Salvador sightseeing tours often include a visit to Barra Beach and Barra Lighthouse. Explore the old lighthouse, which is part of the 16th-century Santo Antônio da Barra fortress, then climb to the top of the tower for a view across the bay.
Admission tickets also include entrance to the Bahia Nautical Museum, where you can learn more about Bahia’s seafaring heritage and see artifacts recovered from sunken galleons. For a different perspective, opt for a boat cruise along the Barra Peninsula and admire the lighthouse from the water.
*Admission tickets include entrance to the lighthouse and museum.
*The Barra Lighthouse has restrooms and a café with ocean views.
*The lighthouse is not accessible for wheelchairs or strollers, but it's possible to visit the museum and parts of the fort.
Barra Lighthouse is in the Barra neighborhood, 4 miles (7 kilometers) south of downtown Salvador, or about a 25-minute drive. Regular buses run to Barra, stopping along Avenida 7 de Setembro, within walking distance of the lighthouse, and organized tours often stop there as well.
The lighthouse is open Tuesday to Sunday from morning to evening, while the museum closes slightly earlier. It's a picturesque spot to watch the sunset, and crowds often gather along the peninsula, especially during the summer months.
Just south of downtown, Barra is Salvador’s most popular beachside neighborhood. After visiting the lighthouse, stroll down to the beach to swim, surf, and sunbathe, or head to the nearby Barra Shopping Mall, one of the city’s largest malls. The area has a large selection of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, most of which line the beachside, and it’s one of the best places to experience Salvador’s legendary nightlife. The neighborhood also famously hosts Salvador’s largest Carnival celebrations, featuring spectacular costumed parades and dance performances.