Discover the attractions of Blumenau beyond Oktoberfest – 05/24/2023 – Tourism
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The 40,000 square meters of Vila Germânica, in the heart of Blumenau (SC), are familiar to anyone who has been to or at least heard of Oktoberfest. Considered the biggest German party in the Americas, the event gathers thousands of beer lovers every year.
In 2022, for example, the city finally cured the hangover of the previous two years in which the festival had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. There were more than 634,000 people in the 19 days of the festival — a figure equivalent to almost twice the population of Blumenau. Between typical music and food, according to the Municipal Tourism Department, 683,000 liters of beer were consumed.
The 2023 edition, from October 4 to 22, promises to be even bigger, with more days of free entry. Ticket sales began in early May, via the event’s official website.
But not only on beer —or rather, on Oktoberfest— does tourism in Blumenau live. The city has other attractions, which range from museums and parks to luxury hotels.
How to get
For those traveling by plane, the closest airport is Navegantes, on the coast of Santa Catarina. From there, there are several transfer options to Blumenau. The service costs BRL 60, and the journey takes about an hour.
You can, of course, choose a path through other cities in the region, such as Joinville or even the capital, Florianópolis. In this case, the criterion is the geographic position or how much time you are willing to spend on the road — which can be a good way to see other attractions in the vicinity.
Where to stay
If you want luxury, the tip is the Villa do Vale Boutique Hotel. The accommodation is located in the center of Blumenau, but the guest tends to forget that, because the rooms are in a historic house on top of a hill where even the path, winding and tree-lined, helps to change the air.
It is an exclusive accommodation —after an expansion during the pandemic period, the hotel now has 20 suites, with daily rates starting at R$1,640—, and the service is focused on personalizing the experience, from pampering guests to the perks of receiving breakfast on time in the comfort of your room.
Try not to leave without trying the tapioca stuffed with blumenau sausage — an ingredient that, obviously, is present in various forms in almost all restaurants in the city.
Also in the center of Blumenau, in a privileged location, Hotel Glória became famous for its colonial coffee —considered by some to be the best in the city— which attracts guests and non-guests alike in the mornings and late afternoons. There, reservations can be made with daily rates of around R$ 250.
A more modest option and for those who enjoy contact with nature is Pousada Rio da Prata. Away from the center, in the region known as Nova Russia, the accommodation has six chalets, of different sizes, in the middle of the Atlantic forest — the place emerged from the initiative of its owners who, 30 years ago, created an NGO to preserve the forest .
What to do in Blumenau
Scenic bus tour
The most practical and quick way to get to know a good part of the city is to take the panoramic bus tour that covers almost 30 of the main tourist attractions.
For R$70 and for four hours, the experience led by guides shows everything, from the historic center to the Iron Bridge, one of the postcards, passing through places full of history and curiosities. It is possible to know, for example, the cat cemetery and the Carlos Gomes theater, shrouded in legends.
Beer Museum
Those who don’t want to leave Blumenau without knowing more about its brewing tradition can visit the museum dedicated to the drink. In addition to understanding the entire manufacturing process, the guided tour explains how beer is directly related to the roots of Blumenau, today considered the national capital of the drink.
There you will also understand how Oktoberfest, in addition to being a tourist phenomenon, is an expression of the city’s resilience, hit by historic floods that have left hundreds dead over the last few decades.
There is, of course, tasting included in the tour. The tip is to try the Catharina Sour, the result of the first internationally recognized Brazilian style of beer. There are labels with passion fruit, peach, jabuticaba. This reporter tried it and loved it, but, spoiler: the acidity makes it something along the lines of “love it or hate it”. The Beer Museum is open every day from 9am to 7pm. Admission costs BRL 60.
German Village Park
Another attraction usually related to the drink, but which should please several audiences is the Parque da Vila Germânica, which hosts the Oktoberfest. The rest of the year, the place remains very active. On special dates, such as Easter and Christmas, the characteristic decoration catches the eyes of visitors. There are also seasonal fairs aimed, for example, at sectors such as weddings and furniture, which attract consumers and businessmen. In addition, the dozens of restaurants on site, many of them in the traditional half-timbered style, serve typical German food daily.
Hering Museum
Outside of the gastronomic theme, an attraction is the Hering Museum, a brand in the textile industry, which was born in Blumenau. The space displays, in addition to the company’s first steps and some of its accomplishments, historical records of how the creation of the factory helped the city to develop.
An extra charm on the tour is the visit to the hanging garden designed by the famous landscaper Roberto Burle Marx, the same man who designed the Copacabana boardwalk. The visit is free and can be scheduled on the Hermann Hering Foundation website.
Where to eat
Blumenau’s pride in its German origins is very clearly reflected in its gastronomy. The young restaurant Norden Bar & Biergarten, for example, opened during the pandemic in a 125-year-old house, serves what is perhaps the best schweinehaxe (roasted pork knuckle accompanied by sauerkraut and dumplings) that you can taste in the city.
Senac Blumengarten, on the other hand, honors the historic building it occupies, home to the first maternity hospital in Blumenau, and helps to form new future names in haute cuisine every year. It’s the restaurant where you can’t leave without trying the traditional schnitzel (breaded pork meat) and the classic apple strudel.
Blumenau has a very relevant Italian community in numerical, cultural and, of course, gastronomic terms. Worthy of note is the restaurant Funiculì Funiculà, located in a building listed as a historic heritage, which emulates the flavors of the cantinas of southern Italy like few others.
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