Walking is the way to see the Pelourinho. The Lacerda Elevator and the Plano Inclinado funicular link the upper and lower cities; the bay-side promenade connects the Mercado Modelo with the lower-city waterfront. Beyond the centre, the city is large and hilly; rely on taxis, Uber, or the bus system.
The Salvador Metro covers limited but useful sections — the airport, the rodoviária, and inland industrial neighbourhoods. The standard tourist circuits (Pelourinho-Barra-Ondina-Rio Vermelho) are easily done by taxi and Uber, which are cheap by international standards.