Olinda

Rua Prudente de Morais Olinda - The street Rua Prudente de Morais in Olinda

Olinda is a city in the north-eastern Brazil|Brazilian state of Pernambuco. It hosts one of Brazil's most famous carnivals and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its XVI and XVII-century buildings. Many restaurants, artist and craftspeople studios add charm to the old-town setting.

Olinda Halal Explorer

Olinda was founded in 1537 by the Portuguese Duarte Coelho Pereira. It owed its rapid rise to the sugar cane cultivated in the Pernambuco area. From the 16th century onward, religious missions built many churches and convents. The city was, however, pillaged by the Dutch in 1631. One of the few surviving buildings is the Church of São João. The Portuguese returned in 1654. Most of the buildings at Olinda date from the 18th century.

Travel to Olinda

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Olinda

The nearest airport is Recife Guarapes Airport. A taxi to/from the airport will cost some R$ 40.

Travel on a Bus in Olinda

Olinda is roughly 7 kilometers from the center of Recife, with plenty of local buses running in between. The main bus stop in Olinda is Praça do Carmo, which is easy to miss.

Best way to travel in Olinda by a Taxi

Taxis from the center of Recife to Olinda take about 20 minutes.

How to get around in Olinda

The historic center is compact and can be explored on foot.

What to see in Olinda

In poetry| Olinda is all for the eyes
it's not tangible, it's all desire.
No one says, "That's where I live."
They just say, "That's where I see."

-- Celebrated Brazilian poet Carlos Pena Filho,
in his poem Olinda.}} Olinda's beautiful scenery and architecture make for a pleasant sightseeing all around. Colonial architecture, belvederes and the blue sea paint a relaxed environment that is second to none among Brazilian traditional cities.

Churches

• Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo - Praça do Carmo
• Convento São Francisco - Praça do Carmo Opening Hours: Monday to Friday7AM Monday - 11:30AM, Saturday 7AM Monday - 12PM, 2PM Monday - 5PM The Mosteiro de São Bento (1582) and Convento São Francisco (1585) are very important buildings of baroque Brazil. The Convento São Francisco is a large building containing the convent proper and the Capela de São Roque chapel and the Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Neves church.

• Igreja Nossa Senhora da Graça and Seminario de Olinda - on the hill above Rua Frei Alfonso Maria Opening Hours: 8-11:30AM, 3-5PM Built in 1549.

• Igreja da Sé - Alto da Sé (Gothic Church Heights) Opening Hours: 8AM Monday - 12PM, 2PM Monday - 5PM Free Also known as Church of São Salvador do Mundo, this was the first church built in Brazil. It was built in 1540 and was briefly a Protestant church during the Dutch occupation in the 17th century.

• Igreja Nossa Senhora da Conceicao
• Igreja da Misericórdia - Opening Hours: 8AM Monday - 12PM, 2-5PM Built in 1540, with fine azulejos (ceramic tiles) and gilded carvings.

• Igreja Nossa Senhora do Amparo - Rua Saldanha Marinho Opening Hours: 8AM Monday - 12PM Restored church dating from 1613.

• Mosteiro de São Bento - Opening Hours: 8-11AM, 2-5PM This huge monastery was built in 1582 and housed Brazil's first law school. In the chapel are exceptional woodcarvings. Holy mass is celebrated on Sunday at 10:30AM with Gregorian chant.

Museums

• Contemporary Art Museum of Pernambuco - Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Pernambuco - Rua 13 de Maio, 149 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 5PM R$ 5 (R$ 2.50 for students) The museum's collection includes works by famous Brazilian artists, including Portinari, Di Cavalcanti, Cícero Dias, João Câmara, Telles Junior, Eliseu Visconti, Djanira, Wellington Virgolino, Guinard, Adolph Gottielib, Burle Max and Francisco Brennand. The historical building in which the museum is located dates from 1756 and was the only ecclesiastical prision in Brazil during the Inquisition.

• Olinda Regional Museum - Museu Regional de Olinda - Rua do Amparo, 128 Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 9am-12PM, 2-6PM, Saturday to Sun 2-6PM R$ 1 The museum recreates scenes of domestic and social life of the residents of Olinda in the 1700s. Displays include colonial furniture, decorative arts, painted ceramic tilework, pictures and Brazilian and Portuguese sacred art.

• Puppet Museum - Museu do Mamulengo - Rua de São Bento, 344.
• Sacred Art Museum of Pernambuco - Museu de Arte Sacra de Pernambuco - Rua Bispo Coutinho, 726 - Alto da Sé. ☎ +55 81 3184-3154 | Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 9AM Monday - 1PM R$ 1 A Former city hall (1535) and Episcopal palace (1676), nowadays the building houses a rich collection of religious art with pieces dating back to the 16th century.

Others

• Belvedere Alto da Sé, located at the yard of Church of Alto da Se. To the east, one can see the Atlantic Ocean; to the west and the urban scenery.
• Mercado da Ribeira is an 18th century building which now houses art galleries and souvenir shops.
• Rua do Amparo - restaurants, museums, hotels and art studios.
• Serenades - groups of singers and musicians play old traditional songs through the city streets on Friday evenings.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Olinda

Outside of Carnaval season, Olinda boasts a lively culture, featuring mostly forró and maracatú in the clubs and town squares, as well as year-round, Saturday night serenades.

• Angola Mae Capoeira School - Rua Ilma Cunha 243

Carnaval

Quite different from those of Rio de Janeiro (city) | Rio and Salvador this is a lively street party, where blocos parade accompanied by frevo and maracatu music. There is a certain activity during the weeks before (and some after), but the party itself explodes on the official dates, from Friday evening until Wednesday morning. Its most famous representative are the giant dolls carried on the shoulders of the people. The parties are non-stop, 24 hours, but the bulk of the crowd fills the streets daytime. When looking for accommodation, bear in mind that the most central streets get very noisy.

Beaches

The beach in Olinda proper is polluted. Local buses can take you north to Pau Amarelo and Maria Farinha.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Olinda

• Local crafts and artwork. Be wary of making your purchases in or near Alto da Sé, as prices there tend to be inflated due to the constant flow of tourists. The Mercado da Ribeira houses a variety of shops.
• Musical instruments, such as those used in maracatu and forró.

Halal Restaurants in Olinda

• Sargação, near Praça do Carmo near the beachfront, serves sandwiches and Burgers until the late night hours.
• Alto da Sé hosts a variety of food vendors, with a lively environment in the early evening.
• Mourisco, Praça João Alfredo, offers self service at a reasonable price.

• Oficina do Sabor - Rua do Amparo 335 ☎ +55 81 3429-3331 | Opening Hours: Tue-Sat 12-4PM, 6PM Monday - 12AM, Sunday 5PM Monday - 12AM R$15-20 If you wish to splurge, Oficina do Sabor offers a privileged view of Recife. Try the baked pumpkin stuffed with shrimp or fish, cooked in coconut Sauce (R$18).

Olinda's prefeitura (mayor's office) publishes a monthly nightlife guide, available in tourist offices and hotels.

• Mercado Eufrasio Barbosa often hosts cultural presentations and live music shows.
• Xinxim da Bahiana (Avenida Sigismundo Gonçalves, near Praça do Carmo) hosts live bands and DJs throughout the week. Especially interesting are forró on Wednesday and Saturday nights.
• Every other Saturday and the neighborhood of Amparo (adjacent to the Historic Center), hosts a street party featuring the local rhythm of samba de coco.
• Casa da Rabeca do Brasil (Rua Curupira, 125), in Cidade Tabajara(outside of town, accessible by bus or taxi), hosts a forró party every Saturday night.
• Maracatu nations often hold open rehearsals throughout the year.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Olinda

Olinda - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Olinda, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Olinda. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Olinda and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Olinda. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Olinda. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inOlinda: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Olinda.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Olinda: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Olinda, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Olinda.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Olinda, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Olinda, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Olinda and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Olinda, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Olinda, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Olinda without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Olinda is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Olinda.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Olinda is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Olinda, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Olinda Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Olinda has a wide range of options when it comes to lodging. Reservations could be wise in January and February. During carnival prices triple (literally!!!) and you will have to pay for the five nights from Friday to Wednesday no matter what. Private rooms (R$ 500-1000/5 nights) and apartments/houses (R$800 and up) are mostly cheaper, but standards vary greatly, and they are hard to book ahead. If you arrive on Thursday and there is still time

• Albergue de Olinda - Rua do Sol, 333 ☎ +55 81 3429-1592 - Dorm bed R$ 35, doubles R$ 80 Hostel.

• Pousada Alquimia - Rua Prudente de Morais, 292 ☎ +55 81 3429-1457 - Double with bathroom R$ 80 Charming pousada with a bit worn, but very clean rooms. Excellent location close to the main square! The owner, Djair, is a very friendly sailor-like guy who makes a great breakfast (included). Small book-exchange (a few non-portuguese) and cool decorations.

• Pousada d'Olinda - Praça Conselheiro João Alfredo, 128 ☎ +55 81 3439-1163 - Dorm bed R$ 25, doubles R$ 80
• Pousada dos Quatro Cantos - Rua Prudente de Moraes, 441 ☎ +55 81 3429-0220 - Former colonial weekend house, a delightful place to stay.

• Casa do Hilton Rua do Sol, 77
• Pousada do Fortim Rua do Sol, 151
• Cama e Café Olinda - Rua da Bertioga, 93 ☎ +55 81 3493-2617 - A ventilated room with a view of Olinda, Recife andAtlantic. Owners speak Portuguese, English and (German). Internet Wi-Fi, refrigerator, TV, independent entrance and proper bathroom.

• Pousada de Amparo - Rua do Amparo 191 ☎ +55 81 3439-1749 -

• Pousada Peter - Rua do Amparo 215 ☎ +55 81 3439-2171 -

• Hotel Sete Colinas - 7@olinas.com.br Ladeira de São Francisco, 307 - Centro ☎ +55 81 3439-6055 -

Cope

See list of foreign consulates in the page for the neighboring city of Recife.

• Olinda Tourism Board - Praça do Carmo 100 ☎ +55 81 3305-1048 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday8am-12PM, 2-5PM
• Prontolinda Medical Services - ☎ +55 81 3431-8000
• Post Office - near Praça do Carmo
• Telemar telephone office - Praça do Carmo
• Olinda Internet Cafe - Praça do Carmo 5-B - Internet access.

• - Praça Joao Pessoa 15 - Internet access.

• Banco do Brasil - Av Getulio Vargas just northeast of Olinda

Travel Next from Olinda

• Visit Recife, only 7km away, worth a visit.
• Take a local bus to Igarassu and visit the oldest church in Brazil.
• Take a bus through Igarassu to Ilha de Itamaracá. There are beautiful beaches, as well as the Centro Cultural de Lia, a cultural center that specializes in the local rhythm called ciranda. If in Itamaracá, do not miss the famous Coroa do Avião (a small, beautiful, sandy island) and the IBAMA Centro Peixe Boi (a center for the preservation of the manatee) and the Forte Orange (a 17th century Dutch fortress).
• Local buses also make the trip to beaches north of Olinda, including Pau Amarelo and Maria Farinha.

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