Portugal is now one of Europe’s best and most popular golf destinations. The golf is championship level combined with some of the best weather in the world. Portugal’s top golf courses include Oitavos Dunes near in Cascais, Penha Longa in Sintra and Monte Rei in the Algarve. Aside from golf, a vacation to Portugal offers excellent cuisine, spectacular wine from Douro valley reds and whites to sweet Ports and Maderia, spectacular beaches and countless cultural attractions.
The top areas for golfers seeking a mix of golf and culture include the Lisbon coast, Sintra, Cascais, north to Obidos and south of Lisbon in Comporta. The Algarve on the southern coast of Portugal is a golf mecca. In many ways the region is defined by the unique contrast between its eastern and western ends. Combining Lisbon with the Algarve can make for a perfect Portugal golf experience. From Lisbon south to the Algarve is approximately 3 hours by car. From the Algarve east to the Costa del Sol in Spain is about 5 hours crossing the border with the Spanish city of Seville half way. Let Sophisticated Golfer create your custom Portugal or Spain golf vacation package.
Set in 1,000 acres in the Eastern Algarve, between the Serra do Caldeirão mountains and the Atlantic Ocean lies a haven of peace and tranquility that is the jewel in the crown of Portugese Golf: The Monte Rei Golf and Country Club.
In addition to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, consistently rated number one in Portugal, and a magnificent clubhouse Monte Rei also offers state of the art luxury accommodation to suit all tastes.
Penha Longa Resort is a historic estate that traces its origins back to the 14th century when both hermit monks and Lisbon royalty called the tranquil Sintra Mountains home. Today, guests will experience the very same sense of beauty and calm at one of the top resorts 40 minutes from Lisbon.
When Robert Trent Jones, Jr. set out to design the course at this Portugal golf hotel, he had the breathtaking scenery of Sintra to inspire him. His 27-hole course takes players through the surrounding hills and the resort itself, offering three circuits filled with bold drives, courageous approaches, and artful greens.
The coastal region around Portugal's capital city, Lisbon, is full of world class golf courses and hotels. Consider staying onsite at Penha Longa or the Oitavos Hotel, both feature onsite golf. Towns such as Estoril & Cascais offer a wide selection of restaurants and nightlife and with Lisbon close by there are plenty of cultural activities.
Golf travelers are sure to enjoy a golfing vacation in the Algarve, a scenic section of coastline in the southwest of Portugal. The region is serviced by Faro airport a 3 hour drive south from Lisbon. The Algarve benefits from a warm temperatures year round with the best months being fall and spring.
Algarve's we personally recommend the Dona Filipa hotel, which boasts San Lorenzo, arguably the country's finest golf course, and the beautiful Monte Rei development in the Algarve's east. The premier golf courses in the Algarve region it’s Monte Rei, San Lorenzo, Oceanico Old, plus Quinta de Cima and Quinta do Lago.
The coastal region around Portugal's capital city, Lisbon, is full of world-class golf courses and hotels. Consider staying onsite at Penha Longa Ritz Carlton in Sintra or the Praia D El Rey Villas and Resort in Obidos, both feature onsite golf. Towns such as Sintra and Cascais offer a wide selection of restaurants and nightlife, and with Lisbon close by, there are plenty of cultural activities.
Featured Portugal Golf Courses
Troia Golf
South of Lisbon Portugal’s Troia Peninsula is 13 miles long and one of the world’s longest uninterrupted strips of sand. The setting is tough to beat with views of the Atlantic Ocean and the mountains across the Sado River, including the par-4 third hole, which Trent Jones dubbed one of his best. He routed the course through a towering pine forest and sandscapes leaving a very naturalistic feel akin to a nature walk. His typical strategic bunkering and smaller greens are difficult to navigate. Troia has been renovated for 2025 bringing the course back to its original standard and is one of the most enjoyable courses in the region.
Royal Obidos Golf
The Royal Obidos golf course opened in 2012. It’s located within 1 hour north of Lisbon and just down the road from West Cliff and Praia D El Re golf clubs. The architect was the late Severiano Ballesteros and it was one of his last creations. There are stunning sea views which make the Royal Obidos an attractive course to play but it will also present a testing time for golfers of most levels. A challenge waits on the first hole with a difficult dogleg. This followed by a spectacular combination of holes overlooking the Obidos lagoon.
Praia D’ El Rey Golf
Praia D’El Rey is arguably one of the most stunning golf courses in Europe. Set among extensive pine forests and undulating dunes, with spectacular views over the Atlantic and the Berlengas Islands beyond. The 18-hole golf course was designed by the renowned American golf architect Cabell Robinson and was inaugurated on 14th June 1997. Deep bunkers, sloping greens, and sandy dunes contrast sharply with the lush fairways, making it the complete golfing challenge.
West Cliffs Golf Course
West Cliffs Golf Course has been designed to perfectly fit into the natural environment and create one of the most wonderful golf experiences. Nature is in abundance and from every hole there is a stunning view over the Atlantic Ocean and Óbidos Lagoon.
Penha Longa Alantico, Lisbon, Portugal
Penha Longa Atlántico is another one of Europe's best golf courses. Integrated within the luxury Penha Longa resort near Sintra, the 72 Atlântico course sits within a protected natural reserve overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Penha Longa's was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, who took full advantage of the spectacular setting and designed exceptional layout. Penha Longa sits on an exposed plateau and when gusts are funneled across the mountains. The par-five 6th is a signature hole, a picture postcard green framed by a lake and a centuries-old aqueduct and castle tower.
Dunas Course – Terras da Comporta, Lisbon
The Dunas Course opened in 2023 and quickly found its name listed on the World’s Best New Courses. Dunas Golf Course is now in the top 10 best courses in Continental Europe, the highest ranking ever for a new golf course. The holes are played over sandy dunes that fringe the beaches, where the breeze constantly blows. Dunas is a beautiful, natural, and uncontrived golf course, a true links, unique throughout southern Europe.
Palmares, Algarve
The Royal Golf Course located in the Algarve region is a prestigious 18-hole championship course, considered one of the most challenging courses in the country. The Royal course offers amazing views, especially on the par three 16th which features a cliff-top carry. The Ocean course at the Vale do Lobo Golf Club boasts five ocean holes that take you closer to the water than any other course in the Algarve. Both are recognized as Portugal’s most prestigious golf courses.
San Lorenzo Golf Course, Algarve, Portugal
One of the most popular golf courses in Portugal and finest in Europe, San Lorenzo Golf course enjoys a magnificent location on the exclusive Quinta do Lago estate in the Algarve. Designed by Joe Lee, the course is laid out in a figure of eight. San Lorenzo is surrounded by some of the most appealing landscapes in the Algarve: the serene Ria Formosa estuary, with its shallow lagoons and golden beaches, provides a suitably beguiling backdrop. The course is only open to Sophisticated Golfer’s clients staying at the glamorous Dona Filipa Hotel.
Old Course Vilamoura, Algarve
The Old course is the second oldest course in the Algarve, designed by Frank Pennink. The Old opened for play in 1969 and has stood the test of time, consistently ranked among the best in Portugal. With its lush fairways, mature pine trees, and impeccably maintained greens, each round promises a unique challenge. Designed to inspire, every hole is a blend of natural beauty and golfing precision, making it an experience that stays with you long after the final putt.
Monte Rei Golf, Algarve
Set in 1,000 acres in the Eastern Algarve, between the Serra do Caldeirão mountains and the Atlantic Ocean lies a haven of peace and tranquility that is the jewel in the crown of Portuguese Golf. The Monte Rei Golf and Country Club, an18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. The design is a blend of modern and classic wide fairways, aggressive bunkering and shallow, angled greens that hook around hazards. Monte Rei is ranked in the top100 golf courses in the world by Golf Digest magazine.
Quinta do Lago South, Algarve
The South Course at Quinta do Lago was designed in 1974 by William Mitchell, who introduced American-standard greens, tees and bunkers to the Algarve. Soon the course gained a prestigious reputation and became a flagship in the European Tour Course. South Course has hosted the Portuguese Open eight times. The front nine holes, which wind their way through the parkland, favor a draw. While the back nine, which loop around the lake, favor a fade from the tea. Quinta do Lago also features two other excellent courses, The North and Laranjal layouts.
