Discover Recife: Where to go, what to do and curiosities

Posted on 27 de November de 201915 de March de 2023 by Marta Tanggora Shuthy

Recife is the capital of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco and is home to more than 4 million people, making it the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country. It is situated at the point where the Beberibe and Capibaribe rivers meet to make their way to the ocean.

This formed one of the most significant ports on the Atlantic Ocean.

The shores of Recife are lined with beautiful coral reefs, which gave it its name. It was officially founded in 1537 by European explorers, but was only incorporated as a city almost 300 years later, in 1823.

ecife is the most important industrial zone in the state it occupies and one of the main zones in the North/Northeast region. Therefore, it is a great attraction, not only for leisure tourists, but also for those traveling to Brazil on business.

The northeast region is developing rapidly, focusing on its tourist attractions and the infrastructure needed to sustain the flow of visitors. Its magnificent beaches are one of its main attractions, Porto de Galinhas is one of the best known and loved. Other popular beaches include Boa Viagem, Pina and Brasilia Teimosa.

Recife is located along the coast and close to the equator. So it’s usually hot and humid; ideal conditions for its tropical forests. However, the cool breeze blowing in from the Atlantic waters ensures that temperatures never become extreme, making the visit comfortable for tourists who are not used to the scorching heat.

Recife was one of 12 proud host cities to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournaments. To accommodate the insurgency of millions of fans during this period, the city underwent major renovations and expansions in terms of transport system, accommodation, facilities sports and attractions.

Enjoy the Brazilian culture of sun, sea and surf on the region’s superb world-class beaches and visit the rich 500-year history of Brazil’s earliest days here. Diverse museums, art galleries, tours, diving, old towns, hiking and even a castle.

Pernambuco, and its capital Recife, has some of the richest and most diverse cultural, musical and dance attractions in Brazil. Locals are proud of history and arts dating back to the colonial 16th century, both Portuguese and Dutch influences, and the influx of Europeans, Africans and Asians to Brazil over the last five centuries.

The resulting cultural and human diversity has produced some unique treasures in Pernambuco’s music and dance and popular festivities held throughout the year, most notably Carnival, Easter and São João – through true Brazilians, they manage to celebrate year-round in many cities.

Some of Recife’s most popular tourist attractions include:

Mercado de São José – a very popular market with historic structures nearby for history enthusiasts.
Fort Cinco Pontes (Fort of Five Points)
Museum of the State of Pernambuco – the state museum.
Catedral São Pedro (Catedral de São Pedro) – dating from 1782. Around this old church there are colonial houses, restaurants, bistros and bars restored with refinement.
Republic square;
Casa da Cultura – formerly a prison, it has now been converted into a shopping and cultural area.
The Malakoff Tower – built in the mid-1800s as an observatory, this monument (which sits on Praça Arsenal da Marinha) is now reserved as a cultural center.
Dois Irmãos Park – an Atlantic Forest Reserve covers 387 hectares and the botanical garden occupies 14 hectares. Combined, they make up the park. This area is home to approximately 800 wild animals. Guests can hike the many trails or visit the Natural Science Museum for a fascinating look at the wonders of the world.
Venice Water Park – young and old alike will enjoy the many waterslides and fun activities – a perfect way to spend a summer day in Brazil.
Instituto Ricardo Brennand – this intriguing cultural institute includes a museum, pinacoteca (boutique art gallery) and library.
Olinda – the center of this historic city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical and cultural significance.
Go crazy for Carnival: it’s the biggest street party in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Rio Mar

RioMar Recife is a large shopping center where you can buy almost anything you need, such as souvenirs, gifts or anything that involves shopping. There are also cinemas and many restaurants in this mall.

Enjoy the view at the Francisco Brennand Ceramic Workshop

The Oficina Cerâmica Francisco Brennand is a place where exhibitions of clay transformed into art are present. There are also gardens in the area. Both have indoor and outdoor exhibits for you to enjoy as well.

Experience the Ricardo Brennand Institute

The Ricardo Brennand Institute is yet another historic architecture with many exhibits for you to discover and visit. It’s close to Oficina Cerâmica Francisco Brennand, so it’s best to visit both while you’re there.

Visit Recife Antigo by night

Walk around Recife Antigo at night and you can see the streets light up with different music throughout the area. It is really interesting to visit this place at night, not in the morning. There are also many sculptures here.

St. Benedict monastery

The Monastery of São Bento is not just an ordinary church, it is very old and well preserved. The interior is really amazing which will make you feel like you are in a palace or something. It is certainly worth a visit.

Learn a bit of history at the Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue

The Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in America. This museum is very large as it has four floors, which means you can learn a lot about Recife and the whole history of Brazil. It’s a really fun way to get to know the place.