Best golf destinations in the Algarve

Home to Faro, our most visited European hub, The Algarve welcomes more of our golfers than any other region. Its southerly location means that golf can be played here for the majority of the year, with an unbeatable mix of resorts and standalone hotels providing the perfect base for golf trips of all sizes, budgets, and requirements.

Thinking of heading to southern Portugal on your next break? Join us as we take a closer look at some of the best golf destinations in the Algarve!

• Vilamoura
• Albufeira
• Lagos
• Quinta do Lago & Vale do Lobo
• Tavira
• Alvor

Where else could we start but the famous Vilamoura? With courses in abundance and its iconic marina firmly at the heart of the action, the area is a golfer’s paradise.

Five of the courses here and several of the hotels make up the Dom Pedro Golf Collection, making it superbly easy to plan your break – regardless of when or where you’d like to play. What’s more, there’s a free shuttle service which runs throughout the Dom Pedro Collection (as well as to and from several other courses and hotels too), meaning there’s no need to hire a car for your trip.

If you’re looking to up the ante, why not consider the five-star Domes Lakes, or the Tivolia Marina Vilamoura? Wherever you choose to stay, you can’t go far wrong in this excellent golfing hotspot.

Another of our most popular options, Albufeira combines stunning golf courses, vibrant nightlife, and excellent accommodation options. The city comes alive after sunset with a plethora of bars, clubs, and restaurants that cater to all tastes, creating some of our livelier breaks for those looking to stay around the town centre. Add to this a great selection of four and five-star hotels which allow you to tailor your break to all-inclusive or semi-all-inclusive packages (AKA golfer’s all-inclusive).

Whilst there are many all-inclusive golf packages to be had, many of our guests choose to stay on-site at the Amendoeira Resort, taking advantage of the two fantastic courses (Faldo and The O’Connor Jnr). There’s everything you’d expect on the grounds of the resort, with its central location within the Algarve also allowing for easy exploration of the other courses in the region … as well as into the town’s bustling bars and restaurants in the evening.

Lagos is a charming and picturesque city that captivates our guests. The town boasts a strong local community that adds to its charm and is less of a tourist hub than other areas of the Algarve, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the local culture.

In terms of golf, Palmares Golf Club is situated just a short distance from our most popular hotels, boasting stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and a blend of challenging and scenic fairways, and fast-running greens. There are also the courses at Boavista and Espiche, which make for great additions to Palmares – and a perfect three-course tour.

Unlike some of the Algarve’s other areas, Lagos doesn’t ‘shut down’ for the winter months, making it ideal for a late-season getaway, where temperatures can often creep into the 20s as late as November!

Situated close to Faro airport, the resorts at Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo are perennial favourites of our customers. With regular flights from across the UK, the resorts’ proximity allows for golfers to squeeze an extra round in on the day of arrival or departure, perfect for those heading to the area for the weekend.

Quinta do Lago is arguably the most famous of the resorts in the Algarve, with its North, South, and Laranjal courses hosting thousands of our guests each year. There’s the option to purchase a ‘Golf Pass’ as part of your break, giving you unlimited access to the courses (availability depending). This can be a great way to build in some flexibility to your golf holiday if you’re thinking about adding a round. You’ve also got to try the resort’s Bovino Steakhouse – one of our favourite eateries in the whole of the region.

Just down the road lies the Vale do Lobo – a five-star resort with two of the best courses in Portugal on-site! The property offers a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, with all the amenities you’d expect from a world-class facility. There are more than a dozen separate restaurants within the complex, putting everything you could need for a trip right there on your doorstep. Oh, and one last thing; if the course looks familiar, it’s because the iconic 16th hole on the Royal Course is one of the most-photographed Par 3’s in Europe!

Over in the East of the Algarve you’ll find the town of Tavira, nestled not too far from the Spanish border. The king of golfing getaways here is undoubtedly Monte Rei Golf Resort, a superb five-star destination with a much-loved Jack Nicklaus course on-site. One of the strongest layouts in the Algarve, the course weaves around numerous lakes, which contrast strikingly against the lush green fairways and terracotta clubhouse.

You could be forgiven for playing all of your rounds in Tavira at Monte Rei, however, we’d definitely recommend adding both Quinta da Ria and Quinta da Cima to your trip – with the former offering particularly impressive ocean views.

Our final stop is the beautiful coastal resort town of Alvor. Ideal for those looking for a more chilled-out holiday, there are loads of great restaurants and bars around the marina once you’ve finished your round on one of the region's fantastic courses.

Penina Hotel & Golf Resort is the most popular of our bases here, with two great layouts (including a past host of the Portuguese Open). The hotel itself boasts five-star decadence and is set within 360 acres of picturesque grasslands. Many of our packages here are based on a B&B option, allowing for easy exploration of Alvor’s town centre for dinner in the evening!

In addition to Penina, there are also several of Pestana’s best hotels within the region too, including; Pestana Alvor Atlantico, Pestana Alvor South Beach, Pestana Dom Joao II, and Pestana Alvor Beach Villas Seaside Resort. A stay at any of these properties also dovetails perfectly with the courses in nearby Carvoeiro, notably Pestana Gramacho and Vale da Pinta.