Top things to do in Fortaleza
Attractions, tours, and activities in Fortaleza
Fortaleza: the city's best neighborhoods
Find a great area to stay in Fortaleza
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Meireles
2.7 miles from downtown
Beach, bars and bargains. Meireles Beach buzzes with sun-worshippers and lithe joggers from sunrise to sunset. Meanwhile, shopaholics fill their boots along Monsenhor Tabosa Avenue. When night falls, Ana Bilhar Street is the place to go for an evening tipple, with its bars serving up cool beer and sizzling ambience. “Saúde” (cheers)!
Places to stay from $6 a night
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Praia de Iracema
1.7 miles from downtown
Praia de Iracema’s mad for it! This place comes alive at night, as the bars around Dragão do Mar Culture Centre fill with chatter. Start your engines at Chopp do Bixiga, then accelerate into full gear in O Bar do Pirata – the perfect place to witness the twirly steps of “forró”, Fortaleza’s signature dance. Finish up in groovy Órbita Bar.
Places to stay from $13 a night
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Mucuripe
3.9 miles from downtown
Maritime roots run deep in Mucuripe. Along the shore, “jangada” boats bob serenely in the water, while fishermen unload their haul. Hop on a schooner and cast away to the open water in search of dolphins. Once back on terra firma, sate your seafarer’s appetite with a purchase of fresh fish from Mercado do Peixe – cooked for you on the spot!
Places to stay from $20 a night
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Praia do Futuro
6 miles from downtown
Party on! This stretch of coastline is where Fortaleza’s bright young things come to let their hair down. Fashion-mag tans and skimpy beachwear is the area’s only dress code! At lunchtime, head down to Barraca Biruta for mellow reggae-riddims. As the day progresses, you’ll see it fill to the brim with party-hungry locals. Fun times!
Places to stay from $14 a night
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Aldeota
2.7 miles from downtown
Up-scale, up-market and upward-pointing. This district’s dense skyscrapers house the well-to-do, while the streets below are alive with constant activity. Three shiny shopping centres buzz with retail fiends who go there to meet, greet and eat. Sate that shopping whim, then tuck into some grilled lamb and mango chutney at Alpendre.
Places to stay from $8 a night
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Coco
4.7 miles from downtown
Keep it real in Cocó. This residential district is where salt-of-the-earth Fortalezenses live and breathe. Parque Ecológico do Cocó is a slice of tropical mangrove forest right inside the city. Refresh your spirit with a reinvigorating hike along the river before ending up at Picanha do Miguel – a neighbourhood restaurant loved by locals.
Places to stay from $25 a night
About Fortaleza
Including tips for the best time to visit Fortaleza
Located in the Brazilian state of Ceará, Fortaleza is home to an energetic beach lifestyle and carnivalesque nightlife that's sure to rival Rio. While Fortaleza remains one of the nation's lesser-known holiday destinations, there's plenty to see and do while in the city.
Fortaleza’s tropical climate makes it suitable for sunbathing, with temperatures reaching 30°C during the summer months. On Praia do Futuro beach, you’ll find surfing and beach sports with a family-friendly atmosphere. The city’s thriving beach culture also means much of its nightlife is found on the sands, with DJs spinning tracks across the day and into the night on Croco Beach.
In Fortaleza’s city centre, the Castelao Stadium hosts exciting Brazilian football matches, while there’s opportunity for some retail therapy at the North Shopping Mall – one of Brazil’s largest shopping centres. In terms of city nightlife, head to music venues like the Arre Égua in Varjota for traditional Brazilian ‘forro’ dancing, or the Casario area for bars and nightclubs with a local feel.
The food culture in Fortaleza offers its own take on the national cuisine, with many restaurants serving churrasco and feijoada – a black bean and meat stew. While there are lots of places to eat on the beachfront, it’s worth taking a stroll along the promenade of Praia de Iracema to see what flavours you can find.
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| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | R$ 10 = $1.84 |
| Language | |
| Average weekend price | $64 per night |
| Average weekday price | $66 per night |
| Average stay | 3 nights |
Fortaleza reviews
What other travelers say about Fortaleza
This is my second time in Fortaleza, I really enjoy the city...
May 25, 2025
This is my second time in Fortaleza, I really enjoy the city, the people are friendly and I feel safe travelling alone. I got around the city using Uber which was very reliable. I really enjoyed walking along the beach front and shopping at the street market. I went on tours to four major beaches which were fantastic.
I have visited around 20 cities in Brazil and Fortaleza is...
May 4, 2025
I have visited around 20 cities in Brazil and Fortaleza is now one of my favourite. It was my first time here and I just loved the atmosphere in the city. Along one of the beaches there is a long path with so much going on, different street vendors and music and bars and ice cream shops. Then the nightlife is great with a lot of different bars and clubs and many of them located in a similar area so its easy to bounce around. I definetly want to visit Fortaleza again!
Went to see a soccer match at castelao stadium.
April 22, 2025
Went to see a soccer match at castelao stadium. Take a hired car or taxi to come and go. Do NOT buy seats in the visiting team fan section. They keep you locked up in the stadium for nearly an hour after the match
The main city beach has become quite pricey and is entirely...
April 4, 2025
The main city beach has become quite pricey and is entirely crowded by boring high rise concrete and glass hotels with overpriced rooms and apartment towers for the rich. Eateries on the waterfront are expensive wanna-be American luxury joints with wapa-wapa music and mediocre food. The beach is nice, clean and well policed, but I miss the old style barracas where you could get grilled fish or a bucket of boiled crabs with a dowel. There are a lot of better priced and higher quality restaurants and hotels around town, but you need some local knowledge to find them and to stay out of the dangerous neighborhoods. Getting around town is easy with Uber or taxis, but the traffic can be nerve wracking, especially at rush hour.
Amazing city but get a tour guide, our guide Milton knew all...
March 1, 2024
Amazing city but get a tour guide, our guide Milton knew all about this town. You must visit beaches with hour away, don't go over two hours drive because roads are nit very comfortable. Thai is why I do recommend a tour guide like Milton.
Nothing interesting to justify a stay.
January 7, 2024
Nothing interesting to justify a stay. We had been robbed the mobile phone in the first 2 hours of our arrival, in a quiet and modern city mall. The beaches are nothing special, the sea difficult to enter due to the many rocks right at the bottom Just stay the minimum you need and head for better places. Only interesting area is the fish market where you buy the seafood and nearby restaurants cook it for you.
Popular places to stay in Fortaleza
Stay in some of the best accommodations Fortaleza has to offer
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Landscape Beira mar Meireles, Fortaleza
From $66 per night
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Apart-Hotel Terraços do Atlântico Meireles, Fortaleza
From $62 per night
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Fortaleza 703--Fortaleza 713 Meireles, Fortaleza
From $70 per night
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Stúdio Beira Mar Meireles, Fortaleza
From $46 per night
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