Sightseeing in Salvador, the capital of Bahia, offers a unique experience that combines history, culture, nature and a rich Afro-Brazilian heritage.

Salvador is a true living museum, reflecting Brazil’s rich history and cultural diversity.

As a symbol of the miscegenation of creeds and ethnicities, Bahian culture stands out for its contagious joy and a people who only need sunshine to be happy.

Bahia’s strong cultural identity is manifested in its culinary vibrancy, historic architecture and unique artistic expressions.

Salvador’s charm lies in the harmonisation between the historic centre and the little shops of Pelourinho with the modern neighbourhoods and beautiful natural scenery, punctuated by paradisiacal beaches and coconut groves.

The city offers an abundance of parties, top quality restaurants and sunny days, promising an unforgettable trip.

The Bahian people are known for their hospitality, and the city’s hotel infrastructure is well prepared to receive tourists from all over the world.

Salvador is known as the ‘Land of all saints, joys and charms’. Salvador, the first capital of Brazil and a World Heritage Site, has streets and squares celebrated by great names in music and literature.

Since its foundation, the city has attracted international attention, not only for its strategic location, but also for its exuberant natural wealth.

The presence of a defence line made up of fortresses, built to protect against Indian, French, English and Dutch invasions in the early centuries, testifies to its strategic importance.

By the end of the 17th century, Salvador had 14 forts, 11 of which still exist and are considered important historical heritage sites.

Salvador breathes history, with a vast cultural and historical heritage that is one of the city’s greatest legacies, attracting visitors from all over the world.

Historic buildings such as mansions, chapels, churches and manor houses make Salvador one of the cities that most preserves its cultural heritage.

Among its most notable landmarks are the Basilica Cathedral, the Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim in Salvador, a symbol of the Bahian faith, and the Church of Santo Antônio da Barra.

These and other religious buildings reflect the strong Catholicism present in Salvador, which, when mixed with Candomblé practices and deities, adds an air of mystery and magic to the city.

The narrow, winding streets of Pelourinho, with its museums of sacred and popular art, and its 17th to 19th century buildings, are fascinating.

The imposing Forte de Monte Serrat and the famous Mercado Modelo, full of local handicrafts, are must-sees.

You can’t forget the Lacerda Elevator, which connects the Upper Town to the Lower Town, the Jorge Amado House Foundation, which celebrates Bahian culture and literature, and the beautiful beaches and islands that make up Salvador’s waterfront.

Salvador de Bahia is all this and much more. To visit this city is to immerse yourself in a continuous symphony of festivities, to experience the contagious joy of the Bahian people and to experience a unique everyday life.

Salvador is a journey full of adventure, history, culture and, above all, pleasure.

Videos about Tourist Spots in Salvador de Bahia

Tourist Attractions in Salvador BA

1. Pelourinho
2. Barra Lighthouse
3. Elevador Lacerda
4. Mercado Modelo
5. Lagoa de Abaeté
6. Church of Senhor do Bonfim
7. Monte Serrat Fort
8. Humaitá Point
9. Baia de Todos os Santos
10. Ribeira Beach
11. Bahian cuisine

1. Pelourinho

Few places are as emblematic in Salvador as the Pelourinho. In the Historic Centre of the Bahian capital and part of the UN World Heritage Site, it stands out for its houses in the colonial Portuguese Baroque style.

The name dates back to the time of slavery. Pelourinho means the stone column that stood in the centre of the squares to punish the slaves.

Also discover the Attractions of the Historic Centre of Salvador da Bahia

2. Barra Lighthouse

The Farol da Barra, also known as the Santo Antônio Lighthouse, is one of Salvador’s main postcards, and as well as its external beauty, it also provides access to the nautical museum.

The 22 metre high tower was built in the 17th century and used to guide ships arriving in the city, which was once one of South America’s main ports.

3. Lacerda Lift

The Elevador Lacerda is one of Salvador’s most popular tourist attractions, despite the fact that it is actually useful to the population. The world’s first urban lift takes residents from the lower part of the city to the upper part.

The attraction is the beautiful view from the top.

Get to know the Foundation and History of Salvador da Bahia

4. Mercado Modelo

Located in the Lower Town, the Mercado Modelo is considered to be the largest handicraft shopping centre in the country. It has more than 260 shops selling typical products from Bahia, as well as restaurants and bars.

The building is listed by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN). Built in 1861, it was Salvador’s third customs house. The place also hosts various artistic and cultural events.

5. Lagoa de Abaeté

Lagoa de Abaeté is 10 kilometres from the city centre, but it is a well-known spot.

Here you’ll find calm waters, white sands and coconut trees to relax in. The lagoon is part of an environmental preservation area.

6. Senhor do Bonfim Church

Famous throughout Brazil, the Igreja do Senhor do Bonfim became known thanks to the Senhor do Bonfim ribbons and the annual washing of its steps.

This cultural monument, with its neoclassical architecture and rococo façade, was built between 1745 and 1754 to house the image of Senhor Bom Jesus do Bonfim, brought from Lisbon. Pope Pius XI elevated the church to Basilica status in 1927.

See also Religious Tourism in Salvador da Bahia

Also see Churches in Salvador da Bahia

7. Monte Serrat Fort

Forte de Monte Serrat was first built as a small fort between 1538 and 1587, and was remodelled in 1602 to give it greater defensive power. It was known as the Fortress of São Felipe until it was renamed in the 19th century.

It’s a beautiful tourist attraction with a lot of history, as it was occupied in 1638 by the Dutch and was home to Prince Maurício de Nassau. The fort houses the Weapons Museum.

Find out more about the History of Salvador’s Forts and Lighthouses

8. Ponta do Humaitá

Next to the Monte Serrat Fort, the Ponta do Humaitá is known for its panoramic view of the Baía de Todos os Santos and the city, as well as being one of the best places to watch the sunset.

The architecture of the neighbourhood is marked by houses built in the 19th century, as well as the presence of a lighthouse from the beginning of the last century, a monastery and the Church of Monte Serrat.

9. Baia de Todos os Santos

The Baia de Todos os Santos is the largest bay in Brazil and was sighted on 1 November 1501 on the expedition of Américo Vespúcio, and named after the date on which All Saints’ Day is celebrated.

In Américo Vespúcio’s description, the place was a large and beautiful bay, and to this day it attracts the attention of those visiting Salvador for the first time. It is home to calm, clear waters, as well as the Atlantic Forest, vast mangroves, sandbanks and coral reefs.

Find out more about the History and characteristics of Todos os Santos Bay

10. Ribeira Beach

One of Salvador’s most charming and bohemian spots, Praia da Ribeira is bathed by Todos os Santos Bay and has a beautiful view of the colonial mansions and their islands.

The place is one of the most frequented by sailors in the city due to its calm waters, which is why it used to be a well-known fishing village.

The most ‘popular’ stretch of sand is near the architectural complex formed by the Archbishop’s Summer Palace and the Church of Our Lady of Penha, with good options for stalls offering food, drink and chair and parasol service.

For fun, sunbathers play sand football and beach volleyball. The beach is also often used for competitions and water sports such as rowing and canoeing. The whole seafront tends to be crowded at weekends, so if you want peace and quiet prefer to go during the week.

Ribeira is well known for its bohemian life, with several bars on the waterfront, shows and cultural festivals such as the Mercado Iaô promoted by singer Margareth Menezes, as well as the city’s most famous ice-cream parlour, Sorveteria da Ribeira.

See also Beaches of Salvador da Bahia

11. Bahian cuisine – Tabuleiro de Sabores

The Bahian cuisine is a chapter in Salvador’s history. The mixture of rich and unique eating habits is the result of the knowledge of three ethnic groups.

Manioc and corn were planted by the Indians, who produced pirão and fermented drinks to accompany fish and livestock.

With the arrival of the Portuguese, the locals got to know cod, sardines and fine sweets, while the blacks contributed the unmistakable flavours of chilli peppers and dende oil.

Bahia’s gastronomic festival dates back to the 16th century, when waves of slaves from different regions of Africa arrived in the state.

Little by little, the black women bought from the trading posts near the Mercado Modelo learnt what was already being eaten and adapted the dishes of the orishas to the tastes of the sinhás.

This is how caruru was born, an adaptation of amalá, a delicacy that comprised the food of the orishas which, with the addition of dried shrimp, peanuts and chestnuts, became one of the most famous dishes in Bahian cuisine.

The famous bobó de camarão and munguzá went through the same process.

The leftover olive oil was turned into pure farofa or mixed with fried plantains. Coconut milk was used to season moqueca, stews and escabeches, while the bagasse, mixed with sugar cane molasses or rapadura, quickly became a delicious cocada.

But not all dishes were influenced by Africa. In the days when noble meat was for the exclusive consumption of the masters, the inhabitants of the slave quarters were left with only the carcass.

It was thanks to the creativity and necessity of the slave population that the succulent feijoada was born, as well as sarapatel and mocotó, famous delicacies that also carry the special touch of dende.

Today, the Bahian menu includes more than 50 different types of dishes, many of them typical of the slave quarters, whose fame is mainly due to delicacies such as acarajé, mocotó and scalded crab and oyster, among others sold on the beaches, in popular markets and in the famous street stalls.

However, as Bahian people don’t live on typical food alone and Salvador is one of the metropolises of the Northeast, restaurants serving international cuisine and regional Brazilian cuisine, such as gaucho and mineira, also make up this attractive board of gastronomic options.

Bahia.ws is the largest tourist guide to Bahia, Salvador and the Northeast