Salvador Walking Tour: Pelourinho Historic Center Local Guide

The Lacerda Elevator moves 27,000 people daily between Salvador's upper and lower cities, and you'll ride it as part of the route.

A walking tour of Salvador's historic center led by a certified local guide, covering the cobblestone streets of Pelourinho, the São Francisco Church and Convent, the Lacerda Elevator, Mercado Modelo, and Cidade Alta. The tour runs about 100 minutes and includes stops at over 365 churches in the city, the fallen cross monument, and the squares where capoeira dancers and Bahian women in traditional dress gather. Available in English or Spanish. Minimum age 18.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Lacerda Elevator5m · entry included
2. Cidade Alta10m

Explore Salvador's historic center

• View All Saints Bay and islands
• Visit old governor's palace and city council
• Ride the Lacerda Elevator
• Explore Mercado Modelo
• See fallen cross monument
• Visit busy historic square with churches and dancers
• Tour Convent of São Francisco
• Learn about Michael Jackson's band history
• Explore Cidade Alta and Black Church

The experience

The tour starts with a view of All Saints Bay and its 56 islands, then moves into the streets where Brazil's colonial administration began. You'll see the old governor's palace, the first city council chamber, the first prison, and the Lacerda Elevator: the first urban elevator ever built on the planet. The guide walks you through the history embedded in each building and explains the local customs and gastronomy as the route unfolds across the cobblestone streets.

Mercado Modelo, one of the four most visited attractions in Salvador, sits on the itinerary alongside the São Francisco Church and Convent, known as the golden church and considered one of the seven wonders of Portuguese origin. You'll also pass through one of the busiest squares in the historic center, where capoeira dancers perform, Bahian women in traditional clothing gather, and the city's most famous bars and restaurants line the edges. A stop at Cidade Alta (the heart of the city where Michael Jackson performed) includes the Black Church and the stories behind the band that introduced the city to the world.

The tour is designed for a compact exploration without sacrificing depth: the guide is accredited and speaks either English or Spanish, and the pace suits all fitness levels. The route takes roughly 100 minutes, so it fits into a morning or afternoon without consuming the whole day. You walk the streets yourself, see the sites directly, and hear the history from someone who knows the city.

What’s included

• A certified local guide who speaks English or Spanish.
• walking access to the cobblestone streets of Pelourinho, the São Francisco Church and Convent, the Lacerda Elevator, Mercado Modelo, and Cidade Alta.
• stops at the fallen cross monument, the old governor's palace, and the squares where capoeira dancers and Bahian women in traditional dress gather.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pelourinho Historic TourGuide in English or Spanish · 10:00, 14:00 and 15:00Lasting 2 hours, this historic tour covers the Centro Histórico, including the Elevador Lacerda, the Mercado Modelo and Pelourinho.

Pelourinho Walking TourGuide in English or Spanish · 10:00 and 14:00This 2-hour historic tour of the Centro Histórico takes in Praça Castro Alves, the Elevador Lacerda, the Mercado Modelo, Terreiro de Jesus and Pelourinho.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 14:00 and 15:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by To Know Salvador

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a guide who connects each colonial building to Salvador's living culture. The walk becomes a narrative rather than a self-guided read-through of streets.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Lacerda Elevator and why does it matter on this tour?

The Lacerda Elevator is the first urban elevator ever built on the planet, connecting Salvador's upper and lower cities. It moves approximately 27,000 people daily during peak season, and you'll ride it as part of the walking route to experience how the city's geography and daily life are linked.

How long does the Salvador walking tour take?

The tour runs approximately 100 minutes, making it compact enough to fit into a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day.

Will I see capoeira dancers and traditional Bahian dress on this tour?

Yes. One of the stops is a busy square in the historic center where capoeira dancers perform and Bahian women in traditional clothing gather, along with the city's most famous bars and restaurants.

Is the São Francisco Church included in the walking tour?

The São Francisco Church and Convent is on the route. Known as the golden church, it's considered one of the seven wonders of Portuguese origin and is one of the stops where the guide explains the city's religious and architectural history.

What is Mercado Modelo and why is it on the itinerary?

Mercado Modelo is one of the four most visited attractions in Salvador. The tour includes a stop there so you can see the market's role in the city's daily life and commerce in the historic center.