Visit Salvador to Brazil: what are the best things to do and see in the capital of joy?
Salvador is a sunny and culturally exciting destination for people holiday in Brazil with a beautiful coast lined with white sand beaches and tropical islands. The vibrant capital of the state of Bahia is the epicentre of the country’s Afro-Brazilian culture, and when it comes to cuisine, music and cultural expression, the city has its distinctive style. Its historic centre is a feast to explore on foot and once Salvador has no secret for you, the surroundings offer very interesting natural escapades! Here are the sightseeings and things to do from Salvador de Bahia:
1. The Pelourinho district
Flickr – Fred Schinke
Salvador was the capital of Brazil for two centuries from the Renaissance, and the influence that the city had at that time is still visible in the historical centre of Salvador de Bahia. The Pelourinho , classified as a UNESCO heritage, is an open-air museum, which can be “visited” on foot by observing the colonial baroque architecture whose colorful facades of the buildings have made the city famous.
There are several historical sites, including three baroque palaces , a great Cathedral and most of the best restaurants in the city and cocktail bars.
Art lovers can enjoy a passage through Bahia Art Museum to see paintings, Chinese porcelain, furniture and pictures of the 17th and 18th centuries. This museum is the oldest in the state of Bahia and exhibits more 5000 works historical and artistic via two permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Flickr – Badger DJ
In the neighborhood, do not miss the Igreja e convento São Francisco (the church and the convent of Saint Francis). The interior of the church (photo) is sumptuously decorated with gold, silver and precious stones and its ceiling was compared to that of the Sistine Chapel.
2. Take the elevador Lacerda
Flickr – Débora Araújo
Salvador consists of two parts: the upper city ( cidade alta ) and the low city ( cidade baixa ). The traditional way to explore both levels is to take the elevator in the historic centre of the city. Built in 1873, the elevator has two towers up to 72 metres high and carries more than 900,000 people per month. From above, you have a panoramic view of Baia de Todos os Santos ( Bay of All Saints ). Cost: approximately $2 R
3. The Museu Afro-Brasileiro
Source: www.terratributa-br.org
Including one of the most important collections in Bahia, Museu Afro-Brasileiro presents wooden sculptures, baskets, pottery and other art and crafts articles linking Brazilian and African artistic traditions. The most beautiful part of the museum is a piece bordered by 27 huge and beautiful woodwork sculpted by Carybé , an artist of Argentinian origin, who is perhaps the most famous and the best 20th century artist in Salvador. The wooded frescoes are stylized representations of orishas (or orixás (dividends of Afro-Brazilian religions), inlaid with shellfish and metals.
4. Local gastronomy
Salvador has seen passing cultures from all horizons since the 16th century, and the best way to discover the cultural past of the city is through his kitchen . The Bahian restaurants are located all over the city, and offer a mix of Portuguese, African, European and Arab flavours You won't find anywhere else. Excellent dishes will be served as in particular acarajés (e.g. baked paste with smoked lobster), vatapás , or moca de peixe ...
Moqueca de camarões – Flickr – Ametxa
And the best in all this is that everything is quite affordable. There are a lot of outdoor bars that buzz activity during the happy . If you're a fan of desserts, you're in the right place. There are countless glaciers and cafés that offer fruity flavoured treats and chocolate desserts blend well with Brazilian coffee. Enjoy it!
5. The beaches
Flickr – Turismo Bahia
The beaches around Salvador are among the best in Brazil. praia Porto da Barra is probably one of the most beautiful of them. This is usually crowded, and there are a lot of vendors in the middle of a very tourist crowd. The waters of the bay are clear and calm here. On the left of the Barra lighthouse, the Praia do Farol da Barra is taken from surfers. A little further, the beach of Itapua is also nice, and also has a lighthouse.
Barra’s seafront is lined with bars and restaurants and is well lit in the evening, but it’s a bit sordid spent an hour. The attacks on the beaches are not rare, so take no more than your spare clothing, towel and sun cream with you.
6. Discover the surroundings of Salvador
The city of Salvador itself already has many things to offer you, but if you decide to stay here several days, enjoy it to visit the surroundings and the region.
For example, you could go to the old fishing village Praia do Forte where you can see him TAMAR Project aiming to preserve marine turtles extinct. See you also on the beach Guarajuba .
Don’t miss exploring it Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina during one or two days.
For more things to do in the vicinity of Salvador, read our ideas of visits here .
7. The Carnival and the Nightlife of Salvador
The Carnival of Salvador attracts more than 2 million visitors each year and it is one of Brazil’s most beautiful carnivals, if not the best. This carnival is like the local nightlife , always animated and very happy. Don’t miss to take part in it and enjoy it when you come.
How do I go to Salvador?
Many international flights offer to travel to Brazil. But few are the flights that land directly in Salvador de Bahia, as in most cases the flights link with the major Brazilian cities of Sao Paulo or Rio. Almost all Brazilian companies (internal flights) offer direct connections to Salvador de Bahia. To find cheap flights to Salvador de Bahia, you can search our partner's website Ulysses .
Even if Brazil is a very large country, you can travel to Salvador by bus. Companies travel from north to south and east to west. From the major cities, you can easily find buses to Salvador de Bahia. Make sure you have time in front of you, however, because these routes can sometimes last more than 24 hours. It is an excellent way to go on adventure through Brazil, as you will have the opportunity to discover other cities and villages on the road.
Where to sleep in Salvador de Bahia?
At choice, you can sleeping in Pelourinho district in the heart of Salvador. But this neighborhood is very touristic and you might prefer quieter neighborhoods like Rio Vermelho or Barra. In any case, it is very interesting to rent an apartment because the city has one of the most important offers in the country in terms of vacation rentals. You could come through this type of accommodation, meet real premises. You can find a cheap hotel in Salvadoren doing a search on this Compare hotels .
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