Recife Voyage Tips and guide

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Recife, the capital of Pernambuco, is one of the largest and most important cities on the northeastern coast of Brazil. This lively capital, founded by Dutch colonizers, is brimming with a vibrant culture, an interesting old town (which includes the oldest synagogue in the Americas) and some nice beaches.

Recife (Portuguese: "The Reef") is on the Atlantic coast, at the estuary of the Capibaribe, Beberibe and Jordão Rivers, close to the easternmost point of the Americas. The city, which is only two meters above sea level (some parts are below), is distributed across rivers, canals and islands.

Due to the prevalence of waterways in its geography, Recife is known as Veneza Brasileira (Brazilian Venice). Its 1.7 million inhabitants (2020), 3.7 million in the Grande Recife, are called recifenses. Services are the base of the economy. Despite the high incidence of poverty, the municipal Human Development Index (HDI) in 2000 (0.810) was above Brazil's national average (0.800). Recife is famous for its beaches, history, Carnaval, arts and cuisine.

The city can be roughly divided in four major areas:

• The Centro (Center) is composed of the neighborhoods of Recife Antigo (Old Recife), Santo Antônio, São José, Santo Amaro and Boa Vista, which are scattered through a couple of islands and part of the mainland. They are connected to each other by a series of bridges over the Capibaribe River. The Centro contains most of the historic and government buildings in the city. The port, which is in Recife Antigo, was once the most active in all of the Americas.
• Zona Sul (South Zone) is the most modern and touristic part of the city, as it was built around the beautiful natural reef beaches that gave the city its name. This area has a great many hotels, restaurants, bars, the airport, and the largest shopping mall. Its most important neighborhood is Boa Viagem, set along the beautiful Boa Viagem beach. Because of the beach and the skyline Boa Viagem is also called the Copacabana of the North East.
• Zona Oeste (West Zone) is by far the greenest part of the city. It contains remnants of the Atlantic Forest that once covered most of the Brazilian eastern coast. It contains two famous museums (Instituto Ricardo Brennand and Museu-Oficina Francisco Brennand), as well as the Federal University of Pernambuco, and the Recife Military school (2nd best school around all Brazil).
• Zona Norte (North Zone) is mostly a residential area. Throughout the centuries, the neighborhoods along the Capibaribe River were home to the local aristocracy. It contains the city's best schools and hospitals, and is also famous for its parks and bars.

The term Grande Recife is used to describe the Metropolitan Region of Recife, the fifth largest urban agglomeration in Brazil (after São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre) and the single largest in the Northeast. Grande Recife offers superb touristic attractions inside and outside the city limits. Do not miss Olinda or Porto de Galinhas. The first is famous for its natural setting, colonial architecture and carnaval, while the second has been consistently voted the best beach in Brazil. Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Itamaracá Island and Igarassu are known for their beautiful beaches and important historical monuments.

A collection of fishing shacks, inns and warehouses started on the delta between the Capibaribe and Beberibe rivers in the captaincy of Pernambuco, sometime between 1535 and 1537, at the long reef (actually a petrified sandbank) that runs parallel to the shoreline, enclosing its harbor. Here is found the city's -8.06315-34.8711691 Marco Zero. Eventually it became a port for the capital Olinda, which is just across the Beberibe. In 1630 came the Dutch invaders, establishing the colony of New Holland. They laid siege to Olinda, pillaging it in 1631, and built a new city on the island of Antônio Vaz opposite the first settlement, naming it Mauritsstadt, after count Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen, governor from 1637 to 1644. His Vrijburg palace was built at the spot where Republic Square is today. Mauritsstadt's map shows two large forts, built of earth and wood, on either side of the walled city; the four-pointed northern one, Fort Ernest, was demolished to make way for the present Princesses' Field Palace. The five-pointed southern one, Fort Frederik Hendrik, has survived, rebuilt in stone, officially renamed Five-Pointed Fort, and has long been home to the Recife City Museum.

Nassau was a tolerant man, and allowed freedom of religion, but the Dutch West India Company bosses were hardline Calvinists, severe in architecture and taxation. This frustrated Nassau, who went home and left the company to impose its own rule, which drove the natives to rebellion. After the Dutch West India Company's larger, better equipped army's defeat (albeit a narrow one) to a Portuguese and Native force in the 1649 Guararapes battle at Recife's outskirts, opinion in Amsterdam considered that "Dutch Brazil by now no longer has a future worth fighting for". The last invaders were expelled in 1654, and a sizable resident Sephardic Jew community moved to New Amsterdam.

After the Dutch Period, Recife saw an influx of wealthy Portuguese merchants (mascates). They soon dominated the local economy making profits off the sugar industry, and started dominating political life too. Recife rose from a satellite town of Olinda to an independent city. The sugar plantation owners who previously formed the "aristocracy" of the region had not only been demoted but many were indebted to the merchants, and the frustration lead to the War of the Mascates in 1710-11 between the two groups. While the Pernambuco region had lost its position as the world center of sugar production it had before the Dutch period, it would still remain a rich and important part of Brazil.

The next major event would take place about a century later. The Portuguese court had fled the forces of Napoleon in 1807 and settled in Rio de Janeiro for some years. This also contributed to making Brazil a monarchy (headed by the same dynasty as in Portugal) for most of the 19th century. But the residents of the northeast wanted to establish a republic, like for instance the former Spanish colonies and the USA.

The first revolt against the Portuguese was the Pernambuco Revolution of 1817, starting in Recife, which was put down by the Rio goverment in a couple of months. This event however turned the general opinion in Brazil towards seeking independence from Portugal, which would happen in 1822. However Pernambuco had seceded from the Portuguese Empire already a year earlier (though it was soon incorporated into Brazil), and further separation attempts followed in 1824 and 1848-50. In 1889 then Brazil became a republic.

The capital of Pernambuco since 1827, Recife was spared the fate that often awaited rebellious cities and regions back in the day (and still does in some parts of the world). The city grew steadily with a population of well above 100,000 in 1870, doubling in 1920, exceeding a million inhabitants in 1970 and today it's Brazil's fourth populous city. As the city grew in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many of the landmarks of today were built, however at the expense of earlier colonial architecture. Also the some of most famous dancing groups of the yearly Carnaval were established during this time.

In 1930, Recife would again be the starting point for a new chapter in Brazilian political history. João Pessoa who was the running mate of Getúlio Vargas who had just lost the presidential election was shot dead in Recife, leading to unrest around Brazil known as the 1930 Brazilian revolution and ultimately the proclamation of the Second Republic with Vargas as president.

Beginning in the 1930s, the city was developed in a more modern direction under young landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994). A couple of decades later, Recife as it's known today emerged, together with the Boa Viagem beach, first a summer resort for the elite, but now one of the most popular beaches in northeastern Brazil.

Recife has also remained a place for events reshaping Brazil's political life. A military junta ruled Brazil from 1964, and in the early 1980s a movement named Diretas Já demanding direct elections was formed. Eventually this led to free elections, a new constitution and restoration of democracy. Their first demonstration was held in 1983 in the town of Abreu e Lima, just north of Recife. One of the movement members was present-day president (as of 2025) Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, himself from Pernambuco.

The climate is tropical, with two main seasons: dry (September–March) and rainy (April–August). Average annual temperature is 26°C (78.8°F), with limited variation.

• Recife Tourism information portal
• Recife Antigo, Rua da Guia, ☏ +55 81 3232-2942. Daily 09:00-21:00. 
• Mercado de São José, Rua da Guia. M-Sa 07:00-19:00. 
• Praça de Boa Viagem, Rua da Guia, ☏ +55 81 3182-8297. Daily 08:00-20:00. 
• Airport, ☏ +55 81 3322-4353. 24 hours a day. 
• Rodoviária, ☏ +55 81 3452-1704. Daily 07:00-19:00. 
• Pátio de São Pedro, ☏ +55 81 3452-1704. 

• -8.126389-34.9227781 Guararapes-Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC  ^IATA). A modern, efficient, user-friendly and close to the city. There are, as of January 2025, direct scheduled flights domestically from major cities in Brazil, and internationally from Buenos Aires (both Aeroparque and Ezeiza), Montevideo, Santiago de Chile, Asunción, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Lisbon.  

• MetroRec Subway has an Aeroporto stop on its southern line which will take you directly downtown.
• Bus 033 (Aeroporto) goes every 20 minutes to Boa Viagem (15 min) and to the city center (Av. Dantas Barreto, 30 min). You can also take the Aeroporto opcional which is a little bit faster. Stop in front of the airport building.
• Bus 161 (Brigadeiro Ivo Borges) and Bus 163 (Cajueiro Seco) also go to the city center. Stop on the other side of the street opposite the airport building.
• Taxis are also available.

You may also want to consider flying to the airports of Maceió, Natal or João Pessoa. From there you can take an intercity bus or shared ride with Blablacar to Recife.

• BR-101, also known as the Translitoranean, connects to the north with Natal and João Pessoa, and to the south with Maceió, Aracaju, and Salvador, as well as Vitória and Rio de Janeiro further down the coast.
• BR-232 runs east-west across most of Pernambuco, connecting Recife with Gravatá, Caruaru and other destinations.
• BR-408 connects Recife with Tracunhaém and with Campina Grande, Paraíba.

• -8.0637-34.98192 Terminal Integrado de Passageiros (TIP), Rod BR 232 - Coqueiral, ☏ +55 81 3452-1999. Recife's long-distance bus terminal is way out in the suburbs. TIP is connected to the city by the MetroRec subway at the Rodoviária station on the Centro 1 line, around 15 minutes from downtown. Bus companies have booths at the Central MetroRec station in town, so at least you do not have to trek out just to buy advance bus tickets. 

Direct buses from all Northeast and many other capital cities:

• From Fortaleza by Guanabara, R$90-120 (April 2021), 12 hours.
• From Natal by Progresso, R$80 (April 2021), 4½ hours.
• Hourly from João Pessoa
• From Maceió from R$80 (April 2021)

Especially from Maceió and Natal you can get a better price from the frequent shared rides. Have a look on Blablacar.

Cruise ships sometimes call at the Port of Recife. However cruises heading all the way here are usually on a trip around the world or something similar and as therefore much more expensive than your typical five-day cruise in the Caribbean or Mediterranean. There may also be domestic cruises from other Brazilian states, and from Recife to the Fernando de Noronha archipelago.

8°3′43″S 34°52′37″W

Map of Recife

Uber operates in Recife with available pickups at the airport.

Look for registered taxi companies which charge standard rates. Ask for a car with air conditioning (especially in the summer).

• Coopetáxi, ☏ +55 81 3224-8441. 
• Disk Táxi, ☏ +55 81 3224-5410. 
• Ligue Táxi, ☏ +55 81 3228-6830. 
• RádioTáxi Recife, ☏ +55 81 3222-6580. 
• Recife Táxi, ☏ +55 81 3424-3020. 
• TeleTáxi, ☏ +55 81 2121-4242. 

Buses are the most useful form of mass transportation. The Sistema Estrutural Integrado (SEI), has 119 bus lines which are integrated with the subway system at 13 points throughout the metropolitan area.

Metro Recife, Recife's subway system, is the third largest in Brazil, although it covers only limited areas of the city. 13 of the 28 stations have connections to the SEI metro bus system and, depending on your destination, it may be possible to purchase a single combination subway/bus ticket. MetroRec has three basic lines:

• Two Central lines run together from downtown to the west, where they split after Coqueiral station and go to Jaboatão dos Guararapes and Camaragibe respectively. It does provide a useful link between the city center and the TIP Bus Station in the outskirts, at the penultimate stop on the Camaragibe (Centro 1) line.
• The South line provides direct access to the airport and Shopping Center Recife on its way to Cajueiro Seco.

Recife is known for its amazing beaches.

• -8.1274-34.89752 Boa Viagem Beach (Praia de Boa Viagem). Probably one of the world's best urban beaches, with pristine white sands. With 8 km of hotels and restaurants, it is the longest urbanized stretch of beach in Brazil. If you want a tan, you came to the right place. The beach road has a wide walkway attached and this is dotted with huts selling food and drink. Try the traditional "água de coco" (coconut water). The beach is full of vendors selling food and drink. There are also vendors selling t-shirts, hats, suncream, sunglasses. These guys can get a bit insistent. Simply smile and one word will have them on their way: não (pronounced "nawwn"). The beach is somewhat protected by a coral reef wall visible at low tide, making it good for a swim, but don't go out past the wall, as the waters are more dangerous, with sharks reported in the area. (updated Jan 2021)

• -8.08461-34.877853 Brasilia Teimosa Beach (Praia de Brasília Teimosa). A smaller and less frequented beach near the port. (updated Jan 2021)

• -8.0943-34.88174 Pina Beach (Praia do Pina). A well-developed and popular beach north of Boa Viagem Beach. It's a little more relaxed, with weak waves. (updated Jan 2021)

• -8.062417-34.8773615 Convento Franciscano de Santo Antônio (Franciscan Convent of Saint Anthony), Rua Imperador Pedro II, Santo Antônio, (Centro). M-F 08:00-11:30, 14:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-11:30. One of the city's biggest attractions, a convent containing the ostentatious Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel), which certainly lives up to its name. Built in 1588, it is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Brazil. Altar with gold-covered engravings, beautiful paintings on the ceiling and impressive amount of Portuguese-style tiled panels. This is one of the main sights in Recife. The interior of rosewood and cedar is completely covered with gold. You will find similar churches full of splendour only in Salvador da Bahia or Ouro Preto. The convent also houses the Museu Franciscano de Arte Sagrada (Franciscan Museum of Sacred Art). R$2.  
• -8.064223-34.8738986 Igreja da Madre de Deus (Mother of God Church), Rua Madre de Deus, Recife Antigo (Centro) (next-door to the Paço Alfândega Shopping Mall), ☏ +55 81 3224-5587. Tu-F 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00; Sa Su 09:00-12:00. Completed in 1709, the construction was financed by Antônio Fernandes de Matos, one of the city's many wealthy merchants. The baroque interior is impressive with carvings and details in gold.  
• -8.06602-34.8800517 Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Our Lady of Carmel Basilica and Convent), Avenida Dantas Barreto - Santo Antônio (Centro). M-F 07:00-19:00, Sa 07:00-12:00, Su 08:00-12:00 and 18:00-21:00. Built between 1710-1767, where the Boa Vista Palace built by the Dutch governor of Northeastern Brazil once stood. A religious art collection can also be visited. Baroque in style; altar with gold engravings and crowns of gold and precious stones. One of the rooms is covered with Portuguese tiles.  
• -8.064313-34.8801558 Nossa Senhora da Conceição dos Militares (Our Lady of the Conception of the Military), Rua Nova, 309, Santo Antônio (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3224-3106. Built in 1726. The 1781 ceiling paintings depict the Guararapes Battle against the Dutch. Leaders from the Praieira Revolution and the Paraguay War are buried in the church. The church also houses the Museu de Arte Sacra Padre Roberto Barbalho (Father Roberto Barbalho Museum of Sacred Art).  
• -8.056157-34.870199 Nossa Senhora do Pilar, Praça Monsenhor João Castilho Barbosa, (Centro), ☏ +55 31 3551-4736. Constructed in 1680, on the site of Fort of São Jorge which had been damaged by the Dutch a few decades earlier. Interestingly, material from the fort was used when building the church.  
• -8.065447-34.8778610 Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Homens Pretos (Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black Men), Rua Estreita do Rosário, Santo Antônio (Centro). M-F 09:00-13:30 and 14:30-18:00, Sa 08:00-12:00. Erected by African-Brazilian slaves in the 17th century. Main wooden altar engraved in gold; lateral altars display images from the 18th century.  
• -8.06253-34.8880911 Santa Cruz (Holy Cross), Pátio de Santa Cruz, Boa Vista (Centro). Built between 1725 and 1732. Parts of the movie Lisbela e o Prisioneiro (2003) were shot in the square in front of the church. 
• -8.064212-34.87890812 Santíssimo Sacramento - Matriz de Santo Antônio (Holy Sacrament - Saint Anthony Mother Church), Praça da Independência - Santo Antônio (Centro). Daily 07:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00. Built between 1753 and 1790, the church is in manueline/baroque style. Interior decorated with enormous crystal chandelier and images of Saint Anthony and Saint Sebastian.  
• -8.067155-34.87912513 São Pedro dos Clérigos (Saint Peter of Clerics Cathedral, Co-Cathedral of Recife), Pátio de São José - Centro. Built between 1728 and 1782, the cathedral is in the charming Saint Peter Square, surrounded by colorful colonial buildings. It is a replica of the Santa Maria Maggiore Sanctuary in Rome. Rosewood altar; pulpit engraved in gold; wooden ceiling sculpted with images of Saint Peter, the twelve apostles and the evangelists. Blend of baroque art, 16th-century mannerism, as well as rococo and neoclassic elements.  
• -8.132-34.900914 Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem (Our Lady of Good Voyage). The beach of Boa Viagem takes its name from a small 18th century church dedicated to Our Lady of Good Voyage, the patron saint of travelers and sailors. (updated Jan 2025)

• -8.05686-34.9090115 Abolition Museum (Museu da Abolição), Rua Benfica, 1150 - Madalena (Zona Norte), ☏ +55 81 3228-3248. Museum that covers the period of slavery and the abolitionist movement in 19th-century Brazil. Former plantation house. Former residence of Counsellor João Alfredo, leader of Brazil's abolitionist movement in the 19th century.  
• -8.059689-34.88122316 Casa Manuel Bandeira/Espaço Pasárgada, Rua da União, 26 - Boa Vista (Centro) (next door to Joaquim Nabuco Palace and Pernambucan School), ☏ +55 81 3231-3994. M-F 08:00-18:00. House were the acclaimed poet Manuel Bandeira spent his childhood.  
• -8.020259-34.93891117 Casa-Museu Gilberto Freyre, Rua Jorge Tasso Neto - Apipucos (Zona Norte), ☏ +55 81 3441-1733. M-F 09:00-16:30. Beautiful house where once lived Brazil's greatest sociologist, Gilberto Freyre.  

• -8.052897-34.87086318 Military Museum Brum Fortress (Museu Militar Forte do Brum), Praça da Comunidade Luso-Brasileira - Recife Antigo (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3224-7559. Military museum in a fort, displaying military equipment from colonial times up to WWII.  
• -8.061667-34.88444419 Museum of the Archeological, Historic and Geographic Institute of Pernambuco (Museu do Instituto Arqueológico, Histórico e Geográfico de Pernambuco), Rua do Hospício, 130 - Boa Vista (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3222-4952. M-F 13:00-17:00, Sa 08:00-12:00. The oldest museum in Brazil, established in 1866. It has extensive collections about the history of Pernambuco from prehistoric to colonial times.  
• -8.05623-34.8886520 Museum of Archeology of the Catholic University of Pernambuco (Museu de Arqueologia da Universidade Católica de Pernambuco), Rua do Príncipe, 526, Bl G, 1° Andar - Boa vista (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3216-4192. Archeological museum focused on indigenous artifacts. Located at the Catholic University of Pernambuco. 
• -8.058-34.8791821 Museum of Natural History Louis Jacques Brunet (Museu de História Natural Louis Jacques Brunet), Rua da Aurora - Boa Vista (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3303-5315. Created in 1861, it is one of the first natural history museums in Latin America. Located at Ginásio Pernambucano. Collection spans archeology, botany, geology and zoology. 
• -8.030278-34.92522 Museum of the Northeastern Man (Museu do Homem do Nordeste), Avenida 17 de Agosto, 2187, Casa Forte (Zona Norte) (take the), ☏ +55 81 3441-5500. Tu-F 08:30-17:00; Sa Su 13:00-17:00; closed Jan 1, Carnaval, Mar 6, Good Friday, Jun 24, Dec 25. Part of the Fundação Joaquim Nabuco. This fantastic museum depicts the various folk arts, traditions, and history of Northeast Brazil. The displays are divided among three sections, focusing on sugar, folk arts, and anthropology. It's in the suburbs, but well worth the ride out.  
• -8.044732-34.90176123 Museum of the State of Pernambuco (Museu do Estado de Pernambuco), Avenida Rui Barbosa, 960 - Graças (Zona Norte). Tu-F 10:00-17:00, Sa Su 14:00-17:00. Objects from the history of the state on display, from a Dutch bronze cannon to Afro-Brazilian art.  
• -8.07176-34.8808724 Recife City Museum (Museu da Cidade do Recife), Forte das Cinco Pontas - São José (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3224-8492. M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa Su 13:00-17:00. Inside the 17th-century Five Pointed Fort, the former Fort Frederik Hendrik. Presenting the history of the city.  

• -8.065753-34.96414225 Ricardo Brennand Institute (Instituto Ricardo Brennand), Alameda Antônio Brennand - Várzea (Zona Oeste), ☏ +55 81 2121-0352. Tu-Su 13:00-17:00. Holds a very impressive collection of Brazilian and European historical artifacts from the 15th to 19th centuries. Special attention given to the period of Dutch occupation in Recife and Northeastern Brazil.  
• -8.06747-34.8835926 Train Museum (Museu do Trem), Praça Visconde de Mauá - São José (Centro) (in the central station, Estação Central), ☏ +55 81 3224-4620. M-Th 13:00-18:00, F 08:00-12:00. The Train Museum is in the old Central Train Station, which now also serves as the central station for MetroREC, Recife's subway system.  

• -8.06127-34.88144127 Aluísio Magalhães Modern Art Museum (Museu de Arte Moderna Aluísio Magalhães - MAMAM), Rua da Aurora, 265 - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3232-2188. Tu-Su 12:00-18:00. Modern art from the 1920s until the present day on display in seven rooms of an 19th century mansion. There is also a library with literature about modern art.  
• -8.06699-34.8792328 Casa do Carnaval, Pátio de São Pedro, 52 - São José (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3224-1103. M-F 09:00-17:30. The "house of Carnaval" is a documentation center for the yearly event, with books, photographs and the like (some of it available in digital format). 
• -8.06421-34.8801229 Museu de Arte Sacra Padre Roberto Barbalho, Rua Nova, 309 - Santo Antônio (Centro) (inside Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao dos Militares Church), ☏ +55 81 3224-3106. The museum contains religious artifacts. 
• -8.062429-34.87722530 Museu Franciscano de Arte Sacra, Rua Imperador Pedro II - Santo Antônio (Centro) (at Santo Antônio de São Francisco Convent). Founded in 1974, it's a museum of religious items such as vestments, statues and chandeliers.  
• -8.037131-34.90997431 Museu Murillo La Greca, Rua Leonardo Bezerra Cavalcanti, 366 - Parnamirim (Zona Norte), ☏ +55 81 3232-4276. M-F 09:00-17:00. More than 1,400 drawings and 160 paintings by paintor Murillo La Greca. 
• -8.05246-34.9742132 Museu-Oficina Francisco Brennand, Propriedade Santos Cosme e Damião - Cordeiro (Zona Oeste) (near Avenida Caxangá and Rua Gastão Vidigal). Great ceramic art in a bucolic area of the city surrounded by forest. 

• -8.0646-34.8695133 Parque das Esculturas Francisco Brennand (take a canoe ride from Praça do Marco Zero, in Recife Antigo (Centro), or drive through Brasília Teimosa (Zona Sul)). A sculpture park on the reefs of the port of Recife. Contains more than 90 sculptures by Francisco Brennand, including a 30-m-high tower.  
• -8.06059-34.8808534 Pernambuco Image and Sound Museum (Museu da Imagem e do Som de Pernambuco - MISPE), Rua da Aurora - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3231-2716. M-F 09:00-17:00, Sa Su 13:00-17:00. Holds more than 6,000 pieces, including movies, records, photographs, postcards and the like. Uses modern audivisual techniques to document Pernambuco's culture. 

• -8.0606-34.901835 Benfica Cultural Center (Centro Cultural Benfica), Rua Benfica, 157, Madalena (Zona Norte), ☏ +55 81 3227-0657. M-F 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. The center specializes in the "Armorial" Movement and also holds a significant portion of the pieces from the old Fine Arts School. 
• -8.06326-34.8838636 Joaquim Nabuco House, Rua da Imperatriz, 147 - Santo Antônio (Centro). House where 19th-century politician, abolitionist and author Joaquim Nabuco was born. 
• -8.05826-34.8801837 Joaquim Nabuco Palace (Assembléia Legislativa do Estado de Pernambuco), Rua da União, 439 - Boa Vista (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3217-2211. Seat of the Pernambuco State Legislature, built in 1874. A historical documents collection can be visited in the annex building. 
• -8.06157-34.8775738 Justice Palace (Palácio da Justiça), Praça da República - Santo Antônio (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3419-3311. Seat of the Pernambuco State Judiciary, built in 1930.  
• -8.061819-34.87144539 Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue (Sinagoga Kahal Zur Israel), R. do Bom Jesus, 197, ☏ +55 81 3224 2128. Built in and used by some of the thousands of Sephardic Jews who immigrated here during the brief period Dutch domination between 1630 and 1657. The oldest synagogue in the Americas. (updated Jul 2022)
• -8.0608-34.870840 Malakoff Tower Cultural Observatory (Torre Malakoff), Rua do Observatório, Recife Antigo (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3424-8704. Tu-F 10:00-20:00, Sa 14:00-20:00, Su 14:00-19:00. Built in 1853. Beautiful tower in the port front. Functions as an astronomic observatory and arts and science center.  
• -8.06194-34.884741 Parque Theater (Teatro do Parque), Rua do Hospício, 81 - Boa Vista (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3423-6044. Constructed in 1915, Parque Theater is one of the three oldest, historic theaters in Recife. Modern and traditional plays from Spanish and Portuguese playwrights of the 17th-21st centuries are performed at the theater. Next door is the Cineteatro do Parque, Recife's oldest cinemas. Because Recife's municipal government, tickets are subsidized and cost only pennies! 
• -8.057778-34.87944442 Pernambucan School (Ginásio Pernambucano), Rua da Aurora, 703, Boa Vista, (Centro) (next door to the State Assembly and Manuel Bandeira's House). Built in the second quarter of the 19th century, it is one of Brazil's oldest secondary schools. The school's Louis Jacques Brunet Natural History Museum was one of the first in Latin America. Father Carapuceiro, Barbosa Lima Sobrinho, Epitácio Pessoa and Ariano Suassuna were either teachers or students here. The school was visited by Emperor Dom Pedro II.  
• -8.063025-34.87712543 Portuguese Reading Room (Gabinete Português de Leitura), Rua do Imperador, 290 - Santo Antônio (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3224-2593. M-F 08:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00. Built in 1850, this is a cultural center with a large library and an event venue.  
• -8.060075-34.87761444 Princesses' Field Palace (Palácio do Campo das Princesas), Praça da República - Santo Antônio (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3425-2124. The state governor's Palace, built in 1841. The name of the building derives from the fact that the daughters of Emperor Dom Pedro II used to play in the palace's gardens.  
• -8.039482-34.90418745 Pernambucan Academy of Letters (Academia Pernambucana de Letras), Av. Rui Barbosa, 1586, Graças (Zona Norte). Constructed in 1870, this is the headquarters of a prominent literary society. 
• -8.060706-34.87843946 Santa Isabel Theater (Teatro Santa Isabel), Praça da República - Santo Antônio (Centro). One of Brazil's finest theaters. Built in 1850.  

• -8.0571-34.881347 Parque 13 de Maio (May 13th Park), Praça Dr.Adolfo Cirne - Boa Vista. The largest green area in central Recife, with playground equipment, a petting zoo, and illuminated fountains. 24-hour security. Free.  
• -8.01-34.947548 Parque Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Park), Praça Farias Neves, no number - Dois Irmãos, ☏ +55 81 3183-5539, [email protected]. Tu-Su 08:00-16:00. A zoo and botanical garden park, with 387 hectares of Atlantic Forest and 14 hectares of botanical gardens. The zoo has around 800 types of animals. The grounds also hold the Natural Science Museum and a number of ecological trails. R$2.  
• -8.036389-34.90472249 Parque da Jaqueira (Jaqueira Park), Av. Rui Barbosa - Jaqueira. This park is popular for jogging. It also has bicycle trails, plus live music on Sundays. Free.  

• Maracatu Rehearsals (ensaios de maracatu). Some of the most traditional maracatu (Pernambuco-style carnaval dances and parades) groups include: Leão Coroado (since 1863), Estrela Brilhante do Recife (since 1909), Porto Rico (since 1916), Cambinda Estrela do Recife (since 1935), and Elefante, among others.
• Catamaran Rides in the Capibaribe River (Catamaran Tours, Cais das Cinco Pontas), Avenida Sul, São José (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3424-2845, +55 81 9973-4077. 16:00 and 20:00 daily. Tour lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. 
• Agenda de Eventos do Recife. Daily, 16:00 and 20:00. Tour last 1 hour and 15 minutes. 
• Scuba diving. Recife is known as Brazil's shipwreck capital: more than 100 ships have sunk in the coast around the city, 15 of which are accessible to tourists. Together with the natural coral reefs, they make the coast of Recife a great spot for scuba diving. 
• Volleyball and footvolley at Boa Viagem beach. The latter was first developed into a sport in the sands of Recife, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s.
• Panorama flight (NVO Táxi Aéreo, Aeroclube de Pernambuco), ☏ +55 81 3325-0191. 

Recife is the third largest theater production center in Brazil, after São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The most traditional theater is Teatro Santa Isabel (listed in the See section above), while the most modern is the one at Convention Center of the Federal University of Pernambuco.

Football (soccer) teams from Recife have participated in the A-Series (First Division) Brazilian Championship, the Brazil Cup, Pernambucan Championship, and the Copa Libertadores da América.

The three most traditional teams are Clube Náutico Capibaribe (home: -8.0405-34.89681 Aflitos Stadium); Sport Clube do Recife (home: -8.0628-34.90282 Ilha do Retiro Stadium); and Santa Cruz Futebol Clube (home: -8.0268-34.89123 Arruda Stadium). As of 2025 Sport plays in the B-Series of the Brazilian Championship, Náutico in the C-Series and Santa Cruz is in the D-Series.

Recife is home to internationally famous football players including Juninho Pernambucano, Rivaldo, Ricardo Rocha and Vavá.

The city of Recife is home to some of Brazil's top roller hockey teams: Clube Português do Recife, Clube Náutico Capibaribe, Sport Clube do Recife and Associacão Amigos do Minho do Recife. Both Clube Português and Sport have been national champions.

• Carnaval Recife. yearly, next event 27 February-5 March 2025. Recife's Carnaval is one of the country's busiest. The Galo da Madrugada parade known for the huge rooster statue which is paraded around, takes place on Saturday morning of the Carnaval and is the largest in the world with 2.5 million participants in 2013. The Carnaval in Recife different from its carioca counterpart, here street shows and parades play contagious rhythms like frevo and maracatu, attracting more than 1.6 million people to celebrate and dance on the streets every year. Apart from frevo and maracatu, two other cultural manifestations that are typical of Pernambucan Carnaval include bumba-meu-boi and caboclinho. Recife's Carnaval is known for being multicultural, as people from different cultures, ages and likes gather around to be part of one of the biggest carnavals of the world. (updated Jan 2025)

• Abril Pro Rock. Every April. Two-day rock music festival established in 1993, described as one of the largest independent rock festivals in Brazil. The last event took place in April 2024. Because of a lack of funds it will not be held in 2025. 
• Festival de São João. June. Music festival taking place around the city for much of the month of June. Yearly celebration of nordestino culture, with loads of traditional music and food. 

• -8.0661-34.88331 Casa da Cultura, Rue Floriano Peixoto, Santo Antonio (opposite the old Central Train Station (now Train Museum)), ☏ +55 81 3224 0557. M-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 09:00-14:00. Once the city prison, it is now a warren of small shops (one in each cell) selling regional arts and crafts.  
• -8.06204-34.871342 Domingo na Rua, Rua do Bom Jesus. Su 14:00-22:00. Sunday market 
• -8.06848-34.877673 Mercado de São José. A 1871 project of architect J. Louis Liethier and engineer Louis Léger Vauthier. Iron structure was inspired in the Grenelle Market in Paris, France. Historically, the market played an important role as a meeting place for street magicians, musicians, acrobats and the like. You can still find traditional handicrafts, regional food, medicinal herbs and Cordel Literature. (updated Jan 2021)

Shopping malls are similar to elsewhere in the world, with a number of shops selling clothes, home electronics, groceries and so forth, places to eat and drink, services such as banks, and some entertainment options.

• -8.06485-34.873784 Paço Alfândega, Rua de Alfandega 35, Recife Antigo. M-Sa 10:00-22:00, Su 12:00-20:00. A visit to Paço Alfândega is highly recommended. Paço Alfândega (Customs' Palace in Portuguese) is a comfortable, modern shopping mall set in the renovated structure of a colonial customs house building from the early 1700s, during which Recife was the largest port in the Americas. There is a permanent historic exhibition on the history of Recife and the customs building. The mall also houses one of Recife's main nightclubs and some good restaurants. You can have a good view of the Capibaribe River and its bridges from the main terrace. 
• -8.037-34.91225 Plaza Casa Forte, Rua Dr. João Santos Filho, 255 - Casa Forte, ☏ +55 81 3265-8100. M-Sa 10:00-22:00, Su 12:00-20:00. Western-style shopping mall, with more than 150 shops a movie theater. 
• -8.05972-34.887296 Shopping Boa Vista, Rua do Giriquiti, 48 - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3423-5666. M-Sa 09:00-21:00, Su 11:00-19:00. More than 100 shops of different kinds, also has a movie theater. 
• -8.1677-34.91917 Shopping Center Guararapes, Av. Barreto de Menezes, 800 - Piedade, ☏ +55 81 2122-2211. M-Sa 09:00-22:00, Su 12:00-20:00. Near Praia de Piedade in southern Recife, with 200 shops and an entertainment area. There's also a tourist office. 
• -8.1191-34.90498 Shopping Center Recife, R. Pe. Carapuceiro, 777 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3464-6000. M-Sa 10:00-22:00, Su 12:00-21:00. Among the largest shopping malls in Brazil. 
• -8.0379-34.87149 Shopping Center Tacaruna, Av. Gov. Agamenon Magalhães 153 - Santo Amaro, ☏ +55 81 3412-6000. M-Sa 09:00-22:00, Su 12:00-20:00. With more than 200 shops and restaurants. 

Pernambuco has a multicultural gastronomy with African and indigenous influences, among others. The national dish Feijoada (a stew of beans, pork and beef, served with rice and Farofa) is not very popular in Recife. On the other hand some ingredients which are widely used in Recife are hardly found in the South of Brazil, as manioc flour (which is the main ingredient of tapioca), cuscuz (corn flour), pumpkin, jerked beef, goat or lamb. Seafood is exotic and delicious. The regional food has some peculiarities like Carne de Sol and buchada, a dish prepared with the stomach of billy goat.

• Recife is the birthplace of two traditional and delicious cakes Bolo de Rolo and Bolo Sousa Leão.
• Do try the snacks on offer from beach vendors---little chicken and beef kebabs, oysters, prawns, and grilled cheese. Just be aware that some of the vendors may have been carrying them around for hours--if it doesn't look fresh, it probably isn't.
• A must try is Caldinho: a soup served all over the place (restaurants, dedicated carts and people with flasks selling it on the beach). Comes in a variety of flavors from black bean to shrimp. The person selling it will say "completa" when you order it. This simply means "complete", and if you say yes at this point you get a few added extras, such as a small boiled egg put into the cup of hot soup.

Recife is the gastronomic capital of the Northeast. There are more high-quality restaurants here than in any other city in Brazil north of Rio de Janeiro.

• -8.13082-34.900721 Chica Pitanga, Rua Petrolina, 19 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 91 3465-2224. M-F 11:30-15:30 and 18:00-22:00, Sa 11:30-16:00 and 18:00-22:00, Su 11:30-16:00. Per-kilo restaurant with regional foods. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.08844-34.885812 Creperia Anjo Solto, Av. Herculano Bandeira, 513 (Galeria Joana D'Arc, shop 14). W Th 19:00-04:00, F Sa 21:00-04:00, Su 19:00-01:00. Crepes both savory and sweet, plus drinks. Note the very late hours. (updated Jan 2025)

• -8.11045-34.893653 Bercy Boa Viagem (former La Vague), Rua Professor Rui Batista, 120. Crepe place. (updated Jan 2025)

• -8.0453-34.892924 Papaya Verde, rua Santo Elías 409, ☏ +55 81 3325-2242. daily 11:30-15. Self-service restaurant with delicious Middle Eastern food. (updated Jan 2025)

• -8.064685-34.8726725 Brotfabrik, Rua da Moeda 87 (Recife Antigo), ☏ +55 81 3424 2250, [email protected]. M-F 07:00-19:00. German bakery with dark bread, but also pizza, sandwiches and smoothies. Popular with office workers at lunchtime. (updated Jan 2025)

• -8.06966-34.875176 Bargaço, Cais Santa Rita, 46, ☏ +55 81 3465-1847. Su-Th 12:00-00:00, F Sa 12:00-01:00. Bargaço is considered the best fish and seafood restaurant in Recife. A typical speciality of the restaurant is the moqueca, pieces of fish or shrimp stewed with vegetables and coconut milk. (updated Jan 2025)
• Parraxaxá, ☏ +55 81 3463-7874. This Northeast-themed restaurant offers all the traditional regional cuisine. The staff are dressed as either police or outlaws. With its festive decor, the restaurant is a fun way to enjoy a meal. Famous for its "Pernambuco Breakfast" (Café da manhã pernambucano). Some young people go there for breakfast after a night out. Two places. (updated Jan 2025)

  -8.03812-34.911987 Casa Forte, Rua Igarassu, 40

  -8.12803-34.902138 Bom Viagem, Avenida Fernando Simões Barbosa, 1200

• -8.03922-34.901159 Taberna Japonesa Quina do Futuro, Rua Xavier Marques, 134 - Aflitos (at the corner with Rua do Futuro), ☏ +55 81 3241-9589. Japanese cuisine. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.13398-34.9082910 Tio Pepe, Rua Almirante Tamandaré 170 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3341-7153. Tu-Sa 11:30-23:30, Su 11:30-16:00. Seafood restaurant in business since 1964, also serving the Spanish sherry it is named after. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.13175-34.9010511 Ilha Sertaneja, Rua Dr. Nilo Dornelas Câmara, 16 (next to Igreja da Boa Viagem), ☏ +55 81 3048-5886. Buffet restaurant serving local cuisine. (updated Jan 2025)

• -8.10502-34.8888212 Nikko Japanese Fusion, Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, 1712, ☏ +55 81 3325-3030. Japanese-global fusion cuisine with dishes such as tuna with foie gras and banana chips in a modern and relaxed restaurant. R$ 59 (rodízio). (updated Jan 2025)

• -8.086421-34.89339613 Armazém Guimarães, Av. República do Líbano 251 (L3 floor in Shopping RioMar), ☏ +55 81 3327 1021. M-Sa 12:00-22:00, Su 12:00-21:00. Italian restaurant famous for their pizzas. (updated Jan 2025)

• -8.064984-34.88132414 Leite, Praça Joaquim Nabuco, 147, Santo Antônio, ☏ +55 81 3224-7977. Su-F 11:30-16:00. Open since 1882, it is Recife's most traditional Portuguese restaurant. The restaurant was named after its founder, Armando Manoel Leite da França, a Portuguese immigrant, who established a small kiosk in 1882. Leite has a large menu ranging from decadent entrées to delicious desserts. The restaurant mainly serves Portuguese dishes. Try the giant shrimp grilled on butter or a regional dessert called carola, banana topped with cheese and baked with sugar and cinnamon. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.097789-34.88455915 Mingus, Rua Atlantico 102 - Boa Viagem. This modern restaurant offers patrons a variety of dishes and regional wines. Mingus delights its diners with fine cuisine along with relaxing jazz harmonies. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.046364-34.89781816 Ponte Nova, Rua do Cupim, 172, ☏ +55 81 3327-7226. Ponte Nova serves contemporary, French-influenced, regional cuisine. Adding to its reputation as one of the best restaurants in town, Chef Joca Pontes was voted 2007's best chef by Veja Magazine. This restaurant will surely impress those who dine here. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.123123-34.89995317 Famiglia Giuliano, Avenida Engenheiro Domingos Ferreira 3972, ☏ +55 81 3465-9922. daily 11:30-01:00. Italian restaurant in a replica of a medieval castle. On Wednesday and Saturday they serve a feijoada buffet. (updated Jan 2025)

Fancy sitting around all day on the beach under a beach umbrella? Well, you can! The chairs and the guy that moves the umbrella are free. All they ask in return is that you buy your food and drink from them.

They all carry a menu and the food arrives quickly and freshly made on the beach. Try the seafood. The fish is usually caught locally and earlier that same day.

Apart from your own vendor, there will be a variety of vendors walking up and down the beach, selling a variety of things. Learning the language for these items is useful but unnecessary as the vendor will take the time to show you what he/she has on offer.

• Prawns (camarão) - Be careful of the prawns-- smell them before purchase. A free sample is available with the word provar. They might have been walked up and down the beach for hours in the hot sun. A quick sniff is enough to tell you if they are fresh or not. If you decide to eat them, here is a quick tip: hold the tail of the prawn, tear off and discard the head and leg sections, hold the very tip of the tail, pop the rest in your mouth and bite off the tip leaving it in your fingers. Yes, you can eat the shell; peel it if you wish, but you will not see the locals doing this.
• Oysters (Ostra) - Vendors will be carrying a bucket full of ice and live oysters. They are prepared for you one at a time. Served with a squeeze of lime, salt and cumin powder.
• Crab - They do not come prepared, so unless you know which bits to eat and which bits to discard, steer clear!
• Grilled cheese (Queijo de Coalho) - No warnings here--just go ahead and enjoy. It's a real treat.
• Kebabs (Espetinhos) - Grilled chicken or beef. Cooked fresh right in front of you.
• Ice-cream - The prices are a lot more expensive than just off the beach. But you don't have to get out of your chair. In that heat, you will appreciate that.
• Caldinho - you will notice guys walking up and down the beach with flasks. These are full of different flavors of a soup called caldinho. Try prawn one with hot pepper sauce.
• Ovos de codorna - Small boiled quail eggs ready to peel, salt and eat.
• Nuts - A variety of nuts is available, cashew being the most obvious, because it's grown right there in northeastern Brazil. Also, peanuts in 2 varieties: roasted or boiled.

There are many many bars in Recife, most, if not all, serving food as well as drinks. The prices are cheap.

At the less classy end of the market, there are some great bars. They don't have great signage to tell you that it's a bar. Basically, if you see some plastic garden furniture in the street, you are looking at a bar. These are usually the most fun places with the loudest people and the best vibe. Be careful of the ice in places like this as it might not be made from bottled water. It also helps to have a good constitution of you are going to eat in these bars.

• There are huts selling food, beer, and the like about every half kilometer in the center of Boa Viagem beach.
• Warning: It might not be safe to walk to and from all these nightspots. Ask around, and take a cab to escape muggings.

There are bars of varying quality up and down the streets of Recife. A few good picks include the following:

• -8.057724-34.8801711 Bar Central, Rua Mamede Simões 144 - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3222-7622. M-F 12:00-02:00, Sa 20:00-02:00, Su closed. A lively and fun place more upmarket than most. The bar attracts a diverse crowd, ranging from writers to musician. Bar Central is also queer-friendly and very famous with indie kids. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.089156-34.8802612 Biruta, Rua Bem-Te-Vi, 15 - Pina (Zona Sul), ☏ +55 81 3326-5151. A lovely bar on the north end of the beach that gets a great sea breeze all evening. Get there early to get a table with a view. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.09702-34.883493 Downtown Pub, Avenida Boa Viagem 618, ☏ +55 81 3424-6317, [email protected]. This British pub-inspired bar puts on live music shows and is self-entitled "House of Rock". If you like "Heavy Metal", watch out, there might be a concert over there. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.09825-34.88414 Entre Amigos, Av Boa Viagem, 760, ☏ +55 81 3312-1000. A bar restaurant with 2 names and 3 seating areas, one of which has air conditioning. Situated in downtown Boa Viagem and a 5 minute walk from the beach. A great place to watch the football or soak up the lively atmosphere of the very busy bar, it has a great buffet for lunch or you can eat à la carte. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.036065-34.9101375 Guaiamum Gigante, Rua Dr. José de Góes, 299, ☏ +55 81 3441-1509. This bar-restaurant seats up to 600 people. Although it may not be too pleasing to the eyes, Guaiamum Gigante serves great portions of delicious seafood for a relatively low price. This is a nice place to go on Sundays!. (updated Jan 2025)

• -8.05939-34.891396 Metrópole, Rua das Ninfas, 125 - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3040-8545. GLS danceclub. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.05368-34.920197 Sala de Reboco, Rua Gregório Júnior, 264 - Cordeiro, ☏ +55 81 3228-7052. Event venue, specializing in forró. (updated Jan 2025)

Many tourists stay along the beach in Boa Viagem, 10 km (7 mi) south of the center. The area of Boa Vista just across the Ponte Velha from the train station has a number of budget and mid-range hotels.

• -8.13282-34.909881 Hostel Boa Viagem (Hosteling International), R. Barão de Souza Leão, 1103, ☏ +55 81 3326-9572. Hostel. Prices vary according to the season. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.10768-34.890062 Piratas da Praia, Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, 2034 / 307 - Boa viagem, ☏ +55 81 3326-1281. Free wi-fi and 24 hour parking, if you choose to rent a car. They also have different holiday and Carnaval packages. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.13253-34.901773 Pousada da Praça, Rua Setubal, 196 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3343-1179, [email protected]. This small, 15-room hotel is affiliated with the Pousada bar and club. Guests of the hotel have free admission to the club. Under German/Australian management, the hotel offers yacht and sightseeing tours. Breakfast is included in the price, along with free airport transfers. (updated Jan 2025)

• -8.11835-34.902284 Imperial Suites, Rua Antonio Lumack do Monte, 203 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3465-8501. Apartment hotel. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.09865-34.885425 Hotel Manibu Recife (Kastel Manibu Recife Hotel), Av Conselheiro Aguiar, 919 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 24 2220-6300. This well-known hotel provides its guests with two bars, a restaurant that seats 170 people, and a solarium. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.1161-34.895366 LG Inn Recife, Av. Engenheiro Domingos Ferreira, 3067 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 2122-3939. Complimentary breakfast buffets, along with a well-equipped fitness room. Staff speaks both English and Portuguese. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.06115-34.887557 Hotel Central, Av. Manoel Borba, 209 - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3222-4001. The oldest hotel in Recife. Used to attract stars and the like in the early 20th century. Remains architecturally appealing. (updated Jan 2025)

• -8.136348-34.9020348 Hotel Atlante Plaza, Av. Boa Viagem, 5426 - Boa Viagem (on the beachfront), ☏ +55 81 3302-3333. Hotel Atlante Plaza is arguably the best hotel in Recife. It has two restaurants, a 24-hour babysitting service, 24-hour room service, and beauty salon. This is probably the only hotel that offers its guests a pillow menu; guests can choose from various scents and stuffings, such as lavender and camomile. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.17347-34.916199 Costa Mar Recife Hotel by Atlantica (former Blue Tree Towers Recife), Av. Bernado Vieira De Melo 550 Piedade (on Piedade beach), ☏ +55 81 2123 4567. This 4-star hotel is comprised of 135 rooms, all with a view of the sea. The hotel also provides child care and room service. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.12211-34.8964810 Internacional Palace Hotel, Av. Boa Viagem, 3722 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 4009-2500, [email protected]. Internacional Palace Hotel provides exceptional service with a great staff. Steps away from the beach, the hotel houses Arrecifes Restaurant, which serves a blend of international and regional cuisine. It also has a coffee shop and bar. Internacional Palace Hotel has weekend and honeymoon packages. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.12501-34.8974911 Grand Mercure Recife Boa Viagem, Av. Boa Viagem, 4070 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3201-8200. A sister hotel to the Internacional Palace Hotel, Recife Palace Hotel has a total of 295 rooms, all with sea views, cable TV, and air conditioning. Housing a 5 star cuisine, the hotel has two restaurants, a bar, and coffee shop on the premises. Recife Palace Hotel is located close to the beach, 5 minutes away from the airport, and is walking distance to the city center. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.10089-34.8853612 Marante Plaza Hotel, Av. Boa Viagem, 1070 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3465-1070, [email protected]. 121 suites with air conditioning, saunas, and an art gallery. Also has four convention rooms. (updated Jan 2025)
• -8.132-34.903913 Mar Hotel Recife, Rua Barão de Souza Leão, 451 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3302-4444. Close to the airport and the beach, Mar Hotel Recife offers a wide variety of services, such as 24-hour room service, fitness rooms, and spa services. (updated Jan 2025)

Recife's reputation for safety is not one of the best. Robberies on streets and buses are fairly common. Do not be alarmed — odds are you will have a fabulous time here — but be aware of your surroundings and take the usual big city precautions.

• While entering or leaving Olinda at dusk or dawn, you have an elevated risk of being ambushed. Taxis are recommended.
• Beware of the unlicensed guides. Make sure you have the travel itinerary planned out and a price (including meals, fuel, etc.) agreed upon before starting out.
• Watch out for shark warnings before entering the water at the Boa Viagem beach.
• If you are carrying notes of R$ 50 or 100, be sure to tell the taxi driver before you get in because he might not have change. Some taxi drivers might not know how to get to where you are going, so make sure that you have the address written down. If you are a woman traveling alone, sit in the back as some drivers may try to take advantage of the situation.
• Avoid Recife's downtown on Sundays. Streets are deserted all day long and are very unsafe. Consider taking a tour to a neighboring city or beach instead.

The Policia Federal for extending your visa or visa free stay is in the airport on the ground floor.

• Argentina, Av. Domingos Ferreira, 2238, Edificio Akka, 2° andar, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3327-1451, fax: +55 81 3327-1450, [email protected]. 
• France, Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, 2333 - Ed. João Roma, 6° andar, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3117-3290, fax: +55 81 3117-3280. 
• Germany, Rua Antônio Lumack do Monte, 128, CO, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3463-5350, fax: +55 81 3465-4084. 
• Italy, Av. Engº Domingos Ferreira, 2222 - 2º andar, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3466-4200, fax: +55 81 3466-4320. 
• Japan, Rua Padre Carapuceiro, 733, 14° andar, Edf., Empresarial Center I, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3207-0190, fax: +55 81 3465-9140. 
• Portugal, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira, 4060, 6º andar, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3327-1514, fax: +55 81 3467-8487. 
• United Kingdom, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira 4150,Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3465-7744. 08:00-13:00. 
• United States, Rua Gonçalves Maia, 163, Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3416-3050, fax: +55 81 3231-1906. 

• Austria, Av. Agamenon Magalhaes, 2790, Santo Amaro, [email protected]. 
• Belgium, Rua do Sossego, 203, Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3223-1001. 
• Canada, Av. Engenheiro Antônio de Góes, 60, Edíficio JCPM, 7º andar, Pina, ☏ +55 81 2122-3140, fax: +55 81 2122-3142. 
• Czech Republic, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira, 2391, Empresarial San Marino, 10° andar, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3327-7033, fax: +55 81 3327 6945. 
• Cyprus, Av. Fernando Simoes Barbosa, 22, 2 andar, Sala 213, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3484-0190. 
• Denmark, Rua Antônio Lumack do Monte, 96, conj. 303, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3466-6466, fax: +55 81 3325-2022. 
• Ecuador, Av. Beira-mar, 1216, apto. 702, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3465-9515, fax: +55 81 3361-1054, [email protected]. 
• Finland, Rua Líbia de Castro Assis, 59, Centro Empresarial Jardim, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3462-4254, fax: +55 81 3458-7440. 
• Greece, Rua do Hospício, 194, Sala 801, Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3231-1407, fax: +55 81 3231-1343. 
• Guatemala, Rua José Aderval Chaves, Edificio Empresarial Wecon IV, 78, sala 109, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3467-5627, fax: +55 81 3467-5627. 
• Indonesia, R. Lemos Torres, 95, Casa Forte, ☏ +55 81 3268-5163, fax: +55 81 3268-5163, [email protected]. 
• Mexico, Rua Aquidabã, 20, apt. 1401, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3083-1760, fax: +55 81 3343-1430. 
• Panama, R. Mamanguape, 418, ap. 602, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3466-3355. 
• Romania, Rua Mamanguape, no 418/602, CEP: 51020–250 PE, ☏ +55 81 991112723, +55 81 34663355, [email protected], [email protected]MULTIPLE-EMAIL. Honorary Consulate (Does not provide consular services. Instead, Romanian citizens in need of assistance should contact the embassy in Brasilia, or the general consulate in Rio de Janeiro.) 
• Slovakia, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira, 3181, 203, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3328-3213. 
• Spain, Rua Sirinahem 105, 2nd floor, ☏ +55 81 3465-0607. 
• Sweden, Rua Líbia de Castro Assis, 59, Centro Empresarial Jardim, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3462-4254, fax: +55 81 3458-7440. 
• Switzerland, Av. Consuelho Aguiar 4880, Ioja 32, Boa viagem, ☏ +55 81 3326-3144. 
• Uruguay, Rua Prudente de Morais, 281, Carmo, Olinda, ☏ +55 81 3439-8849, fax: +55 81 3439-8849. 

As elsewhere in Brazil, some beaches in Recife are not suitable for bathing, and conditions can change from day to day. On the day of your visit, check the map of the latest weekly bathing report (in Portuguese, informativo de balneabilidade) of the state's Environment Department (CPRH). There is also a website (in Portuguese) with information about beach water quality.

• Hospital Santa Joana, R. Joaqum Nabuco 200, Gracas, ☏ +55 81 3421-3666. 
• Real Hospital Portugues, Av. Cons. Aguiar 147, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3416-1800. 
• Unicordis, Av. Cons. Aguiar 1980, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3326-5237. equipped for cardiac emergencies 
• Unicordis, Av. Cons. Rosa de Silva 258, Aflitos, ☏ +55 81 3421-1000. 

See also: Brazil#Connect

Operators Claro, TIM and Vivo have 5G coverage in practically all of Recife. Accommodations, shopping malls and the like often offer free Wi-Fi.

• -8.0607-34.88371 Imperial Internet, Av. Conde de Boa Vista 250. 08:00-23:00. Print shop with Internet access terminals. R$ 1-2 per hour. 

• Olinda - This cute colonial town, just across the bridge from Recife, is a World Heritage Site. You can find hostels there.
• Porto de Galinhas is the best beach in the vicinity of Recife. On New Year's this place is like a fantasy with amazing open-air parties and tourists from all over Brazil. In Porto de Galinhas and in the nearby Maracaípe are hostels.
• Serrambi and Tamandaré are wonderful beaches. Further awesome spots are São José da Coroa Grande, Muro Alto, Cupe, Suape, Calhetas, Gaibu and Maria Farinha.
• Itamaracá Island for its beaches, Coroa do Aviao islet, the 17th century Dutch Fort Orange, the colonial village of Vila Velha, and the IBAMA manatee nature center.
• Maragogi with its famous swimming pools inside the ocean. Hostels are available.
• São Miguel dos Milagres The 'Caribbean of Brazil'. It has a hostel. See Get In
• Igarassu, home to Brazil's oldest church and Latin America's largest collection of baroque paintings.
• São Benedito do Sul waterfalls.
• Caruaru and Tracunhaém for their rich handicraft. Caruaru is also famous for its open-air market, the largest in Brazil.
• Nova Jerusalém, the world's largest theater-city, famous for its enactment of the Passion of Jesus Christ during Easter (holy week).
• Serrita, in the Sertão region, for its annual Missa do Vaqueiro, a religious-cultural event that honors northeastern cowboys.

João Pessoa ← Olinda ←

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→ Maceió → Aracaju