2 Best Sights in Salvador and the Bahia Coast, Brazil

A visit to this all-encompassing daily market, the largest in the state, is a headfirst dive into Bahian culture. Dress down and wander labyrinthine alleys of exotic fruits, squawking chickens, dried flamingo pink prawns, and household goods crafted from palha (straw), before heading into the covered section, where you will find an entire lane dedicated to accessories for Candomblé practices. Join early-morning vendors for a break at the barracas that line the edges and try the local speciality of passarinha (fried cow spleen), if you dare, although a cold beer is probably the safer option.

Set on the bay in Cidade Baixa, this crafts market was once the holding pen for slaves between the 17th and 19th century as they arrived off the boat from Africa. Today it's a convenient place to buy handicrafts, although don't expect a great deal of variety or innovation—this is a market for tourists rather than locals. Bargaining is expected here for goods like cachaça (sugarcane liquor), cashews, pepper sauce, cigars, leather goods, hammocks, musical instruments, and semiprecious stones. Head up to the the alfresco terrace on the top-floor restaurant to enjoy a cold beer while watching the boats set off for Morro do Sao Paulo.