Trip highlights
- 1Pelourinho colonial old town
- 2Capoeira and Afro-Brazilian culture
- 3Porto da Barra beach
- 4Moqueca and acarajé tasting
- 5Elevador Lacerda and Mercado Modelo
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Pelourinho Old Town
Tuesday, February 9
Est. spend
$105
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrival and transfer to Pelourinho
Salvador International Airport to Pelourinho
Land at Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport and transfer to a colonial guesthouse in the historic Pelourinho district.
Negotiate or confirm taxi fares before departing, or use a rideshare app for transparent pricing.
☀️ Afternoon
Pelourinho colorful streets walk
Pelourinho, Salvador
Wander the steep cobblestone lanes lined with pastel colonial buildings, baroque churches, and street musicians.
Hire a local guide for an hour — Pelourinho's history of slavery and resistance is best understood with context.
🌙 Evening
Largo do Pelourinho live music night
Largo do Pelourinho, Salvador
Catch a free outdoor percussion or samba-reggae performance in the main square, a Salvador tradition most evenings.
Tuesday nights often feature larger organized cultural performances — ask your guesthouse for the schedule.
🍽️ Meals
Guesthouse breakfast
Brazilian · $6
Cafelier Cafe Bistro
Bahian · $12
Restaurante Maria de São Pedro
Bahian · $18
Afro-Brazilian Culture & Capoeira
Wednesday, February 10
Est. spend
$64
per person
🌅 Morning
Capoeira demonstration and lesson
Forte de Santo Antônio, Pelourinho
Learn the basics of capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art and dance, from a local mestre in a traditional roda circle.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing — you'll be moving more than you expect.
☀️ Afternoon
Mercado Modelo and Elevador Lacerda
Mercado Modelo, Salvador
Browse handicrafts and Afro-Brazilian artwork at the historic market before riding the iconic art deco elevator connecting upper and lower Salvador.
The elevator ride is brief but offers a great photo opportunity of the bay below.
🌙 Evening
Acarajé street food tasting
Largo de Santana, Rio Vermelho
Sample acarajé, a deep-fried black-eyed pea fritter filled with shrimp and spicy vatapá, from a traditional Baiana vendor in white dress.
Cira's stand in Rio Vermelho is considered one of the best and most authentic acarajé spots in the city.
🍽️ Meals
Guesthouse breakfast
Brazilian · $6
Mercado Modelo food stalls
Bahian · $10
Acarajé da Cira
Bahian street food · $8
Porto da Barra Beach Day
Thursday, February 11
Est. spend
$77
per person
🌅 Morning
Porto da Barra beach morning
Porto da Barra, Salvador
Relax on one of Brazil's most picturesque urban beaches, calm and sheltered within the bay, popular with locals and travelers alike.
Arrive before 10am to grab a good spot under a beach umbrella before it fills up.
☀️ Afternoon
Farol da Barra lighthouse and fort
Farol da Barra, Salvador
Visit the 16th-century lighthouse and Nautical Museum at the point separating the bay from the open Atlantic.
Sunset from the lighthouse grounds is one of the most popular views in the city.
🌙 Evening
Rio Vermelho bohemian bar crawl
Rio Vermelho, Salvador
Explore the bars and live samba venues of Rio Vermelho, Salvador's nightlife and bohemian arts district.
Tuesday and Friday nights are liveliest, with outdoor seating spilling onto the squares.
🍽️ Meals
Beachside kiosk breakfast
Brazilian · $5
Barraca do Porto da Barra
Bahian seafood · $14
Casa de Tereza
Bahian · $20
Moqueca Cooking & Departure
Friday, February 12
Est. spend
$114
per person
🌅 Morning
Bahian cooking class: moqueca
Cooking school, Rio Vermelho
Learn to prepare moqueca de peixe, Salvador's signature fish stew cooked in a clay pot with dendê palm oil and coconut milk.
Most classes end with you eating the dish you cooked — skip a heavy breakfast beforehand.
☀️ Afternoon
Igreja de São Francisco gold interior
Igreja de São Francisco, Pelourinho
Marvel at the gilded baroque interior of one of Brazil's most opulent colonial churches before final souvenir shopping.
Photography is often restricted inside — check with staff before taking pictures.
🌙 Evening
Farewell dinner and airport transfer
Pelourinho to Salvador International Airport
Enjoy a final Bahian seafood dinner before transferring to Salvador International Airport for departure.
Allow at least an hour for the airport transfer to account for city traffic.
🍽️ Meals
Light pre-class snack
Brazilian · $4
Cooking class meal
Bahian · $0 · Included in cooking class price
Solar do Unhão
Bahian seafood · $22
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
September to March offers the warmest, driest weather best suited for beach days, though Salvador's tropical climate keeps it warm year-round; June's São João festival is a major cultural draw despite cooler, wetter weather.
🛂 Visas
US, Canadian, and Australian citizens require an e-visa obtained online before travel; UK and most EU citizens can enter visa-free for up to 90 days as tourists — requirements change periodically so verify before booking.
💱 Currency
The Brazilian real (BRL) is the local currency; cards are widely accepted in Salvador but carry cash for street food, markets, and smaller establishments in Pelourinho.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 190
ambulance: 192
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Pelourinho is touristy and generally well-patrolled by day, but exercise caution and avoid empty streets after dark
- Sunscreen and reef-safe products are recommended given the strong equatorial sun even on cloudy days
- Many Bahian dishes use dendê palm oil — flag any allergies or dietary preferences clearly when ordering
- Capoeira shows performed for tips on the street are a different experience from a structured class — both are worth experiencing
- Carnival in Salvador (February/March) is one of the largest in Brazil — book accommodation many months ahead if visiting during this period
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Salvador, Brazil without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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