Best golf destinations in Portugal

It’s safe to say that our golfers love Portugal. Every year it continues to be our most popular choice for overseas breaks. With regular flights from across the UK, an almost unlimited choice of golf, and fantastic weather throughout the year, it’s easy to see why the country is so attractive to our customers!

However, a golf trip to Portugal can differ greatly from region to region, and so it’s important to check out the area that might be best suited to your group. Our sales experts are ideally placed to help you select your perfect break, but before speaking to them, why not check out our guide to the best golf destinations in Portugal below!

• Vilamoura
• Lisbon
• Quinta do Lago
• Tavira
• Lagos
• Alvor
• Albufeira

The most popular region of our most popular country… Vilamoura is an absolute golfing haven. Just 30 minutes from Faro airport, and with dozens of courses to choose from, golf has been intrinsic to the development of this region.

During the spring and summer months, the bustling marina is packed with golfers, taking in the waterfront bars after their rounds on some of Europe’s best layouts – with everything from British-style pubs to fine dining eateries in abundance.

There are several hotels on the marina itself here, notably the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura, Hotel Vila Gale Marina, and the Dom Pedro Vilamoura, each offering a different level of experience to match all budgets. The Dom Pedro Golf Collection is prominent across Vilamoura, boasting two further hotels, as well as running five of the best courses in the area (Old Course, Victoria Course, Pinhal Course, Millennium Course, Laguna Course).

Additional courses can also be found at Pestana Vila Sol and Vale do Lobo meaning that there’s always somewhere to play in Vilamoura, even during the busiest of months. What’s more, many of the hotels and golf courses run a free shuttle service, helping golfers get around the area in ease.

It is no surprise then, that with so much on offer, and in an area so well catered for golfers, that we continue to see our customers return to Vilamoura year after year!

Portugal’s capital is one of our favourite European cities. There’s just so much to do here, with a hugely relaxing vibe that oozes through the destination. The food, architecture, and nightlife are all much loved here, however, many overlook the sheer brilliance of Lisbon golf courses!

Penha Longa and Praia D’El Rey are two of the strongest golf resorts in Europe, and cater for groups that are looking for the convenience of having all courses and restaurants on their doorstep. Also situated just outside of the capital is The Oitavos Hotel, a luxury five-star facility with the excellent Oitavos Dunes course attached. This is one of our favourite coastal layouts in Europe, and something you’ll often see us use in our marketing materials for Portugal due to the sheer beauty of its layout!

Speaking of which, the West Cliffs Golf Links at Praia D’El Rey is also a feast for the eyes, and a truly majestic links course in the purest of forms. Despite only opening for play in 2017, the course fits perfectly within the landscape and looks as though it has been in place for decades.

Likewise, the Trent Jones-designed layout at Troia Golf is also another special course, one that is regularly rated as within the Top 20 golf courses in continental Europe. All told, whilst the Algarve may have the most courses of any region in Portugal, the area around the country’s capital might be home to some of the strongest!

Back down to the Algarve and to the famed golf destination of Quinta Do Lago. Home to three fantastic golf courses, Quinta Do Lago (or QDL as it’s often known), has long-been one of Europe’s best golfing getaways. Just 20 minutes from Faro airport, and with a variety of choices for accommodation to accompany rounds on the North, South, and Laranjal Courses, the resort town has everything a golfer could ever need, right there on-site.

We like Quinta Do Lago so much that we hold our annual Golfbreaks Pairs competition at the resort, which is always loved by our customers – particularly any meal eaten in the incredible Bovino Steakhouse.

If you do want to head out and explore, a base in Quinta Do Lago allows for easy access to the rest of the Algarve, including down to the harbour in Vilamoura, although if you simply want to kick back and relax around the pool after a morning on the courses, we wouldn’t judge in the slightest!

For further options, the area is also home to two of Portugal’s best golf resorts in Vale do Lobo and Dona Filipa Hotel & San Lorenzo. Across these two venues, you can play three majestic seafront courses and some of the most picturesque holes across the entire Algarve.

Groups seeking a slightly more relaxed break should definitely consider the tranquillity of Tavira. Located to the east of Faro, our most popular choice in the region is the golf resort at Monte Rei. The destination offers an authentic Portuguese experience, with vistas of both the Serra do Caldeirão Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.

The self-catered accommodation is available in a variety of sizes, with both shared and private pool options, as well as outdoor BBQ’s. Fear not, those that aren’t keen on doing their own cooking can visit one of the many restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Vistas Rui Silvestre. With all this and a Jack Nicklaus designed course on-site (commonly known as the best golf course in the Algarve), it’s easy to see why we recommend Monte Rei so frequently.

Elsewhere in Tavira, our customers also love the Seve Ballesteros course at Quinta do Vale with strategically-placed hazards throughout which certainly play to the late Spaniard’s strengths! Golfers also enjoy the courses at Quinta de Ria and Quinta da Cima Golf Clubs, with the former also home to the Robinson Club Quinta da Ria hotel – an exceptional and extremely stylish choice.

The best kept secret in the Algarve, Lagos is a destination that’s sure to soar in popularity over the coming years as word gets out about its on-course excellence. The small, charming city provides an authentic Portuguese experience full of beautiful architecture, a marina, beach, and an array of traditional restaurants.

The two most highly-rated courses in the area can be found at Palmares and Boavista. The former boasts 27-holes of fabulous golf and has been a stable of Lagos for more than 40 years! There’s a mix of dunes-based holes, as well as many that weave inland through perfectly manicured fairways. A hugely welcoming golf club, with three loops of 9-holes that’ll keep you on your toes throughout.

Boavista Golf Club is also a great option for a break to the area, and with on-site accommodation, it’s the ideal golf resort for those looking for the best of both worlds; there’s loads to do on-site and the city centre is just a 5-minute drive away! If you do want to stay closer to the action, then check out our accommodation options at Tivoli Lagos and Vila Gale Lagos which can both be paired with any course of your choosing in the region.

Another region to the west of Faro, Alvor is known by many of our golfers as the home of Penina Hotel & Golf Resort. This venue has two sensational on-site layouts, with its championship course being a many-time host of the Portuguese Open.

The five-star hotel is one of our favourites in the Algarve, set amongst 360 acres of natural beauty. Close to the beach, many of our guests head down to the open water after a round of golf in the morning, however, there’s plenty of room for everybody on-site, with the hotel boasting the largest swimming pool in the Algarve!

The Pestana hotel group have a heavy presence in the area, with five properties all with quality guaranteed. We love the Pestana Dom Joao II as well as the smaller beachfront hotel at Pestana Alvor South Beach.

Additional nearby courses include Pestana Alto Golf & Country Club, Vale da Pinta, Gramacho Golf Club, as well as the aforementioned Palmares – and we’d definitely recommend playing a mix of these to make the most of your time in Alvor.

Our final stop is the bustling region of Albufeira. Fast becoming a hotbed of golf to rival its nearby neighbour at Vilamoura, Albufeira is perhaps best known to golfers as the home of Amendoeira Resort. Its two much-loved courses (The Faldo and The O’Connor Jnr), are often visited by golfers staying outside of the area due to their sheer quality, however, a stay at the resort affords unparalleled access.

The linksy layout at Salgados is another excellent choice for golfers, and can be paired with many of the areas fantastic hotels, including; Hotel Salgados Dunas Suites, Grand Muthu Forte do Vale, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Those interested in a great value break should definitely check out NAU Morgado Golf & Country Club. Despite being a five-star getaway, there are a variety of accommodation options, including breaks with a golf pass for unlimited time on the fairways. The venue also offers semi all-inclusive options too for groups looking to remove some of the hassle from their break (and to take advantage of the wonderful restaurants (and local beverages) available for no extra cost!