Trips around Faro, food and festivals

With the car, you will need to drop it in the same country. I would drive to Evora for 2 nites, then drive to Cascais outside of Lisbon and see Lisbon and Sintra from there. Good luck !

sevilla is very easy to do from the algarve - about an hour from the border...motorway all the way. not normally a problem to take a car from portugal to spain or vice versa but you will need to drop off in same country.
you could go to sevilla, spend a couple of nights there then drive back going nw and cross over into portugal before driving south to faro again: some spectacular countryside and lovely fortified hill towns along the border

portuense writes: "sevilla is very easy to do from the algarve - about an hour from the border...motorway all the way. ..."

Personally, I don't like motorways because they cause you to skip so much. Unless you are in a hurry, I would recommend a coastal route (at least to Matalascañas). Huelva is a nice city to visit: I have been told that things are cheaper there than Sevilla, for example. Palos de la frontera was Columbus' Port of departure on his first Voyage of Discovery. There's a Parador just outside Mazagón that bears his name.

Before you cross the Doñana Wildlife refuge (largest in Europe) you might want to stop at el Rocio (el Santuario de la Virgen del Rocio) just south of Almonte.

Sorry, it's too early for Festival season; but Carnaval will be ending 23 February (martes de Carnaval, best in Cadiz). So, it depends on your timing.

I concur with portuense and Bobthenavigator that you should return your rental car in the same country where you rented

can't agree with ned - huelva province has little to recommend it compared to sevilla and surrounding provinces. no one would choose m/way as a rule but it's the quickest way to skip miles of flat lands and fruit & veg growing areas; landscapes n from sevilla are more varied and beautiful...sure try bits of huelva if you don't want to go far but if you're up for a longer round trip you'll find it v rewarding

Thanks a lot, great ideas. Also now thinking of going to Jerez where we've heard the food is wonderful and of course the sherry is great. Any other suggestions for good restaurants ?. We've previously been to Seville and loved it so may go back or go up to Lisbon before or after Jerez
Thanks for your help

turismo.jerez.com is the city council's website and is very comprehensive (& also in english). There are loads of options in and around the city centre & some v good tapas places. if you want v good modern cuisine, the most inventive by some way is in the restaurant at hotel palacio garvey - try the degustacion (tasting) menu. the restaurant at hotel chancilleria is also modern & impressive. can give more dets if you need, also accom suggestions depending on what you're looking for

Lisbon and its (Sintra, Caiscais)environs deserve several days.