Recife

Faltam-me palavras para descrever a beleza | Words fail me to describe the beauty (about Olinda)

Why visit

Recife is one of Brazil's most culturally distinctive cities and gateway to the spectacular UNESCO colonial town of Olinda just 6 km north. Wander Recife Antigo (the old port quarter) with its Dutch and Portuguese colonial buildings. Visit the restored Kahal Zur Israel synagogue. Explore the Instituto Ricardo Brennand's medieval armor collection in a fake castle. Carnival in Recife and Olinda is widely considered Brazil's most authentic, frevo dancers with miniature umbrellas leap through cobbled streets while giant 4-meter puppets parade. Boa Viagem beach is the city beach (with shark-attack warnings, sadly). Day trip to the historic sugar-baron mansion of Engenho Mass Branca, or fly to the Fernando de Noronha archipelago.

When to avoid

Recife has serious crime problems, muggings, robberies, and occasional carjackings are common. Avoid the Boa Viagem beach after dark, never display valuables, use Uber rather than walking. Boa Viagem has a documented bull shark problem, do not swim past the reef line. Stick to the shallow tidal pools at low tide. Skip the Pina and Brás de Pina favelas without local guidance. Heavy rain causes catastrophic urban flooding. January to July are highest risk. Don't drive yourself, traffic is chaotic and confusing.

Plan Recife

Current conditions and the practical reference material that helps turn the saved places into a trip.

The next week in Recife

7-day forecast from Open-Meteo. UV badges flag days when sun protection matters (3 and above is moderate; 8 and above is risk territory for unprotected fair skin within 30 minutes).

Today

Showers

26° / 22°

8.9 mm

UV High

Wed

Drizzle

27° / 23°

4.5 mm

UV Moderate

Thu

Drizzle

28° / 23°

2.8 mm

UV High

Fri

Drizzle

28° / 23°

1.3 mm

UV High

Sat

Drizzle

28° / 24°

1.6 mm

UV High

Sun

Drizzle

28° / 23°

5.0 mm

UV High

Mon

Drizzle

27° / 23°

4.6 mm

UV High

Climate

Wet season (Mar-Jul)

About 68% of the year's rain falls in these months. Typical highs around 28°C, lows around 24°C.

Dry season (Aug-Feb)

About 64mm of rain a month, against 193mm in the wet season.

In August 4

Drag to scrub across the year.

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather

27° / 22°

Typical high / low

4 mm rainfall this month

Daylight

11.8h

05:29 – 17:19local

Holidays coming up

Public holidays from Nager.Date.

Airports

closest REC · 9 km

About Recife

Recife is the state capital of Pernambuco, Brazil, on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is the largest urban area within both the North and the Northeast Region of Brazil. It is the largest city in Pernambuco state, and the fourth-largest urban area in all of Brazil; the metro population of the city of Recife was 3,726,974 in 2022. Recife was founded in 1537, serving as the main harbor of the Captaincy of Pernambuco-known for its large-scale production of sugar cane. At one point, it was known as Mauritsstad, when it served as the capital city of the 17th century colony of New Holland of Dutch Brazil. Situated at the confluence of the Beberibe and Capibaribe rivers, before they drain into the South Atlantic Ocean, Recife is a major seaport along the Brazilian Atlantic coast. Its name is an allusion to the stone reefs that are present offshore. Together with the urban presence of the Beberibe and Capibaribe rivers and their tributaries, the many additional unique, small islands-and more than 50 bridges linking them throughout the city-create a distinct maritime or "riviera" atmosphere, leading to Recife being known as the "Venice of Brazil".

Area: 219 km²
Airport codes: REC

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References5

The links below support the changing or licensed reference material on this page. Personal notes and ordinary geographic facts are not footnoted individually.