Salvador City Tour: Pelourinho & Bonfim Church with Market
What you actually see walking through Pelourinho and why locals still tie ribbons at Bonfim
You'll walk through Pelourinho's colonial streets and the Cathedral Basílica, ride the historic Lacerda Elevator between upper and lower towns, visit the Bonfim Church where pilgrims tie wish ribbons, explore São Joaquim Market with a local guide, and taste authentic Bahian lunch. Hotel or cruise port pickup is included, and the full day takes you through Salvador's UNESCO heritage sites and Afro-Brazilian spiritual landmarks without you arranging transport or entry fees.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Salvador’s landmarks and culture
- Visit Barra Lighthouse
- Pass by Dique do Tororó
- Pass by Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova
- Tour São Joaquim Market
- Visit Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim
- Ride Lacerda Elevator
- Explore Pelourinho and have lunch
- Pass by Palacio Rio Branco
- Pass by Plaza da Sé and Plaza Tomé de Souza
- Visit Catedral Basílica
- Visit Saint Dulce Memorial
- Return to hotel or cruise port
- Barra Lighthouse 30m
- Tororo Dike passing by
- Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova passing by
- Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim 30m
- Lacerda Elevator 10m
- Cidade Alta 3h
What’s included
Your day includes hotel or cruise port pickup and return in an air-conditioned vehicle, entry to all attractions, a local guide who speaks your language, lunch with traditional Bahian cuisine in Pelourinho, parking and tolls, and access to the Barra Lighthouse, Dique do Tororó, Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, São Joaquim Market, Lacerda Elevator, Pelourinho district, Cathedral Basílica, Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, and the historic squares of Plaza da Sé and Plaza Tomé de Souza.
Times
- Every day 09:00
Before you book
Operated by CitytourSalvadorBa
Prices and times updated 14 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The vendor at São Joaquim Market laughed when I asked her the name of a fruit I'd never seen before: umbu, she said, pointing at the yellow ones stacked in a pyramid. That moment, standing in the maze of stalls with dendê oil and spices filling the air, is what this Salvador city tour is really about. It's not the kind of thing you plan for. It's the kind of thing that happens when you're walking through one of Brazil's most authentic markets with someone who knows which vendor makes the best fresh juice and where the light hits the colors just right for a photo. The tour moves through the city's main landmarks (the Barra Lighthouse built in the 17th century, the Dique do Tororó with its Orixá statues reflecting Bahia's spiritual fusion, the Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova where the city's passion for soccer lives), but the real rhythm comes from the stops in between, the conversations, the tastes.
Pelourinho is where you'll spend time for lunch, surrounded by cobblestone streets and colonial façades painted in shades that don't exist anywhere else. The Cathedral Basílica sits here too, its baroque interior (marble altars, gilded woodwork, pipe organs) built by Jesuits in the 17th century and still holding centuries of devotion in every corner. But before that, you'll ride the Lacerda Elevator, the first public elevator in the world used for urban transport, built in 1873. It's a quick ride between Salvador's upper and lower towns, but the view of the Bay of All Saints from the top is the kind of thing you find yourself thinking about weeks later. The Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim sits on a hilltop overlooking the bay, and it's where pilgrims tie colored ribbons on the gates to make wishes. The tradition is so woven into Bahian life that the ribbons are everywhere, a visible map of hope and gratitude. Your guide will walk you through the history of each place, but the energy of the city itself does most of the talking.
The tour includes pickup from your hotel or cruise port, so the logistics disappear. You're not figuring out which bus goes where or negotiating with a taxi driver. Lunch happens in Pelourinho, where you can taste moqueca, the seafood stew cooked with coconut milk and dendê oil that tastes like nothing you'll find anywhere else. The day moves at a pace that lets you absorb the rhythm without rushing. You're not checking off boxes, you're moving through the city the way locals do, stopping when something catches your eye, asking questions when something doesn't make sense. By the time you're back at your hotel or port in the late afternoon, you've walked through centuries of Brazilian history, tasted the flavors that define Bahia, and felt the warmth that makes Salvador different from every other city in the country.
Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to understand Salvador's history, Afro-Brazilian culture, and colonial architecture in one day without arranging transport or navigating the city alone. The full day means you cover the main landmarks and have time to linger in markets and neighborhoods, not just pass through them.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (under 5): free.
How long is the Salvador city tour?
The tour is a full day, with pickup and return to your hotel or cruise port included.
What is included in the tour?
Hotel or cruise port pickup and return, entry to attractions, lunch in Pelourinho, and a local guide. Parking and tolls are covered.
Do I need to book lunch separately?
No, lunch is included as part of the tour and happens in the Pelourinho district.
Is the tour accessible for people with mobility issues?
Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces are accessible, and specialized infant seats are available if needed.
What is the Lacerda Elevator?
Built in 1873, it was the first public elevator in the world used for urban transport. It connects Salvador's upper and lower towns and offers views of the Bay of All Saints.
What is special about the Church of Bonfim?
Pilgrims tie colored ribbons on the gates to make wishes, blending Catholic and Afro-Brazilian beliefs. The hilltop location offers views over the bay.
Is São Joaquim Market safe to visit?
Yes, the market is included as part of the guided tour, and your guide will navigate you through the stalls and explain the cultural significance of what you're seeing.
Can I visit if I'm staying on a cruise ship?
Yes, the tour includes pickup from cruise ports and return timing that works with ship schedules.
Salvador City Tour: Pelourinho & Bonfim Church with Market
6h · EN · ES · IT · PT · at your hotel
from US$ 187 per person
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