Things to do — Salvador

Activities in Salvador organise around three pillars: colonial heritage, living Afro-Bahian culture, beaches. Colonial heritage. Guided Pelourinho visit (3-4h, €20-40/person with optional French-speaking guide): Igreja de São Francisco (1708, 100 kg gold, €5), Catedral Basílica (1672, free), Igreja do Rosário dos Pretos (1709, founded by black slaves, €3), Casa de Jorge Amado (most famous Bahian novelist museum, €5), Casa do Carnaval (Carnival museum, €10), Mercado Modelo (former slave market turned artisan market, free). Elevador Lacerda (1873, 72 m, 0.15 BRL, extraordinary Cidade Baixa and Baía de Todos os Santos view). Living Afro-Bahian culture. Capoeira: daily roda at Forte da Capoeira (5pm-8pm, free, exceptional demonstrations), initiation classes at Associação de Capoeira Mestre Bimba (€15-30/hour, historic school founded 1932), Mestre Acordeon (€10-25). Candomblé: respectful terreiro visit at Casa Branca (Ilê Axé Iyá Nassô Oká, founded around 1830, free with offering, strictly respect cultural codes), Ilê Axé Opô Afonjá (classified national heritage). Concerts: Olodum (Praça Tereza Batista, Tuesday and Sunday 8pm, €10-25), Ilê Aiyê (Liberdade, Saturday, €15-20), Didá Banda Feminina (Sunday, €10-15). Beaches. Porto da Barra (southern peninsula, family beach, calm waters, iconic sunset, beachfront restaurants), Farol da Barra (next to 1696 lighthouse, urban beach), Itapagipe (northern peninsula, Boa Viagem beach, Senhor do Bonfim), Praia do Forte (1h north excursion, Tamar Project sea turtles, paradise beach, day €40-60), Morro de São Paulo (2h catamaran excursion, car-free tropical island, day €50-70 return).

Excursions. Cachoeira (110 km, 2h drive, historic Bahian candomblé capital, magnificent colonial city, day €50-80), Itaparica Island (15 min ferry from Salvador, quiet beaches, authentic atmosphere), Baía de Todos os Santos by catamaran (day with 4 islands, lunch on board, €35-50).