Hotels in Salvador

Salvador: Afro-Brazilian Capital on the Bay of All Saints

Salvador da Bahia, founded in 1549 as Brazil's first colonial capital, sits on a peninsula where the Baía de Todos os Santos meets the South Atlantic. The city divides into two levels: the Cidade Alta (Upper City), home to the Pelourinho historic district — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 — and the Cidade Baixa (Lower City), linked by the Lacerda Elevator, which descends 72 metres in under a minute. The Pelourinho's 17th- and 18th-century Portuguese Baroque churches, including the Igreja de São Francisco with its gold-leaf interior, draw architecture and history visitors year-round.

Where to Stay in Salvador

Most hotels cluster in three zones: Pelourinho for colonial-era character; Barra, 5 km south-west, for beach access and the 1698 Santo Antônio da Barra lighthouse; and Ondina/Rio Vermelho, the mid-city neighbourhood preferred by longer-stay visitors. Carnival each February brings one of the world's largest street festivals — upwards of two million participants — so rates in those weeks rise sharply.

Practical Tips

• Getting around: Buses connect Barra to Pelourinho in 20–30 minutes; taxis and ride-apps cover most zones.
• Best months: May to September offer less rain and lower humidity than the December–March peak.
• Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL); card acceptance is widespread in Barra and Pelourinho.
• Airport: Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (SSA) lies roughly 28 km north-east of the city centre.