Central & South America Brazil The 8 Best Things to Do in Recife, Brazil By Bonnie Hamre Bonnie Hamre Bonnie is a freelance writer born and raised in South America who has covered the continent for 11 years. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Published on 04/02/19 Frazao Media/Getty Images Although it is Brazil's fourth largest city, Recife hasn't lost its traditional and cultural attractions to commercial development. The capital of Pernambuco state in northeast Brazil, Recife is a fluid mix of new and old. Protected by the reef that gives the city its name, Recife is built around a number of inlets, canals, and bridges, living up to its name as the "Venice of Brazil." It offers walkable tours, great beaches, and lively arts and entertainment. Recife is beautiful anytime thanks to its average year-round temperature in the 80s F. However, the city puts on a great carnival so you might want to schedule a visit to the Recife and Olinda carnivals in February/March, or to the off-season carnival, called Recifolia, in October. Either occasion means thousands of visitors, so make your reservations early. 01 of 08 Lounge on Boa Viagem Beach Michael Runkel / robertharding / Getty Images View Map Address Boa Viagem Beach - Boa Viagem, Recife - State of Pernambuco, Brazil Get directions Brazil is known for its beaches and Recife is no different. One of the best places to catch some sun is Boa Viagem, an upscale area, which also offers most of the restaurants and nightclubs—some of which are oceanfront. Just keep in mind that this beach is known to have bull sharks, so you may want to stay on the sand instead of going for a swim. 02 of 08 Take a Cultural Walking Tour Marco Simoni / robertharding / Getty Images Take a walking tour of the old city from the Praca da Republica to the impressive, 19th-century Teatro Santa Isabel. From there head to the Catedral de Sao Pedro dos Clerigos (also called Recife Co-Cathedral). Next, browse through the colorful Mercado do Sao Jose (Saint John's Market) for local arts and crafts and handiwork, including a special section for lace, and finish your walk at the Basilica de NS da Penha. 03 of 08 Shop Until You Drop Courtesy of Shopping Recife View Map Address R. Padre Carapuceiro, 777 - Boa Viagem, Recife - PE, 51020-900, Brazil Get directions Phone +55 81 3464-6464 Web Visit website Shopping Recife is Brazil's second-largest shopping center. It's been open for more than 30 years and now features around over 450 stores, 90 food options, and 14 cinemas. The mall is just five minutes from the Recife International Airport and a few blocks from the Boa Viagem beach, so it's a prime spot for tourists and locals alike. 04 of 08 Buy Souvenirs in a Former Prison chivunck / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 View Map Address R.Floriano Peixoto - São José, Recife - PE, 50020-060, Brazil Get directions Phone +55 81 3184-3152 Web Visit website The cross-shaped Casa da Cultura is one of the most interesting buildings in Recife. Dating back to 1850, it was originally a prison and is now a crafts and arts center that sells souvenirs. There are around 150 shops selling local pottery, dolls, board games, leather accessories, embroidery, paintings, and more. There's also a food court where you can try some of Pernambuco's local cuisine and on the third floor is Frevo Museum, which showcases traditional music. Continue to 5 of 8 below. 05 of 08 Tour a Ceramics Factory and Museum Marcio Silva / Getty Images View Map Address Propriedade Santos Cosme e Damião - R. Diogo de Vasconcelos, S/N - Várzea, Recife - PE, 50740-970, Brazil Get directions Phone +55 81 2011-5466 Web Visit website Set in the building of his family's old brick factory, the Oficina Ceramica de Francisco Brennand is a ceramics factory, art studio, gallery, and museum all wrapped in one. Brennand comes from a long line of ceramicists and he started work on this factory in 1971 after studying in Europe. While there, admire the fountains, sculptures, and wander the extensive gardens 06 of 08 Visit the City's Best Museum Museu do Homem do Nordeste / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 View Map Address Av. Dezessete de Agosto, 2187 - Casa Forte, Recife - PE, 52061-540, Brazil Get directions Web Visit website Museu do Homem do Nordeste is considered one of Recife's best museums. It displays art and objects that depict the anthropology, history, and culture of the people in this region. The museum's modern galleries were built in 1979 to showcase local artifacts and works. 07 of 08 Wander the Colorful Streets of Olinda Image taken by Luiz Felipe Sahd / Getty Images View Map Address Olinda, PE, Brazil Get directions Olinda is the reason many visitors travel to Recife. Olinda is a living museum, a UNESCO heritage city, and considered to be the origin of the entire Brazilian culture of the 16th century. It's also very charming, with old stone churches, bright and colorful buildings, a stunning beach with coral reef pools, and more. 08 of 08 Celebrate Carnival MesquitaFMS / Getty Images Two months before the actual date, the Carnival rehearsals start and the blocos, or carnival section or group, draw in hundreds of watchers. The main dance is the frevo, an energetic, exhilarating experience. In Olinda, everybody participates. Don't forget to bring your costume—you'll need it to fit in with the festivities. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Tell us why! Submit