See the Balé Folclórico da Bahia at its home theater

Staying in Pelourinho puts the sights on foot, but several guides note that streets outside the main tourist circuit need care at night and that hostels in the historic center can be noisy. Choose a place on or close to the main squares, ask the host which route to take after dark, and arrive with your luggage by car…

If beaches matter more than museums, base yourself in Stella Maris or Itapuã on the far side of the city. Flamengo and Stella Maris are often called among Salvador's best beaches, the seafront has been renovated, and the setting is calm and suits families and resort stays. The trade-off is distance from the old town…

Every July 2, Salvador celebrates Bahia's independence with a civic parade that starts at the Lapinha, where the liberating army is said to have entered, and ends at the Monumento ao Dois de Julho in Campo Grande. The Caboclo and Cabocla floats lead the march, and the mood is closer to a street party than a formal…

Every December 4, Pelourinho fills with devotees in red and white for Santa Bárbara. After dawn fireworks and an open-air mass at the Rosário dos Pretos church, a procession winds through the historic center to the city markets and the fire brigade headquarters, where she is patron. Around noon the firefighters hand…

Tuesday is the big music night in the Pelourinho, when Olodum plays the Terça da Bênção at the Praça das Artes. It is a ticketed show that starts in the evening, with tickets sold online and at the box office. Earlier, a free street parade has wound through the historic center while other squares host samba and free…

Mercado Modelo, in the old customs house facing the Lacerda Elevator in the Lower City, is the easiest place to compare Bahian crafts, from ceramics and basketry to wood carvings and local sweets. Walk the whole market once before buying, compare prices between stalls and bargain politely, since haggling is expected…

Ponta de Humaitá, on the Itapagipe peninsula in the Lower City, is a quiet point with the Monte Serrat church and open views over the Bay of All Saints. Come before the light turns orange, walk to the balustrade and watch the sky change. It is calmer than the Barra crowd. A marina for the point is only at the early…

Solar do Unhão, the courtyard of the Museu de Arte Moderna, sits between two small beaches and looks straight across the Bay of All Saints, which makes it one of the classic sunset spots in the city. Next to it, the small Praia do MAM faces the water, so the sun sets right in front of you. Arrive well before sunset to…