• placement: fullWidthHero
  • path: destinations/hero
  • containerId: gpt-ad-50605454053
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "brazil/recife",
  "destination": "Recife",
  "title": "recife",
  "type": "City",
  "city": "Recife",
  "region": "Americas",
  "country": "Brazil",
  "continent": "South-America",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

Recife

Recife (‘heh-see-fee’), capital of Pernambuco, is one of the Northeast’s most exciting cities. It has a vibrant cultural, entertainment and restaurant scene, an intriguing historic center (Recife Antigo), an impressive coastal setting and a fabulous Carnaval. It's a sprawling, urban place of glassy high-rises, crowded commercial areas, thundering traffic and extensive suburbs; if you like your cities gutsy, gritty and proud, Recife is for you. It takes its name from the offshore recifes (reefs) that calm the waters of its ports and shoreline.

Skyline in Recife.

Getty Images

Book
App
Lonely Planet App on a phone
Brand New!

Get the Lonely Planet App

World Nomads travel insurance
Trusted Partner

Dreaming of Recife? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

  • placement: fullWidth
  • path: destinations/top
  • containerId: gpt-ad-303685537781
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "brazil/recife",
  "destination": "Recife",
  "title": "recife",
  "type": "City",
  "city": "Recife",
  "region": "Americas",
  "country": "Brazil",
  "continent": "South-America",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

Get a book. Get inspired. Get exploring.

Explore all books

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Recife

Lonely Planet may earn a commission from affiliate links on our site. All recommendations and reviews reflect our own independent opinions.

  • placement: fullWidth
  • path: destinations/bottom
  • containerId: gpt-ad-119744822349
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "brazil/recife",
  "destination": "Recife",
  "title": "recife",
  "type": "City",
  "city": "Recife",
  "region": "Americas",
  "country": "Brazil",
  "continent": "South-America",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}