Why go
- Capital city of Pernambuco, Brazil.
- Served by Recife/Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC).
History
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".
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 9 airlines, 18 direct destinations
- Azul AD (Embraer 195, ATR 72, Embraer 190) · 10 routes: Aracaju, Belo Horizonte, Campinas, Fernando Do Noronha, Fortaleza, Maceio, Natal, Salvador, Sao Paulo, Teresina
- Sky Express G3 (737-800, 737-700) · 9 routes: Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fernando Do Noronha, Fortaleza, Juazeiro Do Norte, Petrolina, Rio De Janeiro, Salvador, Sao Paulo
- TAM Brazilian Airlines JJ (A320, A321, 757) · 7 routes: Aracaju, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Miami, Rio De Janeiro, Salvador, Sao Paulo
- Oceanair O6 (A320, 318) · 5 routes: Brasilia, Petrolina, Rio De Janeiro, Salvador, Sao Paulo
- American Airlines AA (757) · 1 route: Miami
- Condor Flugdienst DE (767) · 1 route: Frankfurt
- Copa Airlines CM (737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Panama City
- TAP Portugal TP (A330-200) · 1 route: Lisbon
- US Airways US (757) · 1 route: Miami
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Milder and quieter, with better value.
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Recife/Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC); 7 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: REC has direct flights to 18 destinations on 9 airlines (incl. Salvador, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Miami…). By water: 4 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Pier do Catamaran Tours, 1.7 km); routes include Travessia Marco Zero - Parque de Esculturas, Jaqueira - Torre, Poço da Panela/Iputinga.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Recife. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.