I am looking for inspiration! Hubby and I want to go away for the weekend, we are based near Tavira and don't want to do more than a 3 hour drive. We have done Lisbon and Seville, somewhere with a bit of history and things to see- any suggestions? Can be Portugal or Spain.

Elvas or Evora?

Evora is lovely I lived there for a year.

I want to go to Guimarães

I fancy Evora, hubby wants to go to Jerez. I don't know Guimaraes but I will look it up

Too far for what you are looking for. Looks lovely though

Drive up to Mertola, then onto Serpa, then onto Beja or Moura. There are some lovely towns and villages, as well as some good restaurants around.

Have fun!

And if you're up that way, go to Monsarraz too - it's gorgeous

I've made a note of you suggestions- thanks! I'll have fun planning my route

If you facy driving beyond Mertola, I suggest you take a 1/2 tracked vehicle.
The roads are like semi tarmaced cart tracks. I've done it once .... never again.
I used to think the UK roads were bad!!

Sorry

Do you mean the one that goes to Serpa BRLs ? It's quite normal for roads to be like that - although if you mean the Lobo road, then defo give it a miss.

We've driven up there many times and the roads are okay, but bumpy on occasion, but then they are down here too.

I did serpa, mertola and Evora last year. I had no problem with the roads at all. In fact the worst road was the en125 from Castro Marim to Tavira! Lots to see in Evora and we stayed at a nice hotel were the staff had some very good tips. If I remember right mertola has the castle at the top that is 300-400 years old, xvi century. It is pretty much miles from anywhere now, so goodness knows how far the nearest neighbours were 400 years ago.

You could go to Jerez and Cadiz Cadiz is 2.5 hours from Ayamonte so its within your 3 hours

Loads of history in both, beautiful scenery and there are the Sherry bodegas and Horses in Jerez

Old part is really nice but if you go that far you may as well visit near by Braga too! Oh and Gêres national park is a lovely area too!

My suggestion is Salamanca, I love it! Check it out on net if you have not already been. Amazing history(celtic connection,nights templers etc and some fantastic seriously old buildings)

Evora is lovely. Personally I think Cadiz has more to offer than Jerez.