Golf Holiday Inspiration in Portugal…

We are often asked, ‘What are the best golf courses in Portugal?’ – so we’ve put together some of our team’s top picks. From well-loved classics to exciting new courses, this list highlights some of the finest golfing destinations in Portugal. And because a great stay completes the perfect golf getaway, we’ve also included top hotel recommendations to make your trip even more memorable. Read on to discover where to play and where to stay!

Vilamoura has established itself as one of the best golfing destinations in Europe, and with fantastic golf courses, stunning beaches and an excellent range of restaurants and bars, it is not difficult to see why. The five-star Pestana Vila Sol Hotel offers something for everyone, located less than a 10-minute drive away from the Marina and boasting a range of excellent facilities; Making this the perfect destination for your golf holiday! The 27-hole Vila Sol golf course is one of the most popular golf courses in the Algarve, and conveniently for golfers it is located on-site to this spectacular resort.

If you’re planning a golf holiday in the Algarve, the Pestana Viking is an unbeatable choice. Perched on a clifftop with stunning views over the Atlantic, this stylish hotel offers a perfect blend of relaxation and easy access to some of the best golf courses in Portugal. As part of the renowned Pestana Group, guests benefit from preferred tee times top-tier courses like Gramacho, Vale da Pinta, and Silves Golf—all just a short drive away.

The hotels central location means the choices are plentiful for things to do outside of enjoying the hotel spa or local golf courses. Why not go and explore the Senhora da Rocha Beach along with the unspoilt coved beaches located only a short walk from the hotel. And if you want to explore the ocean rather than the land then a number of local boat trips are available for a day out at sea.

The Pestana Blue Alvor Beach Hotel boasts a fantastic location just a couple of minutes stroll away from Alvor’s golden beach and just two kilometres from the centre of this charming town. This all-inclusive hotel is the perfect option for families and golfers looking for a golf break in Portugal; with an array of excellent facilities and some of the Algarve’s best golf courses in easy reach.

Situated in a secluded coastal setting on the edge of the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, The Dunas Course is an 18-hole championship course at Terras da Comporta and is sure to be quickly recognised as one of the best in Portugal.

This brand-new course offers a choice of six tees available on each hole, and it’s the perfect place to play as part of a mixed group of handicap golfers on your golf holiday in Portugal and indeed, is already receiving some fantastic reviews and feedback. Whilst the par-3’s are a challenge, the par-5’s do provide a good opportunity to make your score back if you’re able to get your drive into position.

This 18-hole course which could easily be in the running for best course in the Algarve, meanders through the hills north of Loulé, and was built with nature in mind. With as much of the natural surroundings untouched as possible, it produces breathtaking views throughout the round of golf.

Ombria is an 18-hole, Par 71 course that plays 6343 yards. The design of the course was made with accuracy being paramount, as the tight undulating fairways and strategic bunkers will give any level of golfer a few dilemmas over shot selection.

Troia Golf Course is a unique option for those visiting the Lisbon area, not only because of the course itself but the journey to this fascinating Peninsula, which is an area of outstanding natural beauty just an hour south of the Portuguese capital. Considered as one of the best courses in the area and designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr, Troia is an unusual mixture of links and parkland, with rows of magnificent pine trees bordered by sand.

Rough areas of wild plants are also off the fairway, which naturally punish any wayward golf, so the best thing is to keep your ball on the fairway, or you’ll be playing from the wild dune areas. Water rarely comes into play, but the bunkers and the trouble off the fairway will keep your mind on the course and away from the views out to sea and across to the mountains.

The O’Connor Jnr Course was designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr, as the name suggests. Complementing the neighbouring Faldo Course, the course benefits from the fertile valley in which it is located. This helps to promote the natural plant life that surrounds the course, and maintenance of the course is very much designed to get the best out of the location.

Skilful landscaping has helped develop an expansive, oasis-like setting with an abundance of mature palm trees sweeping throughout the course. As golf courses in Portugal go, these two courses don’t always spring to mind, but they should be in your thoughts for your next golf break to Portugal.

All golfers are challenged by the various water features spread throughout the entire course, and the tees are generally well connected to the fairways, but it’s the longer overall distance, water hazards and imposing greens that provide this course’s challenge.

As mentioned, the Faldo course neighbours The O’Connor Jnr Course, and again, as the name would suggest, this course was designed by Nick Faldo with strategic play in mind.  This 6,604-metre, par–72 championship layout demands careful positioning to score well.

In a modern twist of a traditional recipe, cacti and wild herbs are the order of the day and desert scrub bunkers of crushed limestone make up this golf course that revels in the classic principles of strategic play. The Faldo is well worth considering for your next golf escape and a favourite amongst the team.

This is one for lovers of tough par-3’s, with 2 short holes of around 200 metres, the 8th and 16th, which are both over water to get the pulse rate up. With the Arrabida mountain range as a backdrop, this can be a very underrated course but well worth playing, in our opinion. This layout is loved by low and high-handicappers alike and has a well-earned reputation for good maintenance, friendly staff and quality playing conditions.

Located on the south side of the River Tagus and within comfortable driving distance of Lisbon and the Aroeira courses, Quinta do Peru has been designed for amateur players but also for the requirements of some professionals, so it will give you a tough but fair test of your golf. This is a quality option for those looking for golf courses near Lisbon and a course you’ll enjoy but want to play again to right some wrongs.

The course is designed for the long hitter, which is shown by the first three holes that present a Par-5 of 473 metres, a Par-3 of 186 metres, and then a Par-4 of 368 metres, so time to open up those shoulders and let it rip…