Things To Do / Coisas para fazer
Beach Days, Coconut Water, and…Queijo Coalho
Start with Porto da Barra, one of the most beloved beaches in Brazil. Calm water, lively energy, unreal sunsets. Grab a cold coconut, go for a swim, and absolutely buy queijo coalho, the grilled cheese on a stick sold right on the beach. It’s one of Liv’s favorite things in the world. Eat it barefoot in the sand. This is peak Salvador. Feeling adventurous? Salvador has plenty of other beautiful beaches. Praia da Barra is social and iconic, Buracão is more local with stronger waves, and Praia do Flamengo is wide, breezy, and relaxed. Each has its own vibe. Not sure which to choose? Just reach out to Liv and Tom. Tom was never really a beach person until spending time on the beaches of Salvador with Livia and her family. Now all he wants is sun and fried cheese. Salvador does that to you. Grab a caipirinha. It looks refreshing. It is a trap. Lime, sugar, cachaça-and suddenly you’re speaking Portuguese with confidence you did not arrive with. Click the “View” button for more info!
Wander Pelourinho
Spend time walking through Pelourinho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site bursting with music, color, churches, street life, and nonstop creative energy. This is Salvador’s historic heart and one of the most visually striking places in Brazil, where colonial architecture blends with murals, live percussion, galleries, and artists working out in the open. Once a major center of the transatlantic slave trade, Pelourinho’s history deeply shaped the city. Today, that past exists alongside joy, rhythm, and creativity, giving the neighborhood a feeling that’s both powerful and alive. It’s also a place where Livia’s father, Ivo de Santana, seems to know every single corner, street, and hidden spot—honestly, possibly more familiar with it than the city’s mayor. Don’t forget to click the button below!!
Eat Acarajé !
A Salvador essential. Acarajé is a deep-fried black-eyed pea fritter stuffed with shrimp, vatapá, salad, and chili. Crispy outside, soft inside, and wildly addictive. Traditionally made by Baianas de Acarajé in iconic white dresses, it’s one of Bahia’s most important foods, rooted in Afro-Brazilian and Candomblé traditions. This isn’t just street food, it’s history and culture in one bite. Do not miss Acarajé da Lúcia. She’s known Liv since she was a kid, which says everything. Tom has zero self-control here. His record is three in one sitting. Liv stopped him. For safety. Pair it with a cold Coca-Cola. Trust us. You’ll barely find acarajé outside Bahia. In Salvador, it’s everywhere, it’s sacred, and it somehow tastes better eaten standing on the street with vatapá on your fingers.
Go Eat Moqueca
Bahian moqueca is legendary. Fresh fish or shrimp is slowly simmered in coconut milk, tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, and palm oil, then served bubbling hot with rice and farofa. It’s comforting, soulful, and instantly makes sense. You’ll find great moqueca everywhere in Salvador, from beachside spots to family kitchens passed down for generations. Everyone has a favorite and everyone is convinced they’re right. That said, the true champion is Liv’s mom, Teca Quirino. No restaurant comes close. Tom has been happily “overserved” at her table more than once and considers it an achievement. In Salvador, moqueca isn’t just food, it’s a way of life. Also worth noting: Salvador’s fine-dining scene is excellent, with Michelin-recognized spots like Origem elevating Bahian flavors into world-class meals rooted in place. You won’t be disappointed if you click the button ("View") below!
Go See Michael Jackson
Yes, really. Michael Jackson filmed the They Don’t Really Care About Us music video right here in Salvador, and it’s one of the city’s most iconic pop culture moments. The video was shot in Pelourinho alongside the legendary percussion group Olodum, and the neighborhood still wears that moment proudly. You’ll see murals, plaques, and plenty of locals happily pointing out the exact spots where it was filmed. Even if you’re not a die hard Michael Jackson fan, standing there with the drums echoing around you feels electric. It’s one of those Salvador moments where music, history, and pure energy all collide. Michael Jackson may be the King of Pop, but once Livia starts dancing, it’s clear Salvador has its own royalty. Click the button below and have fun!
Football, Bahia Style
Football(Soccer for the gringos) in Salvador is not just a sport. Its identity, pride, music, superstition, and community all rolled into one. Match days take over the city and the energy starts building hours before the game begins. Don’t miss the opportunity to see what’s behind the “View” button! If there is a match while you are in town, try to see Esporte Clube Bahia play. Livia is a lifelong, die hard fan, the kind who knows the chants. You will hear the chant long before you understand what is happening. BBMP. Bora Bahêa minha porra!!!!!!! Tom went to his first Bahia match fully unprepared for the intensity and somehow managed to become the club’s unofficial good luck charm. Bahia won 3–0 with him in the building, which has basically secured his status forever. Some people bring tactics. Some bring talent. Tom brings wins. You do not need to speak Portuguese to understand what’s happening in the stands. You will feel it. Check a bit of it by clicking on "View"!
Music, Museums, and Culture
Music runs through Salvador, but art is just as alive. You’ll hear drums everywhere and see creativity on walls, in galleries, fashion, and daily life. Culture here isn’t confined to museums. It spills into the streets. Check the button "View"! For a deeper dive, visit the Museu da Música Brasileira, Museu Afro Brasileiro, and Casa do Olodum for sound, history, and live percussion. For visual art, Museu de Arte da Bahia, Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia, and Solar do Unhão offer beautiful settings and strong exhibitions. Throughout Pelourinho, murals and installations are constantly evolving. Salvador and Bahia shaped artists like Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, and visual artists Carybé and Alberto Pita. Fun fact: Liv has baby photos with Caetano Veloso holding her. Ask to see them. If you stumble into capoeira, street samba, or a pop-up performance, stop and stay awhile. Liv and her sister Maria Luiza grew up dancing samba. Tom is still catching up. Click on "View"!
Churches and Architecture
Salvador has one of the world’s most extraordinary collections of colonial churches. The architecture is layered and expressive, tied to the city’s history and a unique mix of religions and cultures where mystique and spirituality meet. It is a city you only truly understand once you experience the people and the place firsthand. Don’t miss Igreja e Convento de São Francisco, with an interior almost entirely covered in gold leaf, the Catedral Basílica de Salvador, and Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos. Hundreds of churches from the 16th and 17th centuries range from ornate Baroque and Rococo masterpieces to simple neighborhood chapels. More than religious spaces, they are living records of colonial Brazil shaped by Catholic and Afro Brazilian traditions. Stepping inside is essential to understanding Salvador. It is no surprise Liv’s sister, Maria Luiza, grew up here. She is an architect on the rise, already doing exciting work and clearly shaped by this city.
Solar do Unhão
Solar do Unhão is a restored historic complex on the water that blends beautiful architecture, contemporary art, and wide-open views of the bay. Home to the Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia, it’s a cultural hub where you might wander through a great exhibition one minute and stumble into a breezy outdoor jazz concert the next. It’s calm, inspiring, and one of Livia’s favorite places to slow down, think, and just be. It’s a perfect spot to grab a drink or a coffee, linger longer than planned, and let Salvador sink in: art, music, and ocean air all doing their thing at once.
Boat Days and Sunset
Spend a day exploring Baía de Todos os Santos by boat. Most trips include island stops, swimming, fresh seafood, cold drinks, and absolutely no sense of urgency. This is a day for letting time stretch a little and remembering that nothing needs to be rushed. As the day winds down, head to Farol da Barra for sunset. Music drifts through the air, street food vendors set up, and locals gather just to watch the sun drop into the ocean. Phones go away, conversations slow, and for a moment no one is thinking about inboxes, meetings, or Zoom calls. No need to rush. Tranquilo.
Final Thought
Salvador has a way of turning the volume up on life. At some point, you understand why one of Livia’s favorite song is “Realce” by Gilberto Gil. Please click on "view" ! Realce means highlight or to enhance, and that is exactly what the city does. Salvador brings everything into focus, brighter, richer, more alive, and by the end you are simply happy you came and felt it for yourself. Até lá! Click on "View" !!!!!!