Salvador is most definitely worth visiting. It is a lovely city, full of history and African influence. With this in mind, make the most of your time there. Ensure you don’t miss any of the top things to do with our complete travel guide on Things to Do in Salvador de Bahia!
Salvador is quite spread out, so to make things a little easier, we recommend taking a tour with Salvador Bus. Consequently, they will ensure you see all the sites, without the hassle of figuring out how to get to each one.
Barra Lighthouse
Barra Lighthouse is situated at Barra Beach and is considered one of Salvador’s historical sites. Additionally, it is placed in the same fort building as the Bahia Nautical Museum. Both are worth a visit, and there’s a beautiful view of the beaches from the top of the lighthouse.
Head to the Beach
There are a few beaches to visit in Salvador. With that in mind, the closest ones are Porto da Barra and Farol da Barra. The latter is the biggest of the two and perfect to witness the beautiful Salvador sunset from. In contrast, the other is a more picturesque cove beach. So take your pick, or do both!
The Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim
When walking around Salvador, you will constantly see colourful ribbons flying around. As well as having locals tying them around your wrist. This is in relation to the Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim.
In fact, this church is the most famous Catholic Church in Salvador! Moreover, with a visit to the Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, you will find thousands more of these ribbons tied to the gates of the church.
They are a symbol of fortune and good luck in Bahian culture, and it is heart-warming to witness the strength of the culture still embedded in everyday life.
Furthermore, you’ll also find a very interesting room dedicated to people who are considered miracle survivors. In short, models of their body parts and limbs that were saved have been hung from the ceiling, alongside photos and stories of the survivors all over the walls!
Pelourinho District
Without a doubt, in our opinion, this is the most unmissable part of Salvador, due to the way. The African influence shines through the cobbled streets, into the beautiful Portuguese colonial buildings.
Undoubtedly, just a moment here will have you understanding exactly why it has been made into a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There is so much history in this part of the city, which actually used to be an area where slaves were sold. The culture is rife, from the colourful clothing to the delicious food and joyful music. Hence, it feels amazing to be fully immersed in it!
Elevador Lacerda
Placed in the Pelourinho district, this elevator leads to Salvador’s beautiful harbour. As well as to the city’s famous indoor market, Mercado Modelo.
The view of the harbour from the top of the elevator is one of the most famous views of Salvador. Hence, the image is on many a postcard! Moreover, at only 15c, you could travel up and down it as many times as you like!
Mercado Modelo
The Carnival Museum
The Carnival Museum (House of Carnival) is a relatively new addition to the Pelourinho district, having opened in February 2018. Moreover, the museum shows the interesting history of the Salvador carnival and is a delight to visit. In fact, it is one of our most recommended places to visit whilst in the city!
However, we don’t want to reveal too much, as it is best experienced whilst in the moment. The history of the carnival is beautiful, and it is a lot of fun to learn about the joy it brings to people who have come from so much suffering.
Carnivals have such an important place in the hearts of Latin Americans. Fortunately, we were able to catch the end of Salvador’s after experiencing Rio’s infamous event!
Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime kind of event. Check here for a full guide to the Rio Carnival.
Bahian Food
