Recife is a city that stands out from other northeastern capital cities! Famous for having a lot of Dutch influences in its architecture, the historic buildings shine under the Brazilian sun. But it’s not like Recife got stuck in the past!
Beyond its famous Carnival, Recife offers a rich tapestry of cultural experiences, from exploring the historic streets of Olinda to enjoying the vibrant local music scene.โ
This town became one of Brazil’s biggest urban centers over the last fifty years. So, that might give you an idea that there are plenty of things to do in Recife Brazil. That would be a fair and correct assumption! Your next question might be what are the best things to do here? That is where our article comes in.
Oh, and if you want to read more of in depth on Recife, you can read our comprehensive Recife travel guide. Now back to it!
I want to help you go beyond the obvious things to do in Recife Brazil. You still should take some time to relax at a pristine beach with white sand! Northeast Brazil is one of the world’s most famous beach destinations, with many of them figuring on the top spots of best beaches in the world lists.
But the best things to do in Recife Brazil, are more than just going to the beach. You can visit a cultural center, enjoy the Brazilian carnival with Galo da Madrugada or just be in awe of a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Let’s go together through the top fifteen things to do in Recife Brazil, and plan the trip of a lifetime.
things to do in recife brazil
1. Spend the Carnival Holiday in Recife:
We can’t talk about the best things to do in Recife Brazil, without mentioning the Brazilian carnival celebrations. Reaching every corner of this city, from Boa Viagem beach through the historic buildings at Recife Antigo, there is fun to be had for days.
A celebration reminiscent of Mardi Gras in New Orleans or the Venice Carnival, Recife’s Carnival has something special you can only find in Brazil. The days here will be marked by traditional street parties like the Galo da Madrugada. Float parades and musical presentations also happen all over the capital of Pernambuco.
You can already save the date for next year’s extravaganza! Everything will start on February 27th, and last through to March 5th, which is a national holiday. The Recife and Olinda Carnival has a chance of things lasting for a little bit longer since there is a state holiday on March 6th.
Your key to a great time will be taking care of yourself! More than three million people will be in town, most of them in some state of drunkenness. Since I live in Rio, my friendly advice is to only take what you need when going out for the day.
2. Go to Mercado de Sรฃo Josรฉ:
Mercado de Sรฃo Josรฉ is always one of the top attractions on every list of things to do in Recife Brazil, for good reason! I love going to places like this in every new town I visit because it’s almost like getting a speed run of typical food and local people.
And in a place like Sรฃo Josรฉ Market that will also include some history because the establishment was inaugurated over a hundred and twenty-five years ago! The 19th-century building went through two renovations, one massive fire in 1989, and 2024 marks the thirtieth anniversary of its reopening.
For the purpose of helping with your planning, this is one of the best places to visit in the late mornings. Imagine you’ve had an amazing breakfast, got ready with time to spare then came over to browse leisurely.
But no matter when you fit this market into your itinerary, just make sure to have enough time to spare! There are over five hundred stalls spread over two buildings and a courtyard. This is one of two places I recommend buying souvenirs since the price will never be too high.
things to do in recife brazil
3. Walk Through Rua Do Bom Jesus:
Away from pristine beaches with their clear waters, Rua do Bom Jesus is another one of those unmissable things in Recife, Brazil. It was once called Rua do Bode, after that, it was Rua dos Judeus then it became Rua da Cruz. It used to be one of the main paths between Recife and neighboring Olinda.
Rua do Bom Jesus, as it is called nowadays, is constantly on the top spots of Architectural Digest’s most beautiful streets in the world ranking. A cobblestone street surrounded by colorful buildings on both sides will definitely help you get some post-worthy photos!
It is a long street so you know that there will be plenty to do! There are diverse museums a short walk distance from each other, cultural attractions, and more. It is a great place to visit if you don’t want to walk all over Old Recife but still would like to get a feel of the colonial 16th century.
Lots of travelers recommend coming here to experiment with the culinary side of this vibrant culture. Many restaurants have attained the status of tourist attractions themselves after many years. Be prepared to line up for a seating spot depending on when you choose to come!
4. Visit the Instituto Ricardo Brennand:
Did you know that Recife is widely regarded as a cultural center in Brazil? You might be thinking that museums are not really your thing. I agree with you that no one wants to spend their precious vacation time stuffed into a random building.
But the Instituto Ricardo Brennand is a different kind of place, complemented by the Francisco Brennand Workshop. It is a nonprofit cultural space that opened its doors in 2002, sharing a vast archive with people. What sets it apart from other places is the grounds where it is located: an old sugar mill!
This place is one of our favorite things to do in Recife Brazil, because there is something for all people, even those who don’t like museums. There is Saint John Castle, a bladed weapons museum, an art gallery, a library, a sculpture garden, and even spaces for temporary expositions.
You will be doing so much walking, leave your nice shoes at the hotel and come with your comfiest shoes. When you are done walking around the grounds, sit down for a nice meal at their Mediterranean restaurant.
things to do in recife brazil
5. Relax at Boa Viagem Beach:
Steering our list of things to do in Recife Brazil, towards some of Brazil’s most beautiful beaches. Praia de Boa Viagem, aka Boa Viagem Beach, is Recife’s most popular urban beach. That means it is right in the middle of town! It will give tourists access to a wonderful structure.
On the other hand, that makes it a super busy beach, with plenty of people (locals and visitors) enjoying Boa Viagem Beach. You can access the beach by Uber, public transportation and even walking depending on where you are staying.
Boa Viagem beach is known for having calm and warm water, with almost no waves breaking by the sand because there is a coral reef kind of protects the coast. The golden sand stretches a long way so it never gets too busy.
There is one thing you need to know about beaches in Recife, though. There is always a risk of a shark attack, wild as that may seem. So avoid going into the water with shiny or attention-grabbing swimsuits! And definitely don’t go for a swim if you’re bleeding.
6. Tour Recife Antigo:
The oldest of Brazilian state capitals, Recife was founded in 1537 as a stopping point because of the sugar cane exportation in early colonization. What we know as Recife Antigo is leftover from those days, with beautiful historic buildings that contrast with the white sands on Recife’s beaches.
The nice thing is that Old Recife is a very small area so you could easily take a short day tour. I will always advocate taking a tour since it helps you do the most without having to waste time figuring out how to get around.
A good tour will always start at Marco Zero Square, a place widely regarded as where Recife was founded once upon a time. After that, you can make a quick stop at the Francisco Brennand Sculpture Park for some pictures.
There will be street fairs, churches, and people to see! At the end of the day, whenever you don’t feel like walking anymore, consider going on a boat tour of Recife’s bridges. The Venice of Brazil is permeated by canals making for a beautiful ride at all times of the day (my grandparents loved doing it in the evening).
things to do in recife brazil
7. Stop at Cais Do Sertรฃo Museum:
I think that I mentioned before but it bears repeating: Recife is a very cultural city. Even the most reluctant travelers will have fun going into a cultural center. Cais do Sertรฃo Museum is a great option for everyone! Starting with the fact that it was installed in old warehouses in Recife’s port region.
The museum was part of the revitalization project for this part of town. Because of that, it ended up being quite close to the central part of town so you can make a stop here before following to places like Bom Jesus Street or Recife Antigo.
What makes this place special is that it was thought out to tell people about the beautiful parts of Brazil’s backcountry, not just the dry seasons or suffering. And like other places, it has both permanent and temporary expositions.
Everything is set out to look almost like a journey through foreign places. No one will be excluded during the trip because this place takes pride in being accessible for differently abled people. It is a state-operated place, so admittance is almost free.
8. Glide Along the Capibaride River:
You have probably noticed how Recife is famous for a lot of things. For the pristine beaches and culture alike, you will always have the best time here! I also mentioned how this city is known as the Venice of Brazil, right?
Even though there are many rivers and channels cutting through town, the Capibaribe River is probably the best for taking a boat tour. I say that because it will give you a chance to just observe many of the city’s top attractions without having to walk from one place to the next.
If you aren’t really interested in actually going into historic buildings or a cultural center, this might be your best bet. You probably won’t see it all but so much of Recife is still by the river that it won’t really make a difference.
Going on a water tour of the Capibaribe River usually doesn’t take more than a couple of hours so it would be easy to fit it into a day where you already have other plans. A tip from personal experience: give preference to evening boat tours since they will help you avoid pesky mosquitoes and other insects.
things to do in recife brazil
9. Try as Much Local Food as You Can:
It isn’t one of the things to do in Recife Brazil, so much as it is an unmissable experience. Recifense cuisine is an interesting mixture of European influences with African roots since this area is where a lot of slaves came into Brazilian lands.
It also was hugely impacted by native culture, meaning you will find many interesting dishes to try while in Recife. I could never tell you all of the restaurants you have to go to because then you’d have to move there, but there are some dishes that are an absolute must.
You will probably start seeing different things on your hotel`s breakfast spread with items like `tapioca` and `cuscus` being northeastern staples. Other dishes like the moqueca, a thick broth with a coconut milk base, are more of a meal.
But the one thing I always need to eat and ask everyone to bring me some is the Bolo de Rolo. It is a very thin cake dough rolled up with an equally thin layer of goiabada, you have to try a slice paired with some coffee!
10. Dance Away at Paรงo Do Frevo:
Paรงo do Frevo is a cultural space that was born just over ten years ago and quickly became a very popular item on lists of things to do in Recife, Brazil. It gained its status mostly because it is so easy to have fun at a place dedicated to talking about the Frevo dance style.
It is another museum managed by the state of Pernambuco so admittance fees are very low, between ten and five reais! You can purchase tickets beforehand on their website or at the entrance. On Tuesdays, everyone is free to come in.
One of the best things about visiting a place like Recife is that most of the tourist attractions end up super close together. From Paรงo do Frevo, it is easy to continue on to other places I’ve already mentioned in our article so far like the Cais do Sertรฃo museum.
You can also go onto Recife Antingo since Marco Zero is a short walk away. You don’t even need to fear getting lost because streets around these places are very well-identified to help visitors navigate their days. It will make your trip much more interesting if you walk Recife’s streets for a little bit.
things to do in recife brazil
11. Look at the Giant Olinda Dolls at the Embaixada de Pernambuco:
There is no way of talking about Recife without talking about the nearby town of Olinda. And there is no way to talk about Olinda without mentioning the giant paper mache dolls that became a symbol of their Carnival celebrations.
As the story goes, a young man decided to create them after hearing stories about giant European figures from a priest. So Zรฉ Pereira, the first giant doll, was born in Belรฉm de Sรฃo Francisco on the year of 1919. It has been over a hundred years of these figures dancing amongst people in this part of Brazil.
Other than just being amazing to look at, they are modeled after everything including pop culture characters, it is amazing to see how huge they are. The Embaixada de Pernambuco opened up in 2015 to give people a chance to see them without having to go to Olinda.
It is open every day, including weekends, from 8 am to 5 pm. Admittance is a little more expensive than other places but it is totally worth a visit. And as usual, it is so easy to visit other places from here. I’d suggest going during hours when the sun is high so you can escape the heat.
12. Check out the Neighboring City of Olinda:
It might seem a little weird that one of our fifteen things to do in Recife Brazil, is going away from it but trust me it will be worth it. While Recife was very influenced by the Dutch immigrants, Olinda was a village founded by Portuguese immigrants who were dealing with the sugar cane exportation in the area.
So imagine a town full of colorful historic buildings climbing up hills, and beautiful churches dotted throughout the old part of town. And of course, the reason everyone comes to northeastern Brazil, the gorgeous beaches!
If you would rather not move your stuff across hotels, you can book a city tour leaving from Recife! It will give you a nice change of scenery and the opportunity to enrich your trip. Now, you might be up for the adventure of spending some time there.
That will give you time to explore the historic city center, the Sรฃo Bento Church, and enjoy the view at Sรฉ Cathedral. This cathedral sits atop a hill with a breathtaking sea view! If you are coming sometime around Carnaval, be ready to deal with bigger crowds than usual.
things to do in recife brazil
13. Discover Local Artisans at Casa Da Cultura:
One of the best things to do in Recife, Brazil, is shopping for handmade items. In my humble opinion, it is one of the best things to do anywhere. It gives you some time to wind down from sightseeing while browsing unique items that make for the best souvenirs.
It will surely surprise your friends and family when you show up with a handcrafted memory instead of the same kind of keychains everyone gets. The best place to do it is Casa da Cultura, a cultural center famous for giving artisans a place to work.
And in addition to a different kind of shopping trip, you will have the chance to visit a building with an interesting history. On the banks of the Capibaribe River, the Recife Detention House was inaugurated in 1855, working as a correctional facility for over a hundred years.
It only took three years between closing and its reinauguration as a place of culture. There are two murals by famed artist Cรญcero Dias, a theater along with more than a hundred and ten stalls for all kinds of handmade items. It is open every day of the week, including Sundays, with some different hours depending on the day.
14. Enter Capela Dourada Church:
Because so much of Brazil’s northeastern region was colonized by catholic Europeans, there are more than a few iconic churches on lists of things to in Recife, Brazil. The Golden Chapel, or Capela Dourada in Portuguese, is arguably the most iconic one in town.
Located on Bom Jesus Street, close to where it intersects with Siqueira Campos Street, this building stands tall with white walls and dark grey accents. So why not spare a moment to walk inside while on your tour of this iconic street?
Even if you are not a religious person, there is something almost magical about these buildings. The work that would result in our Capela Dourada started way back in 1696! It took almost thirty years for everything to be done, down to every detail you will be able to see if you go there today.
Every golden detail on the walls and each of the baroque paintings will take you back to another time. Unlike other places in this list that are open every day of the week, the Golden Chapel is closed for visitations during the weekends. On weekdays, it is open from 8 am to 4 pm.
things to do in recife brazil
15. Continue on Your Trip and Stop at Porto de Galinhas Beach:
Ironically, the last item on our list of things to do in Recife Brazil, is kind of leaving it. We have talked about how this region’s super world-class beaches are incredible. And although not all of them are in Pernambuco, there are a few you could definitely check off of your list.
My personal recommendation is Porto de Galinhas Beach! It is a region characterized by green waters that form natural pools in the rocky ocean bottom. It is one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever had the chance to visit.
Visitors also love how the waters are a nice warm temperature, perfect for lounging for hours on end. It would be a waste to not spend some time here while you’re in the region! Just be careful.
It gets a lot busier, and much more expensive, during the Brazilian summer (December through February). So, it would be best to avoid this season. But don’t worry! You will get perfect weather nearly every day of the year so feel free to come around!
Did you know about all of these? Or did any of our things to do in Recife, Brazil, surprise you? What really matters is making sure that your time in Brazil is as good as it can be so there are a few things to keep in mind.
I’d say the first thing you have to consider is if you want to partake in Recife’s flamboyant annual Carnival celebrations. They usually happen any time between mid-February to early March. It’s almost a whole week’s worth of street parties, parades, and generally good times!
But Recife’s celebrations are some of the most popular in Brazil, everything will sell out way in advance. Preparation will be your best friend! A lot of tourism agencies will sell complete packages for this time of the year.
What about the other items on our list? Places like Instituto Ricardo Brennand are year-round stops but you can definitely be picky about your weather. Come in the months of January and February or September through December for the sunniest days.
The rainy season is from April through July! Now, one of the best things to do in Recife, Brazil, is being able to explore Northeast Brazil further. For perfect weather to enjoy both Recife and Fernando de Noronha, August is your month. The weather will affect how you pack your bags, so look it up in advance!
By now, your itinerary is probably a bit more fleshed out. If you still feel a little unsure about how to get around Recife or where to stay, did you know our blog has a complete Recife travel guide? Check it out for some essential information that will take your trip to the next level!
