Elevador Lacerda
Art Deco public lift that links the lower city by the harbour with the historic upper town. The ride is short, and the top gives a fine view over the Bay of All Saints.
Salvador
A colourful colonial old town marks this coastal city, which also has capoeira, music and a strong Afro-Brazilian culture.
Attractive locations
São Francisco Church and Convent
Baroque church famous for its interior covered in gold-leafed carved wood, along with a cloister lined with blue-and-white Portuguese tiles.
Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim
Hilltop church known for the colourful ribbons tied to its gates and railings by pilgrims and visitors, and for the January washing ceremony that draws large crowds.
Farol da Barra
Old fort and lighthouse at the entrance to the Bay of All Saints. The surrounding promenade is a popular spot for watching the sunset, and a maritime museum is inside.
Mercado Modelo
Market hall near the lift and harbour, with stalls selling crafts, leather goods, musical instruments and souvenirs from Bahia. A busy place for browsing and for a quick snack.
Afro-Brazilian Museum
Museum in the old medical school building, showing the African roots of Bahian culture through art, religion, clothing and everyday objects.
Pelourinho (Historic Centre)
The old heart of Salvador, a hillside of colourful colonial houses, cobbled lanes, churches and street drummers. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the best place to feel the city's Afro-Brazilian culture.
Airports
Deputado Luiz Eduardo Magalhães International Airport SSA
It is about 20 km in a straight line from Salvador.
Valença Airport VAL
It is about 64 km in a straight line from Salvador.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan27.0 °C83 mm
- Feb27.2 °C87 mm
- Mar27.3 °C100 mm
- Apr26.7 °C147 mm
- May25.4 °C166 mm
- Jun24.3 °C138 mm
- Jul23.5 °C128 mm
- Aug23.4 °C96 mm
- Sep24.2 °C71 mm
- Oct25.4 °C69 mm
- Nov26.3 °C72 mm
- Dec26.9 °C57 mm
Driest months: Sep, Oct, Dec. Wettest months: Apr, May, Jun.
Costs
Prices here are about 46% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 190. Ambulance 192. Fire 193.
local government
Military Police emergency number 190
Helps with: Brazil's national telecom regulator lists 190 as the Military Police code. The same list gives 192 for the SAMU ambulance, 193 for fire, 194 for Federal Police and 197 for Civil Police.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Brazil who needs the police urgently, including visitors.
Phone: 190
local government
Civil Defence (Defesa Civil) number 199
Helps with: Brazil's civil defence service for floods, landslides and other disasters, listed by the national telecom regulator and the Ministry of Communications as the Defesa Civil emergency number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Brazil affected by a disaster or at risk from one.
Phone: 199
ngo
Brazilian Red Cross (Cruz Vermelha Brasileira)
Helps with: Brazil's national Red Cross society, headquartered in Rio de Janeiro. Its site describes first aid courses, health care in disasters, disaster risk management and work reconnecting migrants with their families.
Who qualifies: People in Brazil who need its first aid, health, disaster or family-reconnection services.
Address: Praca Cruz Vermelha 10, Centro, Rio de Janeiro
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Brazil
Helps with: The UN migration agency, in Brazil since 2016. It supports migrants, returnees, displaced people and host communities, and works with governments on migration. Its office is in Brasilia.
Who qualifies: Migrants, returnees and displaced people in Brazil. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Address: SAUS Quadra 5, Bloco N, Ed. OAB, Salas 401 a 412, Asa Sul, Brasilia-DF, 70070-913