Golf Guide to Portugal

Portugal is a haven for golfers and offers so much choice. The Algarve is where it all began, and its world-class courses are always kept in exceptional condition. Meanwhile, Lisbon is a vibrant capital city with 16 golf courses, all within striking distance of the city. Further afield, golfers can play the three golf courses on the islands of Madeira, which feature a sub-tropical climate and beautiful beaches due to its location off the Northwest of Africa. With hotels to suit all budgets, friendly locals to welcome you and whether you're travelling alone or with family, Portugal is the ideal golfing destination.

Where To Play | Golf Course Map | Weather

Golf in Portugal

With its prime locations and temperate climate, Portugal is the ideal destination for a golf trip. Home to over 100 courses, golfers can enjoy a round no matter the time of year. From May to October, temperatures typically range from 20-40C, but can be warm, so keep that in mind when planning your trip. While the Algarve is a popular destination, Portugal has beautiful courses all over the country. This guide provides an overview of where to stay and play, but other golf guides can provide more detailed information for travelling golfers.

Portugal is perfectly placed to offer golfers a trip all year round.

The Climate

Depending on the region and time of year that you visit, Portugal enjoys plenty of sunshine, with temperatures reaching 40C during the summer. It is much warmer than Britain during the winter but it can also be wet. If you are planning a golf trip, the months to avoid are probably December, January and February, when monthly rainfall amounts to about four inches.

In the north of the country, which is quite mountainous, conditions are generally cooler and wetter while Lisbon, the Alentejo and Algarve regions have long, hot summers with temperatures up to 35–40ºC. The humidity diminishes as you move away from the coast and the interior areas are quite mild.

During the summer, the locals enjoy a siesta to get out of the heat, usually between 2pm and 5pm - it is worth remembering that many shops will close during this time. On the other hand, they remain open later at night.

Local Time

There is no time difference between the UK and Portugal

Local Currency

Portugal uses the Euro and there are plenty of ATMs and bureaus de change

Flight Information

With a flight time of just over 2 hours 30 minutes from most UK airports the Algarve is perfectly placed for UK golfers heading over for a golf trip. A host of airlines provide year-round flights to Portugal, including British Airways, Ryanair, Air Portugal, Jet2, easyJet, Are Lingus, TUI and SATA. They fly from all major UK airports and many regional airports and the good news is that you travel with one of the budget airlines, and book your tickets well in advance, it is cheap to get there.