Beaches:
Porto da Barra, Farol da Barra
close to the historic center

Ondina
several reefs and bays

Amaralina
Long sandy beach good for surfing
 
Pituba
Long sandy beach with strong waves
 
Jardim de Alah
Good for bodysurfing. Grassy area with Palm trees next to beach.

Armacao
Good waves and Surfing

Artistas (Boca do Rio)
Thin sand beach with gentle waves

Corsario
Reef forming natural pools, good for kids

Jaguaribe(Ou 3a Ponte)
Long sandy beach with nice waves. Young people.
 
Placafor
Sandy beach with good waves

Piata
Sandy beach with good waves and lots of parking

Itapoa
Gentle waves. Next to calm neighborhood of Itapoa

Flamengo
Good waves for surfing

Stella Mares
Good waves for surfing

 

Nightlife:
Casquinha de Siri (Piata, best mondays)
Estaçao da cerveja (Patamares, best fridays)
Manatee (thursdays)
Rock'n Rio Café / Aeroclube Plaza (su)
Mamagaya (Praia do Corsário)
Lagoa-Mar (Patamares, best thursday)
Pelourinho (best sundays & tuesdays)
Mercado do Peixe (for the end of the night)
Barra (several bars)
Aqueles dos estudantes (Rio Vermelho)
Bar do Reggae, Praça do Reggae, Pelourinho

Festas:
Festa da Boa Viagem (January 1st)
Festa do Bonfim (Second Thursday in January)
Festa de Sao Lazaro(Last Sunday in January)
Festa de Iemanja(February 2nd)
Festa de Itapua (2 weeks before Carnaval)
Festa da Pituba (1 week before Carnaval)
Festas de Sao Joao (End of June)

The best shopping centers:
Shopping Center Iguatemi
Shopping Barra

Good travel agencies for international tourists:
Flytour Business Travel
1. Pituba (matriz): Av. Otávio Mangabeira, 2401, loja 15, Shopping Ateliê Place, Pituba

Portte Eventos
Av. Tancredo Neves, 1222, Edf. Empresarial Catabas Tower, salas 303/ 304/ 312/ 109/ 110, Pituba

Tours Bahia International
Rua Cruzeiro do São Francisco, 416, Pelourinho

more info on Salvador