Antonina is one of the old port towns of coastal Parana, tucked between Paranagua Bay and the green wall of the Serra do Mar. It is quieter than nearby Morretes and Paranagua, but that is part of the appeal: a waterfront, colonial churches, tiled houses, and mountains that press close behind town.
The centre is small enough to see on foot. Start around the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar and the old port, then continue to Ponta da Pita for the best view back across the bay. Antonina also claims a share in the origin story of barreado, the slow-cooked beef stew that defines this stretch of coast.
The town works best as a slow day from Curitiba or Morretes, especially if you combine the old centre with the bay and the forested edge of Pico Parana State Park. It is not a polished resort town, but it has enough texture to reward a traveller already nearby.