Olinda city tour from Recife: Instituto Ricardo Brennand included
Six centuries of Portuguese tiles, slave markets and a museum ranked the best in South America, all in one morning
This five-hour city tour of Olinda departs from your Recife hotel and visits six major sites: Convento de São Francisco, Alto da Sé Square, Misericórdia Church, Mercado da Ribeira, Monastery of São Bento and Instituto Ricardo Brennand, which holds the largest collection of Portuguese tiles in the state. A multilingual guide narrates the culture, history and architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage city as you travel by air-conditioned VIP van. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Food and drinks are not.
Step-by-step itinerary
Olinda city tour highlights
- Visit Instituto Ricardo Brennand museum
- Enjoy panoramic view of Olinda and Recife
- See Portuguese tile collection
- Stop for shops, food and drink
- Explore old market of slaves and merchandise
What’s included
- Transport by air-conditioned VIP van with WiFi and comfortable seating.
- entry to all six sites (Convento de São Francisco, Alto da Sé Square, Misericórdia Church, Mercado da Ribeira, Monastery of São Bento and Instituto Ricardo Brennand).
- a multilingual guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
- hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Recife hotels.
- all taxes, fees and handling charges.
Times
- Tuesday to Sunday 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Agua Verde Viagens & Receptivos ( Antiga Uluwatour)
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The experience
You're picked up from your hotel in Recife and driven to Olinda, where the tour unfolds across five hours with stops at the city's defining landmarks. The Convento de São Francisco opens onto colonial architecture and religious art. Alto da Sé Square gives you a panoramic view of both Olinda and Recife spread below. The Misericórdia Church and Monastery of São Bento follow, each with their own detail (the church's interior, the monastery's quiet courtyard), and then the route takes you to Mercado da Ribeira, the old market where slaves and merchandise once moved through the same stalls, now a place to stop for shops and food if you want it.
The Instituto Ricardo Brennand anchors the second half of the day. Voted the best museum in South America, it houses the largest collection of Portuguese tiles in the state: the kind of specific, countable thing that makes the difference between a general museum and one worth the detour. Your guide, who speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese depending on your group, walks you through the collection and explains what you're standing in front of. The VIP van is air-conditioned and fitted with WiFi and comfortable seats, which matters over five hours in the Northeast heat.
The tour wraps with your return to the hotel. What you don't arrange (the route, the timing, the entrance to each site, the transport between them) is handled. What you do arrange is whether you want to eat at Mercado da Ribeira or wait until after, and which language your guide speaks.
Is this one for you?Five hours is long enough to see all six major sites without rushing, but short enough to leave your afternoon free if you land in the morning or want to explore Recife on your own after. The fixed itinerary and included transport mean the day holds together without you building it.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is the Instituto Ricardo Brennand and why is it on this tour?
The Instituto Ricardo Brennand is a museum voted the best in South America and holds the largest collection of Portuguese tiles in the state. It anchors the second half of the tour and is the reason many travelers choose this version over a shorter Olinda walk.
Does the tour include food and drinks?
Food and drinks are not included, but the tour stops at Mercado da Ribeira, the old market, where you can buy food and drink if you want to. The timing is yours.
How long is the whole tour and what time does it start?
The tour runs five hours total. Your specific start time depends on your hotel location in Recife, since pickup is included and the driver collects guests from selected hotels on a route.
What is Mercado da Ribeira and what happens there?
Mercado da Ribeira is the old market of Olinda, where slaves and merchandise were once traded. Today it's a functioning market with shops and food stalls, and the tour stops there so you can browse or eat if you choose.
Olinda city tour from Recife: Instituto Ricardo Brennand included
5h · EN · ES · PT · at your hotel
from US$ 100 per person
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