Where to stay in Salvador de Bahia?

Stay in Centro or Commercio: in downtown Salvador de Bahia

Centro and Comercio are the must-visit districts, with their typical Afro-Brazilian buildings and strong local culture. If you choose to stay here, you're guaranteed to be in the heart of the city, close to the must-sees! Tourists love :

• the historic center of Pelourinho, a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1985, is sublime with its buildings blending Portuguese and Renaissance architecture.
• The Elevador Lacerda, linking the lower town (cidade baixa) to the upper town (cidade alta) - built in 1873 in Art Deco style. From its 72m height, you can see the entire Bahian coastline. It is nicknamed the Baia de Todos os Santos, or “Bay of All Saints” in French.
• the various cultural venues, including the Museu de Arte Sacra, a collection of sacred art housed in a convent. Or the Museu Arte Moderno, which attracts audiences with its jazz concerts.

Here you'll find yourself immersed in culture. Indeed, it's in these neighborhoods that you'll discover the local gastronomy at its best, thanks to the many Bahian restaurants and cocktail bars. The Largo do Pelourinho and Terreiro de Jesus squares offer capoeira demonstrations. There is also a large concentration of churches here, reflecting the importance of the Candomblé religion.

It's easy to get around el Centro and el Comercio by bus. For more freedom, you can opt for a rental car, which will give you easy access to other parts of Salvador de Bahia.

As far as places to stay are concerned, Centro and Comercio have a good supply of apartments for rent. Hotels are less plentiful: note, however, that youth hostels are plentiful and generally offer rooms for 2 or 4. There's something to suit every budget, but the area's distance from the beaches means it's relatively inexpensive, even during peak periods.

Stay close to the beaches of the south coast

To the south-east of Salvador de Bahia lie sublime beaches.... Brazil's former capital is renowned throughout the country for its long stretches of sand. If you're looking for a seaside holiday, why not opt for accommodation just a stone's throw away?

The trendy Rio Vermelho district is very lively, especially when night falls. Near the Largo de Santana square, there are many bars and concert halls. Food stalls and restaurants invite you to sample local specialties.

Another oceanfront area is Amaralina, right next door. Its endless seafront invites you to relax. However, you won't find any bars or restaurants here. It's also worth noting that it's a bit risky at night. Pituba is much more dynamic, with the Vila Jardim dos Namorados, a small open space facing the sea, where a variety of restaurants offer international cuisine. The Joventino Silva park, the various local eateries and the long stretches of Chega Nego and Pituba all contribute to creating a pleasant atmosphere.

To get around, buses remain your best option if you don't have a car. However, if you want to get from one area to another or to different beaches, a car is still practical and the journey is shorter than if you take public transport.

Finally, if you want to stay overnight, there's a good choice of accommodation. Quite a few establishments, especially along the coast, are available at lower cost. Apartments far outnumber hotels. It's worth noting, however, that staying here means moving away from the historic district, about 30 minutes by car from Centro.

As you can see, you'll want to stay close to the waterfront if you're looking to relax. In this case, we recommend Rio Vermelho and Pituba, which are more dynamic and safer than Amaralina.

Lodging in Graça or Barra, the perfect compromise between a beautiful beach and the historic heart of the city

Graça and Barra are located just below the city center. Featuring a waterfront, this part of Salvador de Bahia generally attracts tourists as it's a quieter district than Centro and Comercio. Staying here allows you to combine proximity to the historic heart, peace and quiet, and accommodation close to the beach.

A residential area, Graça is mainly made up of houses, wooded avenues and shops. But it's worth a visit during a stay in Salvador de Bahia, as it boasts several points of interest. There's the Nossa Senhora da Vitória parish church, the Santo Antônio da Barra fort and, above all, the lighthouse, one of the city's symbols.

The long stretch of fine sand at Farol da Barra is also great fun, with windsurfing boards, kayaks and canoes for hire. If you stay here, you'll also be close to the Espaço Carybé de Artes, a cultural space exhibiting the works of the painter Carybé.

For transport, the car is the most practical option, but there are plenty of buses. To give you an idea, from Morro do Cristo, the southernmost viewpoint, to the parish in the north, it's a twenty-minute walk. And less than 10 minutes by car.

As for where to stay, there are plenty of apartments for rent and youth hostels. The area is ideal for those on a tight budget, but you can also find some fine quality establishments at a higher price. In general, they're all close to the coast.

Staying in other parts of Salvador de Bahia: a good idea?

The last option for comfortable accommodation in Salvador de Bahia is to move away from the coast. While the Caminho das Arvores business district has the advantage of being close to all the places of interest, whether beaches or the historic center, the São Cristóvão district is also an option, as it is close to the airport.

Caminho das Arvores is the business district, where tall buildings soar into the sky. This is where hotel chains are established, rather than rental accommodation. Another plus: there's plenty of shopping. The advantage of staying here is that you'll be close to major freeways, making it easy to get to Pelourinho, for example, which is only 15 minutes away.

São Cristóvão, on the other hand, is located well to the north. This area, although not touristy, is home to the airport. So it's also convenient to stay here, especially if you're planning an early morning flight. Or if you're arriving late in the evening and settling in here for a night, just long enough to reach the historic center or the beaches afterwards.

In this case, the journey takes around 40 minutes by car. Note, however, that there are some very fine beachfront hotels here too. Along Flamengo Beach, which is well worth a visit despite its direct proximity to the airport.

It's important to bear in mind that both of these solutions are restrictive if your aim is to take full advantage of Salvador de Bahia's tourist attractions. In fact, you'll have to spend a lot of time in public transport to get closer to the main points of interest, located towards the south-west.