Is Portugal Going To Be Your Next Golf Holiday Destination?

Portugal can boast some of the most sort after golfing holidays in Europe. Thanks to the brilliant year round climate and the top quality courses, hotels and resorts, the Algarve has become renowned for being a perfect foreign golf holiday destination.

For larger groups, the action packed town of Vilamoura is the best destination. In addition to the nightlife that is focused on the marina, Vilamoura has seven championship golf courses. Choosing from the Algarve’s endless golfing delights can be tricky, but some recommendations are the Penina resort, Dona Filipa, which boasts San Lorenzo, arguably the country’s best track, and the relatively new Monte Rei development in the Algarve’s east.

If you are looking for a more sunny destination then try travelling a little further to the island of Madeira, but perhaps one of the best upcoming resorts is the coast near Lisbon. The shoreline along the Atlantic has some awe-inspiring golf courses including Quinta da Marinha, Praia D’El Rey and Oitavos. New courses can be suplimented alongside old favourites to make the golf in Portugal one of the most popular destinations for a golf holiday in the sun.

The coast of Lisbon, in golfing terms, has long been overshadowed by the Algarve, whose range of outstanding courses and resorts has rightly placed it at the sharp end of European golfing destinations. However, as the reach of low cost airlines continues to extend, the coastal area around Portugal’s capital has emerged as a fantastic location for a golf escape. There are established resorts such as Aroeira to the South of the city, while new developments like Campo Real, and particularly Praia D’El Rey to the North, have garnered considerable praise, and have put the region firmly on the map. The attraction of the Lisbon coast is that you can play terrific courses like Oitavos, Quinta da Marinha and Praia D’El Rey, but you can also get a genuine taste of the Portuguese culture. The capital city of Lisbon is a thriving hub of cultural activity where you will experience the vibrant combination produced when the traditional Portuguese charm meets the vitality of a young, up-and-coming urban environment.

For some years the Algarve has had a remarkable number of top quality championship courses and resorts stretching out along the coastline. Faro is the major airport and can be reached from most major airports, and this will be the starting point of your Algarve golf holiday. Faro is within an hour’s drive of most of the destinations in the Algarve. Vilamoura is without doubt one of the best golf complexes, transformed from the harbour town. Vilamoura is surrounded by other golfing gems such as Quinta Do Lago, San Lorenzo and Vale Do Lobo. Alternatives to Vilamoura include the Nicklaus-designed resort of Monte Rei near Tavira.

Madeira, located off the North West coast of Africa, benefits from the a superb year round climate and has long been known as a good holiday destination. Spectacular mountain views are characteristic of the island and add to its natural beauty. The capital of Funchal has a blend of vibrant new tourism culture mixed with traditional Madeiran culture. Madeira has some fantastic hotels and two good quality golf courses. The European tour event, the Madeira Open, is hosted annually at the Santo da Serra golf course, attracting some of the tours best players, while the Palheiro golf club has some wonderful views over the capital city and the surrounding mountains and coastline. Madeira is truly on the golfing map and can rival the Canary Island and the Portuguese mainland as a great place for a golf holiday in the sun.

Learn more about golf in Portugal. Stop by Your Golf Travel where you can find out all about golfing holidays.