A Travel Price Comparison for Brazil Recife vs. Ilha Grande for Food, Couples, Backpackers, and Families

Should you visit Recife or Ilha Grande?

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 Ilha Grande 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 under-rated, authentic, and cultural city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and museums. See Recife travel costs.

Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the food and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Ilha Grande travel costs.

Recife and Ilha Grande: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Recife or Ilha Grande?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Recife than Ilha Grande, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Recife is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Ilha Grande is more popular for its scuba diving & snorkeling and impressive beauty. Recife is more touristy than Ilha Grande and is popular for its football and music scenes. Also, Recife is famous for Praia de Boa Viagem. Ilha Grande is well known for

How is Recife different from Ilha Grande?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Ilha Grande 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 Ilha Grande?

Recife is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Ilha Grande does not have museums and landmarks.

Recife offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Ilha Grande does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Recife is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Ilha Grande is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Recife has a huge number of terrific restaurants. 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).

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Ilha Grande area. The island still has a quiet, local vibe and that can be seen in the restaurants around town as well. Many places are locally owned and serve up traditional dishes. In particular, the seafood is excellent.

Is Recife or Ilha Grande Better for Nightlife?

Recife is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Ilha Grande is lacking in good options for its evening party scene.

Recife has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Ilha Grande. It's a quiet island with a national park and most people visit specifically to get away from the busy and active city scene.

Is Recife or Ilha Grande Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Ilha Grande is a well-known place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Recife is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Ilha Grande is an extremely popular place to visit for scuba diving and snorkeling. There are several places where you can rent snorkeling or dive equipment. The area has coral and tropical fish, with the occasional sea turtle sighting. The visibility is generally good and the experience is worth enjoying, but make sure you check on water conditions.

Recife is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Recife or Ilha Grande Better for Beaches?

Recife is a very popular place for the beach. However, Ilha Grande is not a beach destination.

Recife is considered a top beach destination. 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.

Ilha Grande is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Recife or Ilha Grande?

Recife is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Ilha Grande is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Recife is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Ilha Grande is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Recife or Ilha Grande More Beautiful?

Ilha Grande is a with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Recife is not a destination known for its beauty.

Ilha Grande is a beautiful place to visit, too. The secluded beaches and surrounding nature make this a beautiful island to explore. It's made up of a national park and there are hiking trails and many scenic spots.

Recife is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Recife or Ilha Grande Better for Families?

Ilha Grande is a with good options for its family-friendly activities. However, Recife is not a good city for its kid-friendly activities.

Ilha Grande is a family-friendly place to visit. Most families who visit the island come for the beaches. There are also many nice hikes, waterfalls, and even wildlife that the kids will enjoy. In the village there are a few restaurants. Many aren't geared specifically to kids, but they do have a selection that kids might enjoy.

Recife is not always a place people visit with their families. 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.

Is Recife or Ilha Grande Better for Couples?

Ilha Grande is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Recife is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Ilha Grande is a very popular place to visit for couples. Scenic beaches and beautiful nature make this a wonderful couples retreat that's not far from Rio de Janeiro. The beaches have a more relaxed and quiet vibe than many places in Brazil and the island still holds on to its undiscovered atmosphere.

Recife is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Is Recife or Ilha Grande Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ilha Grande 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.

Ilha Grande is a great to visit for backpackers. It is possible to reach the island with a backpacker's budget, but it will take you more time than if you hire a private tour. Once you're on the island there are some hostels and budget hotels to choose from as well.

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 Ilha Grande Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Recife is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Ilha Grande is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Recife has some public transit options. The city has a metro system as well as city buses.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Ilha Grande. You'll need to take a boat to reach the island, and once you're there, there are not vehicles around.

Is Recife or Ilha Grande a more walkable city?

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

Ilha Grande is a very walkable . There are no cars on the island and very few roads. You'll spend a lot of time hiking around, which is the best way to enjoy the island. They don't call it "big island" for no reason though, so make sure you understand the distance between destinations.

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.

Should I spend more time in Ilha Grande or Recife?

How long in Recife or Ilha Grande?

It's fun to spend time in either Recife or Ilha Grande. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Ilha Grande due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Recife, and 2-4 days is enough time in Ilha Grande.

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

One day in Recife or Ilha Grande?

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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 scuba diving and snorkeling and food when visiting the destination of Ilha Grande. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Recife or Ilha Grande?

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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.

Ilha Grande 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 Ilha Grande?

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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 Ilha Grande. 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 Ilha Grande?

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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 food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Ilha Grande. This offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 Tours for Seniors to Brazil, and The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Ilha Grande, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Ilha Grande much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ilha Grande would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ilha Grande 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 Ilha Grande.

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