64 Best Sights in The Northeast, Brazil

Inspired by the famous cathedral in Cologne, the Catedral Metropolitana was built between 1937 and 1963 and has a dominant Gothic look. Its two spires are 75 meters (250 feet) high, and it can accommodate 5,000 worshipers, who no doubt draw inspiration from its beautiful stained-glass windows. Don't be put off by the grimy exterior—the interiors gleam brilliant white.

Originally a prison, this building was structurally changed in 1850 along simple, classical lines. It's now the home of the state tourism center, with handicraft stores as well as the Museu de Minerais (Mineral Museum) and the Museu de Arte e Cultura Populares (Popular Art and Culture Museum), whose displays of local crafts and sculptures are interesting.

Built in 1577, the Convento de São Francisco was the first Franciscan convent in Brazil. The floors are Portuguese tile work, ceilings are frescoed, and walls are made of ground-up local coral.

This fantastic open-air market, the largest in Northeast Brazil, takes place daily. Here, as the songwriter Luis Gonzaga put it, "it is possible to find a little of everything that exists in the world." Look for pottery, leather goods, ceramics, hammocks, and baskets. On Saturday, roving musicians provide a soundtrack to shopping with violins and folk music.

Originally constructed from mud in 1630, the "Fort of Five Points" was rebuilt in 1677 with stone and mortar; even though it now has only four sides, the fort has retained its original name. One of the last buildings built duing the era of Dutch dominance, this military fort now houses the Museu da Cidade, where an array of maps and photos illustrates Recife's history.

Built by the Dutch in 1649, this fort was originally baptized Forte Schoonemborch. In 1655 it was seized by the Portuguese and renamed after the city's patron saint, Nossa Senhora da Assunção. It was rebuilt in 1817 and is now a military headquarters. The city took its name from this fortress (fortaleza), which still has the cell where the mother of one of Ceará's most famous writers, José de Alencar, was jailed. Guided tours are led by the soldiers themselves, although few speak English.

Natal owes its existence to this impressive five-sided fort, which juts out into the sea on an artificial spit. It was built by the Portuguese in 1598, one year before the founding of Natal, and controlled by the Dutch between 1633 and 1654. Visitors can see the old quarters, the chapel, and rusted cannons; there is an impressive viewing point of the sea, especially when the tide is coming in.

Surrounded by palm trees and favored by local surfers, beautiful Gaibu has become one of the area's most happening hangout spots. Volleyball competitions, fishing, and surfing are all practiced along the shore, while at the end of the beach, you can visit the ruins of the Fort of San Francisco Xavier. Some parts of the beach are not recommended for swimming. Its popularity means the beach can sometimes get crowded, noisy, and dirty Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards. Best for: partiers; surfing; sunset.

Built in 1606, this church has beautiful Portuguese tile work, while the adjoining Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel), constructed in 1697, is an outstanding example of Brazilian baroque architecture. The complex also contains a convent—the Convento Franciscano de Santo Antônio—and a museum displaying sacred art.

Built in 1537, the Igreja da Sé has been restored as much as possible to its original appearance. From its side terrace you can capture a postcard-perfect view of the Old City and the ocean.

This historic baroque-style church and convent are constructed of wood and white gold. The main altar has a life-size statue of Our Lady of Carmel.

Surrounded by white-sand dunes, this laid-back beach in the nearby village of Aquiraz has calm and clean water. There are both fishermen and lace makers (lace is sold at the Centro de Rendeiras). There's also a lookout at Morro do Enxerga Tudo. Buses depart from Fortaleza for this beach several times daily on the route to Aquiraz. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets. Best for: solitude; surfing; swimming.

This island is set off the coast of the historic city of Igarassu and has a number of beautiful beaches with calm waters for swimming, as well as a protected area for manatees. The best beach is Coroa do Avião. To get to its secluded golden sands and handful of pricey beach restaurants, you need to take a boat or canoe from Forte Orange (R$10 per person). Buses to Igarassu and Ilha de Itamaracá leave from the center of Recife, at the Cais de Santa Rita in front of the Fórum Thomas de Aquino. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

South of Recife on the road past Porto das Galinha lies serene Maracaípe Beach. The excellent waves and happening Quiosques (beach bars) have made this a popular weekend spot with younger crowds, although the rough waters and strong currents make it more suited to surfers than swimming. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; surfers; windsurfing.

The principal draw at Maracajaú is the large coral reef 6 km (4 miles) off the coast. Teeming with marine life, the sizable reef offers the best snorkeling in the Natal area, and the natural pools are some of Brazil's most beautiful. Visitors can catch a minivan from Natal, followed by a small boat or catamaran across to the reefs. A day trip starts from R$130 per person.

With four floors and more than 600 stores, this central market stocks a varied selection of northeastern handicrafts and local products, such as castanha de caju (caju nuts). It has elevators to take you from one floor to the next, but since it's built with an open style and has ramps that curve from one floor to the next, it's just as easy to walk up. The place itself is fairly scruffy and it's worth keeping a close eye on your belongings.

An interesting day-trip from Fortaleza, this museum offers tours of a cachaça plant, where you learn about the history of how the sugarcane juice is fermented and distilled. Most notably, cachaça is the primary ingredient for the caipirinha, widely considered Brazil's national cocktail. Afterward, there are tasting sessions. The 98,736-gallon wooden barrel in the tavern is the largest in the world. The museum is located inside the I-Park, which has a variety of fun activities well suited to kids of all ages, from paddleboats and archery to a climbing wall and a decent restaurant

Housed in the former Assembléia Provincial (Provincial Assembly Building), this museum's exhibits are devoted to the history and anthropology of Ceará State. Although free, the limited archive and lack of information mean this is only worth a stop in if you are already exploring Centro.

The state historical museum, in a mansion once owned by a baron, seems more like a home filled with beautiful antiques than a museum, providing visitors with a taste of how life was lived in Recife 200 years ago. Among the 14,000 objects on display, there is a grand piano, a dining-room table set with 18th-century china, an ornate 19th-century crib, and many beautiful paintings.

Offering rich insight into the history and cultural influences of Brazil's Northeast, this museum's collection ranges from utensils crafted by indigenous tribes and artifacts from European colonizers, to religious items from African slaves and ceramics by artists such as Mestre Vitalino and Mestre Zê.

In the old São José sugar refinery, this museum houses more than 2,000 ceramic pieces by the great (and prolific) Brazilian artist Francisco Brennand. Having studied in France, he was influenced by Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, among others, and his works also include paintings, drawings, and engravings. About 15 km (9 miles) from Recife Antigo, the museum's location amid forests and fountains is almost as appealing as its displays.

This long white-sand beach is an extremely popular summer vacation destination for residents of Natal. Boat rides to nearby coral reefs and beaches run frequently. Near the beach is the world's largest cashew tree, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Its circumference measures 500 meters (1,650 feet), and it's as big as roughly 70 normal cashew trees. The entrance fee is R$4, and includes free cashew nuts and cashew juice. There is a small market nearby for souvenirs. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets; water sports. Best for: walking.

Nearly all tourism development has focused on or around this beach in the past decade, with both negative and positive repercussions. It has a multitude of pousadas, restaurants, and shops, and even a few large resorts at the northern end. The beach itself, around 2½ km (1½ miles) long, can no longer be called pristine, but is still attractive and reasonably clean. If you seek a connection with nature, you would be best advised to head to one of the city's outer beaches during the day and venture to Ponta Negra for the nightlife, which ranges from buzzy to seedy. Ponta Negra's distinguishing feature is the Morro da Careca (Bald Man's Hill), a 120-meter (390-foot) dune at the southern end. You can catch a taxi or a bus (look for buses marked "Ponta Negra") at various stops along the Via Costeira south of Natal. From Ponta Negra to downtown Natal, look for buses marked "Centro" or "Cidade Alta." Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets. Best for: partiers.

Tourists and locals alike flock to this beach to enjoy the many water sports (including surfing) and gawk at the lovely sand dunes. Porto das Dunas is south of Fortaleza in the municipality of Aquiraz. It also has a golf course overlooking the beach. São Benedito operates the Jardineira bus that runs from Centro to Porto das Dunas; you can catch it along Avenida Beira-Mar. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; toilets; water sports. Best for: surfing; windsurfing.

Once considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil, this historic port has lost a considerable dose of its original charm because of the increasingly heavy influx of tourists drawn to the beach's transparent natural swimming pools. If you don't mind sharing the beauty, there is a good variety of hotels and restaurants, as well as jangadas (small boats) for hire. The beach, which follows the curve of a bay lined with coconut palms and cashew trees, gets crowded on weekends year-round. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; sunrise; surfing.

This beach is one of the island's best spots for watching the sunset. From April to November, calm, transparent waters make this a good beach for walking; during the summer months, the tall waves draw surfers from across the country. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets. Best for: sunsets; surfing; walking.

The reliably strong waves at Praia do Amor are what makes Pipa such a surfer's town. Surf schools offer boards and lessons, as well as lounge chairs, umbrellas, and waiter service for avid spectators. At the right-hand side of the beach, the water is calmer and offers great swimming, particularly in the natural pools that are formed during low tide. Stand atop the dusky red cliffs and look down over Praia do Amor and you will see that the shoreline curves in the shape of a heart. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunrise; surfers; swimming; walking.

Hands-down the city's best beach for swimming, this long curve of golden sand lines the only part of Fortaleza's sea regularly clean enough to take a dip. Framing the beach are mega-barracas, sophisticated beach clubs that have restaurants, bathrooms, bars, and even swimming pools with slides for kids. The regular waves attract local surfers. If returning after dark, it is best to take a taxi (approximately R$25 to Praia dos Mereilles). Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; surfing; swimming; walking.

The soft, white sand and calm, warm waters of Praia do Madeiro make it a favorite for long days swimming and soaking up the sun. The steep path that winds through the trees down from the road offers glimpses of the glistening sea through the forest and keeps the masses at bay. Beginner surf schools and beach barracas serving coconut water and crispy shrimp are clustered at the right-hand side of the beach; if you head left along the long curve of sand, you'll have the coconut plams all to yourself. To get there, catch one of the minivans that run between Praia da Pipa and Tibau do Sul and request to stop at Madeiro. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: solitude; surfing; swimming; walking.