Sao Joao Holidays

Sao Joao is an area in Albufeira, the resort that put Portugal’s Algarve Coast on the tourist map. And one of the reasons jet-setters migrate to these parts is for the beach. Sao Joao’s stretch – one of Albufeira’s medley of 25 – is a cliff-hugged, kilometre-long swathe of sand that’s the colour of honey

Nightlife and Sao Joao go hand in hand, thanks to The Strip. Waypoints along this long road come in the form of the bars’ flashing neon signs and menu boards in front of every type of restaurant imaginable. The Strip’s split into two parts by a zebra crossing. The south end is where you’ll be heading for late-night drinks and dancing. The north end, on the other hand, puts forward a calmer atmosphere, with designer boutiques bumped up against classy wine bars.

From Sao Joao, you can walk to the heart of Albufeira in under half an hour. Make tracks for the city’s seafront old town, and you’ll be faced with the decision of pulling up a pew in a traditional café, or losing your way in the web of cobbled streets that are lined with whitewashed houses. There’s a throng of Medieval churches to explore, too.