Getting Around Lages
Lages sits in the mountain region of Santa Catarina known as the Planalto Serrano, and it is the main city of that region. It is a sizable, spread-out municipality, so how you get around depends largely on where you are staying and what you plan to do. The practical picture for a visitor is straightforward: the city is served by buses, taxis and ride-hailing, and much of the central area is manageable on foot, while the airport lies outside the city and requires a road transfer.
Rail, Metro and Trams
Lages has no rail, metro or tram network for visitors to use. There is no urban train service, no subway and no tram lines in the city, so these modes should not factor into your plans. Getting around Lages means relying on road-based transport: buses, taxis, ride-hailing and your own two feet.
Buses and Public Transport
Public transport in Lages is bus-based. The city is large and its seventy-two neighborhoods are spread across the municipality, so buses are the main way to cover longer distances if you are not driving. As with most Brazilian cities, you generally pay your fare on board, and it is worth carrying some cash for this purpose. Because the city is the principal urban centre of the Planalto Serrano region, local bus services connect the central area with the surrounding neighborhoods.
For travel between cities, Lages is well connected by long-distance coaches. Several companies serve the city:
- REUNIDAS runs a direct bus from Florianópolis.
- Viação Catarinense operates buses from São Paulo.
- There are also long-distance buses from Porto Alegre and Curitiba.
These intercity services are the practical alternative if you prefer not to fly or drive into the region.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available in Lages and are a convenient option for point-to-point trips, particularly if you are carrying luggage or travelling outside the central area. Ride-hailing apps are also a practical choice in the city and are widely used for the same kinds of journeys. Either option is useful for reaching neighborhoods that are not on a convenient bus route, and for the road transfer to and from the airport.
Walking
The central part of Lages is walkable, and exploring on foot is a reasonable way to get a feel for the city, including the area around the Carahá River, the main urban watercourse. That said, Lages is the largest municipality in Santa Catarina and its neighborhoods are spread out, so walking is best suited to the centre rather than as a way to cross the whole city. Distances between the centre and outlying areas make buses, taxis or ride-hailing the more practical choice for longer trips.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Lages is served by Antônio Correia Pinto de Macedo Airport and by Planalto Serrano Regional Airport, which is located in the adjoining municipality of Correia Pinto. The regional airport, Aeroporto Regional do Planalto Serrano (EEA), is roughly a 30-minute drive from the centre of Lages, so plan on a road transfer rather than a short hop into town.
For scheduled flights, Gol serves Aeroporto Regional do Planalto Serrano on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Because service is limited to specific days, it is worth checking the schedule against your travel dates before committing to a flight into Lages.
If the timing does not work, an alternative is to fly into Florianópolis or Navegantes and then continue to Lages by road. From Florianópolis you can take the direct REUNIDAS bus, or drive; the BR-282 connects Lages to Florianópolis. From the north and south, the BR-116 links the city to Curitiba to the north and Porto Alegre to the south. If you are arriving by air and continuing by road, a taxi or ride-hailing car is the simplest way to cover the final leg from the airport into the centre.
Practical Summary
- No rail, metro or trams — plan around road transport.
- Buses are the main public transport within the city; pay on board and carry cash.
- Intercity coaches connect Lages with Florianópolis (REUNIDAS), São Paulo (Viação Catarinense), Porto Alegre and Curitiba.
- Taxis and ride-hailing are useful for direct trips and for the airport transfer.
- Walking works well in the centre but not for crossing the whole, spread-out municipality.
- From the airport, expect about a 30-minute drive into the centre; Gol serves the regional airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and Florianópolis or Navegantes are viable alternatives for flying in before continuing by road.