Recife Travel Guide

Praia de Boa Viagem is Recife's most famous city beach, a sweep of golden sand linked to a coconut-lined avenue, where natural reefs at low tide wall off warm little pools perfect for family paddling. The seafront avenue brims with restaurants, bars and pousadas and a lively night scene. Note the offshore shark-warning signs: swim only inside the reef and follow lifeguards, a spot where northeast Brazil's beach ease meets a needed caution. Nearby Atlantic-forest trails reveal mangroves and migratory birds, adding ecology beyond the sand.

The Ricardo Brennand Institute in Recife, in the northeastern state of Pernambuco, is a museum and cultural complex founded by the collector Ricardo Brennand. Centered on a castle-style building, it holds substantial collections of European armor and weapons, paintings and Brazilian colonial art. Beyond the exhibition halls there are gardens and courtyards in a quiet setting. Combining collections, architecture and landscaping, it makes a good half-day visit, and comfortable shoes help across the large grounds.