Complete travel guide to Fortaleza: beaches, transport, nightlife and many other tips

The capital of Ceará is one of the most beautiful cities in the north-east of Brazil and has something to offer for every type of traveller. In Fortaleza you can enjoy the beach, get to know the local handicrafts, try a variety of typical dishes, stroll through the historic centre, take part in cultural events and love so much that you will want to come back again and again.

To help you prepare for this trip, we have put together the best tips for you to spend incredible days there!

How to get to Fortaleza?

International airport
Fortaleza has an international airport that is served by the main Brazilian airlines (and also from abroad). It is very close to the tourist area, about 11 km away, which makes travelling to your hostel much easier.
A bus ticket to the Iracema area, for example, costs R$3.60 and the journey takes around 45 minutes. Bus station:
If you are travelling through or staying in other northeastern cities, the bus service in Fortaleza is huge and getting from the bus station to the main beaches or the historic centre is also super easy. The bus fare is the same as from the airport (R$3.60), the distance is less than 7 km and the journey takes around 30 minutes.
*Transport apps also work very well and are worthwhile if you are travelling with several people!

What can you do and where should you go?

Arts and crafts

If you are one of those people who can’t do without a walk on the beach and are interested in handicrafts, the first thing you should do when you arrive is go to the Beira-Mar seafront promenade.
From there, you can enjoy a magnificent sunset, stroll along the promenade and browse the stalls of the craft market, which sells many different local products such as beachwear, bikinis, liqueurs, sweets and more traditional souvenirs such as magnets and key rings.
One of the most famous sweets in Ceará is Rapadura, and at the Beira-Mar market you can buy different flavours of this sweet and even try some!

Discover your favourite beach in the city

Beaches are always the most frugal part of travelling: Skip the beach clubs if you want to have a quiet time, just take your canga and enjoy.
There are many beautiful beaches in Ceará, including the city beaches, which are only surpassed in terms of natural beauty by Jericoacoara and Canoa Quebrada. If you’re only staying a few days or prefer excursions that don’t require you to get up super early, we recommend you visit all the beaches in the capital and fall in love with each one!

Praia do Futuro

This is the most famous beach in Fortaleza. Here you will find the large beach huts with a great structure for those who want to enjoy a day at the beach without having to worry about anything.

Spending a day in one of these huts has its positive and negative sides and depends a lot on the type of trip you are making and what you like. The positive aspects certainly include the comfort of having beach tables and chairs at your disposal and being able to go into the sea without having to worry about your personal belongings, which you can place on the tables without any problems. On the other hand, you will certainly spend more money on this day than on the other days when you go to the beach with your beach towel. Some beach huts charge their customers a minimum consumption or a fixed amount for hiring a deckchair. So before you decide whether or not to include Praia do Futuro in your itinerary, bear this in mind to avoid any surprises.

Porto das Dunas
If you like amusement parks, you will know that Ceará is home to Brazil’s most famous water park, Beach Park. The Beach Park is located in Porto das Dunas, 20 kilometres from Fortaleza. If you want to include it in your programme, it’s worth buying tickets in advance to get a discount and reduce waiting times.
* In November 2019, the price of a ticket in advance on the website was R$ 215.00 for one day, per adult.
In addition to the park, another attraction of Porto das Dunas is the large waves that attract the attention of surfers.

Cumbuco
Cumbuco is a fishing village 30 kilometres from Fortaleza and is the perfect beach for those who love kitesurfing and windsurfing. Rain is only forecast in autumn (from March to June), but the rest of the year there are perfect winds for these sports.
And even for those who are not fans of kitesurfing and windsurfing, Cumbuco is worth a visit! Despite its proximity to the capital, the region has a very rustic and peaceful atmosphere, which is perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle of the big city and spending a quiet day on beautiful beaches.

Iracema

This is one of the most popular beaches in Ceará, and if you come at the weekend you’re sure to find more locals than tourists here!
The beach has a calm sea, warm blue water – in honour of the famous sea in the northeast – and you can rent bikes here for a walk along the coast and even ride to one of the most unspoilt places in the area: the Ponte dos Ingleses. The view is not only perfect for photos, but also incredible!
Iracema is also close to the historic centre, so you can combine one excursion with another.

Art and cultural events – Dragão do Mar

Despite its beauty, Fortaleza is not just about the beach. Proof of this is that the capital has one of the most important cultural centres in Brazil. For those who like museums, exhibitions and cultural attractions, the Dragão do Mar art and culture centre is a must and a delightful excursion! The centre is open daily from 8 am to 10 pm and the programme can be found on the official website.
In addition to the shows, exhibitions and various travelling events that take place there, it is common to meet groups of locals at the entrance, either with dance competitions or just chatting.
The space is very large and even if you can’t take part in the attractions on offer, a visit is highly recommended as the tour is well worth it and the cultural centre is beautiful, with many paintings on the walls, various lights and bridges.

Nightlife in Fortaleza

To enjoy the nightlife in the capital, it is advisable to stroll down the street from the Dragão do Mar cultural centre and choose where you want to enjoy it. Rua Dragão do Mar is the most fashionable street in the city, with bars and nightclubs that guarantee fun until the early hours and something for everyone!
If you like nightclubs, the most recommended are: Haus, Órbita, Levele and ReggaeClub. They all have Instagram profiles announcing the parties of the week, and first come, first served always gets in free.
For those who prefer to visit a bar or snack bar, there are plenty of options in the same area, from pizzerias to bars with live music and food trucks that stay in the square until dawn (to the delight of those leaving the parties).
Not forgetting, of course, that Fortaleza is famous for its comedians. If you like stand-up comedy, this is the place for you, and you can catch a comedy show in several of the city’s bars. Your hostel will certainly be able to point you in the right direction.

Where to stay in Fortaleza

There are dozens of hostels in Fortaleza (as well as in Canoa and Jeri) on HostelWorld, but to make your search easier, here are the best-located and best-rated by other travellers.

🏠 Full Sail Hostel

🏠 O rt: Meireles, Fortaleza
This youth hostel with its young, alternative flair is just a 20-minute walk from Rua Dragão do Mar, where Fortaleza’s nightlife takes place, and only 5 minutes from Beira-Mar.
Breakfast is included in the price and the hostel has a bar that is open every night – the ideal hostel if you’re looking for a lively party atmosphere!

Refúgio Hostel Fortaleza

🏠 Location: Centre, Fortaleza
Refúgio Hostel is ideal for a few days of rest and relaxation. It is the right choice if you want to escape the hustle and bustle and spend a few days in peace and quiet.
The hostel is environmentally friendly and has solar heating and a water recycling system. Breakfast is served free of charge and there is a wide choice of rooms: Shared dormitories with 2 to 8 beds and private suites.

Hostel Albergaria Fortaleza

🏠 Location: Meireles, Fortaleza
The Albergaria hostel is located just 350 metres from Iracema beach. If you want to wake up after breakfast (which is included in the price) and head to the sea, this is the place for you!
The hostel has a selection of shared and private rooms, a common room where you can socialise with other guests, a pool table and a swimming pool. There is also a bar open daily at the front of the hostel serving snacks and drinks.

Bonus – want to extend your trip to beaches further afield? Let me help you decide which one you want to visit

If you’ve booked more than a weekend in Fortaleza, how about extending your trip and visiting other beaches in Ceará that are a little further away from the capital? A day trip to Canoa Quebrada or Jericoacoara is incredible and a good idea if you are spending several days in Fortaleza.

Canoa Quebrada, Aracati

Canoa Quebrada is still a very rustic village surrounded by colourful sand dunes. To get there, you only need a two-hour journey (by tour bus or normal bus) from Fortaleza.
The village became famous in the 1970s when hippie communities decided to settle temporarily in Canoa Quebrada. Despite its modernity, Canoa still has many of the characteristics of that time and you feel like you’ve travelled back in time when you’re there.
Dunes, lagoons and cliffs are part of the landscape, as is a small centre with local handicrafts.
How to get from Fortaleza to Canoa Quebrada: Average cost of R$60.00 per person return – approximately R$25.00 per person each way by bus *The advantage of the bus, apart from the savings, is that you can choose the best time for the return journey and have more freedom during the day, but if you prefer something more comfortable and are accompanied by a guide, the return journey is a good option.

Jericoacoara, Jijoca de Jericoacoara

Jericoacoara, on the other hand, is a little further away – about 4 hours by bus from Fortaleza – and is a slightly more strenuous journey, but still very interesting and entertaining.
Jeri has several beautiful lagoons with blue water, huge dunes that keep changing places, a village with dozens of small shops and is always full of tourists, so a bit busier than Canoa Quebrada.
Jericoacoara now also has an airport and is served by flights from several Brazilian cities. If you are travelling via Fortaleza, the cheapest way to get to Jeri is to take the bus to Jijoca and from there take a local transport (Jardineira) to the village.

How to get from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: about R$170.00 per person with transfer, one way or round trip – about R$80.As the distance between Fortaleza and Jericoacoara is much longer, the choice of bus schedules is limited. If you are only staying for one day, the round trip is the best choice as you can be sure to see the main sights in a single day (generally the tours go to one of the lagoons first and then to the village of Jeri).

Fortaleza is the perfect destination for those who love sun, beach and city walks, but also the charming villages that are located on some of the beaches. If it’s your first time there, you’ll definitely want to come back!

📚 About the author 📚

Rebecca, a tourism management student, is spending a season in Europe as part of a university exchange and shares tips on Instagram on how to save money when travelling.