Salvador de Bahia is Brazil’s fourth-largest city and one of the most visited in the country. This beautiful city, a symbol of authentic Brazil, has everything you’d expect to find in the land of samba. Its year-round warm weather makes it possible to visit at any time of year, but the best period to do so is during Carnival, when the streets become even more colourful and the drums beat incessantly. From the Portuguese colonial architecture of its historic centre to the nightlife of the Rio Vermelho, Salvador da Bahia will make it one of your favourite destinations in Brazil and the world.
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Places to see in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
Neighbourhood of Pelourinho
The Pelourinho is the name by which the historic centre of Salvador da Bahia is known. It is the oldest part of the city and its Portuguese colonial houses prove it. The streets of the neighbourhood are full of colour thanks to the beautiful facades of the buildings and the cobblestones. One of the must-see sights in Pelourinho is the Church and Convent of San Francisco. This church is considered one of the seven wonders of the world of Portuguese origin. Its white and blue tiles, reminiscent of the churches of Porto, tell the story of the life of Saint Francis. But this church won’t be the only one you’ll find in Pelourinho, as this neighbourhood is full of them, and all are worth a visit.
Hours: M, T, Th, Th, F S: 9:00-17:30, M: 9:00-17:00, Sun: 10:00-15:00 Price: R$5,00 (€0.80)
Model Market
The Mercado Modelo, one of the most beautiful buildings in Salvador, in neoclassical style, is a handicraft market located in the district of Comercio, very close to the historic centre. It was inaugurated in 1912, but the building we know today is not the original one as it suffered several fires and after the 1969 fire it had to be rebuilt from scratch. It houses more than 200 little shops where you can find the best souvenirs of Salvador de Bahia. Opening hours: Mon-Sat: 9:00-18:00, Sun: 9:00-14:00.
Behind the market is also one of the emblems of the city: the Lacerda Elevator. It is a 72-metre public lift that connects the lower part of the city with the upper part and is one of the favourite stops for visitors, who can see Salvador from above. Opening hours: M-F: 6:00-23:00 and S-S: 7:00-22:00. The price is 0.15 reais, or 2 euro cents
Rio Vermelho Neighbourhood
This neighbourhood, considered the city’s bohemian quarter, is a favourite of many, and no wonder, as this is where much of Salvador’s nightlife and entertainment is concentrated. In its streets there are bars, restaurants, pubs and live music venues. Its streets seem to radiate a distinct and addictive energy that captures everyone who walks them. And if that wasn’t enough, this neighbourhood is also home to sun and sand beaches such as Praia do Buracão and Praia Rio Vermelho. With so many options and things to do, you’ll want to stay and spend a whole day soaking up the atmosphere of Rio Vermelho.
Barrio de Barra
This neighbourhood is one of the most pleasant to walk around in Salvador de Bahia. It is home to one of the city’s main attractions, the Farol da Barra, a lighthouse that you can climb and from which you can enjoy beautiful views of the coast. The area is also known for its beautiful and quiet beaches, such as Praia do Porto da Barra, from where you can watch the best sunsets in Salvador. Lighthouse opening hours: Mon-Sun: 9:00 to 18:00
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What things to do around Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
Frades Island and Itaparica
Two of the 56 islands that make up the Bay of All Saints are also one of the most popular excursions during trips to Salvador. The islands are located 30 kilometres from Salvadoro, tours depart from the city’s port and usually last for eight hours, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful beaches of these paradisiacal islands in a relaxed way. Tourism on the islands is limited to a visit of a few hours, there are no hotels or places to sleep, so they are in a perfect state of preservation.
Price: depending on the company and the activities included in the tour, prices vary greatly. From €17 to over €70 per person.
Mangue Seco
The village of Mangue Seco is one of the most beautiful places to see near Salvador da Bahia and one of the best excursions. Mangue Seco, home to only about 200 people, is peaceful and calm amid its dunes and mangroves. The tours include a beautiful boat ride and, although it may not be included in the price, we recommend the buggy ride which will take you along beautiful sandy paths and allow you to discover Mangue Seco in depth.
Price: about €40 per person
What to see in Salvador de Bahia in 2 days
First day:
- Walk around Pelourinho
- Enter the Mercado Modelo
- Sightseeing at the Lacerda Elevator
- Dinner and concert at Rio Vermelho
Second day:
- Walk around Barra
- Climb the Farol da Barra
- Praia do Porto da Barra
- Daylight walk along Rio Vermelho
How to get to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
There are several ways to get to Salvador de Bahia. Being an important city in the Brazilian country, it is well-connected by plane with other Latin American countries such as Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, among others. There are also some direct flights from Europe, although the most common is to have to make a stopover and the price does not usually fall below 500 euros round trip.
From Rio de Janeiro
- Plane: Salvador’s airport is Diputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport, and there are daily flights connecting it with Rio de Janeiro. It takes about 2 hours and the round-trip price starts at €100.
- Bus: A much slower but cheaper way is to travel by bus. The journey takes 31 hours and 50 minutes, and the one-way fare starts at €40. The bus companies operating this route are: Águia Branca, Viação Kaissara, Buson, Expresso Guanabara.
Where to eat in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil?
- Coco Bambu Bahia: This famous restaurant in Salvador is one of the best places to stop and recharge your batteries. They serve traditional Brazilian dishes such as Moqueca Cearense, a delicious fish stew, as well as meat, seafood and Italian dishes. Price range: €8.27-€20.77
- Cuco Bistro: The most delicious food in Salvador de Bahia is at Cuco Bistro. A restaurant serving unpretentious contemporary Brazilian cuisine, with a terrace facing the Church of San Francisco. Price range: €4-€14
- A Casa Vidal: One of the most highly recommended restaurants in Salvador for its service, price and generous portions and, of course, its flavour. At A Casa Vidal you’ll find international dishes such as shrimp risotto and sirloin Wellington, all prepared with skill and finesse. Price range: €3 – €14
Where to sleep in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
- Ibis Salvador Rio Vermelho: This fantastic 3-star hotel is located in the Rio Vermelho district, in the bohemian area of the city and a stone’s throw from the beach. Average price per night: €30.
- Bahiacafé Hotel: Also 3-star, Bahiacafé Hotel is considered a small boutique hotel. The beautiful blue colonial-style building is located near Praça da Sé and has beautiful modern rooms and a delicious breakfast buffet included. Average price per night: €60.
- Fiesta Bahia Hotel: A 5-star hotel for a very affordable price. It has swimming pools, gym, games room and children’s playground, plus a fabulous breakfast included, free cancellation and no advance payment. It is quite far from the centre, about 12 km, but very close to the Itaigara shopping centre and 1.2 km from the beach. Average price per night: €42.
Tips for your trip to Brazil
- Have your hotel reservation or the address you’re staying at handy, they’ll ask you at the airport.
- Carry cash, not all shops have credit card facilities.
- Brazil’s currency is the Brazilian Real.
- Bring your money in advance, currency exchanges at airports are very expensive.
- The rainiest season is from April to June
- Book in advance if you’re travelling to Salvador de Bahia during Carnival.
- Bring travel insurance to cover possible medical expenses; it’s a requirement for entry into the country due to Covid-19.
- Do not carry valuable belongings such as jewellery or your mobile phone in plain sight, and avoid secluded places where there is a risk of mugging. As in most cities, there is a risk of pickpocketing.
How do you organise your travel route?
Register or download the App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary to see Salvador de Bahia and add the app’s suggestions
- Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need, and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited on your trip to Ilha Grande to the app.
If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about Salvador da Bahia
This depends a lot on what your interests are. If you just want to see the city, two days will be enough. However, if you want to go on excursions, such as going to Frades Island and Itaparica, or spend the mornings on the various beaches, we recommend that you extend your stay to 4 or 5 days.
Salvador is a very well-connected city with a good public transport system. Therefore, in addition to walking and hailing taxis, we recommend using the bus. There is even a bus line that will take you from the airport to the city centre and vice versa.
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