Salvador Upper City Tour: Exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Historical Monuments
4.9
16 Ratings
Pelourinho
Discover the rich history and vibrant culture of Salvador on this Upper City Tour. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historical monuments, and immerse yourself in the local atmosphere.
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Farol da Barra - You’ll see the Fort of Saint Anthony with the Lighthouse inside and surroundings.
  • Pelourinho - You will visit extensively and by walking this neighborhood full of ancient mansions, churches and cobble stones streets that are now protected qs an Unesco World Heritage!
  • Shishindo Convento do Carmo - You will see the ensembme of two churches and convent of the Carmelites in magnificent old colonial Portuguese styles.
  • Largo do Campo Grande ( Praca 2 de Julho ) - You will see the biggest and most beautiful square in the old center of Salvador with typical Brazilian trees and the monument for the 2nd of July.
  • Sao Francisco Church and Convent - You will visit one of the most fabulous baroque churches in the world with astonishing interiors carved out in wood and covered by gold leaves and the cloister of the Convent decorated with Portuguese ceramic tile paintings or azulejos!
  • Praca Terreiro de Jesus - You will visit the main square of the Historical Center of Salvador with the Cathedral of Salvador and two more churches, besides it’s aold mansions in typical Portuguese colonial style.
  • Largo do Pelourinho - You will visit the most beautiful square in the Historical Center of Salvador surrounded by colorful old mansions in the typical Portuguese colonial style and the Church of Our lady of Rosary and teh house of the Foundation of Jorge Amado.
  • Praca Thome de Souza - You will visit this gorgeous square with the old Palace of the Governors, the old City Hall and the Elevator Lacerda, from where you have and astonishing view to the Lower City and the Bay of All Saints.
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • Entrance fees for museums
  • Tea and coffee
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Alcoholic Beverages
Additional Information

On this excursion, you’ll explore the key sites in Salvador’s vintage section. Being the initial capital of Brazil, this trip is also steeped in history. We’ll wander through the district of Barra, the birthplace of the Portuguese colony and where I first encountered Salvador several decades ago – though, I was primarily focused on the sandy shores back then! We’ll stop by the symbolic lighthouse to revel in a glorious view of the bay and sea. Our journey continues along the Avenue of September 7th to reach the Pelourinho, my top spot in Salvador. Also known as the Historical Center, it’s recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is an absolute must-see for visitors. This entire historic district, perched on a cliff within the bay, is brimming with churches and vibrant mansions showcasing characteristic Portuguese colonial architecture. Our exploration here involves strolling through bustling plazas and stone-paved lanes, immersing ourselves in the local vibe and interaction with friendly locals who will ensure you remain engaged.

Location
Largo Terreiro de Jesus
In front of the bar and restaurant, Cantina da Lua.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(16 Ratings)
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Luis_s
Dec 11, 2023
A must do! Wonderful experience - Knowing the historical, social, and geographical references provided by Dirk. He made the tour special with his candor and human touch, his excellent knowledge, and customer service. Dirk is the type of guide everybody should look for when reserving a tour.
Review provided by Viator
John_g
Jun 18, 2023
Experiencing Salvador Privately.. - My private tour with Ana turned out excellent as English speaking group tours are hard to come by - there is just no guarantee you will get an English speaking guide. Ana also kindly adjusted the tour to a more lower town experience as I already saw the historic centre (which is beautiful btw). She was very knowledgeable of course growing up in the area. She's a very seasoned traveller as well. The local tile painter, arguably the last of his kind (now in his 80's), was a special highlight. Definitely recommend private tours with this group! Ps. Ana, I hope your trip to Germany the next day was perfect! Take care!
Review provided by Viator
P988lbelizabethm
Feb 11, 2022
Consummate personal tour guide - Dirk was exceptional. I feel we were very lucky to have found him. He speaks fluent English and is extremely knowledgeable about Brazilian history and about Salvador and Bahia. Highly educated, warm, and generous (I texted him with questions/problems even when not working with him, and he was happy to help me), he is the consummate personal tour guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kate_k
Feb 26, 2020
The old town center - We had a wonderful time with our tour guide Blago (sp?). He was lovely - kind, knowledgeable, patient and spoke excellent English. It was a wonderful introduction to the amazing city of Salvador.
Review provided by Viator
I2560vwstefang
Jan 25, 2020
Excellent Tour! - We had an excellent tour with Dirk, who showed us the history of the upper city and it's myriad of hidden gems and secrets. There is so much to discover on every corner, but without his explenations we would have missed it all. Dirk itself is extremely knowledgable about Salvadors history and speaks excellent english (as well as some other languages). All in all we had a great time and learned to see Salvador with different eyes. Higly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jonas
Oct 21, 2019
Fantastic history lesson - Carlos picked us up and drove us around town as well as walking the old town. Fantastic history lessons and information about this amazing history for better and worse. Worth every minute and penny.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mauro_0777
Aug 12, 2019
Pelourinho marvellous walking visit 👍 - Dirk showed us the secret marvels of Pelourinho during an afternoon walking tour in Salvador. We enjoyed every moment of all the great stories and expert knowledge! Highly recommended 👍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dries
Jul 5, 2019
Perfect day in Salvador with Dirk! - We felt really at ease when Dirk showed us all the historic highlights and the ‘local’ parts of the city. He has a lot of knowledge on Salvador and the rest of Brazil. It was a very informative, informal and personal tour, which we would we recommend to everyone planning to visit Salvador in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kamhung_t
Feb 19, 2024
Good - I am not KAM HUNG TO, I am LAI KING CHEUNG. Apart from the diver was late,the tour is good, tour guide Dirt is good and helpfully, with details information about Salvador.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 4 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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