Skip the usual hotspots, dance to the beats of Brazil's Recife

If music and partying are what you have in mind for a trip to Brazil, you might want to sidestep traditional hotspots like Rio de Janeiro and Salvador and head to Recife instead. This often-overlooked metropolis of 3.6 million people on Brazil's northeastern coast is home to some of the country's most popular Carnival celebrations and other street festivals. It also boasts one of the most vibrant music scenes in Brazil. But don't expect the smooth sounds of bossa nova and samba, the musical genres most identified with Brazil. (Getty images)

Updated on: Jun 07, 2014 1:30 PM IST

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If music and partying are what you have in mind for a trip to Brazil, you might want to sidestep traditional hotspots like Rio de Janeiro and Salvador and head to Recife instead. This often-overlooked metropolis of 3.6 million people on Brazil's northeastern coast is home to some of the country's most popular Carnival celebrations and other street festivals. It also boasts one of the most vibrant music scenes in Brazil. But don't expect the smooth sounds of bossa nova and samba, the musical genres most identified with Brazil. (Getty images)

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Luckily for soccer fans, the World Cup will take place at the same time as what Brazilians call Festas Juninas -literally, June Festivals - nationwide festivities celebrating the Catholic saints of John the Baptist, Anthony and Peter. The festivals also celebrate rural life in Brazil, with men decked out in plaid shirts and straw hats while women don country dresses and pigtails. In between fireworks displays and folk dancing, taste some pamonha and canjica, seasonal corn-based treats made for the festivals. (Getty images)

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No trip to Recife is complete without a visit to its sister city Olinda, a neighboring colonial gem that was declared a World Heritage Site in 1982. One of Brazil's most festive tourist destinations, Olinda always has something afoot on its hilly, cobblestone streets. Spend the day exploring Olinda's historic churches and many art studios, nibbling on street food like tapioca along the way. For a stunning view of Recife, climb the steep Ladeira da Misericórdia, or Mercy Slope. (Getty images)

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While downtown, you can learn more about forró and other local rhythms such as baião, xote and xaxado at Cais do Sertão, a sparkling new gallery dedicated to the late Luiz Gonzaga, one of the most influential Brazilian musicians of the 20th Century. For more on Recife's rich musical history, visit the Paço do Frevo about two blocks away. It's a shrine to the upbeat orchestral musical style and accompanying acrobatic dances known as frevo, mainstays in the city's Carnival celebrations. (Getty images)