Widely regarded as the finest course in Portugal, Monte Rei was designed by Jack Nicklaus and offers a spectacular layout through cork oak woodland in the eastern Algarve. The conditioning is impeccable and the experience feels genuinely exclusive. Stay at the Monte Rei Golf & Country Club on site for direct access and a luxurious, unhurried base.

A championship course that has hosted the Portuguese Open multiple times, the South course at Quinta do Lago is a genuine test of golf in a beautiful lakeside setting. The Quinta do Lago Hotel sits at the heart of the resort and combines five star comfort with outstanding facilities and direct course access.

The Old Course at Vilamoura is one of Portugal’s most storied layouts, having opened in 1969 and hosted countless major events since. Set through mature pine woodland, it remains a must play for any serious golfer visiting the Algarve. Hyatt Regency Vilamoura is an excellent nearby base with strong facilities and easy access to the Vilamoura courses.

Tróia is a Robert Trent Jones Senior design that runs along a peninsula with the Atlantic on one side and the Sado estuary on the other. The wind is a constant factor and the views are exceptional. The Tróia Resort hotel sits on site and offers modern, comfortable accommodation with easy access to the course and a beautiful beach.

One of Portugal’s newer courses, Royal Óbidos was designed by Severiano Ballesteros and has quickly established itself as one of the best layouts in the country. The terrain is dramatic, the greens are fast and the views across the Silver Coast are outstanding. The Bom Sucesso Resort nearby offers well appointed accommodation within easy reach of the course.

One of the most iconic courses in Europe, the Royal course at Vale do Lobo is famous for its clifftop holes and ocean views. It demands accuracy and rewards proper shot making throughout. The Vale do Lobo Resort offers elegant accommodation directly on the estate, making it the natural choice for a stay here.

Long considered one of the Algarve’s hidden gems, San Lorenzo is a stunning parkland and lakeside layout that winds through the Ria Formosa nature reserve. It is exclusive, well maintained and a joy to play. The Dona Filipa Hotel in Vale do Lobo is the traditional base for golfers playing San Lorenzo and offers a classic Algarve resort experience.

Set within the Sintra hills just outside Lisbon, Penha Longa is a beautiful resort course with views across the Atlantic and the surrounding national park. The Atlantic course is the more celebrated of the two layouts here. Stay at the Penha Longa Resort, a five star Ritz Carlton property, for a seamless and luxurious experience on and off the course.

Redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Junior, Palmares is a stunning course that combines ocean views, rolling terrain and a variety of hole styles to create one of the most enjoyable rounds in the country. It suits a wide range of handicaps. The Palmares Ocean Living & Golf resort is attached to the course and is a strong choice for golfers wanting to stay close to the action.

Located in the western Algarve near Lagos, Cascade is a well regarded course set across dramatic clifftop and valley terrain. It offers a genuine challenge and a scenic round that feels a little different to the more manicured layouts further east. The Cascade Wellness Resort on site is a comfortable and well equipped base, popular with golfers looking to explore the quieter western end of the Algarve.

The most popular Portugal golf holidays are typically based in the Algarve, the Lisbon Coast (including Cascais) and city trips around Lisbon and Porto. Cascais recorded 215,805 rounds of golf in 2022 making it one of the most popular and best Portugal golf break destinations.

Portugal’s most popular golfing region is unquestionably the Algarve, located on the southern coast of the country. From the UK, the majority of the cheap flights to Faro Airport, the region’s largest international airport, leave from London. From Faro, visitors are able to reach Vilamoura, Lagos, as well as a huge range of country resorts in the vicinity by taxi or train. There is such a high number of courses throughout the Algarve that there are plenty of opportunities to test out multiple courses in the area from your chosen resort.

Portugal golf breaks deliver great value because the country supports and grows based on its tourism demand and capacity, with established resorts and easy access via major airports. For travellers flying in, London to Faro can be quick (fastest nonstop direct flight at 2 hr 45 min) with daily nonstop options which helps keep short-break costs and travel time down.

Unlike anywhere else in Europe, most of Portugal enjoys year round sunshine making it an extremely popular location for golf professionals and amateurs. Because of this, the popularity of off-season tourism is growing in Portugal, visiting the Algarve, the country’s southern region, in the Spring and Autumn is ideal for playing golf, with temperatures averaging between 14 and 25C. Course rates are likely to be lower, with more availability and during this time you can enjoy some of the best weather in Portugal while avoiding the busiest periods.

The Algarve is our top pick for golf in Portugal. Aptly named the ‘golfing gem’ of the country, the Algarve is home to over forty fantastic courses, the most incredible coastline and world-class resorts, making it a prime location for any golf fan.

For Algarve focused Portugal golf breaks, many golfers target spring or autumn for better playing conditions, and the southern coast can stay warm well into October. Portugal also has high sunshine availability overall (2,300–3,500 sunshine hours per year, varying by location), which supports the Algarve’s reputation for reliable golf weather.