The historical centre of the town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a maze of undulating cobbled streets lined with pastel-painted houses, interspersed with small churches and secluded squares.

Climate

The north-east is the driest region of Brazil, and Olinda enjoys warm, sunny weather almost all year-round.

How to get there

Recife airport is one of the main transport hubs of north-east Brazil. There are direct flights from numerous other Brazilian cities, as well as a smaller number of international flights.

Accommodation

There is no shortage of places to stay: many of the old town’s colonial-era buildings are now charming guesthouses (pousadas), and there are also numerous hotels. Prices are generally higher between December and February, and peak during carnival week. To find a room during carnival it will almost certainly be necessary to book well in advance.

What to do there

Experience carnaval. Tens of thousands of Brazilian and foreign visitors descend on Olinda every year for five days of uninterrupted partying – indeed, according to most estimates, the population doubles or triples during carnival week. North-eastern folklore plays a prominent role in the numerous street parades, as does the highly distinctive rhythm of frevo music.

Though less visually spectacular than the famous samba parade at the heart of the Rio carnival, and less musically diverse than the party in Salvador, Olinda’s festivities are distinctly participative in the sense that visitors are free to hurl themselves into the very heart of the singing and dancing.

The carnival down the road in Recife is equally frenetic but on an even larger scale. If you are staying in Olinda or Recife it is perfectly possible to divide your time between the two.

Sample the nightlife. During the week there’s a very laid-back atmosphere, with no end of secluded corners for a quiet drink, but things get more animated at weekends when lots of young people from Recife head into town for live music and dancing.

Try authentic north-eastern cuisine, available not only in the town’s countless restaurants but also in the form of simple but delicious snacks – such as acarajé – sold by street vendors.

If you are based in Olinda but want a few hours of sand and sea, the best option is probably Boa Viagem beach in Recife, twenty minutes away by road. - Source: From Embassy of Brazil in London