A waterfront route that follows the beach from José Menino to Ponta da Praia gives Santos a distinct coastal thread: the beach is about seven kilometers long. The city also has a history of trams and coffee, as well as places connected with nature. If you’re looking for hotels in Santos, you can start by considering whether the coast, cultural history, or nature will shape your stay.
Coastline and open-air art
A visitor route along the waterfront promenade runs from José Menino along the approximately seven-kilometer beach to Ponta da Praia. A continuous, well-signposted bike path also runs along the waterfront promenade. If you’re planning a bike ride, it’s worth checking current city advisories, as maintenance or construction work can change infrastructure details.
Jardim da Orla borders seven kilometers of beach and covers 218,800 m². As an open-air gallery, it features 38 monuments and sculpture groups. Coastline and art come together in the same setting, so you can explore the garden both for its beachfront and for its collection of monuments and sculptures.
Trams, coffee and city history
The Linha Turística do Bonde departs from Estação do Valongo and travels through the historic center along an adapted route. An audio guide and Libras are included. The route description gives you a specific point of reference for a trip through the center. The tram’s history also includes tram 32, built in 1911 and the oldest electric tram still in operation in Brazil. This brings together a description of the tourist route and a precisely dated piece of tram history.
Museu do Café preserves and presents the history of coffee, which made Brazil the world’s largest exporter for more than a century. Museu Pelé has a different focus: it presents Pelé’s career through personal memorabilia, audiovisual materials, and interactive exhibits. The difference is in the subject: the history of coffee in one, an individual career in the other. On Monte Serrat stands Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Monte Serrat, built more than 400 years ago. Santos’ historic attractions also include a religious building with a long history.
Nature and marine animals
Orquidário Municipal recreates the habitat of the Atlantic Forest and includes about 3,500 orchids from 120 species. The Trilha do Mel at Orquidário is lined with six beehives housing native stingless bees. The nature theme thus ranges from the recreated forest habitat and orchid collection to the beehives along the trail.
Aquário de Santos is Brazil’s oldest aquarium and a pioneer in rescuing and rehabilitating marine animals. It is temporarily closed for renovations; check before your trip to see whether visits have resumed.
Parque Valongo and finding accommodations
Parque Valongo has two beach tennis courts. A floating pier in the park serves to welcome tourists and as a base for passenger transport. The park therefore offers both beach tennis courts and infrastructure for receiving and transporting passengers.
When choosing a hotel in Santos, the focus of your visit can be a useful starting point: are you most interested in the coastline, tram and city history, or nature? The places and activities mentioned show different sides of the city, allowing you to choose what matters most to you.
Discover more destinations: Peruíbe, Jacupiranga, Presidente Prudente, Álvares Machado, Jales, Barra do Rio Abaixo, Jaú, Pirapitingui.
For the main travel overview: São Paulo.
