Salvador is the largest city (its historic centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985); other urban centres include Ilhus, Itabuna, Feira de Santana, Vitria da Conquista, Camaari, Jequi, and Alagoinhas.

Bahia's capital is the city of Salvador (formerly known as "Cidade do So Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos", literally "City of the Saint Savior of the Bay of All the Saints"), on a spit of land separating the Bay of All Saints from the Atlantic.