Algarve Golf Guide — Tips & Advice for Playing in the Algarve
Practical guides for planning a golf trip to the Algarve — the best time to play, course advice, hotels, transport, and what to pack.
How to plan a golf trip to the Algarve
A step-by-step guide to planning an Algarve golf trip — flights, transfers vs car hire, choosing your courses, picking a base, and whether to bring or rent your clubs.
14 Algarve hotels with a golf course on-site
The 14 Algarve hotels genuinely built on the same estate as a golf course — from Monte Rei to Penina — grouped by region, with real prices and booking links.
The 10 best Algarve golf courses for seniors
Senior golf is about age, not skill - so here's what actually matters: flat terrain, buggy access, permissive handicap limits and good value. Ten Algarve courses that get it right, checked against real course data and independent reviews.
Silves vs Pestana Ferragudo: the established course and the brand-new one
Same operator, very different ages — Silves has been open since 2006 with a reputation for excellent conditioning, while Pestana Ferragudo only opened its doors this month. Here's what we know about both.
Castro Marim vs Quinta do Vale: which East Algarve course should you play?
Both sit minutes apart near the Spanish border, but one carries a Seve Ballesteros design and the other offers three flexible nines and its own resort. Here's how the east Algarve's two courses compare.
Quinta do Lago Laranjal vs Pinheiros Altos: which course should you play?
Both sit in the Golden Triangle and cost a similar green fee, but Laranjal and Pinheiros Altos have taken very different paths in recent years. Here's an honest comparison, backed by real player reviews.
Vilamoura Laguna vs Pinhal: which course should you play?
Same price, minutes apart, but Laguna and Pinhal couldn't be more different once you're on them — one is open and water-laced, the other classic pine-lined parkland. Here's how Vilamoura's other pair compares.
Penina Championship vs Penina Resort: which course should you play?
One put the Algarve on the golfing map in 1966; the other is a relaxed nine-hole loop across the road. Here's how Penina's two very different courses actually compare, honestly.
Gramacho vs Vale da Pinta: which Pestana Carvoeiro course should you play?
Same resort, same architect, a year apart — but Gramacho and Vale da Pinta have very different reputations near Carvoeiro. Here's how the crowd-pleaser and the tougher test actually compare.
Quinta da Ria vs Quinta de Cima: which Tavira course should you play?
Same designer, same estate, same all-inclusive hotel near Tavira — but Quinta de Cima bills itself as the championship test, and the numbers back it up. Here's how the two compare.
Vilamoura Old Course vs Millennium: which one should you play?
One designer touched both, thirty years apart, but the Old Course and the Millennium play nothing alike. Here's how Vilamoura's most-compared pair actually differ, and which one suits your game.
Balaia vs Pine Cliffs: which quick round near Albufeira should you play?
They're not sibling courses, so this isn't a head-to-head — it's a guide to which quick nine-hole round near Albufeira actually fits you: the budget no-pressure par-3, or the bucket-list clifftop hole.
Quinta do Lago South vs North: which course should you play?
Same designer, same estate, same hotel — but South carries the Portuguese Open history and North got a €9 million modern rebuild. Here's how Quinta do Lago's two original courses actually compare.
Boavista vs Espiche: which Lagos golf course should you play?
Both are western Algarve favourites near Lagos, but they test different parts of your game. Here's how the hillside Boavista and the tightly wooded Espiche actually compare.
Amendoeira Faldo vs O'Connor: which Silves golf course should you play?
Two 18-hole courses at the same Silves resort, built by two major-winning designers in the same year. Here's how the desert-style Faldo Course and the water-laced O'Connor Course actually compare.
The Algarve's best par-3 golf courses
Two courses where every hole is a par 3, plus one clifftop course with a famous exception — the Algarve's short-game and beginner-friendly rounds, with real par, length and price for each.
The best ocean view golf courses in the Algarve
Six Algarve courses where the Atlantic isn't just scenery — it's part of the round. From cliff-top par 3s to fairways that run along the sand, here's where to find real ocean views.
Vale do Lobo Royal vs Vale do Lobo Ocean: which course should you play?
Vale do Lobo's two courses share a resort and a hotel, but one is a clifftop showpiece and the other is classic coastal parkland. Here's how the Royal and the Ocean actually compare.
Alamos vs Morgado: which Portimão golf course should you play?
Alamos and Morgado share a designer, a resort and a hotel near Portimão, but the two courses play nothing alike. Here's what actually separates them, and which one suits your handicap.
Hiring Golf Clubs at Faro Airport: Your Rental Options Compared
The golf club rental companies that pick up and drop off right at Faro Airport (FAO) — where to find each one, what they stock, roughly what it costs, and how to book before you fly.
The 10 Best Algarve Golf Courses for Beginners
A ranked guide to the 10 most beginner-friendly golf courses in the Algarve, with the handicap rules, green fees and practice facilities you need before you book.
Algarve Golf Season: Best Time to Play Golf
A month-by-month guide to the golf season in the Algarve: course crowds, green fees, hotel prices, temperatures, daylight and rain, plus the best months to play.
Lufthansa Golf Clubs: Included in Your Allowance, Unless You're on a Light Fare
Lufthansa usually lets golf clubs travel within your normal baggage allowance — except on its cheapest Light fare. Here's how the fare rules work and what it costs if you don't qualify.
TUI Airways Golf Clubs: Why You Can't Just Add Them Online
TUI Airways won't let you add golf clubs online — it has to be booked by phone, with limited space per flight. Here's what it costs for a Faro flight and why timing matters.
Aer Lingus Golf Clubs: Free in Business, Here’s What Economy Pays
Aer Lingus carries golf clubs free in Business class, but Economy pays a separate fee each way. Here's the difference and what Economy passengers can expect to pay.
Eurowings Golf Clubs: One Flat Fee, No Online Discount to Chase
Eurowings charges a flat, predictable fee for golf clubs rather than a confusing online-vs-airport split. Here's what it costs and how the allowance works.
Transavia and Golf Clubs: The One Airline That Makes You Call Ahead
Transavia's golf clubs policy is stricter than most: a 15kg limit and an expectation that you register your clubs in advance. Here's what to know before you fly.
Wizz Air Golf Clubs: Why the Price Can Swing So Much
Wizz Air prices golf clubs dynamically, so the fee can vary a lot by route and how early you book. Here's what drives the price and how to avoid the higher end.
Does Vueling Charge More for Golf Clubs Than Other Airlines?
Vueling's golf clubs fee runs higher than Ryanair or easyJet's, even with a more generous 32kg allowance. Here's what to expect if you're flying via Spain.
Flying TAP Air Portugal with Golf Clubs: The Rules Have Changed
TAP Air Portugal used to let golfers check clubs for free — that blanket promotion is gone. Here's what determines whether you pay now, and roughly how much.
British Airways and Golf Clubs: When It's Free (and When It Isn't)
British Airways doesn't charge a separate golf clubs fee like other airlines — whether it's free depends on your fare and baggage allowance. Here's how to work out which applies to you.
Jet2 Golf Clubs: Fees, Weight Limits and Why You Shouldn't Leave Booking Late
What Jet2 charges to fly with golf clubs to Faro, its 22kg allowance, and why pre-booking matters more here than with other airlines.
How Much Does easyJet Charge for Golf Clubs to the Algarve?
A breakdown of easyJet's sports equipment fees and weight limits for golf clubs, and why the numbers might make you rethink packing your own set.
Ryanair Golf Clubs: What It Costs to Fly With Your Own Set to the Algarve
Ryanair's current fees, weight limits and booking rules for checking golf clubs to Faro — and why renting on arrival is worth considering instead.