Olinda is a gem. Perched on a cluster of green hills overlooking the Atlantic, this small city just north of Recife has some of the best-preserved colonial architecture in Brazil — enough to earn it UNESCO World Heritage status.
The town’s mixed Dutch and Portuguese heritage shows in its churches, convents, and pastel-coloured mansions lining steep cobblestone streets. The best way to see Olinda is simply to wander: climb to the Alto da Sé for panoramic views of the coast and Recife’s skyline, duck into baroque churches like the Convento de São Francisco (the oldest Franciscan convent in Brazil), and follow the sound of frevo music drifting from artist studios and small bars.
Olinda’s Carnival is legendary — wilder and more intimate than Recife’s, with giant puppet processions (bonecos de Olinda) dancing through the streets. Outside Carnival season the town is quieter but no less appealing, with a thriving arts scene, good restaurants, and an atmosphere that rewards slow exploration. Most visitors base themselves in Recife and come up for a day, but staying a night or two is worth it.