The city of Joinville stands in southern Brazil in the State of Santa Catarina. It is 7 miles south of the larger city of Curitiba on the BR-11 trunk road. Visitors with a hire car will find that Joinville doesn't stand directly on the ocean but there are plenty of sandy beaches within a short drive. You can drive or take a ferry to São Francisco do Sul, the island across the bay from Joinville. There's a fishing village with brightly painted old wooden cottages. The local domestic airport, Joinville-Lauro Carneiro de Loyola, is eight miles from the city centre.
The modern industrial and commercial city has grown up on a sheltered site just inland from the Atlantic on Babitonga Bay. If you hire a car in Joinville you'll be able to tour this prosperous city and its attractions easily. The highlights include a botanical garden and a zoo. There's a strong influence from German settlers here and as you drive around you'll notice Germanic architectural styles around the city. Look out too for the only Bolshoi Ballet School outside Russia, which is open for tours. The Caiera and Finder Hill Parks are both worth finding for their walking trails and spectacular views over the city and Babitonga Bay
