Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova
The basics
This sports structure—home pitch for Esporte Clube Bahia—is impressive from the outside, but soccer fans and sports fanatics can enter on a guided tour, which includes a behind-the-scenes look at the locker rooms, skyboxes, and playing field where some of the world’s top soccer players have stepped foot. Many sightseeing tours of Salvador da Bahia pass by the stadium, giving travelers the chance to snap some photos from the exterior.
Things to know before you go
- Match tickets can be purchased online ahead of time or on game day; they rarely sell out.
- Stadium tours may not be available on match days.
- The stadium and stadium tours are wheelchair accessible.
How to get there
The stadium is accessible by cab, but travelers should note that vehicles are only permitted to travel to specified locations. As a result, visitors must walk about a mile (2 kilometers) to the stadium’s entrance. Catching a cab post-match can be a true test of patience, so travelers should be prepared to wait. The nearest metro station is Campo da Polvora.
Trip ideas
When to get there
Stadium tours are available throughout the year, although they may be limited on days when Esporte Clube Bahia is playing or the facility is hosting a special event. Visitors who’d like to see a match should visit between late April and December, the season for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
What’s Nearby
The Fonte Nova Stadium sits at the edge of Salvador’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic district, in a neighborhood called Pelourinho. This easily walkable neighborhood is known for its pastel-hued colonial-era buildings housing cafes, restaurants, and shops.
- Pelourinho
- Cidade Alta
- Museu Afro-Brasileiro (MAFRO)
- Tororo Dike (Dique do Tororó)
- Lacerda Elevator (Elevador Lacerda)
- Salvador Mercado Modelo
- Frades Island (Ilha dos Frades)
- Castro Alves Theater (Teatro Castro Alves)
- Nosso Senhor do Bonfim Church (Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim)
- Carlos Costa Pinto Museum (Museu Carlos Costa Pinto)
- Barra Lighthouse
- Forte de Santo Antonio da Barra
- Sao Francisco Church and Convent (Igreja e Convento de Sao Francisco)
- Itaparica Island (Ilha de Itaparica)
- Morro de Sao Paulo