Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Salvador, the capital city of Bahia Brazil! It’s a pretty cool city and a great place to experience Brazilian culture. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you visit Salvador, Brazil.
Hate #1: Guys Tying Ribbons on You
As you walk around Salvador, you’ll have a lot of guys trying to tie ribbons on you. These are called fitas, and it gets annoying after a while because they are constantly after you and you just keep saying “no thank you,” “no thank you.” We visited in June for the festival and it was one of the things we noticed right away.
Love #1: Pelourinho Historic District
This area of Salvador is also called the “high city” and is full of interesting historic attractions. The Sao Francisco Church is spectacular, and the whole district is filled with historic colonial buildings. The area is full of colorful buildings and quaint squares with small side streets that are the perfect way to wander through Salvador.
Hate #2: Photo Opportunities with Locals
Another way you’ll be targeted as a tourist in Salvador is by women dressed in traditional Bahian clothing. It’s a really cool thing to see, but they are there to have their picture taken so they can ask you for money. If you decide you’re willing to pay for the opportunity, make sure you negotiate the price upfront, or you will be overcharged.
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Love #2: Taking the Elevator to Lower Town
A unique thing to do in Salvador is to take the elevator to travel from upper town to lower town. It’s a cool feature of the city and the locals are proud of it. It only costs about 25 cents, so it’s definitely worth it for the experience. Once you’re in the lower town, you can visit the indoor market and of course, more churches and interesting architecture to explore. The Portuguese Colonial influence is very prevalent here.
Hate #3: Pace of Life in Bahia
Most other parts of Brazil make fun of Bahia for being a little bit slower than everywhere else. Everything takes just a little bit longer in Bahia, so be prepared for a more relaxed pace. When you go out to eat in Bahia, it can feel like it takes forever to get your food and, eventually, your bill. But as love #3 will tell you the wait is worth it.
Love #3: Bahian Cuisine
The location on the sea means you can get really great seafood in Bahia. Make sure you try Dende Oil, which is a spicy oil that’s very popular in Bahia. Other Bahian dishes that you have to are acarajé, which is a fried bean curd product, and moqueca, which is a stew often served with seafood. If you stay at a resort in Salvador, they may not be serving a lot of traditional Bahian cuisine, so make sure you get off property to have some local dishes.
Hate #4: Salvador Safety
Salvador is not one of the safest places in Brazil to visit. While it’s absolutely worth a visit, you do have to be vigilant about your safety. Be especially careful if you are out at night, and stay close to your hotel. If you want to head out for the night, stay in a group of friends and don’t go out alone. We do not recommend visiting the favelas alone at any time. Ask your hotel which parts of town to avoid.
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Love #4: Bahian Culture
In addition to amazing cuisine, Bahian culture is one of my favorite things about this part of Brazil. It’s really the hub of Afro-Brazilian culture, so it’s such a unique culture that is derived from a couple of different cultures. If you get the chance to bring your kids to Salvador, it’s really an educational experience to witness the unique culture here. Something special you can do is to get a feta, or ribbon, and tie it outside of the church while you make three wishes.
Hate #5: Proximity of Tourist Attractions
Some of the best things to do in Salvador Brazil are far from the city center. There’s the high city and the low city, but then you have to travel quite a bit to see some of the churches and attractions in Salvador. Traveling around Salvador isn’t always easy, so this is a challenge for those visiting Salvador.
Love #5: Bahia Beaches
There are over 45 kilometers of beaches here. The beaches are super pristine, with nice soft sand and warm water. There are bars and cafes set up along the beaches, so you don’t even need to leave at lunchtime. A bit further north at Praia do Forte, there’s a turtle refuge which is really cool. At certain times of the year, the riptides can be a bit strong, but in general, the beaches of Bahia are very family-friendly.
Salvador de Bahia is a pretty interesting travel destination in Brazil. Other than the crime and safety issue, the “hates” are really just small annoyances and by no means a reason not to visit Salvador. Want more tips for planning a trip to Brazil? Check out these other blog posts: