A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Recife vs. Piriapolis for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Recife or Piriapolis?

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 Piriapolis 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.

Where Should I go: Recife or Piriapolis?

Recife

One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.

Piriapolis

Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, and The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Recife or Piriapolis?

Recife has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Piriapolis, 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.

When is the best time to visit Recife or Piriapolis?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Recife or Piriapolis in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Piriapolis. Most visitors come to Recife for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Recife is a little warmer than Piriapolis. Typically, the summer temperatures in Recife in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Piriapolis averages at about 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Piriapolis this time of the year. In Recife, it's very sunny this time of the year. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Piriapolis during summer. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Piriapolis receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.

Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Recife usually receives more rain than Piriapolis. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, March to August is the rainy season in Recife.

Should I visit Recife or Piriapolis in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Recife as well as Piriapolis. The autumn months attract visitors to Recife because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In April, Recife is generally much warmer than Piriapolis. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Piriapolis fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Recife often gets more sunshine than Piriapolis. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Piriapolis receives 171 hours of full sun.

Recife receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Piriapolis. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Recife or Piriapolis in the Winter?

Both Piriapolis and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Recife this time of year.

Recife is much warmer than Piriapolis in the winter. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Piriapolis fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Recife usually receives more sunshine than Piriapolis during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Piriapolis receives 135 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Recife. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Piriapolis. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the winter. The rainy season in Recife is March to August.

Should I visit Recife or Piriapolis in the Spring?

Both Piriapolis and Recife during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Recife for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Recife is much warmer than Piriapolis. Typically, the spring temperatures in Recife in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Piriapolis averages at about 16°C (61°F).

In Piriapolis, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Recife. In the spring, Recife often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Piriapolis. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Piriapolis receives 248 hours of full sun.

Recife usually gets less rain in October than Piriapolis. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year. October to December is the dry season in Recife.

Typical Weather for Piriapolis and Recife