Recife travel guide
Recife Tourism | Recife Guide
You're Going to Love Recife
Recife is the capital of the northeastern state of Pernambuco and a vibrant, bustling coastal city. Settled by the Dutch, it has a fascinating Old Town and a modern skyline of gleaming towers along the beach. It is a city surrounded by water, with many canals and rivers as well as the reef-calmed ocean.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Recife
1. So Many Beaches
Recife is famous for its beaches and, in Boa Viagem Beach, has one of the best urban beaches in the world.
2. The Churches
The city is renowned for its beautiful churches, including the Golden Chapel, with its extravagant decoration.
3. Explore the Museums
Recife has many interesting museums, including the Abolition Museum, which focuses on slavery, and the Military Museum.
4. Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue
The oldest synagogue in South America makes for a fascinating visit.
5. Scuba Diving
Recife is known for its shipwrecks and reefs, making for some great diving experiences.
Where to Eat in Recife
Chica Pitanga on Rua Petrolina serves good regional food priced by weight, while Assucar on Rua da Alfândega serves classic northeastern Brazil dishes. Expect to pay around R$20 in a budget restaurant and R$80 for a main in Assucar.
When to visit Recife
Recife has a tropical climate, with an average temperature of 78 degrees, which changes little throughout the year. The dry season is September-March, which may be most comfortable for a visit.
How to Get to Recife
Plane
Guararapes-Gilberto Freyre International Airport serves the city with flights to Europe, North America, South America, and many Brazilian cities. You can get to the city by subway or bus, and a taxi will cost R$10.
Car
Recife is well connected to the national road network, with the BR-101 running north to south and the BR-232 running east to west.
Bus
Long distance buses arrive at Terminal Integrado de Passageiros Antônio Farias. Fares from Fortaleza are from R$120 and R$42 from Natal.
Airports near Recife
Airlines serving Recife
Where to stay in Recife
Albergue Maracatus do Recife offers budget dorm rooms right beside the beach. The Internacional Palace Hotel offers luxury rooms with a beach view.
Popular neighbourhoods in Recife
Recife Antigo - this is the old town and has some beautiful buildings and is home to the port area.
Boa Viagem - this is the spectacular beachfront area and is known as the Copacabana of northeast Brazil.
Olinda - Olinda is a beautiful beach town just four miles from the city center and has been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its 16th and 17th-century buildings.
Where to stay in popular areas of Recife
Most booked hotels in Recife
How to Get Around Recife
Public Transportation
Recife has an extensive bus network and a subway system. Single tickets cost from R$1.60.
Taxi
Recife has plenty of taxis, with starting fares set at R$4.75 and then R$3.50 per mile.
Car
The roads in Recife are well made but with lots of bridges and islands, the network can be a little confusing to navigate. Car rental is from R$60, and you'll find Avis and Hertz in town.
The Cost of Living in Recife
Shopping Streets
Casa da Cultura on Rue Floriano Peixoto is a mall in a converted prison selling local arts and crafts. Paço Alfândega on Rua da Alfândega is a modern mall selling fashion and electronics.
Groceries and Other
A quart of milk in Recife will cost R$3.83 and a dozen eggs are R$7.40.