Itapema sits on the BR-101, the main coastal highway running the length of southern Brazil, and is straightforward to reach by road. From Florianópolis the drive is about an hour to the south; from Curitiba five hours to the north. Long-distance buses on the BR-101 stop at the Itapema rodoviária, with frequent services to Balneário Camboriú, Florianópolis, Joinville, Curitiba, and São Paulo.
The nearest airport is Navegantes (NVT), around 30 km north, with daily flights from São Paulo, Rio, Brasília, and Porto Alegre. Florianópolis (FLN) offers more routes and is roughly 75 km south. Taxis and rideshares run from both. There is no train.