What to do in Salvador, Brazil

You’ll find a huge variety of things to do in Salvador. Some of the popular activities include:

• Day tour of Salvador
• Salvador Parks
• Salvador golf courses
• Salvador music festivals
• Surf trips

Salvador, 500 years in 1 day (Visit Salvador, back to the African and colonial roots of Brazil). A historic visit, off the beaten tracks, to discover the most interesting places in Salvador, linked to over 500 years of culture, meeting with Salvadorians and their real every-day-life. A good Brazil tour guide in Salvador will be able to show you around lots of the attractions and activities if you want to explore the city and it’s surroundings safely with a local. A good option to get a general idea and find your way around in the city is the “Salvador Bus”, an open-top tour bus passing by the main points of interest and offering explanation on the way.

For alternative crowd there is a free walking tour running in the city starting from Cinema Glauber Rocha on Castro Alves square

Carnival

One of the main attractions in Salvador is the carnival. Salvador’s giant Carnival, the biggest of the world, according to the Guiness book of records, lasts for one week and is extremely popular with Brazilians and tourists alike. It consists of parades, live entertainment, music, dancers and vendors. The main parades follow three circuits: one in the historic center Pelourinho (with mainly traditional groups in costumes), one on Campo Grande, where most bands play samba, and in recent years the most popular one in Barra / Ondina, where modern Brazilian Axé music mixes with percussion and all kinds of rhythms and styles, and the bands parade between “Camarote” boxes on one side and the beach on the other. Options to participate are either by watching from the camarote boxes, or purchasing an “abadá” shirt to join a group that accompanies one of the bands throughout the parade. One can expect to have a lot of fun if they vacation in Salvador, Brazil during the Carnival.

Go to the beach

Visiting a Salvador beach is a highlight for many tourists. One of the main central Salvador beaches is Porto de Barra. It was originally the site of the first settlement of European newcomers to Bahia. It can get very crowded on weekends. The northeast region of Salvador concentrates most beaches with good water quality. Flamengo and Stella Maris are the most popular beaches among tourists and upper class locals. They have excellent tourist infrastructure and rough waters excellent for surfing. Jaguaribe, Piatã and Itapoã, with calmer waters, are mostly frequented by locals and can become quite crowded at weekends. They are a good option with you want to mix with the local population, but don’t bring anything besides your clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, and some cash, as muggings are quite common.

The other beaches of Salvador aren’t suited for bathing, but still can be good for walking, cycling, or taking pictures. Farol da Barra has a beautiful view (especially during the sunset), but it’s difficult to walk due to the rocks. “Farol” means lighthouse, and this beach is known for its lighthouse as well as being popular with surfers. A much safer choice is nearby Plakaford. Here the calm waters and soft sandy beaches are welcoming for families and children. In the city south, there is an array of beautiful beaches that include Tinhare and Boipeba.

What to buy

Salvador shopping is the bargain hunters paradise. There is nothing that you cannot find in a mall. If you plan to buy popular art, crafts and clothing, check the small stores at the Old Town or head to the Mercado Modelo (Model Market). Locals like to shop at American-style shopping malls.

• Shopping da Bahia (formerly Shopping Iguatemi)
• Salvador Shopping
• Shopping Barra
• Shopping Itaigara
• Shopping Center Lapa
• Shopping Piedade
• Bahia Outlet Center
• Salvador Norte Shopping
• Shopping Bela Vista

The first thing that anyone wanting to shop in Salvador should know is that it is essential to barter. Very few vendors will stick to their given price. If pushed they will always go lower. If you want local art you should visit Pelourhino. There are many galleries that double as stores.

What to eat

Bahian restaurants are considered to be among the best in Brazil. The majority of Bahia restaurants offer South American cuisine but there a few that offer other specialties. The Terreiro de Jesus is a great place to sample the local cuisine from street stalls, served by Afro-Brazilian baianas in their traditional white dresses. A must try dish is the Abara. This is a wrap with bean paste, dende oil and onions all cooked in a banana leaf with spices for flavor. If you prefer western food then you will find many fast-food places like Burger King, McDonald’s, Subway or Pizza Hut. You also will find casual dinner chains like Outback Steakhouse.

Be sure to try acarajé, small fritters made from black-eyed peas and onions fried in palm oil slathered with spicy vatapá (shrimp paste).These are sold by Baianas on the street.

Get out

• For a nice day trip, catch the ferry to the laid-back island of Itaparica. Salvador is also the gateway to many other nearby attractions such as:
• Praia do Forte. Beach town with the “Project Tamar” turtle sanctuary.
• Tiny beach town along the Costa dos Coqueiros (Coconut Coast) with quiet beaches perfect for surfing.
• Just a few kilometers further North from Praia do Forte, this relaxed village’s beach lies between the sea and a river that runs parallel to the ocean for a few hundred meters. Unique panorama.
• A beautiful and very pleasant island.
• Morro de Sao Paulo. Very frequented island by tourists and locals, plenty of restaurants, hostels and bars. It has four beaches with translucent water.
• Massarandupió. Just 90 km from Salvador, it’s a true paradise, a semi-desert beach, with a small river. Walking by the beach you can reach a nudist beach area. A few small pousadas and restaurants. Great camping on a grassy flat area behind the dunes.