The best golf and city trips you must experience

Golf trips come in a variety of different forms. You have the resort experiences, where you are based at a single venue and consume all that it has to give you. There is also the tour mode that enthusiasts love to embrace, which involves planning a careful itinerary where you tick off a range of bucket list courses in quick succession.

But there is also the emerging intrigue of a golf and city break. This arguably combines the best of everything. You can play some wonderful layouts, but also take in everything that the big town has to offer, whether it be historical and cultural sites, or the many restaurants and bars, to make this a getaway that delivers additional elements to craft some truly unforgettable memories.

Fortunately, there are some incredible cities throughout Europe - which are more than worth visiting on their own - that present exceptional golf courses within easy reach too.

There is so much to love about golf travel, the opportunities and possibilities out there are seemingly limitless, but the actual travelling to the destination part can be frustrating, which is why basing yourself in an accessible city holds extra appeal as you will be close to airports and other transport hubs, meaning that your journey to and from the location will be refreshingly straightforward.

Golfshake has partnered up with Golfbreaks and Skyscanner to uncover some of the cities that should be at the top of your list, the major centres that bring together a vast array of engaging attractions alongside a collection of golf courses that anyone would love to play.

Each of these would be the ideal platform to create a memorable weekend trip (or even longer!), whether you're travelling alone, as a couple, or with a group of keen friends.

Where are you going to visit first?

Den Bosch

The Netherlands is a golf destination that is growing in stature all the time. Hosting the 2026 Solheim Cup at Bernardus has shone the spotlight on the country, with more golfers sure to start planning their own trip here.

Den Bosch is a great place to start. Featuring historic medieval streets and canals for you to explore, this is a brilliant city to walk around, and it has the added bonus of being relatively near to the likes of Amsterdam, Utrecht and Eindhoven, so you could easily expand your perspective more widely during your time here.

For golfers, if you fancy adding a round or two as part of your stay, superb courses like Prise d’Eau, Bergvliet, Oosterhoutse, Swinkelsche, Andersteijn and De Haar are all within an hour of Den Bosch. 

Liverpool

One of the most exciting and bustling cities to enjoy in England, Liverpool has a musical heritage that is unsurpassed, with a thrilling nightlife and numerous cultural hotspots making this a joy of a place to digest.

But keen golfers will be more than aware of the sheer depth of quality of those courses that can be found in the North West, including many of the finest on the planet that are part of Merseyside.

Within 30 minutes of the city, you could secure a tee time at jewels as revered as Wallasey (with its famous closing hole), the West Lancashire and Southport & Ainsdale, which have both staged Open Championship Qualifying, and the legendary Royal Liverpool Golf Club where the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Bobby Jones (in his Grand Slam year) all lifted the Claret Jug.

Liverpool puts you within a fingertip of this remarkable menu of golf courses.

Edinburgh

Similarly, Edinburgh has one of the grandest collections in the world on its doorstep. But let's take a moment to appreciate the city itself, the capital of Scotland, and one of Europe's most historic, vibrant and culturally significant hubs.

Explore the Old Town and walk streets that exude centuries of stories, visit Edinburgh Castle and take in the expansive views into the horizon, and step through old lanes and corners that have inspired generations of writers, poets and artists.

You will have probably heard of Scotland's Golf Coast, East Lothian, which is in the shadow of Edinburgh, a city known as "Auld Reekie" to Scots.

Within 30 minutes of driving time, you could be on the first tee of Longniddry, Kilspindie, Craigielaw and The Musselburgh Golf Club, with other legendary courses being just a little bit further down the road than that.

Dublin

The capital of the Republic of Ireland is a lively and intoxicating place to visit. With a buoyant nightlife and vast range of cultural sites of interest to explore, there is more than enough to keep your occupied for days.

But it also shouldn't be underestimated as a golf town. Easily accessible from the UK and beyond, within half an hour on the road you could play rounds at the likes of Royal Dublin, The Island, and the revamped Jameson Links, which by themselves would be worth making the journey to experience.

You're also on the doorstep of the revered Portmarnock Golf Club, which is widely expected to become a host venue for the Open Championship in the coming years. Dublin is your gateway to savour it all!

Lisbon

One of Europe's great cities, with its Atlantic Ocean vistas, historic trams and medieval architecture, visiting Lisbon is a feast for the senses, there is so much to see and do, football fans could even take in a game at Benfica or Sporting CP, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't find the time to squeeze in a round of golf or two.

Estoril is one of the most historic courses in Portugal, it staged the Portuguese Open for decades, and is a venue with an enduring sense of deep heritage in both its ambience and presentation.

Likewise, PGA Aroeira is a place that has been transformed in recent times, restoring its reputation as one of the truly great gems of golf in this country, boasting a classic Frank Pennink design that should thrill golfers of all standards.