Sao Joao Holidays 2025/2026

Sao Joao is a lively holiday destination within the Albufeira region on the Algarve coast. It’s got a sandy beach for relaxing and soaking up the sun and its own strip of shops, bars, restaurants and clubs. Known as one of the liveliest night spots in the Algarve, combined with Albufeira it has dozens of bars and clubs.

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Enjoy relaxed days and lively nights in Sao Joao

Sao Joao is all about getting the most fun, relaxation and enjoyment from your holiday. It’s the ideal destination if you like to spend your getaway days being chilled out and easy, and your nights having fun and partying hard.

The main beach here is the spacious Praia da Oura, which offers a long stretch of sand and superb views across the bay and out to sea. You can take a slow stroll along the shoreline to find your perfect beach spot and have a well-earned nap, or pop on your headphones for your own playlist of background tunes.

The hub of Sao Joao activity is known as ‘The Strip’ and lies along Avenida Dr. Francisco Sa Carneiro. Its liveliest end, towards the beach at the south, attracts visitors who travel from all over to join in the party atmosphere. It’s the best destination in the area for bustling bars and lively clubs where you can soak up all the fun and excitement.

If you feel like slowing down a little with a slightly quieter night you can head to the northern end of the strip. Here you’ll find a selection of wine bars and restaurants where you can have a good chat with your mates and a laid-back evening.

Join in the party on the Albufeira 'strip'

Matching Sao Joao for after-hours parties, neighbouring Albufeira is another place where you and your friends can have a non-stop night out. You can walk to Albufeira from Sao Joao in about 20 minutes, or it’s just a fiveminute taxi ride away.

There’s lots of choice whether you’re looking for a few beers and a chance to see some sports, or you want to try some tasty cocktails to get into the party mood. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to socialise, some venues have outdoor spaces and gardens where you can stay cool in the open air.

Albufeira is a hugely popular party destination and there’s a wide selection of clubs and late-night bars all geared to ensuring you have a great night out. In the summer there are fun themed nights, with lots of special offers on drinks and entry. There are several hot clubs with top international DJs playing the best anthems, chillout and dance tunes to keep you moving and grooving until dawn.

Enjoy the shopping and street stalls in Sao Joao

The Sao Joao strip is packed with places to find holiday buys, and the shops are open both during the day and for a few hours in the early evening. As well as the permanent shops there are stalls where you can find a variety of items including souvenirs. It’s a good place to browse for local handicrafts such as hand painted ceramics, jewellery and art pieces, as well as leather goods such as belts and bags. You’ll also find little places where you can get daily essentials like bottled water and snacks.

For more good shopping you can go to the nearby Algarve Shopping Centre – just a few minutes’ drive away – which has a good selection of shops including fashion and electronics outlets. With our great range of cheap holidays to the Algarve, you’re sure to have a little extra pocket money to spend.

Places to eat in Sao Joao

There are plenty of places to eat in Sao Joao where you can stop off for a drink and a snack during the day and dine out in the evenings. You can choose from restaurants serving international favourites such as tasty pizzas or try out the local Portuguese cuisine featuring fresh fish and seafood dishes.

With such a wide selection of bars and pubs that also sell food you can have a long, lazy lunch with a few beers, or a filling meal and stay on later to start off your big night out.