Salvador Airport serves the capital of the state of Bahia, Brazil's first colonial capital and heart of Afro-Brazilian culture, approximately 28 km from the historic center of Pelourinho.
It is the main hub of the southern northeastern region of the country.
How to get to Deputado Luiz Eduardo Magalhães International Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to SSA
Parking near Deputado Luiz Eduardo Magalhães International Airport
The official parking lot (managed by Indigo) is located opposite the terminal, with 2,400 spaces and operates 24 hours a day.
Tiered rates: 6 BRL up to 15 minutes, 12 BRL up to 1 hour, 20 BRL up to 2 hours, 25 BRL up to 3 hours, with a maximum cap of 30 BRL/24 hours (50 BRL for 2 days). Piso Econômico (2nd floor) is more economical for extended stays.
How to get to Salvador from SSA
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Airport transfers you can book in advance
Shuttles and private transfers you can book online, picked from the best rated by travelers.
Car rental at Deputado Luiz Eduardo Magalhães International Airport
Major car rental companies have desks in the arrivals area, useful for exploring Costa do Sauípe and Praia do Forte north of the city.
You'll need a driver's license, passport, and credit card; an International Driving Permit (IDP) is usually required as well.
Hotels near Deputado Luiz Eduardo Magalhães International Airport
At the airport (Hangar)
About 2-3 km from the terminal, just minutes by hotel shuttle or a short taxi ride.
Best for: those with a dawn flight or an overnight stopover who don't want to travel anywhere
- Minutes from the terminal, useful for dawn flights or short stopovers
- Restaurant and bar open even late at night
- Industrial area, nothing to do on foot in the evening
- Over 25 km from the beaches and the historic center
Recommended hotels
- Wyndham Salvador Hangar Aeroporto About 2.5 km from the terminal, with a pool and a restaurant open until late at night: handy for extreme flight times. View availability
- Best Western Salvador Hangar Aeroporto Minutes from the terminal, with Bahian cuisine served round the clock and a large garden: handy for those with only a stopover in Salvador. View availability
Stella Maris and Itapuã
7-10 km from the airport, 10-15 minutes by car or taxi; there is no direct city bus.
Best for: those who want a couple of beach days right after arriving, while staying close to the airport
- Wide beaches just steps away, handy before or after a long flight
- Quieter than the city, with pools and gardens at the hotels
- Few places to go outside the hotels, especially at night
- A car or taxi is always needed to get around, no direct bus
Recommended hotels
- Gran Hotel Stella Maris Urban Resort & Conventions Located on Stella Maris beach, minutes from the airport: handy for those who want sea and pools without going into the city. View availability
- Catussaba Resort Hotel Facing Itapuã, about 7 km from the airport, with four connecting pools: practical for families passing through on their way to the sea. View availability
Rio Vermelho and Pituba
About 25 km from the airport: bus 1001 along the coast (sometimes over an hour) or car/app in 35-45 minutes outside rush hour.
Best for: designed for those who want good food and nightlife, halfway between the airport and the historic center
- A lively neighborhood at night, with seafood bars and restaurants on every corner
- An in-between location between the airport and Pelourinho
- Heavy traffic at rush hour toward the airport
- A city beach, not as suited to swimming as Stella Maris
Recommended hotels
- Mercure Salvador Rio Vermelho In the heart of Rio Vermelho, among seafood bars and restaurants: handy for those who want to go out in the evening halfway from the airport. View availability
- Fiesta Bahia Hotel Between Pituba and Itaigara, halfway between Barra and Itapuã: a pool and a gym for those staying more than one night in the city. View availability
Barra
About 30 km from the airport: the same coastal bus 1001 or car/app in 45-55 minutes, more at rush hour.
Best for: for those who prefer the sea in the city, between the Farol da Barra and the area's nightspots
- A seafront with shops and bars all the way to the Farol da Barra, all on foot
- The sheltered Porto da Barra beach, busy even in the evening
- A longer transfer from the airport than from Rio Vermelho
- A touristy area, crowded and noisy on weekends
Recommended hotels
- Grande Hotel da Barra On the Porto da Barra seafront, steps from the Farol: handy for those who want the city's sea and the area's nightlife. View availability
- Hotel Bahia do Sol In Graça, just a few minutes' walk from Porto da Barra: multilingual staff and parking, handy for those arriving with a rental car. View availability
Pelourinho
About 27-28 km from the airport: a free shuttle plus metro to Lapa (about 40 minutes) then taxi, or car/app in 40-60 minutes depending on traffic.
Best for: for those who want the historic center right at their doorstep, among the museums, churches and nightlife of Pelourinho
- Monuments, museums and the evening life of the Centro Histórico on foot
- Restored colonial houses with views of the Baía de Todos os Santos
- Steep, cobbled streets, uncomfortable with heavy luggage
- Away from the main streets, it's best to move around carefully at night
Recommended hotels
- Hotel Villa Bahia Two colonial houses in Pelourinho with a terrace overlooking the bay: for those who want the historic center at their doorstep and don't mind stairs. View availability
- Casa do Amarelindo A nineteenth-century mansion overlooking the Baía de Todos os Santos, the only hotel in Pelourinho with a pool: for a stay in the historic center. View availability
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The walk from check-in to the gate is roughly 10–15 minutes in this modern-style terminal.
During peak hours, customs and security checks can take longer: for international flights, plan to arrive at least 3 hours early.
Map of Deputado Luiz Eduardo Magalhães International Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is it better to stay in Pelourinho or in Barra/Ondina?
Pelourinho is the UNESCO World Heritage historic center, charming by day but best approached with caution on some streets at night; Barra and Ondina, more modern coastal neighborhoods, are generally considered safer for a standard tourist stay.
Q. Is Salvador's Carnival different from Rio's?
Yes, it mainly takes place in the streets around the trio elétrico, the huge speaker-mounted trucks that double as moving stages, unlike Rio's parade in the purpose-built Sambadrome: it's considered one of the biggest street carnivals in the world by number of participants.
Q. Is it worth renting a car in Salvador?
Useful if you plan to visit Costa do Sauípe or Praia do Forte north of the city; for Salvador itself, taxis and ride-hailing apps are often more practical given the urban traffic.
Q. What should you buy at Salvador's duty free?
Packaged acarajé, the famous Afro-Brazilian street food specialty, along with cachaça and typical Bahian handicrafts.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights
