visited the city in winter and it was very hot, around 30 degrees.
If you want to visit the largest dance festival in the world in the city, you should organize a trip in the second half of July. And if your main goal is the local flower festival, then it is held in November.
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Where to stay?
In Joinville you can choose a hotel to your liking: both in the city center and closer to the bay. We, in turn, stayed in an apartment that we rented on Airbnb. The location of the apartment allowed us to walk to the main attractions and the best restaurants in the city.
By the way, Tiqets.com specialists will help resolve issues of housing and travel, who will be able to prepare a tour according to your budget and requests.
What to see?
Joinville is considered a safe city, so you can take a leisurely stroll here, exploring the main pearls of the place, enjoying the mountain views and local flavor.
As mentioned earlier, there are no opportunities to swim in the ocean in Joinville. To do this, it is worth visiting the island of Sao Francisco do Sul. This can be done by ferry, which runs between cities as a route.
Bolshoi Theater School
As you can already tell, Joinville has some surprising facts tucked away for us. And it's time for another amazing attraction. It is in this Brazilian city, so far from us, that the only school of the Bolshoi Theater in the world, besides Moscow, is located. It is one of the best ballet schools and appeared here thanks to a traditional dance festival. If you can’t attend the festival itself, you can take a walk around the theater itself.
Rua das Palmeiras, also known as the Avenue of Palms
In 1873, 52 palm trees brought from Rio de Janeiro were planted on Rua das Palmeiras. After so many years, they are the hallmark of the city. It will be nice to take a walk here on a hot day or sit on one of the benches surrounded by such giants.
At the end of the street is the Immigration Museum. The museum commemorates the immigration and colonization of the south beginning in 1851. The museum itself is located in a very beautiful building, and inside you can see antique furniture.
public market
Be sure to check out the public market, too. It opened in 1907 and is still a very popular place in the city. Here you can find many small cozy establishments. In addition, of course, they sell fresh vegetables and fruits, meat, fish and local handicrafts. In general, come and feel the atmosphere of the place. This market is especially worth a visit at lunchtime, because here you can have an inexpensive snack and enjoy the local flavor.
Observation deck
One of the main attractions of Joinville is the observation deck, which is located at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level. And there are two ways to get to her heart: by bus or on foot up the mountain – the distance is 2 kilometers. We made this journey on foot, and our efforts were rewarded. Imagine my surprise when we were overtaken by Brazilian grandparents who were not just walking, but jogging up the mountain! The route runs along the Atlantic forest, which is very helpful for climbing on a hot day. Here you also have a unique opportunity to see monkeys right in the wild! My impressions of meeting these cute animals simply cannot be expressed in words. By the way, such a walk and a visit to the observation deck are absolutely free.
Zoobotanical Garden
Not far from the unique Atlantic Forest there is also a zoo and botanical garden. It is home to various species of birds and animals. The entrance is free. And on a day off there’s nowhere for an apple to fall. Many people come not only to look at the animals, but also to simply sit on the grass near a small pond, chat with friends, or admire the island with monkeys.
There are also various horizontal bars and other sports equipment located here. This is a distinctive feature of Brazil, because exercise machines can be found in almost every park.
Where to eat?
There are many different restaurants in Joinville, but I want to recommend the ones that really stuck with me. Perhaps the city's multinational history has left its mark on the city's modern cuisine. After all, here you can find restaurants of Mexican, Italian, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisine.
First of all, be sure to visit the Biergarten establishment, specializing in German cuisine. It is very cozy here, good-natured and polite staff and excellent food. But you should know that the portions in the restaurant are simply fantastically huge.
Guacamole Cocina Mexicana will surprise you not only with its delicious Mexican cuisine, but also with its festive atmosphere. From afar you will notice this bright and eye-catching piece of Mexico in Brazil. Here you can try on a sombrero, listen to Mexican music, or even perform it yourself. Nachos, tacos, burritos, tequila – a complete set for a fun evening.
The Italian restaurant Cantina Don Brunno will open its doors good-naturedly, offer the best dishes and leave only good impressions.
We were in the city for three days, which was enough for us to get to know Joinville. Since there is nowhere to swim in the city, you can make your way to the island of Sao Francisco do Sul or continue your journey around the state. After all, Santa Catarina is a treasure trove of beautiful towns and ideal beach holidays.