The 5 Best Hostels in Florianopolis

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Here it is – the crème de la crème of hostels round here, neatly split into travel niches just for you. Picking a place has never been easier, so you can get out exploring the city ASAP.

1. Floripa Surf Hostel – Best Hostel Overall

• Price: $
• Best for: Anyone looking to socialise or do activities
• Highlights: Surfboard rentals, activities, and BBQ facilities
• Dorm (Mixed): From $16
• Address: Servidão Ieda Maria Luz da Costa 190, Campeche, F, Florianopolis, Brazil

At Floripa Surf Hostel you will not only get one of the cheapest beds in town, but you will also be just minutes away from the beach! Regardless if you are looking to surf the waves or just lounge about on the beach, this hostel won’t have you running back and forth from the sea to your dorm room every day!

It’s not just the location that makes Floripa Surf one of the best places to stay, but you will also have access to their very own BBQ pit, hammocks, and even hiking tours taking you all over the island!

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Incredibly kind staff: They were willing to help me with everything here, from surfboard rentals to activities and more
• Super homely vibe: It felt chilled, striking the perfect balance between being a social hostel, but not a wild party spot
• WhatsApp group: They let you join a WhatsApp group where you can team up with other guests for activities

Surfing the waves is one of the main activities in Floripa, but what about surfing the web? Luckily, this Brazilian hostel offers free and fast Wi-Fi to keep in contact with your loved ones, share your amazing adventure on Instagram, and maybe even get some work done.

To recharge properly stay at one of the hostel’s dorms. I’m not gonna lie, they’re quite basic, but offer the essentials: a locker that is big and secure enough for all of your stuff, a comfy bed, and aircon – perfect for those hot and humid summer days.

Since this hostel is relatively small, you can enjoy a really unique vibe here. Everyone knows and looks after each other, so it really feels like you’re part of a big family. If you’re travelling solo and you’ve just arrived, join one of the hostel’s outdoor activities and you’ll make other friends backpacking Brazil in no time!

2. Pup Hostel SC – Best Hostel for Solo Travellers

• Price: $
• Best for: Party lovers and solo backpackers
• Highlights: The free breakfast, and stunning sunsets from the roof terrace
• Dorm (mixed): From $15
• Private Room: From $36
• Address: Rua Joaquim Costa, 59, Agronômica, Florianopolis, Brazil

Can’t quite decide if you want to be closer to the tranquil turquoise waves by the beach or at the heart of the party in downtown Florianopolis? Pup Hostel puts you right smack in between the city centre of Floripa and the gorgeous golden beaches!

With a rooftop terrace offering stunning views of both the city and the coastline, you’ll be getting the best of both worlds! After a night of partying, be sure to grab the free breakfast before heading out to the beaches to nurse that hangover if yours

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Ocean views: Serene sunset views for just a few bucks a night. What more could a budget backpacker want?
• Central location: We stayed here. It’s close to Floripa’s running tracks, outdoor gyms and not far from the mall
• Games nights: The hostel arranged activities which made it easy to connect with other travellers

If you’re visiting Floripa mainly for the beaches and surfing, another hostel might be best for you. It’s got a very central location with a beach nearby, but to reach the other ones, you’ll have to hop on a couple of buses. However, if your goal is to visit ALL of the island, this is a great base for exploring as pretty much all attractions and hidden gems are the same distance away.

All rooms, dorms and private rooms are equipped with small lockers for valuables and massive closets that are also lockable. During the hot summer months, you’ll especially appreciate the aircon in each room. The private rooms are actually pretty affordable so if you’re feeling like a bit of alone time, it’s a great deal!

Now, since this hotel is roughly 20 minutes from downtown, you can enjoy a super peaceful sleep at night. The common area offers plenty of entertainment options too, such as guitars, a massive TV, books to read and a couple of board games. It’s the perfect place to meet new people and make new friends.

3. Geckos Hostel – Best Cheap Hostel

• Price: $
• Best for: Budget travellers and solo explorers
• Highlights: The pool, cheap prices, and a great location by the beach
• Dorm (mixed): From $13
• Private Room: From $22
• Address: Rua Rita Lourenço da Silveira, n325, 88062060, Lagoa da Conceição., Florianopolis, Brazil

For these prices, Geckos Hostel is pretty hard to beat if you’re trying to keep your living costs in Brazil down. It’s got those laid-back beach vibes on lock, and what really sets it apart is the staff and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere they create. The owner, an Italian legend, will make you feel right at home – and when that BBQ fires up, he cooks up a feast. The rest of the crew and volunteers are just as amazing, always up for a chat and ready with great tips for things to do or spontaneous fun.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Super Social: It was really easy to make friends here, especially with several good communal spaces
• Spacious Dorms: I’ve stayed in many cramped dorms with no space for my stuff, so Geckos was a welcome change
• Ping pong table: I played several games here, but let’s not talk about how many I actually won

In terms of facilities, Geckos nails it. There’s a pool (complete with floats) for ultimate chill mode, and the kitchen, bathrooms, and communal spaces are all clean and spacious.

The location is solid, in a safe neighbourhood with good access to beaches and hiking spots. Plenty of activities to keep you busy every day. While it’s not right on the beach, it’s easy enough to get there with Uber. Plus, with its homey feel and great access to restaurants and bars, Geckos Hostel is hands-down the best bang for your buck in the area.

4. Floripa Hostel Barra da Lagoa – Best Hostel for Beach Access

• Price: $$
• Best for: Water sports lovers
• Highlights: The free breakfasts and wide range of water activities on offer
• Dorm (Male/Female): From $25
• Private Room: From $65
• Address: Rua Inelzyr Bauer Betoli, s/n, Barra da Lagoa, Florianópolis, CEP 88061-280, Brazil

With Hosteling International, you know well before you arrive in Florianopolis you are going to have the kind of stay that will truly make your trip! With its very own terrace, lounges, and pool table topping the list of things to do at Floripa Hostel, you are sure to never be bored!

More importantly, this place will have you just minutes away from the beach, meaning you will be scarfing down that free breakfast and hitting the waves in no time at all!

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• The activities: During our 5-day stay here we arranged windsurfing, snorkelling and diving. Fishing is an option too
• The beach: If you’re Usain Bolt, the beach is under 20 seconds away. If not, you can walk there in 1-2 minutes
• Pool table: The good news is that there’s a pool table here, the bad news is that Brazilians are bloody good at sports, and will most likely kick your ass…

The vibe here is laidback. It’s not the most sociable hostel I’ve stayed at in all honesty, but it was a spot where I was able to get a good night’s kip.

As a bonus, the showers here had a good pressure and didn’t try to electrocute me. If this sounds like a strange thing to praise, you need to spend more time exploring Latin America! You aren’t a true Latam explorer until you’ve been zapped by a Lorenzetti shower…

5. Katsbarnea Hostel – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads

• Price: $
• Best for: Digital nomads and people focused on fitness over parties
• Highlights: The gym and cinema room
• Dorm (mixed): From $22 (2-night stay – the minimum allowed)
• Private Room: From $60 (2-night stay – the minimum allowed)
• Address: 261 Rua dos Tubarões, Ingleses, Florianópolis, CEP 88058-690, Brazil

Katsbarnea Hostel is an absolute gem – spotless, stylish, and perfectly placed near Ingleses Beach and the town centre. The WiFi actually works, the breakfast hits the spot, and there are plenty of comfy corners to kick back in. If you’re looking for a quiet escape from the chaos of the world, this is the place to recharge.

Just 300m from the beach, with a market down the road and the commercial centre about a kilometre away, it’s got convenience covered. The common areas deserve a shoutout – big patios with Paraguayan hammocks for ultimate lazing, a TV lounge for full-on binge sessions, and plenty of space to work or just hang out.

• The gym: Okay, not gonna pretend this is Planet Fitness, but you can hone your muscles without leaving the hostel
• The location: You’ve got beaches either side with Ponta dos Ingleses in the middle
• Air conditioning: Floripa can get pretty humid, so this was a welcome addition

Keep your budget in check with the massive kitchen, and if you’re feeling ambitious, there’s even an on-site gym. Whether you’re here to rest, work, catch those famous Floripa waves, or just soak up the good vibes, Katsbarnea Hostel has you sorted.

Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting Florianopolis

Unfortunately, things can go wrong when you least expect it. This is why good travel insurance is essential before you head on your trip to Florianopolis. Accidents on the beach and in the water are common here.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Floripa’s hostels are pretty cheap, often have a good social scene, and many have a good surf vibe. Beaches are always nearby, and many offer tours and activities, usually revolving around surfing, diving, snorkelling and other water excursions.

You’re more likely to find a “social but not party” kinda scene here, but ultimately, where you stay depends on your interests first and foremost.

My recommendation would be Floripa Surf Hostel. The social vibes are off the charts. Few places immediately feel like home at check-in, and this is one of em. Surfboard rental is a bonus on top of the feelgood factor you’ll find here.

Now, all that’s left to do is book your stay, pack light, and let the Floripa magic do the rest. Just don’t be surprised if your “few days” somehow turn into a few weeks. It happens to the best of us.