01 / 06 · ≈ 1 h from Faro airport
Lagos
Ocean views and the best value on the coast.
- #3Palmares
- #20Espiche
- #31Boavista
- #35Santo António
4 courses · from €68
“The hard part is not finding a course. It is choosing one without paying for a name you did not need.”
Golf is why many visitors come to the Algarve between October and May: more than 40 courses along 150 km of coast, most within an hour of Faro airport. In twenty years of Algarve hospitality (Four Seasons, Pine Cliffs, IHG, Carvoeiro Clube) I heard the same four questions every season: which course, how far, how much, and do I need my handicap certificate. Here are the answers, with October 2026 figures and a source for every number.
Six golf coasts pick your base
02 / 06 · ≈ 45–55 min from Faro airport
Portimão & Carvoeiro
Historic Penina, Morgado's giant greens, Carvoeiro's pair.
- #12Penina Championship
- #17Gramacho
- #24Morgado
- #25Vale da Pinta
- #29Silves
- +3
8 courses · from €106
03 / 06 · ≈ 30–40 min from Faro airport
Albufeira
Buggy-included championship golf at Amendoeira.
- #10Amendoeira O'Connor Jnr
- #11Amendoeira Faldo
- #22Salgados
- #28Pine Cliffs
- #37Balaia
5 courses · from €75
04 / 06 · ≈ 20 min from Faro airport
Vilamoura
The Algarve's golf capital, under the umbrella pines.
- #2Old Course
- #9The Els Club
- #21Laguna
- #26Vila Sol
- #27Pinhal
- +1
6 courses · from €161
05 / 06 · ≈ 15–20 min from Faro airport
The Golden Triangle
Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo: the premium end, 15 minutes from Faro.
- #4Quinta do Lago South
- #5San Lorenzo
- #6Quinta do Lago North
- #8Laranjal
- #13Vale do Lobo Ocean
- +3
8 courses · from €122
06 / 06 · ≈ 30–50 min from Faro airport
Tavira & the East
Monte Rei, Portugal's No. 2 course, by the Ria Formosa.
- #1Monte Rei North
- #7Quinta de Cima
- #16Quinta da Ria
- #19Castro Marim
- #23Quinta do Vale
- +1
6 courses · from €95
The scorecard all 37 courses, one line each
October 2026 18-hole green fee, high season. Rank = Today's Golfer Algarve ranking. Tap a row's button to see hotels next to that course.
- 3 PalmaresTop 100 PT Top 8Lagos · Links-style holes above the Bay of Lagos 27 · 72 Rate on request Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 31 BoavistaLagos · Ocean views and a Swilken Bridge replica on the 18th 18 · 71 €102 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 20 EspicheLagos · Eco course among lakes and vineyards 18 · 72 €90 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 35 Santo AntónioBudens · Hilly, close to the natural terrain 18 · 71 €68 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 12 Penina ChampionshipAlvor · One of the Algarve's oldest; lake-guarded 13th 18 · 73 €110 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 24 MorgadoPortimão · Huge greens; Portuguese Open 2017–19 18 · 73 €119 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 32 ÁlamosPortimão · Views to the Monchique hills 18 · 71 €119 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 34 AltoAlvor · 'O Gigante', a 570 m hole 18 · 70 €106 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 17 GramachoCarvoeiro · 27 greens with alternate pin positions 18 · 72 €135 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 25 Vale da PintaCarvoeiro · An olive tree over 1,200 years old 18 · 72 €135 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 29 SilvesSilves · Water-guarded opening hole 18 · 70 €135 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- — FerragudoNew 2026Ferragudo · Brand-new course (soft opening 2026) 18 · 73 New: rate to confirm Stay nearby
- 11 Amendoeira FaldoAlcantarilha · Desert-style, rocky outcrops 18 · 72 €193buggy included Stay nearby
- 10 Amendoeira O'Connor JnrAlcantarilha · Large lakes and orange groves 18 · 72 €193buggy included Stay nearby
- 22 SalgadosAlbufeira · Seaside course threaded with lakes 18 · 72 €139 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 28 Pine CliffsAlbufeira · Clifftop par 3 'Devil's Parlour' over a ravine 9 €902 × 9 holes Stay nearby
- 37 BalaiaAlbufeira · Short course for beginners and short game 9 · 27 €75all-in Stay nearby
- 2 Old CourseVilamoura · Umbrella-pine parkland, the Algarve classic 18 · 73 €275 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 9 The Els ClubWorld’s Best Private Club 2025Vilamoura · Former Victoria, Portugal Masters venue 2007–22 18 · 72 Private club Stay nearby
- 21 LagunaVilamoura · Lakes and 79 bunkers 18 · 72 €170 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 30 MillenniumVilamoura · Pine-lined holes 3 to 7 18 · 72 €170 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 27 PinhalVilamoura · Small greens among the pines 18 · 72 €170 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 26 Vila SolQuarteira · Narrow pine-lined fairways 27 · 72 €161 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 4 Quinta do Lago SouthTop 100 PT #3Quinta do Lago · 200 m par 3 15th over the lake 18 · 72 €243 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 6 Quinta do Lago NorthQuinta do Lago · Lake-guarded 12th; redesigned 2014 18 · 72 €223 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 8 LaranjalQuinta do Lago · Former orange grove with five lakes 18 · 72 €223 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 5 San LorenzoQuinta do Lago · Ria Formosa marshes and lagoons 18 · 72 Closed for renovation
- 18 Vale do Lobo RoyalVale do Lobo · The famous clifftop 16th 18 · 72 €177 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 13 Vale do Lobo OceanVale do Lobo · Par 3 15th along the beach 18 · 73 €177 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 15 Pinheiros AltosQuinta do Lago · Island green on the 8th 27 · 72 €122 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 14 OmbriaLoulé · Inland hills, GEO-certified 18 · 71 €199buggy included Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 1 Monte Rei NorthTop 100 PT #2Vila Nova de Cacela · Portugal's first Nicklaus course; GPS buggy 18 · 72 €245buggy included Stay nearby
- 7 Quinta de CimaVila Nova de Cacela · Water on holes 16–18 18 · 72 €145 Stay nearby
- 16 Quinta da RiaVila Nova de Cacela · Views over the Ria Formosa 18 · 72 €145 Stay nearby
- 33 BenamorTavira · Water and bunkers near Tavira 18 · 71 €113 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 23 Quinta do ValeCastro Marim · Six par 3s, six par 4s, six par 5s 18 · 72 €95 Book a tee time Stay nearby
- 19 Castro MarimCastro Marim · Views across the Guadiana to Spain 27 · 71 Rate on request Book a tee time Stay nearby
Hotel links open Booking.com through our partner Stay22.
What changed 2022 to 2028, at a glance
- 2022
Last Portugal Masters
The DP World Tour event left Vilamoura after 16 editions.
- 1 Jan 2025
A22 goes toll-free
Driving between courses now costs only fuel.
- 2025
Victoria becomes The Els Club
Redesigned by Ernie Els. Private: visitors only via packages.
- 2026
Ferragudo opens
A new 18-hole, par 73 course near Portimão.
- 19 Oct 2026
San Lorenzo closes
Full renovation. Do not plan a 2026–27 trip around it.
- 2028
San Lorenzo reopens
Expected date, to be confirmed.
When to play the months that matter
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are peak golf season: mild days in the low to mid 20s, firm fairways and the highest green fees. Quinta do Lago's group deals, for example, exclude exactly April, May, September, October and November.
July and August are hot (average highs around 29 °C in Faro) and courses work hard to stay green; play at dawn. November to January bring most of the year's rain, but also the best prices: at the Old Course the same round costs €275 in October and €215 in December.
Peak golf monthsAverage high (°C)Rain (mm)
Before your first tee time four numbers to know
28 / 36
Max handicap
Men / women at most courses. Strictly enforced at the Old Course and Quinta do Lago South.
€55–60
Buggy, 18 holes
Vilamoura, October 2026. Included at Monte Rei, Ombria and both Amendoeira courses.
€118
Twilight green fee
Vilamoura courses in October: the easiest saving of the week.
0
Jeans on the course
Smart casual: collared shirt, tailored shorts OK. No T-shirts, trainers or swimwear.
Flying with clubs
| Airline | Weight | Fee per bag, each way |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 20 kg | £45 when booking, £50 later |
| easyJet | 20 kg | £42 online, £52 at the airport |
| Jet2 | 22 kg | from £10 |
| British Airways | — | £20–65 |
Prices are what the airlines charged in August 2025; check yours when booking.
Getting around with a golf bag
Taxis add up fast when you play a different course every day, and the Algarve's courses are spread over 150 km. With the A22 toll-free, a hire car is usually the cheapest option for a golf week. Book an estate or SUV: two golf bags do not fit in the boot of a compact.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best golf course in the Algarve?
On current rankings, Monte Rei North (Jack Nicklaus, near Tavira) and Quinta do Lago South. The Top 100 Golf Courses Portugal 2026 update places them second and third in the country, and Today's Golfer ranks Monte Rei first in the Algarve.
How much does a round of golf cost in the Algarve?
In October 2026 (high season) an 18-hole green fee ranges from about €68 (Santo António) to €275 (the Old Course in Vilamoura). Most courses sit between €100 and €200. Winter and twilight rates are noticeably cheaper.
When is the best time to play golf in the Algarve?
March to May and September to November: warm, dry and firm, but also the most expensive. December and January are cheaper and often sunny, with more chance of rain.
Do I need a handicap certificate to play in the Algarve?
At most courses, yes. The usual maximum is 28 for men and 36 for women, and it is strictly enforced at premium courses such as the Old Course and Quinta do Lago South.
Is San Lorenzo open?
San Lorenzo closes on 19 October 2026 for a renovation expected to last until 2028.
Can visitors play The Els Club Vilamoura?
It is a private members' club since reopening in 2025. Visitors can only play it through selected packages.
Sources and method
Course data from Portugal Golf (portugalgolf.net) course pages. Green fees: October 2026 18-hole rates published by vilamouracourses.golf, cross-checked with 1golf.eu. Rankings: Top 100 Golf Courses Portugal (January 2026 update) and Today's Golfer Algarve ranking. Climate: IPMA, Faro normals 1991–2020. Drive times are approximate and assume no traffic. We have no commercial relationship with any golf course listed.
Photo credits: Vitor Oliveira (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection (CC BY-SA 3.0, 2 photos) · Guy Renard (CC BY 2.0, 9 photos) · Eduard Marmet (CC BY-SA 2.0, 2 photos) · Joseolgon (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.
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