Fortaleza

Travel Guide

Fortaleza showing a beach, outdoor art and central business district
Fortaleza featuring a beach, a high rise building and cbd
Fortaleza featuring cbd, tropical scenes and a beach
Fortaleza featuring street scenes as well as a large group of people
Fortaleza which includes heritage architecture, religious aspects and a church or cathedral

Enjoy a popular Brazilian beach destination that offers warm sea and water sports, a thrilling nightlife and an engaging cultural scene.

Fortaleza is one of the most popular beach destinations in Brazil. The country’s fifth-largest city and capital of the state of Ceará has more than 13 miles (20 kilometers) of white-sand coastline. With surfing, Jet skiing, beach clubs and children’s playgrounds, Fortaleza offers plenty of reasons to spend long days by the sea. The beach isn’t Fortaleza’s only attraction this lively city offers nightlife, museums and theaters.

Beach lovers have much to choose from. Praia do Futurois a 4.5-mile (7-kilometer) stretch popular with swimmers and surfers. Try sand skiing down the dunes of Iguape Beach. Iracema Beach is a wide strip with the city’s largest concentration of beach bars and restaurants.

Behind the coastline is a city center of high-rise office blocks, apartments and shopping malls. Search for the remaining traces of Fortaleza’s early history. Visit the 17th-century Portuguese Forte de Nossa Senhora da Assunção after which the city took its name. Stop at the Museu do Ceará to inspect some of the thousands of artifacts that shed light on the area's history and anthropology.

Fortaleza’s nightlife is easy to find, either in the downtown area or along the beaches. Reserve seats for a play or concert at the Theatro José de Alencar. Sip on a designer cocktail at one of the open-air bars at Dragão do Mar cultural center in the Praia de Iracema area. Linger for dancing in one of the nightclubs or head back to the beach at Praia du Futuro to listen to late-night live music.

Fortaleza’s cultural and coastal attractions can be enjoyed year-round. The state of Ceará is a few degrees south of the equator and is almost always hot. To get to Fortaleza, fly into Aeroporto Internacional Pinto Martins, 4 miles (6 kilometers) south of the downtown area. Fortaleza can also be reached by bus and car from other major Brazilian cities but the distances are long. Rio de Janeiro is 1,615 miles (2,600 kilometers) south of the city.

Where to stay in Fortaleza

Fortaleza featuring a beach

Meireles

4.5/5(34 area reviews)

Meireles is popular for its beaches, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Iracema Beach or Meireles Beach.

Meireles
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Cumbuco

3/5(2 area reviews)

Cumbuco is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Cumbuco Beach and Pecem Ecological Station.

Cumbuco
Ponte dos Ingleses featuring rugged coastline

Praia de Iracema

3.5/5(9 area reviews)

Praia de Iracema is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Monsignor Tabosa Avenue and Iracema Beach.

Praia de Iracema
Beach Park Water Park featuring a waterpark

Porto das Dunas

4.5/5(9 area reviews)

You'll enjoy the beaches and monuments in Porto das Dunas. You might want to make time for a stop at Beach Park Water Park or Porto das Dunas Beach.

Porto das Dunas
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Praia do Futuro

4/5(5 area reviews)

Travelers like the beaches in Praia do Futuro, and Praia do Futuro is a top attraction you might want to visit.

Praia do Futuro
Spending a restful time with some dear friends in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Mucuripe

4/5(16 area reviews)

Mucuripe is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Beira Mar and Meireles Beach.

Mucuripe
Hotel Luzeiros Fortaleza

Hotel Luzeiros Fortaleza

4 out of 5
Av Beira Mar, 2600, Fortaleza, CE
$108 nightly
The price is $113 total per night from Nov 9 to Nov 10
$113 total
Nov 9 - Nov 10
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Fortaleza. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,033 reviews)
Clean room , nice hotel to stay!

Reviewed on Oct 9, 2025

Hotel Luzeiros Fortaleza
Stop Way Hotel Fortaleza

Stop Way Hotel Fortaleza

3.5 out of 5
Av. Monsenhor Tabosa, 940 - Meireles, Fortaleza, CE
$59 nightly
The price is $62 total per night from Nov 2 to Nov 3
$62 total
Nov 2 - Nov 3
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Fortaleza. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (947 reviews)
Clean roons

Reviewed on Oct 16, 2025

Stop Way Hotel Fortaleza
ibis Budget Fortaleza Praia De Iracema

ibis Budget Fortaleza Praia De Iracema

3 out of 5
Rua Historiador Guarino Alves, 190, Praia de Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE
$37 nightly
The price is $39 total per night from Nov 9 to Nov 10
$39 total
Nov 9 - Nov 10
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Fortaleza. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the overall value in ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,045 reviews)
Good breakfast

Reviewed on Sep 22, 2025

ibis Budget Fortaleza Praia De Iracema
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Beach Class Residence by SOLEMAR

Beach Class Residence by SOLEMAR

3 out of 5
Rua Barão de Aracati, 145, Meireles, Fortaleza, Ceara
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Fortaleza. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 7 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
7.6/10 Good! (857 reviews)
Apartamento novinho, moveis novos e muito bem equipado. Localização maravilhosa, alguns passos da melhor avenida de Fortaleza. Local seguro e proximo a tudo! Meus filhos amaram a piscina. Funcionários educados e simpaticos. Tudo maravilhoso

Reviewed on Sep 29, 2025

Beach Class Residence by SOLEMAR
Vip Beira Mar Residence

Vip Beira Mar Residence

3.5 out of 5
Rua Barão de Aracati, 145, Fortaleza, CE
Stay at this 3.5-star beach aparthotel in Fortaleza. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Praia do Futuro and Monsignor Tabosa ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (286 reviews)
Good amenities. Soneone moved my Natl Brasil soccer team hoodie under tge sink, hoping i wouldn't check. Then snag ince i checked out. Had to go INTO my luggage to attempt this, mind you. I found it.

Reviewed on May 11, 2025

Vip Beira Mar Residence
Landscape by SOLEMAR

Landscape by SOLEMAR

3 out of 5
Av. da Abolição, Fortaleza, CE
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Fortaleza. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Popular attractions Praia do Futuro and Meireles Beach are located ...
8/10 Very Good! (51 reviews)
Hot water does not work and air conditioners need to be charged

Reviewed on Sep 14, 2025

Landscape by SOLEMAR
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Fortaleza

4.2
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
27
5 - Excellent 47%
4 - Good
16
4 - Good 28%
3 - Okay
12
3 - Okay 21%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 2%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 2%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

If I weren't with family, I would not travel out by myself. Very unsafe for a tourist.

5/5 - Excellent

Jeff

Nice city. Enjoyed our stay. Many restaurants along the beach. If you eat alongside the ocean, just know that people constantly walk but trying to sell you stuff and ask for money.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Some beautiful areas (especially beaches), including some that are definitely up and coming. Others were rough and scary. Hopefully crime continues to drop and Fortaleza enjoys a wonderful future moving forward!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

I absolutely love this place -- a home away from home for me! The climate, the food, and especially the people are top-notch -- friendly, down-to-earth. Learn a little Portuguese before you visit and you'll make all kinds of new friends!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Fortaleza is beautiful .. just be careful with the hotel you might stay

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Fortaleza is an amazing city. The people are warm and friendly and the culture offers something for everyone. If vacation or pleasure is your motive, you can't go wrong!

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