Salvador walking route: Pelourinho to Bay of All Saints
Explore Salvador's cultural landmarks across 39.5 km, connecting the historic Pelourinho district - the colonial heart of Brazil's first capital - with the scenic Bay of All Saints and the modern Salvador City Center. This route traces the city's African-Brazilian heritage through centuries of architecture, trade history, and local traditions.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Pelourinho Historic Center
- End
- Salvador City Center
- Stops
- 3
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Pelourinho Historic Center — Original Colonial Center, nucleus of sugar plantations and slave trade history; carnival parade location
- Bay of All Saints — Natural bay providing prime view from Pelourinho; strategic reason Salvador was capital
- Salvador City Center — Tropical paradise and former capital of Brazil, heart of Afro-Brazilian culture
Useful for your trip
- Timing
- Visit Salvador during Carnival season to experience parades in Pelourinho Historic Center with live Afro music and cultural performances.
- Food
- Try moqueca fish stew and acarajé street food, signature Afro-Brazilian dishes that reflect the region's West African culinary heritage.
- Food
- Sample Caipirinha made with cachaça (sugar cane liquor) mixed with honey and lime, a traditional Salvador drink.
- Tip
- Visit the Central Market to see West African-influenced ingredients, particularly dendê oil (palm oil), which is essential to Bahian cuisine.
- Tip
- Attend Mass at the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Black People to witness the blend of Catholicism with Candomblé faith, featuring African drumming and dancing.
- Tip
- Explore Pelourinho's colonial architecture and centuries of history in the old center, which was Salvador's original capital and colonial nucleus.
- Tip
- Ride the Art Deco elevator (built around 1930) connecting upper and lower city to enjoy views of Bay of All Saints.
- Food
- Visit old school distilleries in Pelourinho that have operated for approximately 200 years to taste traditional cachaça production.
- Tip
- Listen for Axé music genre during Carnival, a fusion of Afro-Caribbean reggae and samba with traditional Brazilian music featuring percussion instruments.
- Tip
- Experience the strong Afro-Brazilian culture through music, religion, cuisine, and style that shapes Salvador's unique character.
Video on this route
SALVADOR IS THE BRAZIL YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT!! (Bahia)