PE · Brazil
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Crisscrossed by rivers and bridges, the capital of Pernambuco has its center of historic streets in Recife Antigo (Old Recife) and the Marco Zero, home to Rua do Bom Jesus and the first synagogue in the Americas. Praia de Boa Viagem, protected by reefs, is the city's waterfront; the Oficina Brennand gathers ceramics in a former pottery works; and Olinda, with its colonial houses recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage Site, is right next door. Frevo and maracatu (traditional music and dance) are everywhere.
This destination brings together 1 city: Recife.
A look at the place
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
The local experience
The port district is packed with old mansions, churches and cultural centers, with Praça Rio Branco and the marker installed in 1938 as a reference point. Across the estuary is the Parque das Esculturas of Francisco Brennand, with the 32-meter Coluna de Cristal (Crystal Column).
Discover Recife Antigo e Marco Zero
About 8 km long in the South Zone, it has a boardwalk with a bike path, kiosks and sports courts, and reefs that form natural pools at low tide. Because of the risk of shark attacks, the authorities advise against swimming beyond the reef line.
Opened in 2002, the Tudor-inspired complex includes a castle, an art gallery, a library and a sculpture park. The collection includes more than 3,000 bladed weapons, medieval armor and a large collection of paintings by Frans Post.
Discover Instituto Ricardo Brennand
Created in 1971 by the artist in the ruins of a 1917 pottery works founded by his father, in Várzea, on the banks of the Capibaribe. It works as a museum and studio, with more than 2,000 works including sculptures, murals and panels, and gardens designed by Burle Marx.
Discover Oficina Cerâmica Francisco Brennand
Housed in a neoclassical building listed by Iphan, built by the Western Telegraph Company, it opened in February 2014. It is dedicated to research, training and promotion of frevo music and dance.
Built by the Third Order of Saint Francis starting in 1696, it has walls, altars and ceiling covered in gilded wood carving. It is part of the Convento de Santo Antônio complex, which houses the Museu Franciscano de Arte Sacra (Franciscan Museum of Sacred Art).
The radial-plan building, opened in 1855 as the Casa de Detenção (House of Detention), was closed as a prison in 1973. Reopened in 1976 with a restoration project by Lina Bo Bardi, its former cells are now occupied by craft shops.
Your base to explore
Where you stay is part of the trip. Choose the area that best fits your itinerary.
A seafront hotel on Avenida Boa Viagem, on the waterfront of the Boa Viagem neighborhood, a few minutes from the airport. It has a heated rooftop pool, panoramic elevators with sea views, a spa and event rooms, and suits leisure and business travelers who want to stay right on the beach.
A hotel on Rua Barão de Souza Leão, in Boa Viagem, opened in the late 1980s and close to the airport. It works as an urban resort, with a large pool area with waterfalls and a convention center, and suits families and event attendees.
A hotel on Cais de Santa Rita, in the São José neighborhood, inside the Porto Novo Recife complex and near the Marco Zero and Recife Antigo. It has a rooftop infinity pool, a spa, a gym, a restaurant and a bar, and suits those who want to stay in the historic center with sea views and full facilities.
Flavors of the destination
A restaurant founded in 1882 on Praça Joaquim Nabuco, in the Santo Antônio neighborhood, considered the oldest still operating in Brazil, with a white-tablecloth dining room and a grand piano. The cuisine is Portuguese, with codfish and codfish fritters, and the most popular dessert is the cartola (banana and cheese dessert); it serves lunch to people visiting the historic center.
A regional restaurant on Avenida Fernando Simões Barbosa, in Boa Viagem, with sertão-inspired decor and waiters dressed as Lampião and Maria Bonita (legendary backcountry outlaws). The buffet has galinha à cabidela (chicken in blood sauce), dried beef, jerked-beef fritters, queijo coalho, tapioca and sweets such as bolo de rolo (rolled cake) and cocada (coconut candy), and suits those who want to try many Northeastern dishes at once.
A Northeastern restaurant founded in 1991 by the couple Evangelista Lima, known as seu Nô, and Maria Gomes, which now has branches in Afogados, Boa Viagem and other cities. Its specialty is goat, served as buchada (stuffed tripe) or grilled ribs, alongside carne de sol, queijo coalho (grilled cheese), cassava and butter farofa, for those who want hearty Northeastern food.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
Through Recife/Guararapes International Airport, within the city, near Boa Viagem.
From September to March, with more sun and less rain. Rain is concentrated from April to July.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
