Where to stay in Salvador, Brazil: tips from a local

No wonder Salvador, the capital of Bahia, is one of the most sought-after destinations in Brazil: its music scene, history, gastronomy, and beautiful beaches are just a few of its many attractions. As a Brazilian who had the chance to live in this amazing city, I got to know it quite well. In this article I will talk about where to stay in Salvador according to your travel preferences and budget.

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Where to stay in Salvador, Bahia: best neighborhoods

Best neighborhoods to stay in Salvador: Rio Vermelho

When people ask me where to stay in Salvador, I always say that my personal favorite is Rio Vermelho. This is a bohemian neighborhood located by the sea, between the neighborhoods of Ondina and Pituba. If you are wondering where to stay in Salvador to enjoy the city’s nightlife, look no further: Rio Vermelho is the perfect location.

The bars, restaurants and typical food stalls start to fill up in the late afternoon. There is usually live music in most places, and this is also one of the best parts of Salvador to watch the sunset.

Rio Vermelho is close to the city center, about 6 km away, and has easy access to nice beaches in the north of Salvador, such as Flamengo, Stella Maris and Itapuã.

If you’re interested in Brazilian culture, don’t forget to visit Casa do Rio Vermelho, the house where famous writers Jorge Amado and Zélia Gattai used to live, which is – as its name implies – located in Rio Vermelho. The beautiful house hosts exhibitions about their lives and work and showcases some important aspects of Bahia’s culture.

The best places to stay in Rio Vermelho

If you are looking for where to stay in Salvador for cheap, Casa de Arigofe is a good choice. It is located 800 meters from Rio Vermelho beach. Although it is close to the hustle and bustle of the bars, it is also a quiet and pleasant place to rest. This is a simple and cozy accommodation, with shared and private rooms.

Pousada e Hostel Chez Marianne is yet another affordable accommodation in Salvador and is just 50 meters away from the shore of Rio Vermelho. Some rooms have ocean view and a balcony. The inn has a games room, shared kitchen, and even live music during breakfast.

For those who prefer hotel chains, there are Ibis, Novotel and Mercure hotels in the heart of the Rio Vermelho neighborhood. I would highlight Novotel, which has a swimming pool on the terrace overlooking the sea. The Mercure hotel is another safe choice of accommodation in Salvador, with a swimming pool on the ground floor with a beautiful view.

A more sophisticated accommodation choice is Canto Hotel, which has very charming decor, a rooftop with bar, restaurant, swimming pool and a beautiful view.

Zank by Toque Hotel also stands out for its beautiful decor, which ranges from classic retro to modern style. The hotel has a small infinity pool and a restaurant with a varied menu. Both options are surely worth the investment, which is pretty reasonable in comparison to what you would pay for something similar in countries like the USA or even other Brazilian cities like Rio de Janeiro.

Best neighborhoods in Salvador: Barra

Barra is the best place to stay in Salvador for those who want to enjoy the beaches of Farol da Barra and Porto da Barra. Between these two beaches you will find the Farol da Barra lighthouse, which is one of the city’s main postcards, and the Santo Antônio Fort. These are great places to watch the sunset in Salvador de Bahia.

The Santa Maria Fort, the São Diogo Fort and Morro do Cristo are other popular tourist attractions in Barra. This region is also full of bars, restaurants, and shops, and is a bit more centric than Rio Vermelho.

The best places to stay in Barra

If you are looking for cheap accommodation in Salvador, you will find several good hostels in Barra.

Nomads Hostel Multicultural has a rating of 9.1 on Booking and is known for being a place with a lot of interaction between guests, ideal for those who are traveling alone and looking for company.

Manhatã Hostel is on the seaside, and some rooms and the breakfast room have sea views. Mar à vista Hostel is also located on Avenida Oceânica, in a cozy house.

If you aren’t looking for a hostel, the guesthouse Pousada Acácia da Barra is great value for money and is a 2-minute walk from Farol da Barra beach. Hotel Porto Salvador is another very well-located choice of stay in Salvador, less than a 5-minute walk from Porto da Barra beach and Santa Maria Fort.

Viver Bahia Pousada is a slightly more sophisticated alternative. The accommodation has a small garden, lounge with coffee and drinks and a special breakfast with several regional dishes.

My personal favorite, though, is Monte Pascoal Praia Hotel Salvador, located on the seafront of Farol da Barra beach. Most of the hotel’s rooms and lounge have sea views. There is a restaurant in the hotel that is open for lunch and dinner with typical Bahian dishes and an international menu. The hotel has a gym, children’s playground, and swimming pool with sea views. It’s a great option of where to stay in Salvador with family.

Best neighborhoods in Salvador: Ondina

Ondina is a more residential neighborhood with old buildings. It is another good region to stay in Salvador, as it is close to the hustle and bustle of Rio Vermelho and to the beaches of Porto da Barra and Farol da Barra.

The best places to stay in Ondina

In the Ondina neighborhood you will find entire apartments for rent, such as Atlantic City Apart Service, which has units with bedroom, kitchen, living room and a shared leisure area with swimming pool. The apartments accommodate up to 4 people. Ondina Apart is located on the seafront of Ondina and also has flats for up to 4 people.

The PortoBello Ondina Praia is an old and traditional hotel in Salvador, with large rooms and good continental-style breakfast. Vila Galé Salvador is pricier, but also better: it has a gym, massage room, swimming pool with sea views, bar and restaurant.

Best neighborhoods to stay in Salvador: Corredor da Vitória

Vitória is an elegant residential neighborhood, with giant mango trees and luxury condominiums overlooking Baía de Todos os Santos (All Saints Bay). It is the neighborhood that connects the historical center to Barra.

There, one of the best places to stay in Salvador is the Corredor da Vitória, an avenue about 1km long where you will find museums such as the Bahia Art Museum, the Carlos Costa Pinto Museum, and the Bahia Geological Museum.

The best places to stay in Corredor da Vitória

The Vitória neighborhood has one of the most expensive square meters in Salvador, so expect to find good but pricier accommodation there. The Apartment Flat Vitoria Marine, for example, has self-catering apartments within a condominium with views of the sea, a deck and a small slide that drops into the sea. Hotel Baía Sol is also a great option in Corredor da Vitória; it is just a few minutes from the Bahia Art Museum.

Pousada Casa da Vitória is very well rated on Booking, with a 9.5 rating. Decorated in a vintage and minimalist style, the service and breakfast are highly praised by guests. Wish Hotel da Bahia is also very charming, with large rooms and a complete leisure area.

Best neighborhoods in Salvador: Pelourinho and Historic Center

You might have heard of Pelourinho, the most touristy area of Salvador. Staying there means waking up listening to axé music and going to sleep dancing samba.

Pelourinho is just a few minutes’ walk from Elevador Lacerda and Mercado Modelo, popular tourist attractions in Salvador. Furthermore, it is close to the nautical terminal where boats and ferries leave for nearby islands, such as Itaparica and Morro de São Paulo.

The best places to stay in Pelourinho and the Historic Center

In Pelourinho there are several budget accommodations, such as Laranjeiras Hostel, in a privileged location next to Largo da Tieta, where concerts are often held. Pousada Solar dos Romanos and Pousada Suítes do Pelô are other simple accommodations to stay in Pelourinho which offer good value for money.

If your budget isn’t so tight, consider Hotel Pousada da Mangueira, which offers parking space, swimming pool and a small garden. BahiaCafé Hotel is a boutique hotel located in Praça da Sé where all accommodation features works of local art. The hotel has a bar with billiards table.

One of my favorite choices of where to stay in Salvador, Pousada Solar dos Deuses is another boutique hotel with unique furniture and works of art that pay homage to local culture and Afro-Bahian tradition.

Other great choices are Hotel Casa do Amarelindo and Hotel Villa Bahia, the hotels with the best reviews in the region. Both are restored 19th century mansions and have terraces with panoramic views of Pelourinho.

Best neighborhoods in Salvador: Santo Antônio Além do Carmo

The Santo Antônio Além do Carmo neighborhood is right next to the Pelourinho and is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Salvador. It’s a super charming neighborhood, with cobblestone streets and colorful houses. Several cool restaurants, bars and art galleries can be found there, and most tourists who go there once end up going back to enjoy its relaxed vibe. While you walk its streets you will easily forget that you are in one of Brazil’s biggest cities.

The best places to stay in Santo Antônio Além do Carmo

Café Hostel Kebab is a charming little house with a beautiful garden in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the Santo Antônio neighborhood. A good option for those who are looking for a cheap place to stay in Salvador and don’t necessarily want to stay right next to the beach.

Vivenda Santo Antônio is a simple accommodation with a terrace overlooking the bay where you can watch the sunset. Finally, Nega Maluca GuestHouse is the ideal place for those looking for a place to stay in Salvador alone, because it is said to be a great place to meet travelers from around the world.

Best neighborhoods in Salvador: Caminho das Árvores and Stiep

The neighborhoods of Caminho das Árvores and Stiep are not very suitable for tourists, but rather for those who go to Salvador for work, because many companies are located there.

The best places to stay in Caminho das Árvores and Stiep

This region has a variety of chain hotels that cater mainly to business travelers. The most affordable are the Iguatemi Business and Flat and Ibis Budget Salvador. Intercity and Mercure Salvador Boulevard Hotel are also located on Caminho das Árvores.

But the most impressive accommodation in this neighborhood is the Astron Suítes Mondial Salvador, which has a large leisure area with a swimming pool, deck, games room and meeting room.

Where to stay in Salvador: Itapuã, Stella Maris and Flamengo

The beaches of Itapuã, Stella Maris and Flamengo are in the northern part of Salvador, about 10 km from the airport. For those looking for where to stay in Salvador to relax, these beaches are ideal. Itapuã beach is a little busy, while Stella Maris and Flamengo beaches are more quiet.

The best places to stay on the beaches of Itapuã, Stella Maris and Flamengo

Hotel Pousada Encanto de Itapoan is located at the tip of Itapoã beach, next to the lighthouse. A simple but very complete guesthouse. Samba Villa da Praia Hotel is also close to the Itapoã lighthouse and has a large garden and swimming pool with sea views. Hotel De Ville Prime Salvador and Casa Di Vina Boutique Hotel are more sophisticated accommodations on Itapuã beach.

On Stella Maris beach, Pousada Zen Boungainville offers good value for money and is just 400 meters from the beach. Villaggio Orizzonte, on Flamengo beach, is another good choice of where to stay in Salvador.

Where to stay in Salvador during Carnival

Salvador’s Carnival is sought after by people from all over the world. The city gets crowded and there are many parties. But where to stay in Salvador during Carnival?

I recommend Ondina or Barra neighborhoods for anyone who wants to enjoy the famous “Dodô circuit”, which starts in Barra and goes to Ondina. The Corredor da Vitória is also a great option: it’s the location of one of the most traditional Carnival blocks (“blocos”) in Salvador, the Osmar. In Rio Vermelho there are also several smaller “blocos” during carnival, making it a great choice for your stay in Salvador during this period as well.

Free accommodation in Salvador: volunteering

If you want to have a more immersive experience in Salvador and make a very cheap trip, consider volunteering there with Worldpackers. Through this platform you exchange a few hours of work per week for accommodation and other benefits, such as meals and tours.

I have traveled like this many times and highly recommend it. In addition to not spending money on accommodation, you have the chance to learn new things, discover places off the beaten path, befriend locals and meet interesting people from different parts of the world.

There are awesome volunteer positions in Salvador and several other cities in Bahia, with roles ranging from hostel reception to helping in agroforestry. And the best part is, you only have to pay a small sign-up fee to travel like this as many times as you want all over the world for a whole year. Click here or use the coupon JANELASABERTAS and get a 20% discount.

To find out more about this type of work exchange, read these articles:

• How to do a work exchange: complete guide
• Is Worldpackers safe? User review and safety tips
• Worldpackers discount code: volunteer abroad for cheap

Do you have any questions about where to stay in Salvador? Ask us in the comments section!

Article written by Bárbara Nicoli, experienced traveler and contributor to Janelas Abertas. Photos by Luísa Ferreira/Janelas Abertas and Unsplash/Creative Commons.