The historic centre — Recife Antigo, Santo Antônio, São José, Boa Vista — is best done on foot, and the distances between churches, markets, and museums are short. The metro is useful for moving between the airport, the central station, and outlying districts but it does not serve most tourist sites directly.
Boa Viagem is connected to the centre by frequent buses and by taxi or ride-share, the easier choice. Uber and 99 operate well across the city and are usually cheaper than street taxis. Driving yourself is not recommended in central Recife: parking is awkward and traffic is heavy.
For longer trips — Olinda, Porto de Galinhas, the Brennand institutes — taxis or ride-shares are the simplest option.