Olinda Historic Center and Alto da Sé
gratuitoOlinda's Historic Center, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982, brings together churches, convents and colonial houses on the hills next to Recife. At the top, Alto da Sé has a cathedral, a small market and a view of the sea. It is a good fit for those who enjoy history, photography and walking.
Part of the guide Olinda
Getting there from Porto de Galinhas
By car, it is about 67 to 69 km, via Recife, with an estimated time of 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes without traffic. Olinda is about 7 km from central Recife. There is street parking near the sights as well as private parking lots; in September 2025, one of them charged R$ 20. There are also Recife and Olinda city tours departing from Porto de Galinhas.
Hours and admission
The streets and the Alto da Sé square are open to all. The Catedral da Sé opens daily for visits and usually closes at 17:00; admission was R$ 6 at the end of 2025, and there is Mass on Sundays. The Igreja da Misericórdia, on the same hilltop, had free entry. The Convento de São Francisco, nearby, charged R$ 5.
What to see
The Catedral da Sé, founded in 1540, holds the main chapel with an episcopal throne and jacaranda chairs, bishops' tombs and, on the upper floor, sacred images, liturgical objects and the vestments of a 19th-century bishop. From the upper windows and the inner courtyard you can see the Igreja do Carmo and the sea, especially in the late afternoon. In the square, a daily market brings together about 40 tapioca stalls (tapioca is a filled cassava crepe) and craft stands, busiest around 15:00. The Igreja da Misericórdia has gilded woodcarving. Nearby are the Casa dos Bonecos Gigantes e Mirins and the Convento de São Francisco.
Before you go
The Historic Site has 45 surveillance cameras running 24 hours a day at 15 points, including Alto da Sé, Quatro Cantos and Largo do Amparo. Even so, take the same precautions against theft as in any state capital, with extra care on crowded days. Accredited tour guides are registered with Cadastur, the Ministry of Tourism's registry. Local guides from the Associação dos Condutores Nativos de Olinda wear the association's T-shirt; in September 2025, a private tour cost R$ 150.