Fortaleza

Where should I stay?

Where should I eat?

• Mercado dos Peixes · Mucuripe · Seafood market: Waterfront fish market where you pick fresh fish, shrimp or lobster and have it cooked at the stalls next door.
• Coco Bambu · Meireles · Seafood: The Fortaleza-born seafood chain known for huge shrimp dishes meant for sharing.
• Chico do Caranguejo · Praia do Futuro · Beach barraca, crab: Big beach barraca best known for the local Thursday crab night tradition.
• Crocobeach · Praia do Futuro · Beach barraca, seafood: Large beach club with loungers, pools and seafood plates, an easy full day on the sand.
• Centro das Tapioqueiras · Messejana · Tapioca: Cluster of stands making tapioca crepes to order with fillings like carne de sol and coconut.
• Sorveteria 50 Sabores · Praia de Iracema · Ice cream: Local ice cream shop famous for tropical and regional fruit flavors like cajá, graviola and tapioca.

What should I do?

• Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura · Praia de Iracema: Cultural complex with museums, a planetarium, cinema and bars around it that fill up at night.
• Theatro José de Alencar · Centro: Ornate 1910 theater with an Art Nouveau iron structure and gardens, open for guided visits.
• Mercado Central · Centro: Multi-story market packed with lacework, hammocks, cashews and other Ceará crafts.
• Catedral Metropolitana de Fortaleza · Centro: Large neo-Gothic cathedral with tall stained-glass windows, next to the Mercado Central.
• Avenida Beira Mar · Meireles: Seafront promenade for evening walks, with a nightly craft fair and views of the jangada boats.
• Praia do Futuro · Praia do Futuro: The city's main swimming beach, lined with full-service barracas offering food and chairs.
• Beach Park · Porto das Dunas, Aquiraz: Large water park by the beach just outside the city, known for its very tall water slides.
• Dune buggy trip to Cumbuco · Cumbuco, Caucaia: Day trip by buggy over sand dunes to lagoons, often with a stop for kitesurf watching.