10 Great Reasons to Choose Golf Holiday Destinations in Portugal
With golf becoming even more international now, golf trips to Portugal have for many years been the favourite destination for us Brits to travel to for amazing golf, great weather and excellent nightlife.
- There's a top choice of golf resorts in Portugal with superb accommodation options
- Thousands of golfers return for golf breaks Portugal to play the classic courses year-after-year including Vale do Lobo, Monte Rei, The Old Course Vilamoura, and Praia Del Rey
- The best golf hotel resorts to choose from including the all-inclusive Dona Filipa and San Lorenzo, Monte Rei Golf and Country Club, Penina Golf and Resort, Dom Pedro Vilamoura Resort, Marina Club Lagos Resort, Amendoeira resort and more
- Portugal boasts an array of golf holiday destinations including the Algarve, Lisbon, Madeira and the Azores
- The weather - perfect for a golf escape when it's cold in the UK
- A wide variety of locations to choose from with nightlife, shopping, and restaurants. All inclusive are becoming more popular due to the fantastic choice.
Are you looking for a Portugal golf holiday? This European country boasts a great range of fantastic hotels and championship courses backing onto incredible beaches that make for a perfect golf destination. Easy to travel to and located only a short flight from the UK, Portugal rivals Spain and is ideal for those looking for a short stay golf break or even something longer.
Portugal golf trips offer a lot to groups of all sizes, so do contact one of our golf travel experts for advice and a tailored quote.
Our Team’s Top Pick Golf Resorts in Portugal:
Marriott Praia D’El Rey
This stunning Lisbon Coast Portugal golf holiday resort has a fantastic location right on the Atlantic coast with beautiful views of the beach.
There are two courses to play here, the on-site Praia D’el Rey and the first-class West Cliffs course which was opened in 2017. The hotel facilities are impressive, with lots of good feedback about the food and wine. The Medieval town of Obidos is only a 20-minute drive.
Quinta da Marinha Resort
Another Lisbon Coastal choice, this 5-star resort is a popular choice for a resort in Portugal and is set in a beautiful residential area near to the coastal town of Cascais. The resort-style course on-site is challenging but will appeal to all levels. This is a perfect base to visit Lisbon, and the stunning beaches nearby. The coastline here really is remarkable, along with the choices of restaurants in Cascais that makes this hotel a great opportunity for golfing in Portugal.
Vila Gale Cascais
This centrally located 4-star hotel is only a 5-minute walk into central Cascais. From the higher floors, the rooms have spectacular views across the Atlantic Ocean and Marina. The real benefit of this hotel, other than booking it for a golf break to Portugal is its location, is the free parking on-site.
Penina Hotel Golf Resort
A popular choice amongst those who book a Portugal golf package. The Penina Hotel Resort situated in central Algarve is a friendly and welcoming hotel is the classic Portugal golf holiday hotel. It was the first golf resort on the Algarve. There are three courses on-site to choose from which cater for all standards of play.
There are huge swimming pools and plentiful restaurants to choose from. Rooms can be booked to view over the course, mountains or swimming pool. The old town of Portimao is nearby, which offers relaxing local culture and gastronomy.
Dona Filipa and San Lorenzo
Ideal for Portugal golf break holidays, this hotel is located in the high-class area of Vale do Lobo in the Algarve and is a popular golfing break location. The hotel recently had a complete internal renovation, which has updated this resort into a modern and relaxing retreat.
Staying at the 5-star hotel is perfect for a golf holiday in Portugal because it allows guests to book around on the stunning and challenging San Lorenzo Golf Club. Unlimited golf is available on these courses currently. Other courses in the area are Quinta do Lago; Vale do Lobo and Pinheiros Altos.
Dom Pedro Vilamoura Hotel
Based in Vilamoura Algarve, previously known as the Dom Pedro Golf Hotel, this hotel has a great location right in the centre of Vilamoura Marina. The hotel provides a shuttle bus to all the Dom Pedro golf clubs surrounding Vilamoura, which of course we will arrange for clients.
In respect of golfing destinations in the northern part of the country in areas such as the Lisbon coast a favourable climate exists because of the Gulf Stream, culminating in warm summers and mild winters.
Which are the Best Golf Courses in Portugal?
Penha Longa
Penha Longa is a preferred golf club in Portugal for those who book Lisbon Coast holidays. located on a beautiful historical site with an appealing design. The 18 hole course is set in the Sintra Natural Park which provides stunning views to the mountains and to the ocean beyond.
The course is challenging especially with any wind, however, the whole place has a relaxed charm which will ensure you enjoy your round whatever the score. Read our guide to golf in Lisbon here
Praia D’el Rey
No wonder so many choose the Praia D'el Rey, this Lisbon masterpiece on the coast is one of the great courses in Europe an an extremely popular golf holiday destination. This links course ranks among the top in Europe and the natural beauty of the surroundings make this a great holiday choice for all abilities.
The course designed by the renowned Cabell B Robertson displays aspects of thoughtful layout and design which one comes to expect from this great architect.
The Old Course Vilamoura
Looking for a popular golf holiday package? Portugal's The Old Course in Vilamoura is definitely a customer favourite for any stay in Vilamoura and a great advert for Portuguese golf. An excellent 18 hole test designed similar to a British parkland course, but in the sun! Tougher than some of the other resort golf courses, the golf course requires some strategic thinking to score low.
The charming and attractive clubhouse is perfect to relax after a round, with a highly rated restaurant and very attentive staff. It is easy to see why so many golfers book the Old Course Vilamoura for their golf holiday to Portugal. We have written a guide for the perfect 3-day golf trip to Vilamoura
Quinta do Lago
Set in lovely scenery along the Ria Formosa Natural Park in the Algarve. The South course is a real stunner that has it all, umbrella pines, water hazards, in immaculate condition and a good test. There are two other golf courses on-site, the North and Laranjal. All are worthy of a mention for great golf in Portugal.
San Lorenzo
Some of our most popular trips to Portugal include the San Lorenzo. This golf course is a real gem and is one of Portugal’s finest (currently ranked number five in Portugal), located in the Algarve near Vale do Lobo. The course has some beautiful scenery and will test all aspects of your game. The putting green along with the course greens and fairways are some of the best in the region.
Palmares
Last but not least is Palmares which boasts a Trent designed golf course in Lagos Bay if you are considering booking a golf holiday to Portugal. Palmares golf course is very popular with Links players although it has the added attraction of being situated along with one of the most beautiful coastlines in Portugal.
There is a range of top quality golf courses to play on a golf tour; we must also mention the Victoria Course in Vilamoura. The host of the annual Portugal Masters on the European Tour. Other courses include the Faldo at Amendoeira and Monte Rei.
When to Play Golf in Portugal?
It's no surprise that golfers return to Portugal for luxury breaks, the Portuguese climate allows for year-round golf with over 300 days of sunshine a year, however, the majority of golfers choose the period from October to May. This is to take advantage of the milder temperatures and cheaper prices offered before the summer season kicks in.
One can play golf in Portugal 2020 in the summer months and the course is indeed less busy during, these periods, however, the temperatures can often reach the mid-30’s. For this reason, it is advisable to book early to ensure an early morning tee time is guaranteed. Popular golf holiday types in Portugal include all-inclusive, luxury and unlimited golf.
Destinations for Golf Breaks to Portugal
What Our Customers Say About Us - Testimonials:
Excellent service, great price and quick reply
Recently travelled to Amendoeira golf resort in the Algarve with 360. We had a great trip at a very good price. They were very helpful in picking the venue, giving us several options to choose from and very prompt in replying to all our questions. Will definitely use 360 again for our Algarve golf spa break.
' A great team who went above and beyond '
Everyone I have spoken to at 360 Golf Holidays has been incredibly helpful and proactive when making my booking. They provide many options for golfing holidays and when we had decided on where to book for our golf break to Portugal they processed the booking payments simply and smoothly. All details were incredibly clear for us to make the trip. Unfortunately, our trip had to be cancelled in the midst of COVID-19 travel bans and 360 have been amazing during this time, my refund is currently being processed and the team at 360 have been of great assistance to ensure that I have remained informed throughout. A great team and would look to book with them again (hopefully soon).
' Excellent service, immaculate planning'
We had some personal issues in the lead up to our golf holiday in Portugal which meant that we asked 360 Golf Holidays to re-arrange accommodation dates, transfers etc. Every time we asked, they came back promptly and acted upon all our requests extremely efficiently. Everything went very smoothly and we ended up having a fantastic golfing holiday in Portugal with 360.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Where do I fly into for Golf Holidays in Portugal?
Faro is the main hub for flights in Portugal considering that 80% of golf travellers visit the Algarve to play golf, however, if playing hidden gems is something that ticks the boxes for you, You may wish to consider a trip to Lisbon where Lisbon Portela Airport would be the airport to fly to.
When is the best time to play golf?
The golf courses are slightly quieter from May through to the end of August, which coincide with the warmest months of the year. However the most popular months for golf in Portugal would be March, April and May then September, October and November. Typically the hotel accommodations are cheaper in these months also although green fees will be higher in what is considered “peak” golf season.
Where are the best places for great nightlife?
This depends on where you are looking to play golf in Portugal. The most popular “Golfer” Nightspots would be based in and around Vilamoura which is located in the Algarve and cities such as Porto. For better value for money, you will find both great nightlife, bars and excellent golf in and around the Albufeira and Lagos regions of the Algarve. If heading over to the Lisbon region, then Lisbon City has great metropolitan food and drink scene with some world-class night spots. Cascais is one of our favourite regions in Portugal for nightlife which is more traditional.
Which UK Regional Airports serve this destination?
All major UK airports can cater for Portugal golf breaks because flights are available from London Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Southampton, Cardiff and Southend
How many golf courses are there in Portugal?
There are 75 golf courses to play in Portugal with the highest concentration of 31 being located in the southern region of the Algarve, Lisbon is the second most popular destination to play golf within Portugal.
Which currency is applicable for use here?
In Portugal, the Euro is the currency that is used.
