Car Rental at Recife Airport

Airport travel guide

Recife is one of the most interesting cities in northern Brazil. Situated on a number of islands and known for its public beaches, the city also boasts some of the oldest architecture in the country and a lively cultural scene. These are five of its most notable attractions:

• Franciscan Convent of St. Anthony. One of the most popular attractions of the region, the Church and Convent of St. Anthony dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The main attraction here is the stunning Capela Dourada or Golden Chapel, but there is also the Franciscan Museum of Sacred Art. The church and convent is actually not in Recife, but in the neighboring city of Igarassu which is also the home of the Church of São Cosme e São Damião, which, while smaller, is the oldest functioning church in Brazil. The drive between Recife and Igarassu takes about one hour.
• Museum of the Northeastern Man. Dedicated to the history and culture of the northeastern part of Brazil, a distinct region that Recife and the state of Pernambuco are a part of, the Museum of the Northeastern Man is among Recife’s most interesting museums. A large part of the museum is dedicated to sugar cane cultivation, an industry that was closely tied with the colonization of Brazil, as well as its grim history of slavery (another museum dedicated to these topics is the Abolition Museum). There are also expositions on various aspects of history, folklore, and anthropology. The Museum of the Northeastern Man is in the northwestern part of the city, about a 25-minute drive from the city center.
• Beaches. Located right on the Atlantic, Recife is home to Praia de Boa Viagem, one of the most famous beaches in South America. While it can get a bit crowded, its central location, oceanside restaurants, and golden sands make it a must-visit destination for any visitor to the city. Recife and its suburbs are also home to a number of other pretty and more relaxed beaches, but the safety situation can differ, so it’s good to look up a place’s reputation or, better yet, consult a local before visiting. Rather infamously, Recife is also known as a shipwreck capital of Brazil, but this has provided the city with great scuba diving options with a number of local companies offering tours.
• Abolition Museum. Dedicated to the complex history of the colonization of Brazil, plantation capitalism, slavery, and its eventual abolition in the 19th century, this is one of the most notable – and most interesting – cultural institutions in Recife, which is itself one of the country’s centers of Afro-Brazilian culture. The museum is located in a former plantation house that was owned by Counsellor João Alfredo, one of Brazil’s leading abolitionists. It’s free to enter. The museum also frequently hosts various seminars and performances.
• Frevo. Not a physical landmark, but a style of music and dance, Frevo is all the same one of the most meaningful and fun experiences one can have in Recife – a statement that would be approved by UNESCO who recognized it as a World Intangible Heritage in 2012. The syncretic tradition that combines influences from Catholicism, traditional carnivals, and martial arts (it was heavily influenced by capoeira), nowadays Frevo is characterized above all by the highly skillful, acrobatic movements of its dancers; the word ‘frevo’ comes from the Portuguese verb ‘frever’, meaning ‘to boil’, which is likely the effect that the dance has on its viewers. 

Top international routes

• Sao Paulo
• Rio de Janeiro
• Brasilia
• Belo Horizonte
• Salvador
• Fortaleza
• Fernando de Noronha
• Belem

Main airlines

Azul Brazilian Airlines, LATAM Brasil, Avianca Brasil, Gol Linhas Aereas, Condor, and TAP Air Portugal

Terminals

The single airport terminal was opened in 2004 and renovated in 2011 for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It serves all domestic and international flights.

Location

Recife Airport is about 12 km (7.4 mi) south of Recife. Av. Mal. Mascarenhas de Morais, PE-008, and Ponte Viaduto Joaquim Cardozo are the main roads connecting the airport to the city. The famous Boa Viagem beach is just about 5 km (3.1 mi) east of the airport.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from €17 per day
• Medium cars - from €17 per day
• Large cars - from €18 per day
• SUVs - from €20 per day
• Premium cars - from €74 per day
• Vans - from €39 per day

Car rental desks

Most companies are on the ground floor of the terminal building. The exact location of your car rental provider's desk will be listed on your Confirmation Voucher.

Services and facilities

Recife Airport offers many coffee shops, restaurants, and fast food outlets. There are a variety of gift shops, bookstores, convenience stores, and duty-free shops. You’ll also find several ATMs, a bank, three currency exchanges, four nearby hotels, self-service sleeping cabins, a pharmacy, a lost and found office, and a post office. Luggage storage is located in the arrivals area. If you’re a traveler with reduced mobility, make sure to contact your airline in advance to request assistance at the airport.

Nearest gas station

Posto Bipiranga, located at Av. Recife, 3532 - Ipsep, can be reached in about 11 minutes and is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. There are many other gas stations near the airport and in Recife.

Popular one-way rentals

• Joao Pessoa (128 km / 80 miles)
• Caruaru (137 km / 85 miles)
• Campina Grande (219 km / 136 miles)
• Maceio (246 km / 153 miles)
• Natal (299 km / 186 miles)
• Fortaleza (789 km / 490 miles)