Recife
Spread across three islands linked by fifty bridges over the Capibaribe River, Recife pairs its 1537 port quarter, the Brennand castle and ceramic parks, and UNESCO-listed Frevo music with colonial Olinda and the coral reefs of Porto de Galinhas.
Quick decisions
- How many days? Spend 3 to 4 days to cover Recife Antigo and Santo Antônio, UNESCO-listed Olinda and the two Brennand museums in Várzea, plus a full-day coastal trip to Porto de Galinhas or Praia dos Carneiros.
- Where should I stay? Choose Boa Viagem for modern oceanfront hotels and restaurants 10 minutes from the airport, or stay in a colonial pousada on the cobblestone hills of Olinda for garden views and heritage charm.
- Do I need a car? You do not need a car inside Recife and Olinda; Uber and 99 link Boa Viagem, Recife Antigo, Várzea, and Olinda easily, while day-trip vans or rental cars serve Porto de Galinhas and Carneiros.
- Best for: Seventeenth-century Dutch-Portuguese history, monumental ceramic sculpture and armour collections, UNESCO-listed Carnival music, colonial hilltop churches, and low-tide coral reef pools.
- Before you go: Check the official daily tide table (tábua de marés) so you visit Boa Viagem, Porto de Galinhas, and Praia dos Carneiros at low tide (0.0 to 0.5 m) when the natural reef pools are calm and clear.
- Getting around: Use Uber or 99 between districts, walk the pedestrian streets around Marco Zero and Alto da Sé in Olinda, and take a catamaran tour along the Capibaribe River bridges.
- Continue your trip: Pair Recife with the Afro-Brazilian heritage of Salvador, the modernist capital Brasília, or the southern island beaches of Florianópolis.
Overview
Chartered on 12 March 1537 at the mouth of the Capibaribe and Beberibe Rivers, Recife is the oldest of Brazil's state capitals. Spread across three central islands (Recife, Santo Antônio, and Boa Vista) connected by more than fifty bridges, the capital of Pernambuco takes its name from the natural calcified sandstone reefs (arrecifes) that shelter its Atlantic shoreline. Between 1630 and 1654, the city served as Mauritsstad, capital of Dutch Brazil under Count Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen, who built the first bridges, botanical garden, astronomical observatory, and synagogue in the Americas. Today, Recife combines the restored port warehouses, Paço do Frevo, and Cais do Sertão of Recife Antigo with the extraordinary forested castle and ceramic temples of the Brennand cousins in Várzea, while six kilometres north rises the UNESCO World Heritage hilltop town of Olinda.
Getting there
Recife/Guararapes Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) sits right inside the southern city limits just 3 kilometres from Boa Viagem Beach and 11 kilometres from Recife Antigo, connected by Uber and the Linha Sul metro.
Where to stay
Base yourself along the palm-lined boardwalk of Boa Viagem and Pina for oceanfront hotels and dining, or stay in a historic townhouse pousada atop the cobblestone hills of Olinda.
Things to do
Explore Marco Zero and Rua do Bom Jesus in Recife Antigo, climb the Baroque hills of UNESCO-listed Olinda, dedicate an afternoon to Instituto Ricardo Brennand and Oficina Francisco Brennand, and take a low-tide day trip to Porto de Galinhas.
Food and drink
Taste paper-thin bolo de rolo layered with guava paste, warm cartola with fried plantain and butter cheese, beachside mugs of shrimp caldinho, and freshly griddled coconut tapioca at Alto da Sé in Olinda.
Culture
Recognised by UNESCO in 2012 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the brass fanfares and acrobatic umbrella steps of Frevo join Afro-Brazilian Maracatu drums and giant puppets to animate Recife and Olinda all year.
Weather by month
Recife is warmest in February, with average highs around 31°C, and coldest in August, when nights drop to about 21°C. June is the wettest month, with rain on about 22 days.
| Month | Low | Range | High | Rain | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°C | 31°C | 70 mm | 10 d | |
| Feb | 23°C | 31°C | 77 mm | 11 d | |
| Mar | 23°C | 31°C | 105 mm | 15 d | |
| Apr | 23°C | 30°C | 126 mm | 18 d | |
| May | 22°C | 29°C | 140 mm | 20 d | |
| Jun | 22°C | 28°C | 154 mm | 22 d | |
| Jul | 21°C | 28°C | 154 mm | 22 d | |
| Aug | 21°C | 28°C | 119 mm | 17 d | |
| Sep | 22°C | 29°C | 77 mm | 11 d | |
| Oct | 22°C | 30°C | 56 mm | 8 d | |
| Nov | 23°C | 30°C | 42 mm | 6 d | |
| Dec | 23°C | 31°C | 56 mm | 8 d |
Averages of daily values from 2015 to 2024. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm of rain. Source: Open-Meteo · Compare destinations by month.
Recife on the map
Every place we cover in Recife. Tap a category or pin to explore.
In-depth Recife guides
Browse the guides grouped by topic: sights, neighbourhoods, food, transport, day trips and trip planning.
Sights, Landmarks & Parks
Key monuments, viewpoints, museums and nature trails.
- 12 Best Things to Do in Recife & Olinda: Marco Zero, Brennand, Churches & ReefsDiscover the 12 best things to do in Recife and Olinda: visit Marco Zero, Kahal Zur Israel, the two Brennand museums, UNESCO-listed Olinda, and Porto de Galinhas.
- 3 Days in Recife & Olinda Itinerary: Marco Zero, Olinda, Brennand & Reef PoolsPlan the perfect 3 days in Recife and Olinda: cover Recife Antigo and Capela Dourada on Day 1, UNESCO-listed Olinda and the Brennand museums on Day 2, and Porto de Galinhas on Day 3.
- Recife Antigo Guide: Marco Zero, Rua do Bom Jesus & Kahal Zur Israel (1636)Explore Recife Antigo (Bairro do Recife): stand at Marco Zero, cross to Francisco Brennand's Sculpture Park, walk Rua do Bom Jesus, and visit the 1636 Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue.
- Olinda UNESCO Historic Centre Guide: Alto da Sé, São Bento & Giant PuppetsExplore the UNESCO World Heritage town of Olinda (6 km north of Recife): visit the 1582 Monastery of São Bento, Alto da Sé, Franciscan azulejos, and Rua do Amparo.
- Instituto Ricardo Brennand & Oficina Francisco Brennand Guide (Várzea, Recife)Visit Recife's two extraordinary art estates in the forested Várzea district: the castle museum and Frans Post collection at Instituto Ricardo Brennand, and Oficina Cerâmica Francisco Brennand.
- Santo Antônio & São José Guide: Capela Dourada (1696), Casa da Cultura & BridgesExplore historic Santo Antônio and São José Island in central Recife: visit the gilded Baroque Capela Dourada (1696), Pátio de São Pedro, Casa da Cultura, and Mercado de São José.
- Boa Viagem Beach & Pina Guide: Natural Sandstone Reefs, Tide Pools & BoardwalkExplore Recife's 8-km urban shoreline of Praia de Boa Viagem and Pina: swim in the shallow low-tide sandstone reef pools, walk the palm promenade, and visit Pracinha de Boa Viagem.
- Capibaribe River Catamaran, Cais do Sertão & Paço do Frevo Guide, RecifeSail beneath the historic bridges of the 'Brazilian Venice' on a Capibaribe River catamaran tour in Recife, and explore Cais do Sertão and the UNESCO-listed Paço do Frevo.
Neighbourhoods & Where to Stay
Districts, historic quarters and the best bases for your stay.
- Recife & Olinda: Dutch History, Brennand Museums & Coral ReefsPlan your visit to Recife and Olinda, Brazil: explore the three islands of historic Recife, UNESCO-listed Olinda, the two Brennand museums, and Porto de Galinhas.
- Best Time to Visit Recife & Olinda: Dry Reef Season, Carnival & Tide TablesMonth-by-month weather guide to Recife and Olinda using official 1991-2020 INMET normals: compare the sunny September-February dry season, Carnival, and winter rains.
- Where to Stay in Recife & Olinda: Boa Viagem Beach vs Historic Olinda PousadasCompare the best areas to stay in Recife and Olinda: oceanfront Boa Viagem and Pina for modern hotels and dining, colonial Olinda pousadas, or Recife Antigo.
Food & Drink
Local dishes, markets, cafés and dining districts.
Getting Around & Arrival
Airport transfers, public transit, passes and driving rules.
Day Trips & Excursions
Easy half-day and full-day trips from the city.
- Porto de Galinhas & Praia dos Carneiros Day Trips Guide: Reefs, Jangadas & PalmsPlan a day trip south from Recife to Porto de Galinhas and Praia dos Carneiros: sail by jangada to natural coral reef pools, see Muro Alto, and visit the 18th-century beachfront chapel.
- Ilha de Itamaracá, Forte Orange (1631) & Historic Igarassu Day Trip GuideExplore Pernambuco's Northern Coast from Recife: visit Brazil's oldest church (1535) in Igarassu, tour the 1631 Dutch star fort of Forte Orange on Ilha de Itamaracá, and cross to Coroa do Avião.
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