Recife

Recife in Pernambuco is inhabited by some 1,500,000 people.

Recife is located 1150 miles (1851 kilometers) northeast of Rio de Janeiro and about 1050 miles (1690 kilometers) northeast of the national capital Brasilia.

Recife boasts a host of coastal spots tailor-made for long days in the sun. Boa Viagem Beach and Calhetas Beach are among the best beaches in this region. Pina Beach and Carneiros Beach are the other fine coastal destinations in the area.

Discover a couple of the wonderfully curated museums and cultural spaces in the vicinity of Recife. Some of the main museums are the Culture House and the fascinating Museu de Arte Contemporanea. If you really love local history and art, also visit the Ricardo Brennand Institute as well as the Museum of Pernambuco State.

Recife boasts some great public squares, ideal for relaxing with a coffee and watching the rhythms of the city. The most popular of these are Republic Square and Praca Da Liberdade. Visitors with plenty of time should also investigate Marco Zero Square and Estrela do Mar Square.

Even people who have no religious background will want to see the décor and designs in the many places of worship. The Igreja da Madre de Deus and the Igreja da Se are among the most photographed of these. There are other old places of worship here, namely the Basilica De Nossa Senhora Do Carmo and the Igreja Sao Jose dos Manguinhos.

Rediscover the joys of childhood for a day or two and take the children into a realm of thrills and wonder at these much-loved family attractions in the Recife area. Grab the kids and check out the two most popular family attractions in this area: Veneza Water Park and Mirabilandia Amusement Park. Embassy of Giant Puppets and Dois Irmaos Park are both worth visiting if the kids still have energy to burn.

If you are after souvenirs, treats or fashion, drive to one of the shopping centers and get all you need. Discover all the shops and stalls in Recife Shopping Center, Guararapes Shopping and Paco Alfandega Shopping Mall.

Peer back through the mists of time by spending a little time at a selection of important historic sites in Recife. Some of the most fascinating heritage sites to see are the Forte Orange, the Forte de Santo Inacio de Tamandare and the Mauricio de Nassau House.