The city can be roughly divided in four major areas:

• The Centro (Center) is composed of the neighborhoods of Recife Antigo (Old Recife), Santo Antônio, São José, Santo Amaro and Boa Vista, which are scattered through a couple of islands and part of the mainland. They are connected to each other by a series of bridges over the Capibaribe River. The Centro contains most of the historic and government buildings in the city. The port, which is in Recife Antigo, was once the most active in all of the Americas.
• Zona Sul (South Zone) is the most modern and touristic part of the city, as it was built around the beautiful natural reef beaches that gave the city its name. This area has a great many hotels, restaurants, bars, the airport, and the largest shopping mall. Its most important neighborhood is Boa Viagem, set along the beautiful Boa Viagem beach. Because of the beach and the skyline Boa Viagem is also called the Copacabana of the North East.
• Zona Oeste (West Zone) is by far the greenest part of the city. It contains remnants of the Atlantic Forest that once covered most of the Brazilian eastern coast. It contains two famous museums (Instituto Ricardo Brennand and Museu-Oficina Francisco Brennand), as well as the Federal University of Pernambuco, and the Recife Military school (2nd best school around all Brazil).
• Zona Norte (North Zone) is mostly a residential area. Throughout the centuries, the neighborhoods along the Capibaribe River were home to the local aristocracy. It contains the city's best schools and hospitals, and is also famous for its parks and bars.

The term Grande Recife is used to describe the Metropolitan Region of Recife, the fifth largest urban agglomeration in Brazil (after São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre) and the single largest in the Northeast. Grande Recife offers superb touristic attractions inside and outside the city limits. Do not miss Olinda or Porto de Galinhas. The first is famous for its natural setting, colonial architecture and carnaval, while the second has been consistently voted the best beach in Brazil. Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Itamaracá Island and Igarassu are known for their beautiful beaches and important historical monuments.

A collection of fishing shacks, inns and warehouses started on the delta between the Capibaribe and Beberibe rivers in the captaincy of Pernambuco, sometime between 1535 and 1537, at the long reef (actually a petrified sandbank) that runs parallel to the shoreline, enclosing its harbor. Here is found the city's -8.06315-34.8711691 Marco Zero. Eventually it became a port for the capital Olinda, which is just across the Beberibe. In 1630 came the Dutch invaders, establishing the colony of New Holland. They laid siege to Olinda, pillaging it in 1631, and built a new city on the island of Antônio Vaz opposite the first settlement, naming it Mauritsstadt, after count Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen, governor from 1637 to 1644. His Vrijburg palace was built at the spot where Republic Square is today. Mauritsstadt's map shows two large forts, built of earth and wood, on either side of the walled city; the four-pointed northern one, Fort Ernest, was demolished to make way for the present Princesses' Field Palace. The five-pointed southern one, Fort Frederik Hendrik, has survived, rebuilt in stone, officially renamed Five-Pointed Fort, and has long been home to the Recife City Museum.

Nassau was a tolerant man, and allowed freedom of religion, but the Dutch West India Company bosses were hardline Calvinists, severe in architecture and taxation. This frustrated Nassau, who went home and left the company to impose its own rule, which drove the natives to rebellion. After the Dutch West India Company's larger, better equipped army's defeat (albeit a narrow one) to a Portuguese and Native force in the 1649 Guararapes battle at Recife's outskirts, opinion in Amsterdam considered that "Dutch Brazil by now no longer has a future worth fighting for". The last invaders were expelled in 1654, and a sizable resident Sephardic Jew community moved to New Amsterdam.

Recife became the capital of Pernambuco in 1827.

The climate is tropical, with two main seasons: dry (September–March) and rainy (April–August). Average annual temperature is 26°C (78.8°F), with limited variation.

• Recife Tourism information portal
• Recife Antigo, Rua da Guia, ☏ +55 81 3232-2942. Daily 09:00-21:00. 
• Mercado de San José, Rua da Guia. M-Sa 07:00-19:00. 
• Praça de Boa Viagem, Rua da Guia, ☏ +55 81 3182-8297. Daily 08:00-20:00. 
• Airport, ☏ +55 81 3322-4353. 24 hours a day. 
• Rodoviária, ☏ +55 81 3452-1704. Daily 07:00-19:00. 
• Patió de São Pedro, ☏ +55 81 3452-1704. 

• -8.126389-34.9227781 Guararapes-Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC  ^IATA). A modern, efficient, user-friendly and close to the city. There are direct scheduled flights from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Campinas, Caruaru, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Fernando de Noronha, Fortaleza, Maceió, Natal, João Pessoa, Aracaju, Petrolina, Campina Grande, Juazeiro do Norte, as well as from Buenos Aires, Frankfurt (Condor), Madrid (Iberia), Miami (American Airlines), Lisbon (TAP), Madrid, Oporto and Paris. There are also regular charter flights from other European cities, such as Milan, Helsinki and Amsterdam. Domestic airlines operating regular scheduled flights to Recife: Azul, GOL, Noar, LATAM, and TRIP.  

• BR-101, also known as the Translitoranean, connects to the north with Natal and João Pessoa, and to the south with Maceió, Aracaju, and Salvador, as well as Vitória and Rio de Janeiro further down the coast.
• BR-232 runs east-west across most of Pernambuco, connecting Recife with Gravatá, Caruaru and other destinations.
• BR-408 connects Recife with Tracunhaém and with Campina Grande, Paraíba.

• Terminal Integrado de Passageiros (TIP), Rod BR 232 - Coqueiral, ☏ +55 81 3452-1999. Recife's long-distance bus terminal is way out in the suburbs. TIP is connected to the city by the MetroRec subway at the Rodoviária station on the Centro 1 line, around 15 minutes from downtown. Bus companies have booths at the Central MetroRec station in town, so at least you do not have to trek out just to buy advance bus tickets. 

Direct buses from all Northeast and many other capital cities:

• From Fortaleza by Guanabara, R$90-120 (April 2021), 12 hours.
• From Natal by Progresso, R$80 (April 2021), 4½ hours.
• Hourly from João Pessoa
• From Maceió from R$80 (April 2021)

Especially from Maceió and Natal you can get a better price from the frequent shared rides. Have a look on Blablacar.

You can arrive in cruise ships at the Port of Recife^{[dead link]}. Cruises may come from other Brazilian states, from other countries in South America and the Caribbean, or from Europe. Transatlantic cruise liners include Holland America Line ms Rotterdam^{[dead link]}, Holland America Line ms Prisendam^{[dead link]}, Oceania Cruises Insignia, SeaDream Yacht Club, Royal Caribbean International Splendour of the Sea, P&O Cruises Artemis, Cunard Line Queen Elizabeth II, among others. Cruises from Recife to the Fernando de Noronha archipelago are also available.

Uber and 99Pop^{[dead link]} operate in Recife.

Look for registered taxi companies which charge standard rates. Ask for a car with air conditioning (especially in the summer).

• Coopetáxi, ☏ +55 81 3224-8441. 
• Disk Táxi, ☏ +55 81 3224-5410. 
• Ligue Táxi, ☏ +55 81 3228-6830. 
• RádioTáxi Recife, ☏ +55 81 3222-6580. 
• Recife Táxi, ☏ +55 81 3424-3020. 
• TeleTáxi, ☏ +55 81 2121-4242. 

Buses are the most useful form of mass transportation. The Sistema Estrutural Integrado^{[dead link]} (Integrated Structural System), known as SEI, has 119 bus lines which are integrated with the subway system at 13 points throughout the metropolitan area.

MetroRec^{[dead link]}, Recife's subway system, is the third largest in Brazil, although it covers only limited areas of the city. 13 of the 28 stations have connections to the SEI metro bus system and, depending on your destination, it may be possible to purchase a single combination subway/bus ticket. MetroRec has three basic lines:

• Two Central lines run together from downtown to the west, where they split after Coqueiral station and go to Jaboatão dos Guararapes and Camaragibe respectively. It does provide a useful link between the city center and the TIP Bus Station in the outskirts, at the penultimate stop on the Camaragibe (Centro 1) line.
• The South line provides direct access to the airport and Shopping Center Recife on its way to Cajueiro Seco.

Recife is known for its amazing beaches.

• -8.1274-34.89752 Boa Viagem Beach (Praia de Boa Viagem). Probably one of the world's best urban beaches, with pristine white sands. With 8 km of hotels and restaurants, it is the longest urbanized stretch of beach in Brazil. If you want a tan, you came to the right place. The beach road has a wide walkway attached and this is dotted with huts selling food and drink. Try the traditional "água de coco" (coconut water). The beach is full of vendors selling food and drink. There are also vendors selling t-shirts, hats, suncream, sunglasses. These guys can get a bit insistent. Simply smile and one word will have them on their way: não (pronounced "now"). The beach is somewhat protected by a coral reef wall visible at low tide, making it good for a swim, but don't go out past the wall, as the waters are more dangerous, with sharks reported in the area. (updated Jan 2021)

• -8.08461-34.877853 Brasilia Teimosa Beach (Praia de Brasília Teimosa). A smaller and less frequented beach near the port. (updated Jan 2021)

• -8.0943-34.88174 Pina Beach (Praia do Pina). A well-developed and popular beach north of Boa Viagem Beach. It's a little more relaxed, with weak waves. (updated Jan 2021)

• -8.062417-34.8773615 Convento Franciscano de Santo Antônio (Franciscan Convent of Saint Anthony), Rua Imperador Pedro II, Santo Antônio, (Centro). M-F 08:00-11:30, 14:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-11:30. One of the city's biggest attractions, a convent containing the ostentatious Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel), which certainly lives up to its name. Built in 1588, it is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Brazil. Altar with gold-covered engravings, beautiful paintings on the ceiling and impressive amount of Portuguese-style tiled panels. This is one of the main sights in Recife. The interior of rosewood and cedar is completely covered with gold. You will find similar churches full of splendour only in Salvador da Bahia or Ouro Preto. The convent also houses the Museu Franciscano de Arte Sagrada (Franciscan Museum of Sacred Art). R$2.  
• -8.064223-34.8738986 Madre de Deus (Mother of God), Rua Madre de Deus, Recife Antigo (Centro) (next-door to the Paço Alfândega Shopping Mall), ☏ +55 81 3224-5587. Tu-F 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00; Sa Su 09:00-12:00.  
• -8.06602-34.8800517 Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Our Lady of Carmel Basilica and Convent), Avenida Dantas Barreto - Santo Antônio (Centro). M-F 07:00-19:00, Sa 07:00-12:00, Su 08:00-12:00 and 18:00-21:00. Built between 1710-1767, where the Boa Vista Palace built by the Dutch governor of Northeastern Brazil once stood. A religious art collection can also be visited. Baroque in style; altar with gold engravings and crowns of gold and precious stones. One of the rooms is covered with Portuguese tiles.  
• -8.064313-34.8801558 Nossa Senhora da Conceição dos Militares (Our Lady of the Conception of the Military), Rua Nova, 309, Santo Antônio (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3224-3106. Built in 1726. The 1781 ceiling paintings depict the Guararapes Battle against the Dutch. Leaders from the Praieira Revolution and the Paraguay War are buried in the church. The church also houses the Museu de Arte Sacra Padre Roberto Barbalho (Father Roberto Barbalho Museum of Sacred Art).  
• -8.056157-34.870199 Nossa Senhora do Pilar, Praça Monsenhor João Castilho Barbosa, (Centro), ☏ +55 31 3551-4736. Constructed in 1680.  
• -8.065447-34.8778610 Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Homens Pretos (Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black Men), Rua Estreita do Rosário, Santo Antônio (Centro). M-F 09:00-13:30 and 14:30-18:00, Sa 08:00-12:00. Erected by African-Brazilian slaves in the 17th century. Main wooden altar engraved in gold; lateral altars display images from the 18th century.  
• -8.06253-34.8880911 Santa Cruz (Holy Cross), Pátio de Santa Cruz, Boa Vista (Centro). Built between 1725 and 1732. Parts of the movie Lisbela e o Prisioneiro (2003) were shot in the square in front of the church. 
• -8.064212-34.87890812 Santíssimo Sacramento - Matriz de Santo Antônio (Holy Sacrament - Saint Anthony Mother Church), Praça da Independência - Santo Antônio (Centro). Daily 07:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00. Built between 1753 and 1790, the church is in manueline/baroque style. Interior decorated with enormous crystal chandelier and images of Saint Anthony and Saint Sebastian.  
• -8.067155-34.87912513 São Pedro dos Clérigos (Saint Peter of Clerics Cathedral, Co-Cathedral of Recife), Pátio de São José - Centro. Built between 1728 and 1782, the cathedral is in the charming Saint Peter Square, surrounded by colorful colonial buildings. It is a replica of the Santa Maria Maggiore Sanctuary in Rome. Rosewood altar; pulpit engraved in gold; wooden ceiling sculpted with images of Saint Peter, the twelve apostles and the evangelists. Blend of baroque art, 16th-century mannerism, as well as rococo and neoclassic elements.  

• -8.05686-34.9090114 Abolition Museum (Museu da Abolição), Rua Benfica, 1150 - Madalena (Zona Norte), ☏ +55 81 3228-3248. Museum that covers the period of slavery and the abolitionist movement in 19th-century Brazil. Former plantation house. Former residence of Counsellor João Alfredo, leader of Brazil's abolitionist movement in the 19th century.  
• -8.059689-34.88122315 ^{[dead link]} Casa Manuel Bandeira/Espaço Pasárgada, Rua da União, 26 - Boa Vista (Centro) (next door to Joaquim Nabuco Palace and Pernambucan School), ☏ +55 81 3231-3994. M-F 08:00-18:00. House were the acclaimed poet Manuel Bandeira spent his childhood.  
• -8.020259-34.93891116 Casa-Museu Gilberto Freyre, Rua Jorge Tasso Neto - Apipucos (Zona Norte), ☏ +55 81 3441-1733. M-F 09:00-16:30. Beautiful house where once lived Brazil's greatest sociologist, Gilberto Freyre.  

• -8.052897-34.87086317 Military Museum Brum Fortress (Museu Militar Forte do Brum), Praça da Comunidade Luso-Brasileira - Recife Antigo (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3224-7559. 
• -8.061667-34.88444418 Museum of the Archeological, Historic and Geographic Institute of Pernambuco (Museu do Instituto Arqueológico, Histórico e Geográfico de Pernambuco), Rua do Hospício, 130 - Boa Vista (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3222-4952. M-F 13:00-17:00, Sa 08:00-12:00.  
• -8.05623-34.8886519 Museum of Archeology of the Catholic University of Pernambuco (Museu de Arqueologia da Universidade Católica de Pernambuco), Rua do Príncipe, 526, Bl G, 1° Andar - Boa vista (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3216-4192. Archeological museum focused on indigenous artifacts. Located at the Catholic University of Pernambuco. 
• -8.058-34.8791820 Museum of Natural History Louis Jacques Brunet (Museu de História Natural Louis Jacques Brunet), Rua da Aurora - Boa Vista (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3303-5315. Created in 1861, it is one of the first natural history museums in Latin America. Located at Ginásio Pernambucano. Collection spans archeology, botany, geology and zoology. 
• -8.030278-34.92521 Museum of the Northeastern Man (Museu do Homem do Nordeste), Avenida 17 de Agosto, 2187, Casa Forte (Zona Norte) (take the), ☏ +55 81 3441-5500. Tu-F 08:30-17:00; Sa Su 13:00-17:00; closed Jan 1, Carnaval, Mar 6, Good Friday, Jun 24, Dec 25. Part of the Fundação Joaquim Nabuco. This fantastic museum depicts the various folk arts, traditions, and history of Northeast Brazil. The displays are divided among three sections, focusing on sugar, folk arts, and anthropology. It's in the suburbs, but well worth the ride out.  
• -8.044732-34.90176122 Museum of the State of Pernambuco (Museu do Estado de Pernambuco), Avenida Rui Barbosa, 960 - Graças (Zona Norte). Tu-F 10:00-17:00, Sa Su 14:00-17:00.  
• -8.07176-34.8808723 Recife City Museum (Museu da Cidade do Recife), Forte das Cinco Pontas - São José (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3224-8492. M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa Su 13:00-17:00. Inside the 17th-century Five Pointed Fort, the former Fort Frederik Hendrik.  

• -8.068748-34.87884524 Ricardo Brennand Institute (Instituto Ricardo Brennand), Alameda Antônio Brennand - Várzea (Zona Oeste), ☏ +55 81 2121-0352. Tu-Su 13:00-17:00. Holds a very impressive collection of Brazilian and European historical artifacts from the 15th to 19th centuries. Special attention given to the period of Dutch occupation in Recife and Northeastern Brazil.  
• -8.06747-34.8835925 Train Museum (Museu do Trem), Praça Visconde de Mauá - São José (Centro) (in the central station, Estação Central), ☏ +55 81 3224-4620. M-Th 13:00-18:00, F 08:00-12:00. The Train Museum is in the old Central Train Station, which now also serves as the central station for MetroREC, Recife's subway system.  

• -8.06127-34.88144126 Aluísio Magalhães Modern Art Museum (Museu de Arte Moderna Aluísio Magalhães - MAMAM), Rua da Aurora, 265 - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3232-2188. Tu-Su 12:00-18:00.  
• -8.06699-34.8792327 Casa do Carnaval, Pátio de São Pedro, 52 - São José (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3224-1103. M-F 09:00-17:30. 
• -8.06421-34.8801228 Museu de Arte Sacra Padre Roberto Barbalho, Rua Nova, 309 - Santo Antônio (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3224-3106. Located at Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao dos Militares Church, the museum contains religious artifacts. 
• -8.062429-34.87722529 Museu Franciscano de Arte Sacra, Rua Imperador Pedro II - Santo Antônio (Centro) (at Santo Antônio de São Francisco Convent). 
• -8.037131-34.90997430 Museu Murillo La Greca, Rua Leonardo Bezerra Cavalcanti, 366 - Parnamirim (Zona Norte), ☏ +55 81 3232-4276. M-F 09:00-17:00. More than 1,400 drawings and 160 paintings by paintor Murillo La Greca. 
• -8.05246-34.9742131 Museu-Oficina Francisco Brennand, Propriedade Santos Cosme e Damião - Cordeiro (Zona Oeste) (near Avenida Caxangá and Rua Gastão Vidigal). Great ceramic art in a bucolic area of the city surrounded by forest. 

• -8.0646-34.8695132 Parque das Esculturas Francisco Brennand (take a canoe ride from Praça do Marco Zero, in Recife Antigo (Centro), or drive through Brasília Teimosa (Zona Sul)). A sculpture park on the reefs of the port of Recife. Contains more than 90 sculptures by Francisco Brennand, including a 30-m-high tower.  
• -8.06059-34.8808533 Pernambuco Image and Sound Museum (Museu da Imagem e do Som de Pernambuco - MISPE), Rua da Aurora - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3231-2716. M-F 09:00-17:00, Sa Su 13:00-17:00. Holds more than 6,000 pieces, including movies, records, photographs, postcards and the like. Uses modern audivisual techniques to document Pernambuco's culture. 

• -8.0606-34.901834 Benfica Cultural Center (Centro Cultural Benfica), Rua Benfica, 157, Madalena (Zona Norte), ☏ +55 81 3227-0657. M-F 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. The center specializes in the "Armorial" Movement and also holds a significant portion of the pieces from the old Fine Arts School. 
• -8.06326-34.8838635 Joaquim Nabuco House, Rua da Imperatriz, 147 - Santo Antônio (Centro). House where 19th-century politician, abolitionist and author Joaquim Nabuco was born. 
• -8.05826-34.8801836 Joaquim Nabuco Palace (Assembléia Legislativa do Estado de Pernambuco), Rua da União, 439 - Boa Vista (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3217-2211. Seat of the Pernambuco State Legislature, built in 1874. A historical documents collection can be visited in the annex building. 
• -8.06157-34.8775737 Justice Palace (Palácio da Justiça), Praça da República - Santo Antônio (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3419-3311. Seat of the Pernambuco State Judiciary, built in 1930.  
• -8.061819-34.87144538 Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue (Sinagoga Kahal Zur Israel), R. do Bom Jesus, 197, ☏ +55 81 3224 2128. Built in and used by some of the thousands of Sephardic Jews who immigrated here during the brief period Dutch domination between 1630 and 1657. The oldest synagogue in the Americas. (updated Jul 2022)
• -8.0608-34.870839 ^{[formerly dead link]} Malakoff Tower Cultural Observatory (Torre Malakoff), Rua do Observatório, Recife Antigo (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3424-8704. Tu-F 10:00-20:00, Sa 14:00-20:00, Su 14:00-19:00. Built in 1853. Beautiful tower in the port front. Functions as an astronomic observatory and arts and science center.  
• -8.06194-34.884740 Parque Theater (Teatro do Parque), Rua do Hospício, 81 - Boa Vista (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3423-6044. Constructed in 1915, Parque Theater is one of the three oldest, historic theaters in Recife. Modern and traditional plays from Spanish and Portuguese playwrights of the 17th-21st centuries are performed at the theater. Next door is the Cineteatro do Parque, Recife's oldest cinemas. Because Recife's municipal government, tickets are subsidized and cost only pennies! 
• -8.057778-34.87944441 Pernambucan School (Ginásio Pernambucano), Rua da Aurora, 703, Boa Vista, (Centro) (next door to the State Assembly and Manuel Bandeira's House). Built in the second quarter of the 19th century, it is one of Brazil's oldest secondary schools. The school's Louis Jacques Brunet Natural History Museum was one of the first in Latin America. Father Carapuceiro, Barbosa Lima Sobrinho, Epitácio Pessoa and Ariano Suassuna were either teachers or students here. The school was visited by Emperor Dom Pedro II.  
• -8.063025-34.87712542 Portuguese Reading Room (Gabinete Português de Leitura), Rua do Imperador, 290 - Santo Antônio (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3224-2593. M-F 08:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00. Built in 1850.  
• -8.060075-34.87761443 Princesses' Field Palace (Palácio do Campo das Princesas), Praça da República - Santo Antônio (Centro), ☏ +55 81 3425-2124. The state governor's Palace, built in 1841. The name of the building derives from the fact that the daughters of Emperor Dom Pedro II used to play in the palace's gardens.  
• -8.039482-34.90418744 Pernambucan Academy of Letters (Academia Pernambucana de Letras), Av. Rui Barbosa, 1586, Graças (Zona Norte). Constructed in 1870. 
• -8.060706-34.87843945 Santa Isabel Theater (Teatro Santa Isabel), Praça da República - Santo Antônio (Centro). One of Brazil's finest theaters. Built in 1850.  

• -8.0571-34.881346 Parque 13 de Maio (May 13th Park), Praça Dr.Adolfo Cirne - Boa Vista. The largest green area in central Recife, with playground equipment, a petting zoo, and illuminated fountains. 24-hour security. Free.  
• -8.01-34.947547 Parque Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Park), Praça Farias Neves, no number - Dois Irmãos, ☏ +55 81 3183-5539, zoodoisirmaos@gmail.com. Tu-Su 08:00-16:00. A zoo and botanical garden park, with 387 hectares of Atlantic Forest and 14 hectares of botanical gardens. The zoo has around 800 types of animals. The grounds also hold the Natural Science Museum and a number of ecological trails. R$2.  
• -8.036389-34.90472248 Parque da Jaqueira (Jaqueira Park), Av. Rui Barbosa - Jaqueira. This park is popular for jogging. It also has bicycle trails, plus live music on Sundays. Free.  

Recife is the third largest theater production center in Brazil, after São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The most traditional theater is Teatro Santa Isabel, while the most modern is the one at Convention Center of the Federal University of Pernambuco.

Football (soccer) teams from Recife participate in the A-Series (First Division) Brazilian Championship, the Brazil Cup, Pernambucan Championship, and the Copa Libertadores da América.

The three most traditional teams are Clube Nautico Capibaribe (home: -8.0405-34.89681 Aflitos Stadium); Sport Clube do Recife (home: -8.0628-34.90282 Ilha do Retiro Stadium); and Santa Cruz Futebol Clube (home: -8.0268-34.89123 Arruda Stadium). Nautico and Sport are in the A-Series Brazilian Championship. Santa Cruz is in the C-Series.

Recife is home to internationally famous football players including Juninho Pernambucano, Rivaldo, Ricardo Rocha and Vavá.

The city of Recife is home to some of Brazil's top roller hockey teams: Clube Portugues do Recife^{[dead link]}, Clube Nautico Capibaribe, Sport Clube do Recife and Associacão Amigos do Minho do Recife. Both Clube Portugues and Sport have been national champions.

• Recife's Carnaval is one of the country's busiest. Very different from its carioca counterpart, in Recife street shows and parades play contagious rhythms like frevo and maracatu, attracting more than 1.6 million people to celebrate and dance on the streets every year. Apart from frevo and maracatu, two other cultural manifestations that are typical of Pernambucan Carnaval include bumba-meu-boi and caboclinho. Recife's Carnaval is known for being multicultural, as people from different cultures, ages and likes gather around to be part of one of the biggest carnavals of the world.
• Abril Pro Rock. Every April. Two-day rock music festival. 
• Festival de São João. June. Yearly celebration of nordestino culture, with loads of traditional music and food. 

Pernambuco has a multicultural gastronomy with African and indigenous influences, among others. The national dish Feijoada (a stew of beans, pork and beef, served with rice and Farofa) is not very popular in Recife. On the other hand some ingredients which are widely used in Recife are hardly found in the South of Brazil, as manioc flour (which is the main ingredient of tapioca), cuscuz (corn flour), pumpkin, jerked beef, goat or lamb. Seafood is exotic and delicious. The regional food has some peculiarities like Carne de Sol and buchada, a dish prepared with the stomach of billy goat.

• Recife is the birthplace of two traditional and delicious cakes Bolo de Rolo and Bolo Sousa Leão.
• Do try the snacks on offer from beach vendors---little chicken and beef kebabs, oysters, prawns, and grilled cheese. Just be aware that some of the vendors may have been carrying them around for hours--if it doesn't look fresh, it probably isn't.
• A must try is Caldinho: a soup served all over the place (restaurants, dedicated carts and people with flasks selling it on the beach). Comes in a variety of flavors from black bean to shrimp. The person selling it will say "completa" when you order it. This simply means "complete", and if you say yes at this point you get a few added extras, such as a small boiled egg put into the cup of hot soup.

Recife is the gastronomic capital of the Northeast. There are more high-quality restaurants here than in any other city in Brazil north of Rio de Janeiro.

Mid-range

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• -8.0844-34.888026 Bargaço, Av. Antonio de Góes, 62, ☏ +55 81 3465-1847. Su-Th 12:00-00:00, F Sa 12:00-01:00. Bargaço is considered the best fish and seafood restaurant in Recife. A typical speciality of the restaurant is the moqueca, pieces of fish or shrimp stewed with vegetables and coconut milk. 
• -8.03468-34.898257 Carne-de-Sol do Cunha, Rua Rigueira Costa, 80 - Rosarinho (Zona Norte), ☏ +55 81 3241-6512. A local favorite. It offers traditional Pernambucan food, such as buchada, as well as other regional dishes. Large portions for the price. 
• -8.03815-34.911888 Parraxaxá, Rua Baltazar Pereira, 32 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3463-7874. This Northeast-themed restaurant offers all the traditional regional cuisine. The staff are dressed as either police or outlaws. With its festive decor, the restaurant is a fun way to enjoy a meal.Famous for its "Pernambuco Breakfast" (Café da manhã pernambucano). Some young people go there for breakfast after a night out. 
• -8.03922-34.901159 Taberna Japonesa Quina do Futuro, Rua Xavier Marques, 134 - Aflitos (at the corner with Rua do Futuro), ☏ +55 81 3241-9589. Japanese cuisine. 
• -8.13398-34.9082910 Tio Pepe, Rua Almirante Tamandaré 170 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3341-7153. Tu-Sa 11:30-23:30, Su 11:30-16:00. 
• -8.13175-34.9010511 Ilha Sertaneja, Rua Dr. Nilo Dornelas Câmara, 16 (next to Igreja da Boa Viagem), ☏ +55 81 3048-5886. Buffet restaurant serving local cuisine. (updated Jan 2021)

• -8.06134-34.9076812 Camarão do Léo, Avenida Engenheiro Abdias de Carvalho - Pista Lateral, 2910. Seafood. (updated Jan 2021)

• -8.10502-34.8888213 Nikko Japanese Fusion, Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, 1712, ☏ +55 81 3325-3030. Japanese-global fusion cuisine with dishes such as tuna with foie gras and banana chips in a modern and relaxed restaurant. R$ 59 (rodízio). (updated Jan 2021)

• -8.086421-34.89339614 Armazém Guimarães, Av. República do Líbano 251 (L3 floor in Shopping RioMar), ☏ +55 81 3327 1021. M-Sa 12:00-22:00, Su 12:00-21:00. Italian restaurant famous for their pizzas. (updated Oct 2019)

Fancy sitting around all day on the beach under a beach umbrella? Well, you can! The chairs and the guy that moves the umbrella are free. All they ask in return is that you buy your food and drink from them.

They all carry a menu and the food arrives quickly and freshly made on the beach. Try the seafood. The fish is usually caught locally and earlier that same day.

Apart from your own vendor, there will be a variety of vendors walking up and down the beach, selling a variety of things. Learning the language for these items is useful but unnecessary as the vendor will take the time to show you what he/she has on offer.

• Prawns (camarão) - Be careful of the prawns-- smell them before purchase. A free sample is available with the word provar. They might have been walked up and down the beach for hours in the hot sun. A quick sniff is enough to tell you if they are fresh or not. If you decide to eat them, here is a quick tip: hold the tail of the prawn, tear off and discard the head and leg sections, hold the very tip of the tail, pop the rest in your mouth and bite off the tip leaving it in your fingers. Yes, you can eat the shell; peel it if you wish, but you will not see the locals doing this.
• Oysters (Ostra) - Vendors will be carrying a bucket full of ice and live oysters. They are prepared for you one at a time. Served with a squeeze of lime, salt and cumin powder.
• Crab - They do not come prepared, so unless you know which bits to eat and which bits to discard, steer clear!
• Grilled cheese (Queijo de Coalho) - No warnings here--just go ahead and enjoy. It's a real treat.
• Kebabs (Espetinhos) - Grilled chicken or beef. Cooked fresh right in front of you.
• Ice-cream - The prices are a lot more expensive than just off the beach. But you don't have to get out of your chair. In that heat, you will appreciate that.
• Caldinho - you will notice guys walking up and down the beach with flasks. These are full of different flavors of a soup called caldinho. Try prawn one with hot pepper sauce.
• Ovos de codorna - Small boiled quail eggs ready to peel, salt and eat.
• Nuts - A variety of nuts is available, cashew being the most obvious, because it's grown right there in northeastern Brazil. Also, peanuts in 2 varieties: roasted or boiled.

There are many many bars in Recife, most, if not all, serving food as well as drinks. The prices are cheap.

At the less classy end of the market, there are some great bars. They don't have great signage to tell you that it's a bar. Basically, if you see some plastic garden furniture in the street, you are looking at a bar. These are usually the most fun places with the loudest people and the best vibe. Be careful of the ice in places like this as it might not be made from bottled water. It also helps to have a good constitution of you are going to eat in these bars.

• There are huts selling food, beer, and the like about every half kilometer in the center of Boa Viagem beach.
• Warning: It might not be safe to walk to and from all these nightspots. Ask around, and take a cab to escape muggings.

There are bars of varying quality up and down the streets of Recife. A few good picks include the following:

• -8.057724-34.8801711 Bar Central, Rua Mamede Simões 144 - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3222-7622. M-F 12:00-02:00, Sa 20:00-02:00, Su closed. A lively and fun place more upmarket than most. The bar attracts a diverse crowd, ranging from writers to musician. Bar Central is also queer-friendly and very famous with indie kids. 
• -8.089156-34.8802612 Biruta, Rua Bem-Te-Vi, 15 - Pina (Zona Sul), ☏ +55 81 3326-5151. A lovely bar on the north end of the beach that gets a great sea breeze all evening. Get there early to get a table with a view. 
• -8.064042-34.8724233 Downtown Pub, Rua Vigário Tenório, 105 - Recife Antigo, ☏ +55 81 3424-6317, downtown@downtownpub.com.br. This British pub-inspired bar puts on live music shows and is self-entitled "House of Rock". If you like "Heavy Metal", watch out, there might be a concert over there. 
• -8.128984-34.9030994 Entre Amigos, Rua Marquês de Valença, 30 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3312-1000. A bar restaurant with 2 names and 3 seating areas, one of which has air conditioning. Situated in downtown Boa Viagem and a 5 minute walk from the beach. A great place to watch the football or soak up the lively atmosphere of the very busy bar, it has a great buffet for lunch or you can eat à la carte. 
• -8.036065-34.9101375 Guaiamum Gigante, Rua Dr. José de Góes, Parnamirim, ☏ +55 81 3441-1509. This bar-restaurant seats up to 600 people. Although it may not be too pleasing to the eyes, Guaiamum Gigante serves great portions of delicious seafood for a relatively low price. This is a nice place to go on Sundays!. 

• -8.05939-34.891396 Metrópole, Rua das Ninfas, 125 - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3040-8545. GLS danceclub. 
• -8.05368-34.920197 Sala de Reboco, Rua Gregório Júnior, 264 - Cordeiro, ☏ +55 81 3228-7052. Specializing in forró. 

• -8.11029-34.894111 Hostel Boa Viagem (Hosteling International), Rua Aviador Severiano Lins, 455 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3326-9572. Prices vary according to the season. 
• -8.10768-34.890062 Piratas da Praia, Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, 2034 / 307 - Boa viagem, ☏ +55 81 3326-1281. Free wi-fi and 24 hour parking, if you choose to rent a car. They also have different holiday and Carnaval packages. 
• -8.13253-34.901773 Pousada da Praça, Rua Setubal, 196 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3343-1179, pousadadapraca@yahoo.com.br. This small, 15-room hotel is affiliated with the Pousada bar and club. Guests of the hotel have free admission to the club. Under German/Australian management, the hotel offers yacht and sightseeing tours. Breakfast is included in the price, along with free airport transfers. 

• -8.11698-34.897074 Hotel Aconchego, Rua Félix de Brito e Melo, 382 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3464-2989. 24-hour restaurant and room service 
• -8.11835-34.902285 Imperial Suites, Rua Antonio Lumack do Monte, 203 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3465-8501. 
• -8.09865-34.885426 Hotel Manibu Recife (Kastel Manibu Recife Hotel), Av Conselheiro Aguiar, 919 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 24 2220-6300. This well-known hotel provides its guests with two bars, a restaurant that seats 170 people, and a solarium. 
• -8.1161-34.895367 LG Inn Recife, Av. Engenheiro Domingos Ferreira, 3067 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 2122-3939. Complimentary breakfast buffets, along with a well-equipped fitness room. Staff speaks both English and Portuguese. 
• -8.06115-34.887558 Hotel Central, Av. Manoel Borba, 209 - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3222-4001. The oldest hotel in Recife. Used to attract stars and the like in the early 20th century. Remains architecturally appealing. 

• -8.136348-34.9020349 Hotel Atlante Plaza, Av. Boa Viagem, 5426 - Boa Viagem (on the beachfront), ☏ +55 81 3302-3333. Hotel Atlante Plaza is arguably the best hotel in Recife. It has two restaurants, a 24-hour babysitting service, 24-hour room service, and beauty salon. This is probably the only hotel that offers its guests a pillow menu; guests can choose from various scents and stuffings, such as lavender and camomile. 
• -8.17347-34.9161910 Blue Tree Towers Recife, Av. Bernado Vieira De Melo 550 Piedade (on Piedade beach), ☏ +55 81 3468-1255. This 4-star hotel is comprised of 135 rooms, all with a view of the sea. The hotel also provides child care and room service. 
• -8.12211-34.8964811 Internacional Palace Hotel, Av. Boa Viagem, 3722 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 4009-2500, reservas@internacionalpalace.com.br. Internacional Palace Hotel provides exceptional service with a great staff. Steps away from the beach, the hotel houses Arrecifes Restaurant, which serves a blend of international and regional cuisine. It also has a coffee shop and bar. Internacional Palace Hotel has weekend and honeymoon packages. 
• -8.12501-34.8974912 Grand Mercure Recife Boa Viagem, Av. Boa Viagem, 4070 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3201-8200. A sister hotel to the Internacional Palace Hotel, Recife Palace Hotel has a total of 295 rooms, all with sea views, cable TV, and air conditioning. Housing a 5 star cuisine, the hotel has two restaurants, a bar, and coffee shop on the premises. Recife Palace Hotel is located close to the beach, 5 minutes away from the airport, and is walking distance to the city center. 
• -8.10089-34.8853613 Marante Plaza Hotel, Av. Boa Viagem, 1070 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3465-1070, reservas@marante.com.br. 121 suites with air conditioning, saunas, and an art gallery. Also has four convention rooms. 
• -8.132-34.903914 Mar Hotel Recife, Rua Barão de Souza Leão, 451 - Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3302-4444. Close to the airport and the beach, Mar Hotel Recife offers a wide variety of services, such as 24-hour room service, fitness rooms, and spa services. 

• Argentina, Av. Domingos Ferreira, 2238, Edificio Akka, 2° andar, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3327-1451, fax: +55 81 3327-1450, creci@veloxmail.com.br. 
• France, Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, 2333 - Ed. João Roma, 6° andar, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3117-3290, fax: +55 81 3117-3280. 
• Germany, Rua Antônio Lumack do Monte, 128, CO, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3463-5350, fax: +55 81 3465-4084. 
• Italy, Av. Engº Domingos Ferreira, 2222 - 2º andar, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3466-4200, fax: +55 81 3466-4320. 
• Japan, Rua Padre Carapuceiro, 733, 14° andar, Edf., Empresarial Center I, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3207-0190, fax: +55 81 3465-9140. 
• Portugal, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira, 4060, 6º andar, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3327-1514, fax: +55 81 3467-8487. 
• United Kingdom, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira 4150,Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3465-7744. 08:00-13:00. 
• United States, Rua Gonçalves Maia, 163, Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3416-3050, fax: +55 81 3231-1906. 

• Austria, Av. Agamenon Magalhaes, 2790, Santo Amaro, franciscoendorecife@hotmail.com. 
• Belgium, Rua do Sossego, 203, Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3223-1001. 
• Canada, Av. Engenheiro Antônio de Góes, 60, Edíficio JCPM, 7º andar, Pina, ☏ +55 81 2122-3140, fax: +55 81 2122-3142. 
• Czech Republic, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira, 2391, Empresarial San Marino, 10° andar, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3327-7033, fax: +55 81 3327 6945. 
• Cyprus, Av. Fernando Simoes Barbosa, 22, 2 andar, Sala 213, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3484-0190. 
• Denmark, Rua Antônio Lumack do Monte, 96, conj. 303, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3466-6466, fax: +55 81 3325-2022. 
• Ecuador, Av. Beira-mar, 1216, apto. 702, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3465-9515, fax: +55 81 3361-1054, equarec@aol.com.br. 
• Finland, Rua Líbia de Castro Assis, 59, Centro Empresarial Jardim, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3462-4254, fax: +55 81 3458-7440. 
• Greece, Rua do Hospício, 194, Sala 801, Boa Vista, ☏ +55 81 3231-1407, fax: +55 81 3231-1343. 
• Guatemala, Rua José Aderval Chaves, Edificio Empresarial Wecon IV, 78, sala 109, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3467-5627, fax: +55 81 3467-5627. 
• Indonesia, R. Lemos Torres, 95, Casa Forte, ☏ +55 81 3268-5163, fax: +55 81 3268-5163, indoconsul@hotmail.com. 
• Mexico, Rua Aquidabã, 20, apt. 1401, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3083-1760, fax: +55 81 3343-1430. 
• Panama, R. Mamanguape, 418, ap. 602, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3466-3355. 
• Romania, Rua Mamanguape, no 418/602, CEP: 51020–250 PE, ☏ +55 81 991112723, +55 81 34663355, saulofarias@csainfo.com.br, consuladoromenia@csainfo.com.brMULTIPLE-EMAIL. Honorary Consulate (Does not provide consular services. Instead, Romanian citizens in need of assistance should contact the embassy in Brasilia, or the general consulate in Rio de Janeiro.) 
• Slovakia, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira, 3181, 203, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3328-3213. 
• Spain, Rua Sirinahem 105, 2nd floor, ☏ +55 81 3465-0607. 
• Sweden, Rua Líbia de Castro Assis, 59, Centro Empresarial Jardim, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3462-4254, fax: +55 81 3458-7440. 
• Switzerland, Av. Consuelho Aguiar 4880, Ioja 32, Boa viagem, ☏ +55 81 3326-3144. 
• Uruguay, Rua Prudente de Morais, 281, Carmo, Olinda, ☏ +55 81 3439-8849, fax: +55 81 3439-8849. 

• Hospital Santa Joana, R. Joaqum Nabuco 200, Gracas, ☏ +55 81 3421-3666. 
• Real Hospital Portugues, Av. Cons. Aguiar 147, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3416-1800. 
• Unicordis, Av. Cons. Aguiar 1980, Boa Viagem, ☏ +55 81 3326-5237. equipped for cardiac emergencies 
• Unicordis, Av. Cons. Rosa de Silva 258, Aflitos, ☏ +55 81 3421-1000. 

• Imperial Internet, Av. Conde de Boa Vista 250. 08:00-23:00. R$ 1-2 per hour.