A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Recife vs. Guadalajara for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Recife or Guadalajara?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Guadalajara can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Recife

Recife is a authentic, cultural, and under-rated city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Recife travel costs.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is a historical, vibrant, and cultural city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Guadalajara travel costs.

Recife and Guadalajara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Recife or Guadalajara?

Both Guadalajara and Recife have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Recife is more popular for its beaches, while Guadalajara is known for its historical sights. Recife is popular for its football and music scenes. Guadalajara is popular for its mariachi music, tequila, and many festivals.

How is Recife different from Guadalajara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Guadalajara and Recife. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Recife or Guadalajara?

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Recife and Guadalajara.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Recife. The city is large and cultural, so there are a number of museums that you can explore. Some of the favorites include the Instituto Ricardo Brennand, the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center, the State of Pernambuco Museum, and the Recife City Museum.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Guadalajara. It's a city that's filled with culture and history, with many impressive landmarks such as the Guadalajara Cathedral. Also make sure you visit the Instituto Cultural de Cabañas, Expiatory Temple, the Government Palace, and the Regional Museum of Guadalajara.

Is the Food Better in Recife or Guadalajara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Recife and Guadalajara can be an enjoyable experience.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Recife. You'll find plenty of local restaurants around town. Grilled meat is a staple in many of the dishes and you should definitely visit a churrascaria, which is a restaurant that specializes in cooking meat in the churrasco style. Food carts are great for picking up a coxinha (a pastry), and other local dishes include camarão na moranga (pumpkin stuffed with shrimp) and picanha (sirloin cap).

Guadalajara has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The cuisine uses some key ingredients such as corn tortillas, chilis, and beans. You'll find a lot of street food which includes tacos and tortas as well as restaurant dishes like birria (meat stew), pozole (hominy soup), and fish ceviche.

Is Recife or Guadalajara Better for Nightlife?

Both Recife and Guadalajara are high quality when it comes to partying.

Recife offers plenty to do in the evening. Many visitors come for Carnival, and this is the obvious time to visit if you're looking for the best parties. Even during the other times of the year, you'll find many happy hours, dance clubs, and live music to enjoy.

Guadalajara has a large number of nightlife venues. The city comes to life at night. You'll find vibrant dance clubs, live music, and traditional bars. The craft beer scene has also grown in recent years. The most active areas are around Chapultepec Avenue and Zapopan.

Is Recife or Guadalajara Better for Beaches?

Recife is great for the beach. However, Guadalajara is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Recife. The city's beaches are clean and enjoyable to visit and one of the most famous is Praia de Boa Viagem. Some beaches are lined with hotels and nightclubs while others are a bit more removed. If you decide to swim, do take note that shark attacks in the area are a real concern.

Guadalajara is not a beach destination.

Is Recife or Guadalajara Better for its Old Town?

Guadalajara is a well-known place for its old town. However, Recife does not have a historic old town.

Guadalajara is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The city center is filled with Spanish colonial architecture. With a walking tour you will find baroque, neoclassical, renaissance, and Gothic style buildings that highlight the city's long running past and rich history.

Recife does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Recife or Guadalajara?

Both Recife and Guadalajara are high quality shopping destinations.

Recife is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has many local shops, art galleries, and larger shopping centers. Whether you're looking for clothing or a cultural souvenir, there are many places to browse.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Guadalajara. One of the best shopping streets is Avenida Juarez. A must-see stop is also the large indoor market of Mercado Libertad. You'll also find shopping centers and retail outlets around town.

Is Recife or Guadalajara Better for Families?

Most people don't think of either Recife or Guadalajara as a family destination.

Recife is not the most family-friendly destination. There are a couple of museums that are good for kids, like Museu do Mamulengo. There are also beaches that are relatively clean for swimming, but make sure you go where the locals go and be very aware of the water conditions.

Guadalajara is not always a place people visit with their families. While it's not the most popular destination for families, those who visit will enjoy exploring the nature parks or amusement parks.

Is Recife or Guadalajara Better for Couples?

Both Recife and Guadalajara are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Recife makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are beaches and restaurants that make for a nice date day. You can explore the city, visit some museums, and soak up the local culture.

Guadalajara is a good city for couples to visit. It's filled with nice architecture, a vibrant nightlife scene, and great urban parks, making it a nice and romantic destination for couples.

Is Recife or Guadalajara Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Guadalajara is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Recife is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Guadalajara is a great city to visit for backpackers. There are plenty of hostels and cheap hotels around town.

Plenty of backpackers visit Recife. There are a few hostels around town, but they do fill up quickly. The city is often overlooked by tourists but if you're looking for an authentic experience, then this is your place.

Is Recife or Guadalajara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Recife is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Guadalajara is not a good destination for its public transit.

While Recife offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The city has a metro system as well as city buses.

Public transit is generally limited in Guadalajara. There's a bus system as well as a metro system with two lines, which are primarily used by commuters.

Is Recife or Guadalajara a more walkable city?

Guadalajara is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Recife is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Guadalajara is a very walkable city. The city center is pedestrian-friendly. This is also where you'll find most of the sights.

Recife is generally not a very walkable city. Parts of the city are more walkable than others. It's also best not to walk alone at night.

For even more information, also check out Is Recife Worth Visiting? and Is Guadalajara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Guadalajara or Recife?

How long in Recife or Guadalajara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Recife and Guadalajara. In our opinion, Guadalajara has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Guadalajara than Recife. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Recife, and 2-3 days is enough time in Guadalajara.

Families should spend more time in Guadalajara than Recife. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Guadalajara, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Guadalajara than Recife if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Guadalajara.

One day in Recife or Guadalajara?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the authentic city of Recife. It's also a great beach destination, too. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Guadalajara. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Recife or Guadalajara?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the authentic destination of Recife. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Guadalajara is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Recife or Guadalajara?

The authentic city of Recife offers shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Guadalajara. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Recife or Guadalajara?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Recife. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people come for the beaches. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Guadalajara. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Guadalajara, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Guadalajara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife is in South America and Guadalajara is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Guadalajara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guadalajara and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife than you might in Guadalajara.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Guadalajara Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Recife or Guadalajara?

Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Recife. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Guadalajara, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.