Algarve? How many days?
 

We will be traveling by car for 2 weeks around the country, in September
Our itinerary:
Lisbon. 2 nights
Obido. 2 nights
Porto 3 nights
Lamego. 2 nights
Belmonte. 2 nights
Evora. 2 nights
Lisbon. , airport hotel , dropping friends off, spending the night, getting another car in the morning

My husband and I are planning to stay an extra week, possibly doing the Algarve for 6 nights. My husband would prefer not to spend the week beaching as we live in south Florida. Is this too many days to find towns to visit and explore? We will beach a bit, but not all day every day.
Are there any places you can recommend we visit there, kind of off the beaten path?
Or, we could stay in the Algarve for less days and visit other places that we may have missed driving around the countryside. We have been to Sintra already, and have spent time in Lisbon before.
I would appreciate any help that you can give me.

My comments today at the end of this thread may help
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...spain-1712966/

Here is a series of daytrips that does not involve lying around on the beach (these can be recombined as time and interest permits):
* West coast: west of Lagos to Salema, Prince Henry's navigational headquarters at Sagres; furthest point west (and last bratwurst stand) in Europe; up the west coast a little to see crashing waves and giant surf.
* Silves castle; fortaleza with cliff overlook in Portimao; stroll and eats in Lagos; possible boat tour of cliff formations off Lagos;
* Dune walk on wooden plank paths and lunch in pretty Alvor; pottery shops in Porches; dune walks on wooden plank paths at Gale' with coffee at Os Salgados; cliff walks with fabulous outlooks at Senhora de Rocha; fish dinner at Ze Leitero in Armacao de Pera (very pretty at sundown);
* Saturday market in Loule' not to be missed; precious little town of Alte; nice little town of Santa Barbara de Nexe; coffee at the pousada in Estoi (former faux Roman villa); stop in Faro old city center; stunning blue-tiled church of São Lourenço in Almancil;
* east coast jaunt can include lovely Ayamonte in Spain; ancient fortress at Castro Marim; fabulous little whitewashed cliff town of Cacelha Velha; beautful atmospheric Tavira.

Staying in Albufeira gives you that pretty center as a base. You won't have time to lie on the beach, though, I'm afraid! And if you have time head down to Olhos de Agua at low tide for the gorgeous rock formation and bubbling fountains in the sand.

Thank you so much !! You have been so incredibly helpful!!

Alison

CORRECTION: not Santa Barbara de Nexe (tiny little town near Estoi), but Sao Bras de Alportel - - it's also a very nice drive to Sao Bras from Loule' with winding hills. Sorry!

Thank you!