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.
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.
Featured Portugal Golf Courses
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.
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.
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.
