João Pessoa, the capital of the state of Paraíba, was founded in 1585 at the mouth of the Paraíba river. It was chosen by the Portuguese as the site for São Felipe fort, the aim of which was to resist the French invasions of the region. One of the oldest cities in Brazil, its Historic Centre includes churches, palaces, houses and other buildings from the colonial and imperial past. There is the Casa de Pólvora, a former powder magazine which supplied troops fighting the invaders; the Convent of Santo Antonio and the church of São Francisco, forming the "baroque area", construction of which commenced in 1589 and took almost 200 years to complete; and the Monastery, considered important for the beauty of its facade, which includes sculptures, decorated tiles and wood carvings, reflecting the influence of indigenous art.

João Pessoa is a coastal city, and most of its beaches are in its outlying districts. Among them are Tambaú, 7 kilometres from the city centre, comprising one of the most famous postcard views with the beauty of the scene and the jangadas on the sea; Penha, only two kilometers away, a small fishing village; and, a little further out at 48 kilometers, Tambaba, the only beach in the North East of Brazil devoted entirely to naturism. 14 kilometres from the center of the city is the most easterly point of the South American continent, Ponta do Seixas, where the dawn light first strikes Brazil. Nearby is Cabo Branco, a popular beach for the beauty of its 50 metre high cliffs and the fort of the same name.

Joao Pessoa is the second ranking city in the world in terms of green spaces, with more than 700 hectares of forested land, losing only to Paris. It gained this distinction in 1992, after a survey of urban centers in various countries carried out by the United Nations.

With its parks and avenues lined with fruit bearing and ornamental trees, João Pessoa also preserves parts of the Atlantic forest in the central area of the city, such as in the Parque da Bica - a zoological and botanical park - and in the Mata do Buraquinho, as well as the coconut palms and various other kinds of tree along the beaches, which attract thousands of tourists every year. The state has 230 kilometres of coastline and the best known beaches in the state, such as Tambaú and Manaíra, are located in or near the capital.

As regards tourism, besides the beaches and natural attractions of the state, it is worth sampling the local cuisine, based on sea food and dishes involving dried meat and manioc flour. The most typical dish is arrumadinho, made with beans, dried meat, tomatoes, onions peppers, coriander and manioc flour.