Stores, Malls or Markets in Salvador da Bahia

A few miles north of the Lacerda elevator is the colourful Sao Joaquim market. Where you can buy all manner of arts and crafts. There is also a large selection of local bites to try.
Take care of your belongings!

Just off of the sqare of San Francisco on the way from the elevator is a tobacco shop where I stopped to sample the local leaf. This tobacco shop was friendly with places to sit and meet other smokers. Much the way a good coffee shop is a hub for local news and sociability. Besides tobacco, Brasil has many a coffee plantation, and the local brews are excellent. So drop in for an espresso and a cigar and enjoy the local flavors.

What to buy: If you are a cigar smoker, you will be able to find the size/style you prefer. If not a smoker, or are a cigarette smoker, the local proprieter can help you find a smoke that is right for you. Try a local cigar by Cachoeira.

What to pay: Cigars come in all price ranges depending on size, quality, and name, but don't worry about that. When people are willing to pay the prices for a cup of coffee at a local beanery, the price of a good cigar should't shock you.

Day Tribal is a local Salvador artist who has been painting clothes as an outlet for his artistic talent. There are beautiful t-shirts, skirts, shorts, pants, and more. Day will also make things to order and is a super friendly and beautiful person. Please do not go back to your home country with the massmade t-shirts that everyone else buys, but instead support a local artist and give your friends a unique gift! Day is also a musician and has recorded cd's which he has for sale!

What to buy: Almost everyone buys t-shirts as souvenirs to give friends and family back home. They are easy to pack and affordable, but in salvador you will find almost every store carries the same prints. Steer away from that and go check out Day Tribals shop in the Terreiro de Jesus in the Pelourinho (Historical District). It is right across the square from the famous Cantina da Lua, on the second floor. You can easily spot the colorful clothes hanging outside the balcony, go up and you will find beautiful art that has been painted onto t-shirts, shorts, pants, etc. Day will also paint to order and is a super friendly rastafarian who is also a musician! Support the local artists!

What to pay: Prices vary, but very affordable!

Salvador has the best souvenirs’ shopping in Brazil! Keep your “appetite” and money for shopping in Salvador. There is a big market down to the harbor full of small shops and also shops all around the old town. Interesting and original items, sophisticated or naïve, whatever you like. There are many paintings and artworks by local and not only artists. Prices are reasonable but you can also bargain. Try a painting for your living room back home and the wonderful statuettes of colorful black women!

If you are into Tupperware, this is a good place to look. I thought that it was only available to buy at homeparties. At least that is how to buy it here in Denmark.

What to buy: They have sometimes some extremely good offers, at rediculously low prices.
It is definitely worth checking it out!

What to pay: You will be able to find things for less than 50% of the prices in fx.Denmark

When at the beach of Barra, try to do your shopping there. Often you will get a considerable lower price than if you go to the citycenter.

What to buy: You can buy about everything there. Clothes and local craft, purses, bags, sarongs, bikinis and juwelery, and good food!! I reccomend shcrimps and oisters

What to pay: The cost is up to 25% lower than in Mercado Modelo, and the local shops in Pelourino

We'd walked maybe 10 steps in the Pelourinho area of Salvador before a man approached me and began tying a yellow ribbon about my wrist, " A gift! A gift! Make a wish for each knot." He tied three. Then he said, "OK, now look at my shop!" He stretched his right arm straight out for me to have a look at the various necklaces dangling from it. "I give you a good deal!," he went on to say. I picked out two and said "How much?"
"15," he replied and I reached my hand out to Tim for the cash. Why the hell not? The necklaces were crafted of red seeds and coconut, quite cool if you ask me. And I was helping this guy out.

What to buy: Two days later I "visited" another guy's shop (more necklaces dangling from his arm) and Ninon and I bought loads more. They make great souvenirs and you can't beat the price...

What to pay: As much as you want... as little as $5 REAL

Itapuà is a popular siside area so here you can find simply but cheap shop where to buy clothes, bikini, snikers, amaca and more, cheper than the touristic center area.
the shops close about 6,30 o'clok p.m.

Do not forget to bring (if you can) a beautiful local crafted ship from Brazil to your home country! Of course you can buy them not only on the beach, also in Mercado Modelo fair (but aware of tourist prices) or in Pelourinho!
This ships are made of wooden and they are sold in almost all beach towns in the Northeast!
This is one, I wanted to have.... but then I did not bought one because I guess it was too big to take it into the airplane! Wish I had.... ;-)

There was a grocery store right behind my hotel in Barra, so I figured there was no need for me to overpay by using the refrigerator in my hotel room. Instead, I grabbed a few drinks and snacks here and paid a lot less.

You'll see this store all over Brazil and it is the country's best known jeweler. They specialize in creating original pieces using fine jewels and stones from Brazil. Many of their designs have been worn by famous Hollywood stars. I took a look at some of their products at the store in Rio and they really were quite attractive, but not in my budget.

If you walk down the hill from Pelourinho on the side away from the bay, you'll run into this street. There are plenty of clothing shops here as well as electronics and many other things. Very few of the stores are geared toward the tourists, but when they saw me pull out my camera, all of the shopkeepers seemed eager to attract me to their stores.

I stopped in this shop on Rua Teixeira Mendes just across from Sorrisa da Dada restaurant. I thought this girl who worked here was beautiful so I used all my Portuguese words on her. That took about 30 seconds, so I resorted to browsing and ended up buying a few small souvenirs.

There is an absolutely "must to bring"souvenir you should bring home from Bahia to your friends and family: the "Fitinhas" from Salvadors most famous church, the Bonfim church.
The legend says, that if you give one of them to a friend or beloved one he will have three wishes free and if the "fitinha" fall down automatically (and you did not told your wishes to someone else) your wishes will come true.
For that you have to put the "Fitinha" around your arm and shut three times, one for each wish you have.

What to pay: They are really cheap, you can buy a bunch of ten or more and pay around 5 brazilian Reais.

Very organized and with a good team of sales women.
You can find there lots of brazilian gems with very good design.

What to buy: Topazio, Ametista, Opala, Quartzo, Diamond, Agata, Turmalina, Agua marinha . . .

What to pay: Less than the competitors H.Stern and Las Bonfim