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Salvador

Brazil travel guide

What to see in Salvador

The colonial Pelourinho, Afro-Brazilian culture, capoeira and the beaches of Bahia.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

Photo: Paul R. Burley · CC BY-SA 4.0

Salvador highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Pelourinho

    A colourful historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  2. Elevador Lacerda

    A lift linking the upper and lower city.

  3. Salvador Cathedral Basilica

    A Jesuit church on Terreiro de Jesus.

  4. Igreja do Senhor do Bonfim

    A church famous for its coloured ribbons.

  5. Farol da Barra

    A lighthouse and fort with a nautical museum.

  6. Porto da Barra Beach

    A very popular city beach at sunset.

Where to stay in Salvador

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Pelourinho · Barra · Rio Vermelho

Day trips from Salvador

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Salvador

Any time of year is good to travel to Salvador: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

Typical food of Salvador

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Salvador from your kitchen).

Moqueca baiana
Photo: BR · CC BY-SA 4.0

Moqueca baiana

A fish stew in coconut milk and palm oil (dendê), with peppers, tomato and coriander: the dish of Salvador da Bahia, with African heritage.

  • Serves 4
  • 50 min

Ingredients

  • 800 g firm white fish steaks (grouper, corvina)
  • 300 g prawns (optional)
  • The juice of 2 limes
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 onion, 1 red pepper and 1 yellow pepper, in rings
  • 3 tomatoes, sliced
  • 400 ml coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons of palm oil (dendê) or olive oil with paprika
  • Coriander, chilli and salt

How to make it at home

  1. Marinate the fish with the lime, garlic and salt for 30 minutes.
  2. In a wide pan, alternate layers of onion, peppers, tomato and fish.
  3. Pour the coconut milk and palm oil over the top and add chilli to taste.
  4. Cover and cook over a medium heat for about 20 minutes, without stirring; add the prawns for the last 5.
  5. Finish with coriander and serve with rice and farofa.

The trick: In the clay-pot moqueca capixaba there’s no dendê; the Bahian one always has it.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the boteco (neighbourhood bar). The dishes you can’t miss are in the Brazil guide.

Frequently asked questions about Salvador

What to see in Salvador?

Pelourinho, Elevador Lacerda, Salvador Cathedral Basilica, Igreja do Senhor do Bonfim, Farol da Barra and Porto da Barra Beach.

What to see in Salvador in one day?

Don’t miss Pelourinho, Elevador Lacerda, Salvador Cathedral Basilica, Igreja do Senhor do Bonfim, Farol da Barra and Porto da Barra Beach. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Salvador?

The handiest areas to stay are Pelourinho, Barra and Rio Vermelho.

What’s the best time to travel to Salvador?

Any time of year is good to travel to Salvador: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

What day trips can you take from Salvador?

Pelourinho.

What is the typical food of Salvador?

Moqueca baiana. A fish stew in coconut milk and palm oil (dendê), with peppers, tomato and coriander: the dish of Salvador da Bahia, with African heritage.

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The app is currently available in Spanish.

More in Brazil

Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.