Praça do Ferreira
This square was recently reformed and had its twentieth century characteristics restored. An excellent meeting place in the center of the city. During the evening the square features pleasant illumination. Location: Downtown
Metropolitan Cathedral
Impressive monument in neo-gothic style with towers reaching 75 m in height. Location: Downtown
Mercado Central (Central Market)
Recently built market where you can find herbs, clay pots, straw bags, bottles with sand, hammocks, laces, engravings, meshes, which makes this a great handicraft center. Location: Downtown – close to the Metropolitan Cathedral
Fortress of Our Lady of Assumption
Built by the Dutch in 1649 and rebuilt in 1817, the old Schönnenborch Fort nowadays holds the 10th military region within its walls. This is the birthplace of the city - in order to enter you must get an authorization in the reception. Phone: (0xx85) 3255-1600 Location: Av. Alberto Nepomuceno – Downtown – In front of Mercado Central
José de Alencar Theater
Built in 1908 in neoclassic and art-nouveau style, this theater was restored in 1990, with a major part of the metallic structures being made in Scotland. Was made a landmark by the National Historic Heritage.
Open to visitors Monday through Friday 8 to 11 AM and 2 to 5 PM Phone: (0xx85) 3252-2324 Location: Downtown - on José Alencar Square
Centro de Turismo (Tourism Center)
Former Public Jailhouse, in neoclassic style; features Popular Art, Culture and Mineralogy museums, and a handicraft market with more than 100 stores.
Open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 6 PM and Sundays from 8 AM to 12 noon. Phone: (0xx85) 3212-2493 Location: Rua Senador Pompeu, 350 - Downtown
Ponte Metálica (Metallic Bridge)
Also known as Ponte dos Ingleses (Bridge of the Englishmen), this is where the most beautiful sunset can be witnessed and, with a bit of luck, dolphins can be seen playing in the sea. Location: Iracema Beach
Iracema Beach
Renowned for the beauty of its seaside sidewalk, with plenty of bars for everyone. This is where the Ponte Metálica and the Centro Cultural Dragão do Mar are located.
Centro Cultural Dragão do Mar (Dragão do Mar Cultural Center)
Many communicating buildings compose the Centro Cultural, a modern edifice, which includes: a museum of Natural History, where there is a reproduction of the skeleton of a giant sloth; an anthropology museum, which aims to preserve the culture of the Indians who inhabited and still inhabit Ceará to this day; the Memorial da Cultural Cearense; as well as a library, theaters, cinemas and a planetarium. Location: Iracema Beach
Mausoleum Castelo Branco
This is the burial place of Ceará-born Humberto Alencar Castelo Branco, president of Brazil from 1964 to 1967. Location: Av. Barão de Studart - Meireles
Volta da Jurema
This is for those who care about their health. It’s a place where locals and tourists can take a stroll and practice sports (don't miss the praça dos estressados (“square for stressed people”). Area with a lot of bars and stalls, as well as a handicraft market (with the best prices) and the famous Iracema statue. There is a variety of peddlers selling typical food, among which we recommend Tapioca com leite moça and caipirinha. Location: Covers the Ideal Clube, Meireles, Varjota and Mucuripe beaches..
Iracema Statue
The immortal character in the work of the also immortal Ceará writer José de Alencar, Iracema, the Indian with the honeyed lips, used to bathe in our beaches. Location: Volta da Jurema – Mucuripe Beach
Parque do Cocó (Cocó Park)
The largest urban ecological zone in Latin America, it features a 446 hectare green area encrusted in the city, with a preponderance of mangroves. It is possible to go on a boat tour along the River Cocó and admire all the beauty of its fauna and flora. Location: Covers many areas of the city’s south region.
Farol do Mucuripe (Mucuripe Lighthouse)
Also known as farol velho (“old lighthouse”), this is an important landmark of Fortaleza. Disabled in 1959, nowadays it is only used for tourism. Location: Mucuripe Beach
Casa de José de Alencar (House of José de Alencar)
Small house where the great writer José de Alencar was born in 1823. Located on a ranch full of green, where it is also possible to see the ruins of what once was Ceará’s first steam engine.
Open for visitors on Mondays from 2 to 5 PM and Tuesdays through Sundays from 8 AM to 12 noon and from 2 to 5 PM. Location: Av. Perimetral - Sítio Alagadiço Novo, in Messejana
Regional
Cantinho do Faustino - Restaurant with home-made food, actually an adapted house owned by the cook, who prepares delicious seafood-based dishes, like the Sinfonia Marítima. Personalized service, welcoming rustic environment. We suggest the garden table. One star on the Quatro Rodas guide. - Rua Pereira Valente, 1569 Varjota
Colher de Pau - Bar/Restaurant usually frequented by bathers on their way back from the sea. Good cooking, a lot of bustle. There is another unit on Iracema Beach. - Rua Frederico Borges, 204
Alfredo - The King of the fish stew. The best peixada (fish stew) restaurant in the continent, with a tradition of at least 40 years, it also offers delicious lobster dishes. Used to be better. Located on Mirante Street, with another unit on Beira-Mar Avenue. - Rua do Mirante, 21 - Mucuripe
João Branco - In a Mucuripe alley. - Rua Olga Barroso, 404
Peixada do Meio - Avenida Beira Mar (Near Porto das Jangadas)
Sirigaddo - Rua Doutor Alísio Mamede, 227, Varjota, (300 seats). 11 PM or until last client leaves (Mon.–Sun.). Cc.: D, M e V. Cd.: all. T.: all. Parking lot. Air conditioner. Delivers at home. Avenida Barão de Studart, 825, Aldeota, phone 3261-7272 (500 seats). 11 PM or until last client leaves (Mon.–Sun.)
German
Hofbräuhaus - German bar and restaurant, where one can also savour a delicious Neapolitan pizza. We suggest filé ao molho camembert (fillet with camembert sauce), and the free snuff offered by the waiter after meals, as well as the Steinhagen. - Rua Costa Barros, 1088
Barbecue
Spettus - Av. Washington Soares, 909 Salinas Casa Shopping
Parque Recreio - Av. Rui Barbosa, 2727, Aldeota
Parque Recreio Sul - Rodízio; (Av. Perimetral, Seis Bocas, Cidade dos Funcionários)
Sal e Brasa - Av. Abolição, 3500
Santa Grelha- Rua Vicente Leite, 1062, Aldeota, (120 seats). 12 noon to 3 PM and 7 to midnight (Tue.–Thu.); 12 noon to 4 PM and 7 PM to 1 AM (Fri.–Sat.); and 11h10 AM to 5 PM (Sun.)
Italian
Família Giuliano - Av. Washington Soares, 909 Salinas Casa Shopping.
La Trattoria - A trattoria in Iracema Beach, the highlights are the exquisite décor and illumination, which compose a pleasant environment. Pricey. Iracema Beach.
Pulcinella - Rua Osvaldo Cruz, 640, Aldeota, (120 seats). 12 noon to 3 PM and 6 PM to 1 AM (Mon.–Thu.); and 12 noon to 2 AM (Fri.–Sun.). Cc.: all. Cd.: M, R and V. Cr.: V. Air. Delivers at home. Avenida Senador Virgílio Távora, 600, 4 PM to 1 AM (everyday including holidays).
Vignoli - Rua Osvaldo Cruz, 640, Aldeota, (120 seats). 12 noon to 3 PM and 6 PM to 1 AM (Mon.–Thu.); and 12 noon to 2 AM (Fri.–Sun.). Cc.: all. Cd.: M, R and V. Cr.: V. Air. Delivers at home. Avenida Senador Virgílio Távora, 600, 4 PM to 1 AM (everyday including holidays).
Japanese
Kingyo - Rua Pereira Valente, 1520, Varjota, (120 seats). 7 PM to 12h10min AM (Mon.–Sat.)
Milmares - Rua Frederico Borges, 496, Varjota, (246 seats). 11AM to 3 PM and 6 PM to midnight (Mon.–Thu.); and 11h10 to 1 AM (Fri.–Sun.)
Ice Cream Parlor
Sorveteria Tropical - Over 100 flavors, most of them typical fruits. We suggest sapoti and seriguela On Mucuripe, opposite the Mercado de Peixes.
Fortaleza has attained worldwide renown for its busy nightlife offering diverse options for both locals and visitors.
Fortaleza nights are pure fun. The city, which became famous for having the most lively Monday in all of Brazil, has options for all tastes. Avenida Beira Mar, Iracema Beach and the neighboring areas concentrate a large number of bars and restaurants, where animation is sure to be found everyday. Here is an itinerary with places worth checking:
Sunday
CENTRO DRAGÃO DO MAR DE ARTE E CULTURA - An area of over 30 thousand meters for art and culture, with attractions such as the Memorial da Cultura Cearense (Ceará Culture Memorial), Museu de Arte Contemporânea (Museum of Contemporary Art), Teatro Dragão do Mar (Dragão do Mar Theater), movie halls, the amphitheater, one auditorium and the planetarium. Working hours: from 2 to 10 PM; www.dragaodomar.org.br
Monday
PIRATA BAR - The bar with the liveliest Monday on Earth. This is worth checking, however be prepared for some sweat – although it is huge, the bar is always crowded. Open only on Mondays. - Rua dos Tabajaras, 325 – Iracema Beach www.pirata.com.br
Tuesday
ARRE ÉGUA - Was chosen ‘best forró’ in the city by Veja Fortaleza Magazine, in 2004. The bar is pleasant and the décor is typical of the sertão (inland Northeast Brazil). Open on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7 PM until the last client leaves. Rua Delmiro Gouveia, 420 - Varjota - (85) 3267.2325; www.arreegua.com.br
CROCOBEACH - Av. Zezé Diogo, 3125 - Praia do Futuro - (85) 3265. 6667; www.crocobeach.com.br
CHICO DO CARANGUEJO - Humor Thursday - Av. Zezé Diogo, 4930 - Praia do Futuro - (85) 3262. 0108; www.chicodocaranguejo.com.br
Friday
KUKUKAYA -
The place is decorated in the Northeast style and plays forró pé de serra. Open Thursday through Saturday, from 9 PM until the last client leaves. - Av. Pontes Vieira, 55 A, Joaquim Távora; www.kukukaya.com.br
ARRE ÉGUA - Was chosen ‘best forró’ in the city by Veja Fortaleza Magazine, in 2004. The bar is pleasant and the décor is typical of the sertão (inland Northeast Brazil). Open on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7 PM until the last client leaves. Rua Delmiro Gouveia, 420 - Varjota - (85) 3267.2325; www.arreegua.com.br
Saturday
MUCURIPE CLUBE -
This house offers six environments: Alfândega (Customs), Usina (Power plant), Túnel (Tunnel), Arena, Estação (Station) and Restaurante Vintage – with options for all tastes. - Open on Fridays and Saturdays. Travessa Maranguape, 108, Centro; www.mucuripe.com.br
East Coast
PLACE
TOWN
DISTANCE*
ACCESS
Porto das Dunas
Aquiraz
20 Km
CE-025
Prainha
Aquiraz
26 Km
CE-040 / CE-025
Iguape
Aquiraz
32 Km
CE-040 / CE-453
Caponga
Cascavel
75 Km
CE-040 / CE-253
Águas Belas
Cascavel
76 Km
CE-040 / CE-253
Morro Branco
Beberibe
85 Km
CE-040
Praia das Fontes
Beberibe
87 Km
CE-040
Pontal de Maceió
Fortim
138 Km
CE-040 / CE-121
Canoa Quebrada
Aracati
156 Km
CE-040 / BR-304
Majorlândia
Aracati
171 Km
CE-040 / BR-304
Icapuí
Icapuí
201 Km
CE-040 / BR-304 / CE-261
West Coast
PLACE
TOWN
DISTANCE*
ACCESS
Icaraí
Caucaia
12 Km
BR-222 / CE-085
Tabuba
Caucaia
17 Km
BR-222 / CE-085
Cumbuco
Caucaia
23 Km
BR-222 / CE-085
Pecém
São Gonçalo Amarante
60 Km
BR-222 / CE-421
Taíba
São Gonçalo Amarante
67 Km
BR-222 / CE-421
Paracuru
São Gonçalo Amarante
93 Km
BR-222 / CE-423 / CE-341
Lagoinha
Paraipaba
124 Km
BR-222 / CE-423 / CE-085
Fleixeiras
Trairí
148 Km
BR-222 / CE-423 / CE-085
Mundaú
Trairí
173 Km
BR-222 / CE-423 / CE-085
Baleia
Itapipoca
175 Km
BR-222 / BR-402 / CE-168
Icaraí de Amontada
Amontada
224 Km
BR-222 / BR-402 / CE-176
Almofala
Itarema
231 Km
BR-222 / BR-402 / CE-434 / CE-085
Aranaú
Acaraú
257 Km
BR-222 / BR-402 / CE-179
Barrinha
Cruz
269 Km
BR-222 / BR-402 / CE-179
Jericoacoara
Gijoca Jericoacoara
318 Km
BR-222 / BR-402 / CE-179 / CE-085
Tatajuba
Camocim
379 Km
BR-222 / CE-362 / CE-085
Bitupitá
Barroquinha
409 Km
BR-222 / CE-362 / CE-085
*Distância relativa à Fortaleza
Rua Visconde de Mauá, 151 - Meireles - Fortaleza - CE
Fone: (85) 3466-1900 | Fax : (85) 3466-1920