Historic Salvador Free Walking Tour

Tour Details

At the indicated time, we'll meet at the Praça Castro Alves​ to begin our fascinating walking tour through the history of Salvador de Bahia. From this square, you'll enjoy beautiful views over the bay as we introduce the city and its heritage.

Leaving Castro Alves, we'll walk along Rua Chile, where you'll learn the meaning behind the rails embedded in the streets, a reminder of the historic transport system that once linked different parts of Salvador. Our route will take us toward Praça da Sé, with a stop at the Pau da Bandeira viewpoint from where we'll enjoy the views of the Forte de São Marcelo, the Mercado Modelo, and the nautical terminal.

We'll continue to Thomé de Souza Square, the site of the first general government of the Republic. Here, we'll see the former government palace, as well as Brazil's first prison. We'll also have the chance to take memorable photos with the Baianas in their traditional dress.

Our tour will then lead us past the Museum of Mercy before reaching Praça da Sé, home to the powerful Fallen Cross Monument, a protest against the demolition of the Primatial Cathedral of Sé. This square also hosts a handicraft fair, where Baianas prepare acarajé, Bahia’s most traditional food.

From here, we'll see the statue of Brazil’s first bishop and learn about his dramatic end, followed by the monument dedicated to the figure behind Brazil's Black Awareness Day. We'll continue toward Largo Terreiro de Jesus, where the country's first medical school is located and where several historic churches stand, among them the remarkable Church and Convent of São Francisco, known as the Golden Church. We'll also see the Church of the Third Order of São Francisco, adorned with more than 55,000 Portuguese tiles.

We'll pass by the vibrant Olodum House before arriving at the famous Ladeira do Pelô, where Michael Jackson filmed They Don’t Care About Us, and where the iconic Igreja dos Pretos is found.

Finally, after a total of 1 hour and 45 minutes, we'll return to Terreiro de Jesus, where we'll bring the tour to an end.

Itinerary Order

Please keep in mind that, for organisational reasons, the order of the visits described in the itinerary may vary.

Group Size

Please note that this free tour doesn't admit groups of more than 6 people, even if they book the activity separately.