The northeastern coastal city of Recife presents a contrast with its colonial center and beaches lined with modern high-rise buildings. Nicknamed "the Venice of Brazil" for its canals and bridges, Recife is a poor but culturally vibrant city 1,155 mi/1,860 km north of Rio de Janeiro.
Plan two nights to see the city's historic center, with its many old mansions and impressive 17th- and 18th-century baroque churches, and to relax upon the sweeping white-sand beach of Boa Viagem, Recife's version of Copacabana. Additionally, Recife has a number of interesting museums, including the Museu do Homem do Nordeste, which offers a great introduction to the culture and history of the Brazilian Northeast.
Take time to browse at the Casa da Cultura (an old prison converted into a shopping mall), or shop for Brazil's finest ceramic tiles at the Brennand Ceramics Workshops, just outside of town (there are also many startling sculptures there). Recife has a fantastic Carnival that rivals those in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador.
Several half- and full-day excursions are possible, including visits to Olinda, a beautiful small colonial town with gilded baroque churches (World Heritage site); the stunning white sand beaches in and around the resort towns of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Porto de Galinhas and Tamandare (20-65 mi/30-110 km south); the island of Itamaraca (30 mi/50 km north—good beaches, a 17th-century Dutch fort and one of the oldest churches in Brazil); and Caruaru (85 mi/135 km west—a typical town of the Northeastern interior famed for having the biggest outdoor market). Tours to traditional sugarcane plantations outside Recife are also available. 1,155 mi/1,860 km north of Rio de Janeiro.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.