Stand on Rua das Palmeiras and the city announces itself: a pedestrian street under a canopy of palms brought from Rio de Janeiro in 1873, with the Rio Cachoeira running nearby and the monument to the Norwegian, Swiss and German settlers standing on its bank. This is the postcard view of Joinville, and it is a good place to start understanding a city shaped by immigrants from Germany, Norway, Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe.
Joinville suits travellers who like their cities walkable and their day trips green. The centre holds the historic streets and museums, while forested hills, a zoo and botanical gardens, and a bay with the city's only beach sit within easy reach. July brings the Joinville Dance Festival, when public spaces in Centro fill with performances.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, followed by a one-day plan and answers to common questions.
Top things to do in Joinville
1. Rua das Palmeiras
A pedestrian-only street lined with palm trees brought from Rio de Janeiro in 1873. It is the quintessential postcard shot of the city, and the easiest single stop to make your first.
Walk it in combination with the National Museum of Immigration and Colonization, which stands in front of it on Rua Rio Branco.
2. National Museum of Immigration and Colonization
On Rua Rio Branco, this museum offers a glimpse of life as it was for Joinville's first European settlers. It includes a historic house set up as it would have been around 150 years ago, plus a couple of sheds containing machinery used in past times.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9AM to noon and 2PM to 6PM. Pair it with Rua das Palmeiras directly outside.
3. Bolshoi Ballet School
On Avenida Beira Rio, this is the only school run by the famous Bolshoi Ballet Company outside of Russia, and it is well worth a visit if you are in the area. Guided tours are in Portuguese, though a guide may be fluent enough in English to give you a rundown, and tours should be booked in advance.
Tours run on Fridays, 10AM to 4PM, and cost R$3.
4. Scenic Lookout (Mirante)
A 250-metre tower on top of Morro da Boa Vista, the rainforest-covered hill next to Centro, and one of the city's main attractions. It offers a panoramic view of the city and of Babitonga Bay.
Combine it with the Zoo and Botanical Gardens at the base of the hill on the same outing.
5. Zoo and Botanical Gardens
At the base of the lookout on Morro da Boa Vista in Saguaçu, the zoo houses a modest collection of Brazilian animals and local flora. Entry is free.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9AM to 6PM. Go before or after the Scenic Lookout, since they share the same hill.
6. Estação da Memória
The local train station from 1906 to 1996 has been restored and reconfigured to hold a railway museum, a sporting centre, a skate park, a playground and other attractions. It sits on Anita Garibaldi, next to Shopping Joinville.
It works well as a stop alongside the Bicycle Museum, which is on the same street.
7. Bicycle Museum
On Anita Garibaldi, this museum holds 15,000 bicycles, the oldest of which is an Italian "Volcite" from 1906. Note that it is closed.
Check ahead before making a special trip, and treat it as a bonus stop if you are already at Estação da Memória next door.
8. Caiera Park
In the south zone, this is a part of the Atlantic Forest with walking trails and a lookout with views over Babitonga Bay.
Go for the trails and the lookout rather than a quick stop; it rewards a half-day.
9. Finder Hill Ecological Park
In Bom Retiro, this park has various trails for walking or mountain biking, and a lookout point from which you can see the Aventureiro neighbourhood.
Choose it if you want to cycle rather than walk, since the trails suit mountain bikes.
10. Rio Bonito Highway
Reached from km 22 of BR-101, this is a beautiful road with natural elements and German architecture and other German touches. Streets to either side lead to restaurants, residences and fishing holes.
At the end of the road there is a typical German restaurant offering dishes such as stuffed duck, and the Bonito River, good for a swim. There are also some trailheads from here, so you can combine a meal with a walk.
11. Timber-Frame House
On Rua Araranguá in Centro, this is a typical German immigrant house showing how the Germans lived during the colonial period.
It fits neatly into a walking loop of the centre with Rua das Palmeiras and the immigration museum.
12. Sambaqui Archeological Museum
On Avenida Beira-Rio in Centro, this museum displays some fossils found in the region and tells of northeast Santa Catarina's sambaquis, pre-historic shell-mounds created by an unknown people who lived along the coast between 6000BC and 0BC.
Its central location makes it an easy addition to a day in Centro.
13. Vigorelli Beach
Joinville's only beach, on the João de Souza Mello e Alvim Highway in Vila Cubatão, bordering Babitonga Bay. It does not have a lot of sand, but it is a safe place to swim, and there are a number of bars and restaurants along it.
Come for the water and a meal rather than for lounging on sand.
14. Expoville
At the main entrance to the city, this is a leisure centre with an exposition centre, a small park, a shopping area, a lake with pedalboats, and a model car racetrack.
It is a good option if you are travelling with children or want an easy half-day close to the city entrance.
15. Joinville Dance Festival
Held over 10 days in late July, this is considered the biggest dance festival in the world, with thousands of dancers from all over Brazil and beyond. For the duration of the event, various public spaces throughout Centro become the setting of all kinds of dance performances, from hip hop to ballet.
The festival culminates with Champions Night, where the winners of all the categories perform in the Bolshoi Ballet Theater. Tickets sell fast, and while some events are free, others cost R$12 to R$110 per event depending on the event and the seat.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in Centro on Rua das Palmeiras, then step into the National Museum of Immigration and Colonization in front of it. Add the Timber-Frame House on Rua Araranguá while you are walking the centre.
Afternoon: Head to Saguaçu for the Zoo and Botanical Gardens at the base of Morro da Boa Vista, then go up to the Scenic Lookout for the panoramic view of the city and Babitonga Bay. If your visit falls in late July, spend the afternoon instead among the free dance performances filling Centro during the Joinville Dance Festival.
Evening: Finish at Vigorelli Beach, Joinville's only beach, where the bars and restaurants along the shore make an easy end to the day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Joinville?
Late July, when the Joinville Dance Festival takes place over 10 days and public spaces throughout Centro host performances. Note that tickets for some events sell fast.
Do I need to book the Bolshoi Ballet School tour in advance?
Yes. Tours should be booked in advance, run on Fridays from 10AM to 4PM, and cost R$3. The guided tours are in Portuguese.
Is there a beach in Joinville itself?
Yes. Vigorelli Beach is Joinville's only beach, bordering Babitonga Bay. It does not have a lot of sand, but it is a safe place to swim, with bars and restaurants along it.
Which sights are free?
The Zoo and Botanical Gardens is free. The Bolshoi Ballet School tour costs R$3, and Joinville Dance Festival events range from free to R$12 to R$110 depending on the event and the seat.
Pick your dates around the dance festival or a quiet week in Centro, and start mapping your days from the list above.