The Ultimate Brazil Travel Guide: Fortaleza

Top 12 Things to See & Do in Fortaleza

1. Relax at Praia do Futuro: This is one of Fortaleza’s main urban beaches, known for strong waves and large beachfront barracas and resorts. Many offer food & drink, live music and access to showers.

2. Explore Dragão do Mar Cultural Centre: This cultural complex includes museums, cinemas, galleries and theatres. Key sites within the complex include the Ceará Museum of Culture and the Contemporary Art Museum of Ceará.

3. Visit the Mercado Central: Fortaleza's Central Market has over 500 stalls across four floors. It offers local products such as lace, leather goods, souvenirs, hammocks and regional food products.

4. Walk along Beira-Mar Avenue: This 3-kilometre waterfront avenue stretches from Mucuripe to Meireles. It features a paved promenade, restaurants, hotels and the daily Feira de Artesanato da Beira-Mar (Artisanal Fair), which sells crafts and souvenirs. The Espigão da Rui Barbosa pier, located on Beira-Mar Avenue, is a popular place to watch the sunset.

5. Visit Fortaleza’s Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana): The cathedral is the third-largest in Brazil and holds up to 5,000 people. Its design is influenced by Gothic-Roman style.

6. Tour the José de Alencar Theatre: Inaugurated in 1910, this historic theatre combines cast iron architecture with stained glass and native wood carvings. It hosts performances and guided tours. The theatre also includes a small museum and garden.

7. Visit the Ceará Museum: Housed in a neoclassical building, this museum contains over 13,000 items including indigenous artefacts, historical documents and regional art.

8. Swim or surf at Praia de Iracema: Located near the city centre, this beach is known for its breakwater, nightclubs and cultural venues. It includes attractions such as the Ponte dos Ingleses and the Estoril building.

9. Take a sunset boat tour from Mucuripe Port: Local operators offer boat rides along the coast, usually in the late afternoon. These trips often include views of the city skyline and sunset over the sea.

10. Visit the Fish Market at Mucuripe (Mercado dos Peixes): Located by the Mucuripe waterfront, the market sells fresh fish and seafood caught locally. Some stalls will also grill the seafood for you to eat on-site.

11. Spend a day at Beach Park in Aquiraz: Located about 25 kilometres from Fortaleza, this is one of the largest water parks in Latin America. It features water slides, pools and a resort area. A tourist shuttle is available to travel between the park and the city centre.

12. Take a day trip to Canoa Quebrada: Located about 160 kilometres southeast of Fortaleza, Canoa Quebrada is a small beach village is known for red sandstone cliffs, sand dunes and paragliding. The village also includes Rua Dragão do Mar, a pedestrian street with restaurants and shops. Tours typically include dune buggy rides and time for swimming.

How long to spend in Fortaleza

You can see Fortaleza's top sites in just 2 days. Fortaleza is a common starting point to visit Ceara's more beautiful beaches destinations, such as Jericoacoara or Canoa Quebrada.