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Major city · Brazil

Recife

Give Recife 2 nights: one full day for Recife Antigo and the Golden Chapel, one for Boa Viagem beach; add Olinda as a half-day and Porto de Galinhas as a day trip.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
BRL
Best months
Sep–Mar (dry season)
avoid Apr–Aug (rainy season, heaviest Jun–Jul)
Airport
REC
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
  • South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
  • South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
  • South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
  • Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
  • Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
  • Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
  • Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.

Recife is the capital of Pernambuco and the biggest city in Brazil's Northeast, built across rivers, canals and islands at the mouth of the Capibaribe. The historic core (Recife Antigo) holds the colonial and Dutch-era sights, while Boa Viagem in the south zone has the hotels and the beach. Most travellers use it as a base for Olinda, Porto de Galinhas and the rest of Grande Recife, so two nights is the practical minimum and three is comfortable.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Recife, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or coconut water on the beachR$5–15 (≈ US$1–3)
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at a shopR$10–18 (≈ US$2–4)R$5–8 (≈ US$1–2)
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km Uber or taxiLate-night surcharge after 22:00.R$20–35 (≈ US$4–7)
  • Metro or bus rideMetroRec or bus rideR$5–6 (≈ US$1–2) (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entryR$10–40 (≈ US$2–8)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personR$80 (≈ US$15)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per roomR$350 (≈ US$65)
  • High-end bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per roomR$700 (≈ US$130)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$180 (≈ US$35) · Mid R$350 (≈ US$65) · High R$700 (≈ US$130)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Recife Antigo and the Golden ChapelBoa Viagem beachKahal Zur Israel, the oldest synagogue in the AmericasCarnaval and frevoGateway to Olinda and Porto de Galinhas
Airports
REC Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International (8 km south of the centre; MetroRec Aeroporto station and bus 033 link it to Boa Viagem and downtown)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Recife: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

31°C

23°C

8 rd

Feb

31°C

23°C

10 rd

Mar

31°C

23°C

13 rd

Apr

30°C

23°C

16 rd

May

30°C

22°C

18 rd

Jun

29°C

22°C

20 rd

Jul

28°C

21°C

20 rd

Aug

28°C

21°C

15 rd

Sep

29°C

22°C

10 rd

Oct

30°C

22°C

7 rd

Nov

30°C

23°C

5 rd

Dec

31°C

23°C

6 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

MetroRec subway (three lines) plus the integrated SEI bus network covers the centre, the airport and the TIP long-distance bus terminal. Uber and taxis are cheap and the usual choice at night. Recife Antigo and Boa Vista are walkable; Boa Viagem to the centre is a 20–30 min ride.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Olinda

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Bus or Uber from Recife Antigo, about 20–30 min

Colonial hill town and Carnaval centre; go in the morning and walk the steep streets.

Porto de Galinhas

go

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Bus or car south along BR-101/PE-60, about 60 km

Reef pools and beach; a full day, or sleep one night to catch low tide.

Igarassu

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus or car north along BR-101, about 30 km

Colonial churches and the oldest church in Brazil; pair with Itamaracá.

Itamaracá

caution

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Bus or car north past Igarassu, about 50 km

Island beaches and the Orange Fort; best with your own car or a tour.

Cabo de Santo Agostinho

go

Door to door: 1–1.5 h

Bus or car south along BR-101, about 40 km

Beaches and the cape; combine with a beach day.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Boa Viagem

South zone; beachfront hotels, restaurants and the airport 15 min away. Best for a first trip and for beach time.

Recife Antigo

The old island core; colonial streets, bars and museums on foot. Quieter at night outside event evenings.

Boa Vista

Between the centre and the north zone; cheaper, more local, good bus and metro links.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
R$180–300 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
Mid
R$300–550 (≈ US$60–110) excl. bed
High
R$550 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, mid hotel1 × 2 nights × R$350R$700
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × R$350R$1,400
Airport to Boa Viagem by Uber, one way2 × R$30 · checkR$60
MetroRec single ride2 × R$5 · checkR$10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × R$60R$120
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeR$229
Trip total≈ R$630 per person per day, bed includedR$2,519≈ US$500

2026 estimate in reais; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or coconut water on the beachR$5–15 (≈ US$1–3)
Plate of the day (almoço executivo)R$25–50 (≈ US$5–10)
Beer: draught in a bar / can at a shopR$10–18 (≈ US$2–4) / R$5–8 (≈ US$1–2)
5 km Uber or taxiLate-night surcharge after 22:00.R$20–35 (≈ US$4–7)
MetroRec or bus rideR$5–6 (≈ US$1–2) (check)
Museum entryR$10–40 (≈ US$2–8)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Recife is a big Brazilian city with a real street-crime problem: keep phones out of sight, avoid the centre and beaches after dark, and use Uber or a registered taxi at night. The reef at Boa Viagem is safe inside the wall only.
  • Do not swim past the reef wall at Boa Viagem: the water beyond is deeper and there have been shark incidents.
  • Rainy season (Apr–Aug) brings heavy downpours and local flooding; June and July are the wettest.
  • Street crime is a real risk in the centre and at beaches after dark: carry little, avoid empty streets, use Uber or taxi at night.
  • Beach vendors are persistent; a simple 'não' is enough.
  • Some central streets and the old port area are best avoided on foot after dark.

Emergency numbers

Police
190
Ambulance
192
Fire
193

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

RecifeRecife

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police190
  • Ambulance192
  • Fire193

Embassy

The US has a consulate in Recife (check the address); most other countries: consulates in Recife or embassies in Brasília.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • REC airport → Boa Viagem, Uber: R$25–40 (≈ US$5–8), about 15 min (check)
  • REC airport → centre, bus 033: R$5–6 (≈ US$1–2), about 30 min (check)
  • Recife → Olinda, Uber: R$30–50 (≈ US$6–10), about 25 min (check)

Say or show

  • Olá — Hello (oh-LAH)
  • Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo / -dah)
  • Quanto custa? — How much is it? (KWAN-too KOOS-tah)
  • A conta, por favor — The bill, please (ah KON-tah por fah-VOR)
  • Posso pagar com cartão? — Can I pay by card? (POH-soo pah-GAR kon kar-TOWN)
  • Onde é o banheiro? — Where is the toilet? (ON-jee eh oo bah-NYAY-roo)

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Recife. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Sep–Mar (dry season) · avoid Apr–Aug (rainy season, heaviest Jun–Jul) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for REC: MetroRec and bus 033 timings, taxi and Uber fallback, late-arrival rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Recife Antigo, Santo Antônio and São José, Boa Vista, Boa Viagem.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Golden Chapel, Kahal Zur Israel, Marco Zero, Ricardo Brennand) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Rainy-season and Carnaval fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Brazil

Sources