For a memorable round of golf amidst stunning scenery with the sun shining overhead, Portugal really cannot be beaten. Chosen five years in a row, between 2014 and 2018, as Best Golf Destination in Europe and the World by the World Golf Awards™, Portugal has established its place as a must visit country for anyone serious about golfing in the best courses in the world.
Golf Holidays in Portugal
For its modest size, Portugal has more than ninety courses to offer you during a golf break in this premier golf destination. A mild climate all year long means that the golf season never ends in Portugal and regardless of whether you’re an accomplished pro or a curious novice, you’ll be able to find a course that suits you perfectly. Here are some of our top recommendations for your next golf holidays in Portugal.
1. Oitavos Dunes
Nestled beautifully into Sintra-Cascais National Park, Oitavos Dunes course has been providing golf enthusiasts with a delightful mix of links and woodland holes since 2001. This par 71 course is set at the most westerly point of mainland Europe and offers some gorgeous views over the Atlantic Ocean. Fit for the pros, several Portuguese Opens have been held here. You can find the European golf tour schedule here. Aside from the beautiful course, you’ll find plenty of wonderful places to sleep, eat, and explore in Sintra, Cascais and the surrounding area. I suggest you stay at the magnificent The Oitavos hotel, right on the grounds of the golf course. Looking for the best hotels in Cascais? We’ve written about it here.
2. Tróia Golf Course
A very special course easily accessible from Lisbon, Tróia Golf Course makes for a fabulous golf break in Portugal. It’s in the list of the top 100 golf resorts in continental Europe by Golf World. Situated between the Sado Estuary and Arrábida National Park, the Par 72 course has some of the best golf in Portugal with the incredible 3rd hole being one of Robert Trent Jones Senior’s best. Your experience here starts with a ferry ride across from Setúbal and once arriving on the island, you’ll find everything you need including luxury accommodation. At the Aqualuz Tróia hotel, you have plenty of options to help you relax after a day of golf at their exquisite wellness centre, including an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, Turkish bath and fitness room. Read all about one of the most sought after destinations in Portugal, very close to this golf course: Comporta.
3. Atlantic Championship Course at Penha Longa
A beautiful golf opportunity in the Sintra area, this lush course offers elegant charm within a gorgeous natural setting. Another Trent Jones masterpiece, this course is just secluded enough to help you feel like you’re getting away from it all, but it easily accessible as a day trip from Lisbon. Here you’ll find exciting and challenging shots with views overlooking the neighbouring coastal towns of Cascais and Estoril. The Penha Longa resort also offers 194 luxury rooms in a posh hotel that looks out over the golf course and the surrounding mountains.
4. Monte Rei Golf & Country Club
Attention to detail is what singles Monte Rei out as a truly unique golfing experience. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, this challenging course boasts a hazardous selection of water and bunkers that will make the shot choice difficult and interesting. In terms of accommodation, the estate is set on over 400 hectares in the East Algarve countryside and features a refined country club with villa accommodations only 9 km from the Praia da Manta Rota beach and 13 km from Castle of Castro Marim.
5. San Lorenzo Golf Course
Still, in the Algarve, you’ll find San Lorenzo Golf Course. This exclusive joint, designed by American architect Joe Lee is available exclusively to guests of the Dona Filipa Hotel and, of course, to its private members. With 18 holes demanding your utmost attention, this admirable course will provide you with a rewarding round no matter your handicap.
6. Quinta do Lago, South Course
You can’t talk about golf in Portugal without mentioning Quinta do Lago, and although the resort offers three unique courses, our number one pick in the south course. Among the top courses in both Portugal and Europe, this excellent golf break destination has a number of holes overlooking the Ria Formosa Natural Park. This 6.500-metre par 72 course has earned a favoured reputation among European tour players, its prestige no doubt unharmed by the fact that it is set among umbrella pines, lakes and stunning wildflowers. If you’ve never been in Quinta do Lago, you don’t know what you’re missing.
7. Victoria Golf Course – Dom Pedro
It’s the most well-known claim to fame is that it has hosted the Portuguese Masters every year, since 2007, and there is no doubt that Victoria Golf Course can provide a challenge for even the most experienced players. In fact, when it was first designed by golfing legend Arnold Palmer, this course was heralded as one of the most ambitious golf projects ever to be undertaken on Portuguese soil. It has certainly lived up to the hype and is now considered a benchmark of quality and consistency within the world of golf. The Dom Pedro resort also offers three four-star hotels for you to choose from, to truly make this a most memorable golf break in Portugal.
8. Vale do Lobo Royal
Of course, the list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the proud Portuguese golf course that is home to the most photographed golf hole in all of Europe. The Royal’s 16th, with a cliff-top carryover, is truly one of the most celebrated golfing images in the world and is now considered the penultimate symbol of golf in the Algarve. In addition to just being pretty to look at, this scenic par 3 is also more than able to present a golfing challenge. It is mostly surrounded by water, turning the green into a type of island and meaning that tee shots need to be right on target and land gently.
Follow our map and discover where all the best golf courses are located
Golf Holidays in Portugal
As you can see, you have plenty of worthy options for an unforgettable golf break in Portugal. With most of the top courses offering beautiful accommodations and good access from one of Portugal’s three main international airports, it is easy to take a golf break in Portugal. Whether you’re just looking for a weekend getaway or to combine some days on the greens with part of a larger Portuguese tour.
