Salvador has countless tourist attractions, an architectural heritage, beaches, historical sites, music and religiosity.
Salvador is one of the most beautiful and visited cities in Brazil.
Salvador has countless attractions and sights to suit all tastes: beaches and natural beauty, historical sites dating back to the beginning of Brazilian colonisation, lots of music, typical gastronomy, religiosity, capoeira, as well as having the biggest carnival in the world.
It’s impossible to think of Salvador and not immediately remember places like Elevador Lacerda, Farol da Barra, Mercado Modelo, Pelourinho and Igreja do Senhor do Bonfim.
It’s not for nothing that Salvador is known as the capital of joy, as it is very hospitable to all who visit it, welcoming visitors from all over the world with many smiles and offering the best and most surprising itineraries.
The mixture of races, creeds and colors has formed a unique culture in Salvador, which is present in all parts of the city, all year round, and can be appreciated in its most diverse manifestations, such as capoeira, candonblé, percussion, dances and carnival.
Salvador is among the sunniest cities in the world, and the climate is ideal for its 50 kilometers of beaches, spread between the upper and lower city, bathed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of All Saints.
For this reason, Salvador’s tourist sites offer the opportunity for a deep immersion in time and its events.
Principais pontos turísticos de Salvador da Bahia
Os mais importantes pontos turísticos de Salvador BA
Barra e Pelourinho em Salvador da Bahia
Centro Histórico de Salvador da Bahia04:13
Guia Turístico de Salvador
Guia Turístico Detalhado - Salvador28:00
Tourist attractions and architectural heritage in Salvador
Discover the tourist attractions of Salvador de Bahia. Discover beaches, historical sites, music, religiosity and much more.
- Historical Centre of Salvador
- Municipal Square
- Elevador Lacerda
- Pelourinho
- Downtown
- Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia Church
- Prainha do Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia – MAM
- Swimming in the sea at Porto da Barra
- Barra Lighthouse
- Nosso Senhor do Bonfim Church and sunset at Ponta do Humaitá
- Red River Bohemia
- Bars in Santo Antônio Além do Carmo
- Gamboa neighbourhood
- Palaces in Salvador to visit
- Basilica of Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia
- Convent and Church of Santa Teresa or Museum of Sacred Art UFBa in Salvador BA
- Forte de Nossa Senhora de Monte Serrat
- Forte de São Marcelo or Forte do Mar
- Nossa Senhora dos Mares Church
- Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco
- Churches of Salvador da Bahia – History and Architecture
- Museums of Salvador
- Tourist attractions for families with children
- Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim
- Wonderful beaches of Salvador de Bahia
1. Historic Centre of Salvador
The Historic Centre of Salvador is made up of several ruined buildings that have been restored in isolation over the last 30 years, but since 1991, this work has been given a major boost with the revitalization of entire blocks of former residences, convents and churches.
That’s why today there are more than 800 buildings with restored façades and interiors, some of which have been adapted for new functions due to the goal of revitalizing the area for cultural purposes.
2. Municipal Square
The square was opened to offer better protection against attacks by natives and corsairs by sea.
The Governor’s House, the Town Hall and other buildings were initially made of rammed earth and covered in straw and, over time, rebuilt in stone, brick and lime.
3. Lacerda Elevator
Considered a postcard of Salvador, the Lacerda Elevator highlights the topographical originality of a city separated into two levels.
This grandiose architectural monument surprises with its size, 74 meters from the base to the elevator tower. The first tower was inaugurated in 1873 and the second in 1930.
Currently carrying more than 20,000 passengers a day, the elevator was designed and built by engineer Antônio de Lacerda, partly with his own funds and partly with donations from the city’s merchants.
It has four elevators that make the journey between the Upper Town and the Lower Town in just 11 seconds.
4. Pelourinho
This area covers one of the oldest neighborhoods in Salvador and shows the expansion of the city in the 17th and 18th centuries. Listed by IPHAN – Instituto do Patrimônio Cultural da Humanidade, Pelourinho is occupied by the old mansions of powerful government officials, wealthy planters and the merchants themselves.
The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black People reaffirms in the city the devotion begun by the Dominican priests on the African coast and forms the backdrop to the Largo do Pelourinho, which takes visitors back to an era of wealth and ostentation.
Some of the buildings in Pelourinho, such as Solar do Ferão, house some of the city’s most important museums, such as the Abelardo Rodrigues Museum, the Jorge Amado House Foundation, the City Museum, the Portas do Carmo Museum and the Tempostal Museum.
5. Lower town
The Lower City emerged with successive expansions of the original beach area, which, from the middle of the 16th century, reached the foot of the “mountain” to serve as the port of old Salvador.
Fortifications, ship moorings, wharves for sloops and warehouses for goods coming and going from all over the world were built there.
The first area is called Conceição da Praia.
To the south is the second area, which includes Solar do Unhão.
6. Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia Church
The third church, built on the same site in praise of the saint of devotion of the city’s founder Tomé de Souza, was begun in 1736.
The current building, with its neoclassical façade and interior decoration inspired by the Joanine Baroque, was completed in 1849. The stones that make up the temple’s façade came from Lioz, in Portugal.
The towers, arranged diagonally, give the temple its original monumentality.
Bahia.ws is the largest travel and tourism guide for Bahia and Salvador.
7. Little beach of the Museum of Modern Art of Bahia – MAM
Yes, there is a small beach inside the MAM! Because of its location, the beach attracts a lot of onlookers, but also locals, especially young people, who have turned the area into a pulsating meeting point.
Prainha do MAM is a cove with calm crystal-clear waters, as well as being a privileged vantage point from which to observe Todos os Santos Bay. The location is next to the Sculpture Park, which only adds to the charm of both the walk itself and the route to the beach.
Access to the beach is free. It is recommended that tourists arrive early and bring what they are going to eat. There are street vendors on site selling drinks and food and renting out chairs and umbrellas.
8. Sea bathing in Porto da Barra
Porto da Barra is one of Salvador’s most beautiful beaches and was voted the 3rd best beach in the world by The Guardian! It lies between the Forts of São Diogo and Santa Maria and is very popular for swimming, as its waters are very calm and blue.
Porto da Barra is popular for water sports such as windsurfing, diving and stand up paddle, for example.
In the surrounding area, beautiful historic buildings enhance the view and add to the tour, such as the Forts of Santa Maria and São Diogo. The Barra Lighthouse is also nearby. It’s also a great location if you want to catch a glimpse of the sunset from the beach.
9. Barra Lighthouse
The Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra, the “real” name of the Farol da Barra, is also one of the best-known sights that tourists need to see up close.
With a 22-meter-high tower, this construction was the first to be built in Brazil, in 1534, and it also houses the Bahia Nautical Museum.
From the top of the tower, you can have an incredible panoramic view of Praia da Barra, which, as well as being beautiful, makes it an extremely photogenic spot.
The view is beautiful at any time of the day, but it is recommended that you visit near sunset for an even more remarkable experience.
10. Nosso Senhor do Bonfim Church and sunset at Ponta do Humaitá
The Catholic church took 20 years to build, between the middle and the end of the 18th century.
It is one of Salvador’s postcards, whether because of its faith, its neoclassical architecture or its collection of paintings by José Teófilo, a famous 18th century Bahian painter. This is where the famous Bonfim ribbons, a typical Salvadoran amulet, are distributed.
From there, head to Ponta do Humaitá, also known as Ponta de Monte Serrat, where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of Salvador. Located in the Lower City, the Humaitá is the perfect place to enjoy an invigorating sunset framed by the Bay of All Saints. You can enjoy the view from the pier and the lighthouse located on the peninsula.
11. Bohemian Rio Vermelho
If you’re looking for a lively nightlife, the neighborhood of Rio Vermelho is the place for you. Considered Salvador’s most famous entertainment center, it’s where the main restaurants, bars, clubs and parties are.
If you want to experience the atmosphere in the streets, try going to Largo de Santana or Largo da Mariquita, where you can sit at tables on the sidewalk to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
12. Bars in Santo Antônio Além do Carmo
Located in the heart of Salvador’s historic centre, 500 metres from Pelourinho, this is another option for those who want to enjoy the bohemian side of the city. As well as the old mansions and the cultural options, what stands out here are the bars.
Because it’s a popular neighbourhood, tourists may be able to find well-prepared dishes at more affordable prices.
In addition, the neighbourhood offers beautiful panoramic views of the bay, is home to the beautiful Church of Santo Antonio and has vintage shops, pastel-coloured houses and cafés. The whole artistic aura of the place adds charm to the walk.
13. Gamboa neighbourhood
O Gamboa neighbourhood is characterised by the seaside community, secularly inhabited by fishermen, located at the south-western entrance to Todos os Santos Bay near the centre of Salvador.
Gamboa – which is home to the Solar do Unhão and Gamboa de Cima and Baixo communities – is bordered by the Avenida Contorno and is embraced by the Baía de Todos os Santos. No, that’s not an exaggeration.
14. Palaces in Salvador to visit
The Palaces in Salvador de Bahia have hosted royalty, carry great stories and currently fulfil different functions.
See Palaces in Salvador to visit and learn about Brazil’s history
15. Basilica of Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia
The church was prefabricated in Portugal, the parts were transported by caravels across the Atlantic Ocean and assembled in Brazil.
See History of the Basilica of Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia
16. Convent and Church of Santa Teresa or UFBa Museum of Sacred Art in Salvador BA
The Convent and Church of Santa Teresa houses sculptures, paintings, tile panels, silverware and furniture dating from the 16th to the 19th century.
History of the Church of Santa Teresa or Museum of Sacred Art UFBa
17. Fort of Our Lady of Monte Serrat
The Fort of Our Lady of Monte Serrat is important in fortified architecture, as it is the most archaic of the local defences that has survived without transformation.
History of Nossa Senhora de Monte Serrat Fort
18. Fort of São Marcelo or Fort of the Sea
Chroniclers have confused the old Forte do Mar, which was Laje, closer to the mainland, with the Forte de São Marcelo or Forte do Mar.
History of the Forte de São Marcelo or Forte do Mar in Salvador
19. Nossa Senhora dos Mares Church
Nossa Senhora dos Mares Church is the only church in Bahia built in the neo-Gothic style, characterised by verticality and pointed towers.
20. Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco
Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco is an example of the Baroque style, located in Salvador and whose foundation stone was laid in 1702.
21. Churches in Salvador de Bahia – History and Architecture
Salvador da Bahia has 160 churches scattered around the city, true monuments from the 17th and 18th centuries that illustrate the power of Catholicism at the time.
See Churches of Salvador da Bahia – History and Architecture
22. Museums in Salvador
Salvador’s museums offer the chance to get to know the history and culture of Bahia with varied collections such as paintings and sculptures.
39 Museums in Salvador show the history of Bahia
23. Tourist attractions for families with children
Salvador has great tourist attractions that delight parents and children such as the Monteiro Lobato Children’s Library, the Zoo and the city park.
25. Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim
Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim is the most famous in Salvador and is also the stage for two major popular festivals in honour of Catholic saints.
25. Discover the 21 marvellous beaches of Salvador de Bahia
The beaches of Salvador are much more than coconut palms, shade and warm waters, Salvador’s seafront is steeped in history, fun and leisure.
Tourist attractions and architectural heritage of Salvador de Bahia
