Pelourinho & Barra Fort Tour: Salvador City with Local Guide

Explore Salvador on foot with a guide revealing top eats and best photo spots.

A full-day private tour of Salvador's Upper and Lower City led by a local guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, starting at the Lighthouse of Barra and moving through Pelourinho's historic center, the São Francisco Church and Convent, and the Tororó Dike. The guide suggests photography spots, arranges street food tastings, and shares what to do on your own during the rest of your stay. Air-conditioned vehicle and pickup are included. Children from age 5 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Forte de Santo Antonio da Barra20m
2. Sao Francisco Church and Convent20m
3. Cidade Alta15m
4. Tororo Dikepass by
5. Our Lady of Mount Serrat Fort15m

Explore Salvador's Upper and Lower City

• Visit Lighthouse of Barra at Santo Antônio Fort
• Walk around the Bay of All Saints entrance
• See Espaço Pierre Verger of Baian Photography
• Visit one of Brazil's oldest churches
• Enjoy views from Community Vila Brandão
• Hear Gregorian music at local church (Sunday)
• Pass by Baian Independence square
• Pass by iconic buildings in the city
• Visit the Cathedral with Sacred Art collection
• Explore Historical Center Pelourinho by foot
• Visit São Francisco Church and Convent
• Have street food or restaurant meal
• Visit Cidade Alta and Casa Jorge Amado
• Learn about local history
• See Orixas by artist Tati Moreno at Tororo Dike
• Try ice cream at suggested stop
• Dive into Baian faith experience
• Enjoy view of Upper City
• Take pictures at Our Lady of Mount Serrat Fort
• Admire city and Monteserrat Church views

The experience

The day starts at the Lighthouse of Barra inside Santo Antônio Fort, where you walk the grounds and photograph the entrance to the Bay of All Saints. From there the guide takes you through the neighborhoods where Salvador's history lives: Cidade Alta, where the Portuguese founded the city in the 16th century, and down through Pelourinho, the colonial heart now painted in blues and yellows. You move between them using the Lacerda Elevator, the 19th-century lift that connects the high city to the lower one, and you stop to eat as locals do: street food and small restaurants where you meet people living the daily rhythm of the place.

The São Francisco Church and Convent anchors the middle of the day. Built in the early 18th century, it holds jacaranda wood, Portuguese tiles, gold leaf and paintings by local artists: one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin. Nearby, the Cathedral sits on the highest point, a 17th-century Jesuit temple with a collection of sacred art. You walk these spaces with the guide, who explains what you're standing in front of and leaves room for your own looking. The guide also points out the best spots to photograph, so you can take pictures safely and know which angles work.

Street food is woven through the day. The guide suggests stops and knows which vendors and small places are worth your time. You'll also pass the Tororó Dike, where the guide recommends the ice cream, and the Fort of Our Lady of Mount Serrat, which holds another view of the upper city. Throughout, the guide shares what else you can do on your own in Salvador, so you leave with a sense of the city beyond this single day. The air-conditioned vehicle waits between stops, and pickup from your hotel is included.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• pickup from your hotel.
• a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• photography guidance at key spots.
• street food recommendations and stops.
• information about activities you can do on your own during your stay in Salvador.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years): free · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendly

Operated by Gabriela Parnetti

Is this one for you?This tour works best for travelers who want to walk and explore at their own pace rather than follow a fixed schedule, and who value a local guide's knowledge of where to eat, what to photograph and how the city actually works. Small groups or private bookings mean you set the rhythm and the guide adjusts to your interests.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years): free. Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What is the São Francisco Church and Convent like inside?

The Church and Convent of São Francisco, built in the early 18th century, holds jacaranda wood, Portuguese tiles, and a collection of gold and paintings by local artists. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the world.

Do I need to buy tickets for the churches and museums on this tour?

Tickets for churches and museums are not included in the tour price, so you purchase them separately at each site if you wish to enter.

What time does the tour start and how long does it run?

The tour runs for seven to eight hours and includes pickup from your hotel. The guide will confirm the exact start time when you book.

Can I choose what I eat during the day, or does the guide decide?

The guide suggests street food stops and restaurants and shares recommendations, but you choose what and where to eat. There is time built in for meals at places where you can interact with locals.

What neighborhoods and landmarks does the tour cover?

The tour covers the Lighthouse of Barra and Santo Antônio Fort, Cidade Alta, Pelourinho, the São Francisco Church and Convent, the Cathedral, the Lacerda Elevator, the Tororó Dike, and the Fort of Our Lady of Mount Serrat, moving between the upper and lower city throughout the day.