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REC Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) serves Recife, about 9 km southwest of Recife. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATAREC
ICAOSBRF
ServesRecife
From centre9 km
Non-stop18
Airlines9
TimezoneAmerica/Fortaleza
Elevation10 m

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The airport in numbers

Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport — facts & history

We pulled Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 8.6M passengers in 2022, against a peak of 8.8M in 2019.

Opened
1958
68 years ago
Passengers / year
8.6M
as of 2022
Elevation
10 מ׳
above sea level
Operator
Infraero
Passengers per year, 2000–2022

Figures: Wikidata (CC0)

Airport to city

Getting from Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport to Recife

The airport is about 9 km southwest of Recife, about 20 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: São Paulo (GRU): the Airport Bus Service and CPTM Line 13 (connecting). Rio (GIG): a BRT bus + metro.

Taxi & apps: A regulated metered taxi, or 99 / Uber (legal, cheap and safer in the big cities). Estimated fare to the centre: R$29–R$46.

Tipping: Round up; ~10%.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~15 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~20 minR$29–R$46
Private transfer~20 minfixed upfront
Car rental~20 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~R$29–R$46 to the centre.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Recife ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 18 destinations, operated by 9 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Azul · Sky Express · TAM Brazilian Airlines · Oceanair · American Airlines · US Airways · Copa Airlines · Condor Flugdienst · TAP Portugal

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Recife shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport

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Airports nearby

Other options near Recife

Same country

Other airports in Brazil

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport to the centre of Recife?
São Paulo (GRU): the Airport Bus Service and CPTM Line 13 (connecting). Rio (GIG): a BRT bus + metro. The airport is about 9 km southwest of Recife, about 20 minutes by road.
How much is a taxi from Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport to Recife?
Roughly R$29–R$46 (at the local tariff). Many airports have a regulated flat fare — ask at the taxi desk.
Can I use a ride app from Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport?
A regulated metered taxi, or 99 / Uber (legal, cheap and safer in the big cities).
What's the cheapest way from Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport to Recife?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. São Paulo (GRU): the Airport Bus Service and CPTM Line 13 (connecting). Rio (GIG): a BRT bus + metro.
Can I get from Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. São Paulo (GRU): the Airport Bus Service and CPTM Line 13 (connecting). Rio (GIG): a BRT bus + metro. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport?
About 18 destinations, including Sao Paulo, Salvador, Brasilia, Rio De Janeiro. 9 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Recife city guide← Brazil travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026

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