PT
EN
ES
From the plane to the sand
Presidente Castro Pinto airport (JPA) is in Bayeux, about 25 km from the seafront, with direct flights from Brazil's main cities.
30 to 40 minutes by car to Manaíra, Tambaú or Cabo Branco. Ride-hailing apps work well and there are taxis at arrivals.
The bus terminal is in Varadouro, in the historic centre, with services to Recife, Natal and other Northeastern capitals.
The city is served by the BR-230 and BR-101 highways. Recife is about 2 hours away and Natal about 3.
All the properties we manage in João Pessoa are on the seafront — Manaíra, Tambaú, Cabo Branco, Bessa and Jardim Oceania. See which neighbourhood suits your trip.
The best time to visit João Pessoa
- September to February The best window. Settled weather, constant sun and that postcard-green sea — this is when the natural pools are at their best.
- September to November The best value of the year: the same good weather, fewer people and lower rates than over New Year.
- April to July The rainiest period, peaking in May and June. It rains hard, but in bursts — and the city stays warm, with sunny days between showers.
- December to February and July High season. A busy seafront, a full events calendar and the highest rates. Book ahead.
- Temperature Between 24 °C and 30 °C year-round. João Pessoa has no coat weather — its winter is a rainy one.
- Mind the tide Picãozinho and Areia Vermelha only form at low tide. Check the tide table before booking the trip, whatever the month.
The coast of Greater João Pessoa
The liveliest stretch of seafront, with bars, restaurants and live music. It is also where boats leave for the Picãozinho natural pools.
Living cliffs, a long promenade and Ponta do Seixas — the easternmost point of the American continent, where the sun rises first in the Americas.
Natural pools formed by a reef about 1.5 km off Tambaú beach. A catamaran trip, clear water and shoals of fish — timing depends on the tide table, not the month.
A sandbank in the open sea that appears only at low tide. An unmissable boat trip between João Pessoa and Cabedelo, part of a state marine park.
One of the region's most traditional outings: sunset at the mouth of the Paraíba River, with live forró and Brazilian popular music right on the beach, every Saturday.
Voted one of Brazil's ten most beautiful beaches: cliffs, coconut groves and natural pools. Good for relaxing on one side and for surfing or kitesurfing on the other.
The cliff beach: a wall of clay, natural pools at low tide and the heart-shaped water formed by the lagoon, visible from the Dedo de Deus viewpoint.
The quietest of the stretch: cliffs ranging from red to beige and natural pools among the rocks, a five-minute walk along the sand.
The Northeast's first official naturist beach, since 1991 — divided into a clothed area and a naturist area, separated by a rock formation.
Cabedelo's largest beach and the departure point for boats to Areia Vermelha. A coral barrier that becomes a natural pool at low tide.
The city's southernmost beach, where the Gramame River meets the sea: fresh and salt water bathing in the same spot, and one of the region's best sunsets.
Also worth visiting are Jacumã (Conde), Ponta de Campina and Praia do Poço (Cabedelo) and, for emptier beaches and a different kind of outing, the ferry crossing to Lucena, on the far side of the Paraíba River bay.
Beyond the beach
A baroque ensemble listed by IPHAN, with the Church of São Francisco, the Santo Antônio Convent and the Golden Chapel — one of Brazil's greatest baroque collections.
A science, culture and arts centre designed by Oscar Niemeyer, with a viewpoint over preserved Atlantic Forest and out to sea — free entry.
The "Lagoa", in the city centre — great for a walk, a run or simply to feel the local atmosphere away from the seafront.
Landmarks that tell the city's story
The twin-towered cathedral dedicated to the city's patron saint, in the heart of the Historic Centre — surrounded by listed churches and colonial mansions.
One of João Pessoa's postcard sights, next to Ponta do Seixas — the easternmost point of the Americas. A viewpoint, sunset and open sea views.
One of Brazil's largest urban Atlantic Forest reserves: trails, a lake and plenty of green — a breath of nature inside the city.
Colourful restored colonial townhouses, full of life at night — one of the most photographed sights in the Historic Centre.
The oldest working theatre in Paraíba, with its classic pink façade — a stage for performances and a living part of the city's cultural history.
One of the most charming historic buildings downtown, with an eclectic early twentieth-century façade — today home to cultural projects.
Built in 1585 to defend the mouth of the Paraíba River, captured by the Dutch and renamed by Nassau — the oldest monument in the region open to visitors.
Also worth seeing are the São Bento Monastery and the Church of São Frei Pedro Gonçalves, downtown; and Parque Arruda Câmara (Bica), the city's traditional zoo and botanical garden. There are also museums and mansions almost nobody visits — the Palácio da Redenção, the José Lins do Rego Cultural Centre, the José Américo House and the Casa da Pólvora, from 1704. We have gathered them all in museums and monuments of João Pessoa.
Where to eat and go out at night
One of the city's most traditional Northeastern buffets — an essential stop to get to know the local cooking.
At the end of Cabo Branco beach, one of the most praised addresses for seafood — refined, with live piano at night and sea views.
Specialising in seafood, in Manaíra — a favourite of visitors to the João Pessoa seafront.
A traditional seafood restaurant near Mag Shopping, known for its generous shrimp dishes.
Brazil's highest bar with a sea view: 145 m up, on the 44th floor of the Tour Geneve complex, in Altiplano. Drinks, small plates and a breathtaking sunset.
The city's new food hotspot, on Rua Joaquim Avundano (Miramar): a short street packed with bars, restaurants, cafés and live music.
Tambaú and Cabo Branco have good tapioca spots, a classic of Paraíba cooking, for any time of day.
The Jacaré sunset turns into a night of forró and MPB on Saturdays; the Tambaú seafront has most of the bars and everyday nightlife.
Other good choices for those who like to eat well: The W and Canoa dos Camarões, facing the sea; and panoramic restaurants such as NUI 360. Book ahead at weekends.
Where to buy crafts
There are three addresses, and they are not the same.
- Feirinha de Artesanato de Tambaú — the best known, on the seafront, open in the evening. Good for a quick souvenir and a walk after dinner.
- Paraíba Craft Market (Mercado de Artesanato Paraibano) — larger and more serious, it gathers work from across the state: renascença lace, ceramics, leather and hammocks. It is where you buy the real thing.
- Largo de Tambaú — the seafront promenade, with kiosks, street vendors and the bustle of the classic waterfront. Less craft, more beach.
If you only have time for one, go to the Mercado de Artesanato Paraibano. The feirinha is handier, but a lot of it is mass-produced souvenirs.
To enjoy between outings
Over 120 shops bringing together renaissance lace, ceramics, leather and woodwork — the official place to take a piece of Paraíba home.
On the seafront, open every day in the late afternoon — local crafts, beachwear and typical food with a sea view.
Manaíra Shopping and Mag Shopping round out the shopping circuit, with cinemas, restaurants and stores in the city's two main malls.
To plan your stay
- Getting around Ride apps work well within the city; to explore Conde and Lucena freely, consider renting a car.
- Safety The seafront is busy and safe until late; as in any tourist destination, avoid carrying valuables in plain sight.
MAREVI's properties are all on the seafront
We manage flats and apartments in Manaíra, Tambaú, Bessa and Jardim Oceania — all a few minutes' walk from the beach, with a full kitchen, air conditioning and Wi-Fi.
Nightly rates in João Pessoa from R$ 150, with assisted check-in and support throughout your stay.
If you need information while you are out
The city runs tourist information centres, the CATs, with printed maps and advice from people who know the city. The two most useful for anyone staying on the seafront are the CAT Tambaú, no Largo de Tambaú, e o CAT Ambiental, no alto do Cabo Branco, perto do Farol.
The service is free. For anything to do with your stay — transport, tours, restaurants or a problem in the apartment — talk to us: we answer 24 hours a day.
Need transport, a tour or a car?
We work with local partners in João Pessoa for airport transfers, guided tours and car rental. Tell us what you'd like to do and we'll point you to the right one.
Message MAREVI on WhatsApp
João Pessoa on film
Official video from the João Pessoa City Hall.
Feel like seeing all of this for yourself?
Talk to the MAREVI team and find the right place for your stay in Greater João Pessoa.
