Recife and Olinda: what to see, Porto de Galinhas and when to go

At a glance

Recife and Olinda: two cities, one trip

People often ask whether Recife and Olinda are the same place. They are separate cities in the same metropolitan area. The Ministry of Tourism puts Olinda about 7 km from Recife, and from Recife airport to Olinda’s historic centre takes about 30 minutes, traffic permitting. A common plan is to sleep in Recife (or on Boa Viagem) and spend a day or an afternoon in Olinda.

What to see in Recife

Recife Antigo

The old quarter sits on an island next to the business district. Marco Zero, according to Embratur, marks the spot where the city was born. Rua do Bom Jesus runs nearby; Embratur notes that Architectural Digest ranked it the third most beautiful street in the world.

On the same street stands Kahal Zur Israel. The Joaquim Nabuco Foundation describes it as the first official synagogue of the Jews who lived in the Americas, from the period of Dutch rule in Pernambuco in the 17th century. It opened to the public in December 2001, with exhibitions on Jewish culture on the ground floor and a documentation centre upstairs.

Boa Viagem

Boa Viagem is the city beach: about 8 km of sand, with warm natural pools formed by the reefs, coconut palms and kiosks along the seafront (Embratur).

Brennand collections

• Instituto Ricardo Brennand: a private art collection and armour in red brick castles surrounded by gardens.
• Parque de Esculturas Francisco Brennand: an open-air museum with about 90 works by the artist.

Opening days change, so we check them for your dates.

Frevo

Frevo, the fast music and acrobatic dance of the Recife Carnival, has been on UNESCO’s intangible heritage list since 2012. You can hear it all year, and at full strength in Carnival.

What to see in Olinda

UNESCO listed the Historic Centre of Olinda in 1982. The town was founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century, burned by the Dutch and rebuilt, so most of what you see dates from the 18th century: hillside streets above the Atlantic, convents, small chapels and about twenty Baroque churches.

The Ministry of Tourism points to these stops:

• Alto da Sé, with the cathedral, a craft market and one of the best known viewpoints in Pernambuco.
• Igreja e Convento de São Francisco, considered the first Franciscan convent in Brazil, with Portuguese tiles.
• Mosteiro de São Bento, known for its gilded wooden altar.
• Igreja da Misericórdia, from the 16th century, with a wide view of the coast.
• The giant puppets (bonecos gigantes) of Olinda’s Carnival, which you can see in workshops all year.

Olinda’s hills are steep and cobbled. Comfortable shoes help, and a local guide makes the visit easier to follow.

Porto de Galinhas

Porto de Galinhas is in Ipojuca, about 60 km south of Recife airport and roughly one hour by car on the PE-009 (Ipojuca city hall). Jangada rafts take you to the natural pools, where fish swim among the corals in water around 27 °C.

• Go at low tide, preferably in the morning. The time changes daily, so we check the tide table for your date.
• The area is an environmental protection zone: do not step on or touch the corals, and do not feed the fish.
• Follow the guidance of the guides and jangadeiros.

Weather in Recife by month

Embratur describes Recife as hot and humid, with the most rain in June, July and August. INMET normals for 1961-1990, published by the World Meteorological Organization:

For other regions, see the best time to visit Brazil.

How many days and what to combine

• Three days: Recife Antigo and Boa Viagem, a day in Olinda, a day in Porto de Galinhas.
• Five to six days: add a night in Porto de Galinhas or go on to Natal.
• Longer: Recife is the usual gateway to Fernando de Noronha, and it fits with Salvador on a two-week Brazil itinerary. We check flights for your dates.

Safety and health

The U.S. State Department keeps Brazil at Level 2, “Exercise increased caution” (issued 31.08.2026). The UK FCDO page was current on 21.10.2026, and Canada advises a high degree of caution (updated 14.10.2026). Emergency numbers: 190 police, 192 ambulance, 193 fire brigade. For vaccines, see health tips for Brazil and talk to your doctor.

Check entry requirements on official websites before you travel.

What to tell us in your request

• Dates and nights in Pernambuco
• Number of people and ages of any children
• What interests you: Recife, Olinda, Porto de Galinhas, Noronha
• Flights, if you already have them
• Type of accommodation and budget range
• The language the guide should speak

How we help

We plan Recife and Olinda as one trip: the airport transfer, a driver for the day in Olinda, a guide who speaks your language, the Porto de Galinhas day timed to the tide and accommodation. Starting in Rio? We add a private driver there as well. Our fee is already included in the price. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm.