Weekend in Porto Seguro

A small municipal museum housed in a 16th-century building, displaying colonial artefacts, indigenous pottery, and exhibits on the Portuguese arrival. Free entry on Sundays.

Tip: Free on Sundays only. Go early (opens 9am) to avoid tour groups. The guide can tell you which cannonball holes in the wall are original from a 1630 attack.

A stone cross monument marking where Portuguese explorers first landed in Brazil in 1500. It stands on a grassy square with views over the bay.

Tip: Combined with the nearby Igreja Matriz, this spot gives you the best photo of the Historic Centre's skyline. Sunset light is golden. No plaque in English, so read up beforehand.

A lively pedestrian street in the Historic Centre lined with bars, craft shops, and live music. It's the main social hub, especially in the evening.

Tip: Go after 7pm for the best atmosphere, but avoid the overpriced caipirinhas sold right at the entrance — head two blocks down to Rua da Independência for fairer prices.

A self-guided walking loop through the old town's cobbled streets, past 16th-century churches, pastel-coloured colonial houses, and the old Jesuit college. Free to wander.

Tip: Start at the Igreja Matriz do Cruzeiro, walk down Rua do Cruzeiro, then loop back via Ladeira do Cruzeiro. Takes about 40 minutes without stopping. Avoid lunchtime heat (12-2pm).

A quieter beach with natural tide pools at low tide, backed by cliffs and coconut palms. No entrance fee, but parking is paid.

Tip: Go on a weekday morning before 10am to have the tide pools almost to yourself. Bring water shoes — the rocks are sharp. Bus 02 from the centre drops you 200m away.