Lages
Introduction
Lages sits in the central part of Santa Catarina, in the highland region known in Portuguese as the Planalto Serrano. This is Brazil's southern plateau country, and the city serves as a base for exploring the surrounding serrano landscape.
Before you go
Before you go, it helps to know that Lages is a place to slow down and step into a working rural world. Rural tourism here began in 1984 at Pedras Brancas Farm, and centuries-old farms across the region have since adapted to receive visitors who want to experience the peasant lifestyle firsthand. Expect to take part rather than simply observe: milking, planting, and "mountain" cuisine are part of the experience on these farms. Plan your trip around that rhythm, and come ready to spend your time on the land rather than rushing between sights.Getting there
Lages is served by Aeroporto Regional do Planalto Serrano (EEA), with Gol flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The airport sits about a 30-minute drive from the centre. Alternatively, you can fly into Florianópolis or Navegantes and continue by road.
By bus, REUNIDAS runs a direct service from Florianópolis, and there are also buses from São Paulo with Viação Catarinense, as well as from Porto Alegre and Curitiba. If you are driving, BR-116 links the city to Porto Alegre to the south and Curitiba to the north, while BR-282 connects it to Florianópolis.
Getting around
Lages has no rail, metro or tram network, so getting around means road-based transport: buses, taxis, ride-hailing and your own two feet. The city is large and its neighbourhoods are spread across the municipality, so buses are the main way to cover longer distances if you are not driving. As in most Brazilian cities, you generally pay your fare on board, so it is worth carrying some cash. Local services connect the central area with the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Taxis and ride-hailing apps are convenient for point-to-point trips, especially with luggage, for neighbourhoods not on a convenient bus route, and for the airport transfer. The central part of Lages is walkable, including the area around the Carahá River, but walking suits the centre rather than crossing the whole municipality. Lages is served by Antônio Correia Pinto de Macedo Airport and by Planalto Serrano Regional Airport in the adjoining municipality of Correia Pinto, roughly a 30-minute drive from the centre, so plan on a road transfer. Gol serves the regional airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, so check the schedule against your dates; otherwise fly into Florianópolis or Navegantes and continue by road. Intercity coaches connect Lages with Florianópolis (REUNIDAS), São Paulo (Viação Catarinense), Porto Alegre and Curitiba, and the BR-282 links the city to Florianópolis while the BR-116 runs to Curitiba to the north and Porto Alegre to the south.
Where to stay
Lodging in Lages is concentrated in the centre, where you'll find the widest choice of hotels and inns within walking distance of the main squares, shops and restaurants. Staying central also puts you close to the bus terminals and makes it easy to reach the surrounding districts on foot or by short taxi rides.
The source material for this guide lists no specific hotels, hostels or neighbourhoods for sleeping, so treat the centre as your starting point and confirm current options locally before you arrive.
Food & drink
For eating, the source names two places: Cansian and Juliu's Café. Beyond those names, no details are given about the food, the setting, or what either serves, so plan on finding out for yourself once you arrive. The source lists no bars, cafés or other drinking spots, so there is nothing specific to recommend for a drink.What to see and do
Lages rewards travellers who take time over its religious and civic landmarks. The Catedral Diocesana Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, completed in the early 1920s, anchors the centre, while the Igreja da Santa Cruz is another of the city's historic churches. Several monuments scattered through the urban area tell the story of the region's settlement and its working traditions: look for the Monumento Os Imigrantes, the Monumento O Tropeiro, the Monumento Correia Pinto, the Monumento Trançador, the Monumento Boi de Botas and the Monumento A Bíblia. The Memorial Nereu Ramos commemorates a local political figure.
For art and history, the Malinverni Filho Museum holds a large collection devoted to the local artist of that name, including his works, photographs and personal items, and the Thiago de Castro Historical Museum preserves the state's largest collection of private documents. The Municipal Ecological Park sits on the urban perimeter and is a place to spot endangered and migratory birdlife, among them the blue jay. In the evening, check what is on at the Teatro Marajoara. If you visit in June, the Festa Nacional do Pinhão fills the city with music, typical dances, gaucho dance contests, gineteadas, a typical products fair and the Festa dos Sabores de Lages; the blue jay, a bird vital to the dispersal of Brazilian pine, is the festival's symbol, and the Recanto do Pinhão takes place outside the exhibition park at Praça João Costa in the centre.
When to go
Lages has a temperate oceanic climate, so your choice of season shapes the trip considerably. Winters are cold, frosty and sometimes snowy, with temperatures that can stay below freezing — expect genuinely cold conditions and pack accordingly. Summers are warm, and drought can occur during this period; the heat is the main thing you meet then.
Three days in Lages
Day one: Arrive in Lages, the heart of the Planalto Serrano in Santa Catarina, and settle into your lodging before exploring the city centre on foot. Walk along the Carahá River and take in the local rhythm of this Brazilian town. If you arrive by air, the Planalto Serrano Regional Airport in Correia Pinto serves the area, with flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; alternatively, you can fly into Florianópolis or Navegantes and continue overland. Intercity buses from São Paulo, Porto Alegre and Curitiba are operated by REUNIDAS and Viação Catarinense, and taxis are available locally.
- Walk the city centre and the Carahá River area
- Note the Portuguese colonial heritage and the town's role in the Planalto Serrano
Day two: Head out to the countryside around Lages, where rural tourism gives you a feel for the Planalto Serrano landscape. A visit to Pedras Brancas Farm introduces you to the rural way of life in this part of Santa Catarina. Expect cool weather in the higher elevations, so plan accordingly.
- Rural excursion to Pedras Brancas Farm
- Take in the Planalto Serrano scenery
Day three: Use your final day to revisit the parts of Lages you enjoyed most, whether that is the centre, the river, or the surrounding countryside. Before you leave, confirm your onward transport - whether by air from the regional airport or by intercity bus to Curitiba, Porto Alegre or São Paulo. If you are driving, the BR road network connects Lages to the rest of Brazil.
- Final stroll through the city
- Check departure options by air or intercity bus