I have a 4-night trip to the Algarve newly booked in February. Once I get to the Algarve I plan staying 3 nights either in Loule' at a nice hotel by the old city center (super reviews; easy walk to the center for restaurants) or Alvor (modern hotel with dreamy views). But arriving 230pm into LIS, the question is where to drive (preferably under 2 hour drive) to stay one night, before touring casually into the Algarve the next day.

Looking at online suggestions, one route seems to be to head to Evora for one night, heading casually south the next day - - Beja might be interesting, but a bit further afield Serpa might be better? I don't know.

The other option is to go more coastal south. Setubal is quick and easy, and then a coastal route through Sines? This is February so there won't be any dips in the sea, and the weather might be blustery. So interesting drives and a couple town-centered accents would be the priority for this quick excursion. Any recommendations?

Either one will do if you choose the fastest road from there to the Algarve. But from the airport it might be easier to by-pass Lisbon to go to Evora rather than driving through. But Setubal is closer which is a consideration if you are arriving from overseas. You do not see much of the coast while driving directly to the Algarve even along the "coastal" route.

Thanks Michael - - and nice piccies. So I booked one night in Evora. Then charted out different routes toward Loule' (there is only one hotel available in Loule', and it has rave reviews and a heated rooftop pool, for a song).

Stops and routings could be through a combination of Moura, Serpa, Beja, and/or Mertola. The blogs I was reading say these are all really worthwhile, but getting rundown, and only elderly to be seen on the streets. I think February is when things are the most anodyne, so this sounds all very decrepitly vivid. Looking forward to it!

The museum in Serpa was being renovated when we stopped there. Even before the renovation it deserved a look according to the Green Guide.

Sesimbra