Where is the best area to stay in Salvador de Bahía?
By Carles Barcelo. Updated October 27, 2023
Salvador de Bahía de Todos Los Santos (Salvador), capital of the state of Bahía, is one of the oldest cities in America. Located on a triangular peninsular in north-eastern Brazil, surrounded by the wild Atlantic Ocean, it is world renowned for its beautiful beaches, buzzing carnival, it's famous “Farol de Barra” and the popular Pelourinho neighborhood.
The best area to stay in Salvador is without a doubt the city's old town. This area of Salvador is home to the famous Pelourinho neighborhood, the Salvador Cathedral and the church and convent of San Francisco, all landmarks inherited from its catholic history, which also share the area with the African origin Candomblé. Almost half of Salvador de Bahía´s 3 million inhabitants are of African origin and its mix of European and indigenous inhabitants have both enriched and refined Bahia’s cuisine, music and architecture.
When visiting Salvador, you can enjoy the beach by morning, lose yourself in the old town's rich cultural heritage in the afternoon, watch the sun go down at the Bahía de Todos los Santos, dine in one of its fantastic restaurants and finish it all off by dancing the night away to live music. Coinciding your visit with carnival will make your stay a true once in a lifetime experience. 16 hours of partying that lasts all week long!
Old Town is the heart of Salvador de Bahia, and it's easy to see why. The area is home to some of the city's most important historical landmarks, including the São Francisco Church, the Pelourinho Square, and the Jorge Amado Museum. Walking around Old Town feels like stepping back in time, as the streets are lined with colonial-era buildings and colorful facades.
Located below Salvador’s fascinating historic center, you can find the Comércio neighborhood of Salvador. As well as being an important business district, Comércio is an ideal place to stay for history buffs. Although it is not officially Salvador’s historic center, it is still steeped in history. There are many heritage sites, monuments and museums to visit here, including the famous São Marcelo Fort and more.
Just north of the city of Salvador lies the popular beach town of Itapuã. Naturally, it attracts those who love lounging on the beach and swimming in the sea- which is ideal in this very hot city! With excellent bus connection from downtown Salvador, many tourists choose to take a day trip to Itapuã. However, this former fishing village and now lively, hipster beach town makes for a great place to stay in itself! With an excellent range of seafront hotels, staying here really makes for a more relaxing experience than being closer to Salvador’s center.
For those who love combining the beach with exciting Brazilian nightlife, staying in the Rio Vermelho neighborhood makes for a logical choice when in Salvador. Located south of downtown Salvador, with convenient transport locations across the city, Rio Vermelho is certainly a very logistically-convenient place to stay. And with a range of seafront accommodations to suit all types of tourists, you are spoiled for choice here!
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