São José

São José

São José is a city of 270,000 people (2022) in the Grande Florianópolis region of Santa Catarina. The city was mainly settled by Azoreans, and has been populated since the 18th century. This article also covers the neighboring city of Palhoça.

Get in

By car

• BR-101 cuts across the city from Palhoça and the South of the state, and from Balneário Camboriú and other points north
• BR-282 connects from Lages and other cities in the Serrana region to the west, and with Florianópolis just to the east

See

• Historic Downtown (Centro Historico). 
• 1 Parish Church of Saint Joseph (Igreja Matriz de São José). Founded in 1750, rebuilt in 1845, and remodelled many times. (updated Mar 2025)
• 2 São José Max Hablitzel Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico de São José), Potecas neighborhood, jardimbotanico@pmsj.sc.gov.br. M-F 08:00-18:00, Sa 09:00-18:00. 160,000 m2 of Atlantic Forest. Free parking. Guided tours with biologists can be arranged Tu-Th by email. (updated Mar 2025)
• Kobrasol neighborhood (Bairro do Kobrasol). 
• Pedra Branca Hill (Morro da Pedra Branca). 

Do

• 1 Balneario Guararema Beach. A beach with restaurants. 

Guarda do Embaú, in Palhoça

• 2 Guarda do Embaú Beach, Palhoça. A clean beach with a fishing village, beautiful views, and very good trails. 
• Folia do Zé. Refounded in 2025, the city's carnival lasts a week in lafpte February and early March. The city's samba school parades on the Passarela Nego Quirido, there are block parties, and a seniors' ball. It is celebrated as a safe and family-friendly event. (updated Mar 2025)

Buy

• 1 Continente Park Shopping, BR-101, Km 211 - Distrito Industrial, ☏ +55 48 3094-9268. The newest shopping mall in the region, opened in 2012 with 8 movie screens and over 200 stores. (updated Jun 2018)
• Shopping Center Itaguaçu. 

Go next

Routes through São José

Criciúma ← Palhoça ←

S  N

→ Biguaçu → Balneário Camboriú