Things To Do
Recife Antigo (Old Recife) walking tour
Full of colonial architecture, Recife's city centre is where the Portuguese first settled back in 1537. It is home to loads of cultural and artistic showcases, really good restaurants and cafés, the first and oldest Jewish synagogue in the Americas is located on Rua do Bom Jesus, elected one of the most beautiful streets in the world. Click the link for a map with some of the recommended places to visit!
Catamaran Tour
Perhaps after walking around Recife Antigo, a great way of enjoying the beautiful rivers and going under historical bridges is by going on a catamaran tour, relax and maybe even catch the sunset on the boat.
Boa Viagem Beach
The Brazilian beach experience was one of John's favourite things when he went to visit. You don't have to bring anything if you don't want to! Beach chairs and umbrellas are provided by multiple vendors along the beach. You can just sit and relax, order some food, drinks and enjoy Recife's most famous beach. We recommend staying at Barraca do Pezão/Quiosque 17. Although the ocean is warm, beware that at some Boa Viagem spots you may not enter it due to risk of shark attack.
Porto de Galinhas
If you're willing to travel about an hour away from Recife, the beautiful Porto de Galinhas is a major tourist destination, famous for its bright-water beaches and the natural pools which are open for visitation with tours. Perhaps spending a day at one of the many resorts in the area? If you plan on spending some time with the fish in the tidal pools, make sure to check tide levels, as they must be low to allow the best experience.
Visiting Olinda
Often referred to as Recife's sister-town, the beautiful colonial centre of Olinda is full of cobblestone alleyways, colorful plazas and dilapidated churches. It holds the best Carnaval in the world. My favourite place to go in hilly Olinda, is the major plaza of Alto da Sé, with amazing views over Olinda and Recife in the backdrop. If you feel like visiting craft stores, definitely hit Rua Bpo. Coutinho. For some Pernambuco culture, Casa dos Bonecos is a small museum collection of the larger-than-life puppets used in Olinda’s world-famous Carnaval. Olinda is home to some of the oldest Catholic Churches in Brazil, like Convento de São Francisco and the golden monastery of St. Benedict. Of course, there are also some pretty amazing restaurants, including one of Carol's favourite spots ever, Beijupirá. At Alto da Sé you can also try some local food and drinks like the famous caipirinha.
Instituto Ricardo Brennand
One of many cultural spots in the area, it is home to the Church in which we are getting married! The beautiful castle also comprises of a museum, an art gallery, a beautiful large park and a library. A lot of it is arts and artefacts from colonial Brazil. One of its areas focuses on Armory and it's one of the largest collections in the world (that was one of John's favourite places in the Institute). You will also find a café in the area where you can sit down and enjoy the beautiful garden. Visiting the church is an optional step (extra cost on top of the museum ticket), which we would personally leave it for our wedding day!