livelight

I am considering omitting Nazare to our tour of Portugal and adding Merida, Spain. My husband and I with our adult daughter will have about eleven days in Portugal- five in Lisbon, one in Eovra, the questionable one in Nazare, two in Coimbra and two in Porto. While in Lisbon we will most likely take side trips to Sintra and perhaps Obidos. We are not really beach people and in fact get plenty of beach time on Puget Sound (athough chilly). The Roman ruins and tapas of Merida seem to be calling but once we drive two hours from Evora, spend the day and night, it will be four hours to drive to Coimbra. Any thoughts? Is there anything of interest to see on the drive from Merida to Coimbra?

IMDonehere

We have been to all your destinations save Nazare and Puget Sound (insert sarcastic face.)

The Roman amphitheater in Merida is spectacular. We also loved Evora.

BTW, we visited Merida in June and the weather was so hot you could not go out in the noon day sun. That is not to say the weather will be the same when you go..

Our route between Merida and Coimbra was more of 90 degree angle through Portugal rather than the fastest route.

Other towns we liked in Portugal-Braga, Viana do Castelo, and Amarante.

livelight

Thank you so much! I think we'll have to miss those towns north of Porto and save them for another trip. Wow! So hot in June may pull me toward the sea. We will be there the very end of May.
Do you have any tips on Evora? Did you tour the megaliths?

IMDonehere

Yes but for some reason I overlooked the cave drawings which a favorite activity of mine.

We stayed in the craziest place a number of years ago near Evora and I do not know if it still exists. It was 1/4 mile of horse stables and at one end where quite elegant rooms and the other horses. I will leave the obvious jokes to others.