About
Olinda is a city in Brazil, set on hills overlooking the Atlantic in South America. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and much of its old centre still reads as a colonial town: narrow cobblestone streets, colourful baroque buildings and a steady sense that the past is close at hand.
What the visit feels like
Olinda is best approached on foot. Its streets climb and dip with the hills, so each turn tends to bring a new view, and the ocean often appears between the rooftops. The town has numerous churches, and wandering from one to the next is a natural way to see how the city fits together. The buildings are the main attraction, and they reward slow looking.
Art, music and celebration
Olinda is known as an artistic haven, with a community of artists and musicians whose work can be seen and heard around town. Its Carnival is one of the city's best-known celebrations, and the town's streets take on a lively, colourful character during that time. Visitors who come for the festive atmosphere will find that the city's creative life runs through its everyday rhythm as well.
Culture and the surrounding area
The city also carries a rich Afro-Brazilian heritage, which shapes its music, its celebrations and its daily life. Olinda sits close to Recife, so it can be combined easily with a visit to that larger city. Planning a stay of at least a day or two gives time to explore the old town at an unhurried pace, sit with the views, and take in the cultural life that gives Olinda its character.