We are leaving on Dec 18th. We fly in to Malaga and flying back out of Lisbon. We are renting a car in Malaga and turning it in as soon as we arrive in Lisbon. Right now our itinerary includes: Malaga (day or two), Granada(Alhambra),Seville, Lisbon (see Cascais, Sinta and Caboda Roca while there).

My questions are:
1)Should we carve out time for the further south area of Algeciras and possibly take the ferry over to Tangier?
2)Are there any stops along the way from Seville to Lisbon we should make?
3)Will there be anything open on Christmas day - evening restaurants or bars?

We have a total 9 1/2 days to spend. Any other advice is always appreciated.

I have read the thread from "indiancouple" and it was great and very helpful but doesn't address the questions above.

ttt

I would forget Tangier but I would stay in Evora as you drive to Lisbon. Have you checked out a drop charge for the car?

I agree about Evora. It's a beautiful city in the Alentejo area of Portugal. I'd skip going to Tangier for a day (have rarely heard of anyone enjoying a one day trip to Tangier) and add this in. There's also a great market in a village near Evora (Manresa,I believe). If you decide to stop in Evora I can dig up the information on the day and confirm the city name.

However, with only 9.5 days for Malaga, Granada, Sevilla and Lisbon I'd think Evora would have to be a short stop. I'd budget a minimum of 3 nights in Sevilla and at least this much for Lisbon (if you want to do the daytrips mentioned. That only leaves 3.5 days - 2 for Malaga and 1.5 for Granada. I'd be cautious on adding alot more to the itinerary. Just my opinion. I don't like to rush things on vacations and really get to know the places I'm visiting.

bobthenavigator (not to be confused with St Brendan the Navigator who travelled from Ireland to Newfoundland) writes: "... Have you checked out a drop charge for the car?"
That will be considerable! You will probably be better served if you drop off your Spain rental in Sevilla or Huelva and rent another in Albufeira or somewhere thereabouts.
Some Spain rentals don't provide Insurance for Portugal; and you're probably looking at a drop charge of more than %500 if you do as you plan.
To answer your first question: No!

2) If you're driving: el Santuaro de la Virgen del Rocio; Palos de la frontera - Christopher Columbus' port of drparture on his Voyage of Discovery #1 - there's a statue of him there; and Huelva.

3) Some restaurants will be closed; Hotel restaurants and Bars will be open.
PD
In Portugal on Sunday, eat your fill at the midday meal. I have found that most restaurants in Lisbon and Porto do not serve an evening meal on Sundays.

I agree with CathyM in not wanting to rush a vacation & savor each place. We were in Spain/Portugal in 89 and traveled witha friend who is a travel agent-We rented the car in Malaga-drove to the Algarve-then dropped the car off in Seville so we would avoid the drop off charge which can be high.
Cathy M-could you E-mail me direct [email protected] I am working on a trip to Portugal next Sept. So far the plans are to spend 4 days in Lisbon-fly to Madeira for a weeks timeshare. I have 4 days to get to my next timeshare in the Algarve and I was toying with staying 4 nights in Evora-thanks Chris