Before you go
Your trip to Canela.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Canela – RS Destination Serra Gaúcha about 123 km from Porto Alegre
How to get there
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Aeroporto Internacional Salgado Filho (POA) Porto Alegre · 101 km
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Rodoviária de Canela
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Canela is 123 km from Porto Alegre, about two hours by car, through Gramado, 8 km away. Citral buses leave from the Porto Alegre Bus Station on the Gramado line, and the company also picks up at Salgado Filho Airport. The nearest airport is in Caxias do Sul, about 70 km away; Salgado Filho, in Porto Alegre, has more flights.
How many days
One full day for the Cascata do Caracol, the Catedral de Pedra and the Skyglass. Two, if you want to include Mundo a Vapor and go to Gramado. Many people combine the two towns in three or four days.
When to go
Winter is cold, with frost, and July is the busiest month. Sonho de Natal runs from late October to mid-January, along with Gramado's Natal Luz, and the whole region fills up. The International Puppet Theater Festival takes place in April.
Do you need a car?
Not in the center: the Catedral de Pedra is on the main square. The Parque do Caracol, the Castelinho and the Skyglass are outside the center, on the Caracol road, and Mundo a Vapor is on the way out toward Gramado. For those, take a car, taxi, ride-hailing app or booked tour.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Canela
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Morning
Parque do Caracol
Arrive early and set aside the morning: the Cascata do Caracol, the viewpoints and the staircase.
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Morning
Castelinho Caracol
On the same road, near the park. The wooden house of a settler family, now a museum.
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Afternoon
Skyglass Canela
The glass platform over the valley, also on the Caracol road.
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Late afternoon
Catedral de Pedra
Back in the center, to see it as the light fades. At night, the facade is lit up.
2 days in Canela
Day 1
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Morning
Parque do Caracol
The same start: the waterfall first thing in the morning.
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Morning
Castelinho Caracol
Near the park. One hour is enough.
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Afternoon
Skyglass Canela
After lunch, on the same road.
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Late afternoon
Catedral de Pedra
To end the first day in the center.
Day 2
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Morning
Mundo a Vapor
Working steam engines and scale models. Good with kids; one to two hours.
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Afternoon
Lago Negro, in Gramado
8 km away. The walk around the lake and downtown Gramado fill the afternoon.
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Late afternoon
Rua Coberta, in Gramado
Coffee before heading back to Canela.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is the Parque do Caracol open?
Yes. The park reopened in 2025, after a renovation that rebuilt the panoramic viewpoint and added new facilities.
Can I take a bus from Gramado to Canela?
Yes. Citral connects the two centers throughout the day. It's about 8 km.
Canela or Gramado: where should I stay?
Canela is quieter and closer to the nature attractions, such as the Cascata do Caracol. Gramado has more restaurants and more going on at night. The two complement each other.
When is Sonho de Natal?
From late October to mid-January, with the town decorated and shows. It coincides with Gramado's Natal Luz: book lodging early.