Golf in the Algarve.
One of the great golf regions of the world sits on our doorstep, the fairways around Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago, an almost year-round season and warm light off the Atlantic. We help you plan the whole trip, not just the tee times: where to stay, where to eat and how to get around between rounds.
Why the world plays here
Real published figures, each with its source and date. We check these against the sources regularly; last checked 2 July 2026.
The pedigree
- Portugal at the 2025 World Golf Awards[World Golf Awards]
- World's Best Golf Destination
- The Els Club Vilamoura, opened 2025[World Golf Awards]
- World's Best Private Golf Club
- Salgados Golf Club, 2025[World Golf Awards]
- World's Best Golf Course Renovation
- The Algarve's first championship course[Penina Hotel & Golf Resort]
- Penina, by Sir Henry Cotton
The season
- Sunshine a year in Faro[Climates to Travel]
- 3,045 hours
- Rain in July and August[Climates to Travel]
- close to 0 mm
- Typical January daytime high[Climates to Travel]
- 16.5 °C
- Typical July daytime high[Climates to Travel]
- 29.3 °C
Sources:World Golf Awards, November 2025 Penina Hotel & Golf Resort Climates to Travel, Faro climate normals
Golf in the guide
The courses, academies and golf businesses serving the Algarve, with honest reviews from people who live here.
Blue Triumph
Elevate your game from the comfort of your own villa. As Portugal’s exclusive distributor of GOLFJOY, Blue Triumph provides state-of-the-art, bespoke golf…
Alamos Golf Course
18-hole, par 71 golf course at Morgado do Reguengo Resort in Portimão, designed by European Golf Design and opened in 2006.
Morgado Golf
18-hole, par 73 course at Morgado do Reguengo Resort in Portimão, designed by European Golf Design and opened in 2003.
Penina Golf & Resort
Three golf courses at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort in Portimão, including the Algarve's first 18-hole course, built in 1966 by Sir Henry Cotton.
Isla Canela Golf Course
An 18-hole, par 72 parkland course by Juan Catarineu in Ayamonte, Spain, set among estuaries and popular with golfers from the eastern Algarve.
Robinson Club Quinta da Ria
18-hole, par 72 seaside course at Quinta da Ria Resort, Vila Nova de Cacela, inside the Ria Formosa Natural Park, designed by Rocky Roquemore in 2002.
Benamor Golf
18-hole, par 71 course at Quinta de Benamor in Tavira, conceived by Sir Henry Cotton in 1986.
Vilamoura Millennium Golf Course
A modern, tree-lined 18-hole, par 72 course at Vilamoura Golf, sharing its clubhouse with the neighbouring Laguna.
Quinta do Lago North Golf Course
Par 72 course at Quinta do Lago, totally redesigned in 2014 by Beau Welling with Paul McGinley in a EUR 9 million project.
Boavista Golf Resort
18-hole championship course at Quinta da Boavista in Lagos, designed by Howard Swan and opened in 2002.
Golf Santo António / Parque da Floresta
An 18-hole course by Pepe Gancedo running over hills behind Salema, with a signature par 3 5th and green fees published from EUR 57.
Pestana Alto Golf
18-hole, par 70 course in Alvor, the last course designed by Sir Henry Cotton, opened in 1991.
Vilamoura Old Course
Vilamoura's original course, designed by Frank Pennink in 1969 and named Portugal's Best Golf Course 2025 at the World Golf Awards.
Salgados Golf Course
18-hole, par 72 course near Salgados Beach in Guia, Albufeira, designed by Pedro Vasconcelos and opened in 1994.
Quinta do Lago South Golf Course
Par 72 course at Quinta do Lago designed in 1974 by William Mitchell, named Europe and Portugal's Best Golf Course 2024.
Balaia Golf Village Par 3 Course
9-hole executive golf course within Balaia Golf Village in Albufeira, playable in under two hours.
Quinta do Lago Laranjal Golf Course
Par 72 golf course at Quinta do Lago, opened in 2009 on a former orange grove in the Ludo Valley, 6,480 metres with five lakes.
Royal Course
18-hole, par 72 course at Vale do Lobo Resort, inaugurated in 1997 by Rocky Roquemore, home to the famous cliff-top par-3 16th hole.
Vilamoura Pinhal Golf Course
A classic parkland course by Frank Pennink and Robert Trent Jones Sr., and home to the Vilamoura Golf Academy.
Espiche Golf
An 18-hole, par 72 course near Lagos designed by Peter Sauerman, with a clubhouse ranked 3rd in the Worldwide Clubhouse of the Year 2015 awards.
Pine Cliffs Golf Course
9-hole championship course perched above the Atlantic at Pine Cliffs Resort in Albufeira, designed by Martin Hawtree.
Vale de Milho Golf
9-hole, par 3 course in Carvoeiro designed by Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas, operated by 6 Golfe, with green fees from EUR 22.
Villamoura Driving Range & Golf Academy
Golf academy at Pinhal golf course in Vilamoura, using Flightscope and TrackMan technology for lessons, junior camps and fitness screening.
Pinheiros Altos Golf Course
27-hole championship course at Quinta do Lago, the original 18 holes designed by Ronald Fream and a further 9 by George Santana da Silva in 2007.
Amendoeira Golf Resort - Faldo & O'Connor Jnr.
Two championship 18-hole courses at Amendoeira Golf Resort, designed by Sir Nick Faldo and Christy O'Connor Jnr., with a floodlit 9-hole academy.
Pestana Vale da Pinta Golf Course
18-hole, par 71 golf course in Carvoeiro, Lagoa, designed by Ronald Fream and opened in 1992, part of the Pestana Golf Resorts portfolio.
Vale do Lobo
18-hole, par 73 course at Vale do Lobo Resort designed by Sir Henry Cotton, with undulating fairways running down to the Atlantic shore.
Monte Rei Golf Course
Jack Nicklaus Signature course at Monte Rei Golf & Country Club in the Eastern Algarve, a par 72 layout of 7,182 yards played since 2007.
Pestana Silves Golf Course
18-hole, par 70 course below the Monchique mountains near Silves, measuring 5,592 metres, opened in 2006.
Pestana Gramacho Golf Course
18-hole, par 72 course near Carvoeiro, designed by Ronald Fream with former world number one Nick Price, opened in 1991.
Campo de Golf Isla Canela Links by Isla Canela
An 18-hole, par 72 links-style course on the Guadiana river in Ayamonte, Spain, recently redesigned and listed among the top 100 resorts in continental Europe.
Pestana Vila Sol Golf Course
27-hole golf course in Vilamoura, managed by the Pestana Group, opened in 1991 and played as three combinable 18-hole loops.
San Lorenzo Golf Course
18-hole course in Quinta do Lago bordering the Ria Formosa Estuary, designed by Joseph Lee and opened in 1988, sister course to Dona Filipa Hotel.
Quinta de Cima
18-hole, par 72 championship course at Quinta da Ria Resort, designed by Rocky Roquemore in 2002, with a creek crossing several fairways.
Onyria Palmares Golf
27-hole course above the Alvor Estuary and Lagos Bay, redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr., with three 9-hole loops: Alvor, Lagos and Praia.
ClubsToHire.com
Golf club rental with a shop in Faro Airport's arrivals hall and hotel delivery across the Algarve, from EUR 50 per set per week.
Ombria Algarve Golf Course
18-hole golf course at the Ombria resort in Tôr, near Loulé, designed by Jorge Santana da Silva, opened in 2023 and named Europe's Best New Golf Course 2024.
Vilamoura Laguna Golf Course
One of five courses at Vilamoura Golf, an 18-hole links-style layout with water hazards and a clubhouse shared with Millennium.
The Els Club Vilamoura
A private members-only course, redesigned from the former Victoria Course by Ernie Els; public tee times are not available.
Ocean Course
One of two Vale do Lobo golf courses, built from two of Sir Henry Cotton's original 9-hole layouts, with signature coastal holes.
Castro Marim Golf & Country Club
Three 9-hole courses (Guadiana, Atlântico and Grouse) at Castro Marim Golfe & Country Club, combinable into 18-hole rounds.
Algarve Golf Acadamy (Driving Range)
Driving range and golf academy in Albufeira.
Private Golf Course
Golf course in Cabanas de Tavira.
Vila Monte Golf Course
Golf course in Moncarapacho.
Colina Verde Golf & Sports Resort Executive Course
Executive golf course at the four-star Colina Verde resort in Moncarapacho.
Quinta do Vale Golf Resort
Golf resort in Castro Marim.
Where to stay
Hotels, villas and holiday rentals around Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago, Almancil and Albufeira, minutes from the first tee.
Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort
Vilamoura's marina landmark resort, with direct beach access, eight dining venues including Purobeach, a Tivoli Spa with Thermal Oasis and three pools.
SandyBlue
Luxury villa rental agency based in Almancil since 2006, letting 5-star pool villas across Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Dunas Douradas.
Four Seasons Fairways
Villa and apartment resort at Quinta do Lago in Almancil, with pools, tennis, a gym, spa treatments and discounted golf at 30+ Algarve courses.
Five Star Vilamoura
Property management, holiday rentals and real estate agency in Vilamoura Old Village, trading for over 20 years.
Victoria Golf Resort & Spa
Five-star Vilamoura resort managed by Accor, overlooking The Els Club golf course, with four outdoor pools, the Victoria Spa and restaurants RIA and Sensai.
Vilamoura Villas
Property management and holiday rentals in Vilamoura since 1990, plus golf, car hire and transfer arrangements.
Clever Details
Vilamoura-only property management and holiday rentals company (since 2010), with direct booking, no fees, three management packages and 24/7 guest support.
Villa Bam
Luxury 4-bedroom holiday villa with heated pool between Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago, sleeping up to 8, 10 minutes' walk from the beach.
Where to eat
The restaurants, cafés and bars the locals head to after eighteen holes.
Luz Aura Café & Snackbar Vilamoura
A calm café and snackbar at the heart of Prado Villas, Vilamoura.
Matt's Bar
26 seasons and still the heartbeat of Albufeira's nightlife. Matt's Bar is the Algarve's most iconic bar, live DJs, themed parties, VIP areas, Sunset Parties…
Cooper's Bar & Kitchen
The biggest sun terrace on the Albufeira strip. Cooper's Bar & Kitchen serves food all day, runs karaoke every evening, and hosts the legendary Bottomless…
Circle Bistro (Booking Demo)
@circlebistrodemo
A demonstration restaurant listing on Algarve Circle, set up so you can try the live table-booking flow end to end.
Tribulum Algarve
@tribulum
Chef Jonnie Pratt's seasonal European cooking in Almancil: legendary Sunday roast, EUR 18.50 weekday lunch and the Green Zebra cocktail bar.
Izzy's Beach Restaurant
A legendary beachside destination famous for its relaxed vibe, panoramic ocean views, and lively weekend sessions.
Quinta Chef
Private chefs for Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo villas since 2017: full-time chefs, catered partner villas and one-off dinners, groceries included.
Akvavit
Family-run Portuguese restaurant on Vilamoura Marina since 1990, serving fresh fish, seafood and traditional dishes from a marina-front deck and bar.
The Algarve's golf towns
Where to base yourself for the fairways you want.
One of the great golf regions of the world
The Algarve has earned its place among the finest golf destinations anywhere. The fairways around Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago draw players from across Europe, set among umbrella pines and lakes with the Atlantic never far away. Almancil sits at the heart of it all and Albufeira keeps you close to the coast, so a great round and a great evening are rarely more than a short drive apart.
Best of all, the season barely stops. Mild winters and long, bright autumns mean you can play almost any month of the year, often in shirtsleeves while the rest of Europe is under cloud. We think the trip is about more than the tee times, so alongside the golf we gather the places to stay, the restaurants the locals trust and the easiest ways to get around, with honest reviews from the people who live here. Plan the whole trip in one place, the way we would do it ourselves.
Questions people actually ask
Why is the Algarve famous for golf?
Portugal was named World's Best Golf Destination at the 2025 World Golf Awards, and the Algarve is the heart of it: dozens of championship courses within an hour of Faro airport, anchored by the clusters around Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago. The pedigree runs deep, from Penina, the Algarve's first championship course designed by Sir Henry Cotton, to The Els Club Vilamoura, named World's Best Private Golf Club in the year it opened.
Can you play golf in the Algarve all year round?
Yes, and winter is the classic season for northern European golfers. Faro gets 3,045 hours of sunshine a year, January days typically reach 16.5 °C, and July and August see close to zero rain (Climates to Travel climate normals). Courses stay open all year; spring and autumn offer the best balance of weather and availability, while high summer suits early tee times.
Where should I base myself for an Algarve golf trip?
Vilamoura puts the Old Course, Pinhal, Laguna and Millennium on your doorstep with the marina for the evenings. Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo carry the luxury end, with Quinta do Lago South and Laranjal among the region’s best-known layouts. Further west, Lagos and Portimão serve Boavista, Espiche, Palmares and Penina; out east, Monte Rei and Quinta da Ria pair with quiet Tavira.
What happened to the Dom Pedro golf courses in Vilamoura?
They changed hands and branding: the Old Course, Pinhal, Laguna and Millennium now operate as Vilamoura Golf, and the former Victoria course, host of the Portugal Masters, reopened in summer 2025 as The Els Club Vilamoura after a redesign by Ernie Els. It was named World’s Best Private Golf Club at the 2025 World Golf Awards.