São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos, more commonly known as “Salvador,” is the capital and largest city in the Brazilian state of Bahia. This beach town is a center of Afro-Brazilian culture, famous for its architecture, food, and cuisine. It’s a prominent port city, and also the second most popular tourist destination in Brazil. The scene for running in Salvador is excellent, with wonderful seaside waterfront paths, some large parks, and some nice streets and neighborhoods for running.
The best places to run in Salvador are the waterfront promenades along Av. Octávio Mangabeira, Av. Oceanica, and Av. Sete de Setembro. The south coast beaches along Av. Octávio Mangabeira are also great for running. Runners will find worthwhile tracks around Dique do Tororó and Parque Pituaçu, as well as straight-shot bike paths at Av. Centenário and Avenida Paralela. There is also some decent trail running around the lake at Parque Abaeté. And for a historic tour of the city, the Pelourinho neighborhood is the best bet.
Most travelers get around Salvador using the public system of brightly colored school busses. There are stops located near most of our running routes. There is also a metro system with two lines that serves the main part of the city.