Salvador da Bahia Travel Forum

We will be in Salvador da Bahia for only one day. What would a person who knows Salvador well suggest ? Should we simply walk around, should we hire a private tour guide, are there full city tours available, are ther HOHO (hop on,hop off) busses?

What are absolute must sees? The churches? The museums, etc.? What are resonable prices for a guide? Are there any reputable ones and how to find them?

TIA for the suggestions. We are interested in history and culture more than in shopping.

This person who thinks she knows Salvador well suggests.....

...that you will be mentally kicking yourself for the rest of your life for only arranging a one day stay.

...that the history and culture of Bahia is to be found in taking the time to know its people and music, in addition to its sights.

....that the one day be a Tuesday if possible, in order to go to the Bencao (Blessing) and the associated festa attended by many residents, with music and food in the streets of the Pelourinho historic center at night. Also go tothe show at Bale' Folclorico.

....that you read the site www.bahia-online.net thoroughly before you go in order to learn about the music, culture, history, neighborhoods and sights. Read beforehand, and carry with you, a good guidebook such as Lonely Planet--and carry a phrasebook (Few people speak English.).

See the sights in Pelourinho.
church of Sao Francisco
church of Nossa Senhora do Rosario dos Pretos
Afro-Brazilian museum
Casa de Jorge Armado (the author) if open
walk further into the adjoining, less gentrified Santo Antonio neighborhood to see more of the traditional architecture

If you aren"t there to take in the Tuesday night fetivities, make sure you

Ooooops ! This posted before I was done--slip of the mouse. I wish this forum had an edit feature.

Anyway....
If you aren't there on a Tuesday night, make sure to take in a show at Bale Folclorico and go to see some music of one of the traditional local groups. (The tourist office in front of the Lacerda Elevator should have a current schedule.) Music is how many Bahians learn to have pride in their history and the neighborhood groups associated with many of the groups are important vehicles of self-help and social action in the community.

Other places to visit:

Solar de Uniao, a modern art museum housed in a waterfront complex of buildings that used to be a sugar plantation (take a taxi to and from)

Bonfim Church (by bus or taxi), with a great view of the city and a 'miracle room' where people whose prayers have been answered have left everything from photos to prosthetic limbs, to get a ribbon on your wrist while making 3 wishes (maybe to come back to Salvador for a longer visit).

Also....

You can get around perfectly easily yourself by bus or taxi, but I did find this list of guides on the site of the tourism agency for the state of Bahia:
http://www.emtursa.ba.gov.br/Template.asp?nivel=00030003&identidade=111