SALVADOR

da BAHIA

Carnaval de Rua in Salvador da Bahia

credit Embratur

SALVADOR da BAHIA

FACTS and TRAVEL TIPS

FACTS

Official Language: Portuguese
Currency: Real
Time Zone: UTC-3 (1 hour ahead of EST)
Population: 2.3 Million

GENERAL TRAVEL TIPS

Salvador is a city in Bahia thrusting itself from an Agrarian economy as late as the 1950s, to Brazil's third largest city in just a few short decades.  Closer to the equator than Rio, it can get really during the the summer (January-March).  Humidity and thunderstorms are common during the summer.

Currency is the Real with major credit cards accepted by most establishments. Portuguese is the official language and some English is spoken by locals. Bring a Portuguese phrase book with you.  Hotels have the most expensive rates on phone calls, so purchase a phone card for your international calls.

Banks are open from 10am-4pm (Monday-Friday). ATMs are plentiful and the most convenient way to get Reals. Some ATMs may only accept PIN numbers with 4 digits. Passports and visas are necessary for U.S. citizens. Most malls are open 10am-10pm (Monday-Saturday).  Most non-mall stores are open 9am-6:30pm (Monday-Friday) and 9am-1pm (Saturday).

Electricity is different than the U.S., so bring an adapter to re-charge your digital camera.  You should also bring an extra camera battery.

The major holidays in Rio de Janeiro are New Year’s Eve, Carnaval, Good Friday, Easter, Tiradentes, Labor Day, Corpus Christi, and Independence Day, Holy Mary’s Day, All Soul’s Day, Proclamation of the Republic Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. For specific dates, visit Brazil Tourism Office.

Salvador is growing into a major tourist destination, so visitors should use common sense when out and about. For more travel tips, go to Unofficial Advice & Observations from Thomas Dorsey of SoulOfAmerica.com.