Sleeping in Airports

Recife Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Recife Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

From the outside this airport looks like it might be a comfy fit inside. Not at all, it is very sterile and lighting is poor. No carpets so one can lay out on the floor in an attempt to doze off. – mberton

REC Airport Overview

To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Recife Guararapes-Gilberto Freyre International Airport.

What to Expect

recife airport guideRecife Airport (code: REC) serves passengers in a large, modern terminal with plenty of eateries, shopping and other amenities. WiFi is available to help pass the time. And if you don’t mind paying, comfort can be found through fee-based access to one of the airport’s first class lounges. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for locations and rates.

Sleeping in Recife Airport

We do not yet have any sleep-related airport reviews.  For uninterrupted sleep, there is a hotel at the airport and others within walking distance. See the Airport Hotels section below for locations or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s web site for current information.  For more airport information continue scrolling down to explore more in our Recife Airport Guide.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.  For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.

airport loungeAirport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and to also find out how you can gain lounge access with just an economy class ticket!

  • Proair VIP Lounge – Location: International Terminal, Airside, in front of Gate 16. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
  • Sala VIP Luck Viagens – Location: Domestic Terminal, Landside, in front of Gate 5. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.

Related Pages: Recife Airport Lounges

airport hotelsAirport Hotels

If sleeping in Recife airport sounds like a nightmare, there are sleep cabins inside the airport and more hotels nearby.  The drive to the city is less than 10 minutes.

Hotel inside Recife Airport
  • Siesta Box – Location: International Terminal, Airside. Find rest and relaxation in one of these self-service sleep cabins. Each climate-controlled cabin offers privacy, a single bed, free WiFi, cable TV, ambient lighting, mirror, laptop table, universal power and USB outlets. Simply select an available cabin from the touchscreen menu, select the length of time needed, and enter your credit or debit card information. A PIN-number will be printed, which you then use to access your cabin. There are only four cabins in Recife Airport, so snag one quickly if you need it! Rates are as follows: 49,90 R$ (1 hour) • 69,90 R$ (2 hours) • 89,90 R$ (3 hours) • 109,90 R$ (4 hours) • 129,90 R$ (5 hours) • 149,90 R$ (6 hours). » Check Rates
Hotels near the airport
  • Ibis Recife Aeroporto – Located across from the airport.  Airport shuttle is available. » Check Rates

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels in Recife, search deals and read traveller reviews.

wifiAirport WiFi/Internet

Free WiFi is available at Recife Airport. Connect to the “INFRAERO wi-fi Gratis” network.

airport infoMore Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport

ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Machines are operated by Bradesco • Caixa Econômica Federal • HSBC • Itaú Unibanco and Santander. Fees may apply, so be sure to check your bank’s fee schedule and your daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Location: Ground floor (Arrivals). Hours: Open 24 hours.

Banking – Banco do Brasil. Location: Ground floor (Arrivals). Hours: Normal banking hours.

Currency Exchange – Confidence Exchange (Ground Floor. Hours: 24 hours) • Europe Exchange (Ground Floor. Hours: 24 hours).

Duty Free & Shopping – Duty Free is available as well as a variety of shops (souvenirs, bookshops, etc.).

Food & Drinks – Food concessions throughout the airport operate with varying schedules. Options (11 total) are available both Landside and Airside.

Information Desk – Location: 1st floor. Hours: Open 24 hours.

Luggage Storage & Lockers – Not available.

Luggage Wrapping – Services available from Malex. Rates and hours: unknown.

Mobile Charging – A reader tells us mobile charging is available at the departure gates. (October 2022)

Pharmacy – Drogafarma. Location: 1st floor. Hours: Open 24 hours.

Post Office – Correios Location: ground floor. Hours: 9:00AM – 8:00PM (Mon-Fri) 9:00AM – 5:00PM (Sat) 9:00AM – 1:00PM (Sun).

Rest Zones – There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Showers – Not available.

SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.

Travel Agencies – If you are arriving in Recife and need local arrangements or help planning a really last minute trip abroad, there are a number of travel agencies with offices at the airport that can probably be of assistance. ABAV, Agencia Luck Viagens e Turismo, Brasluso, Mônaco Turismo, Nassau Viagens e Turismo, Pontestur, Pontual, Salgueiro and Visão Turismo.

airport hoursAirport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours.

airlinesAirlines

Recife airport is served by the following airlines: Avianca • Azul Airlines • Copa Airlines • GOL • LATAM • TAP Portugal • Trip.

transportationAirport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Buses

Local bus 33 (Aeroporto) goes to Coty Center and Boa Viagem, with departures available every 20 minutes. Local bus 152 (Jordao Baixo) stops in Boa Viagem en route to the city center. Other bus lines that link the airport to the city center include Bus 153 (Jordao Alto), Bus 161 (Brigadeiro Ivo Borges), and Bus 163 (Cajueiro Seco). Bus 33 stops in front of the airport terminal, while the other bus lines stop on the opposite side of the street.

Car Rentals

These car rental agencies are available on the ground floor of the passenger terminal: Avis • Hertz • Localiza • Movida • Unidas.

Hotel Shuttles

See also Airport Hotels above.

Metro

Recife Airport is a stop on the MetroRec Subway southern line, offering a connection to downtown.

Taxis

Taxis are readily available for hire in the ground transportation area.

Last updated: 2024-01-30

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.