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Golf holiday in Portugal

Portugal can be reached from Central Europe in a few hours by plane. In the Algarve you play all year round, preferably in spring and in autumn.

  • Atlantic
  • Handicap 28 and 36
Drawing of a golf course with rough, fairway, green and bunker
Illustration from the book

In short

  • It is best to travel in spring or in autumn. In December and January the risk of rain rises, but the prices fall.
  • You take a handicap certificate with you. The well-known clubs give 28 for men and 36 for women as the maximum.
  • You plan a rental car, because the golf courses are not all right outside the hotel door.

Golf regions in Portugal

  1. AlgarveAround 200 kilometres of coast with more than 30 golf courses, from parkland between pines to the links course in the dunes.36 golf coursesFaro airport

In the overview of destinations in my book these regions are also listed for Portugal.

  • Lisbon
  • Azores

When you travel to Portugal

The winter season for golf trips runs from September to May. In Portugal it does not run evenly, however, because the risk of rain rises in December and in January. These months are therefore often low season there, while spring and autumn are the most heavily booked.

The price lists of the golf courses in the Algarve show the same picture. March, April and October are the most expensive months there, while you pay least in December, in January and in high summer.

In Portugal you pay clearly more for the same round in April than in January. In return it rains less often in April.

Climate and when to travel

The columns show the mean daily maximum temperature for every month in Faro in the Algarve.

  1. 16°Jan
  2. 17°Feb
  3. 18°Mar
  4. 20°Apr
  5. 22°May
  6. 25°Jun
  7. 29°Jul
  8. 29°Aug
  9. 27°Sep
  10. 23°Oct
  11. 19°Nov
  12. 17°Dec
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day, maximum16°17°18°20°22°25°29°29°27°23°19°17°
Night, minimum8°8°9°10°13°16°18°18°17°14°11°9°
Days of rain895631012678
Water15°15°15°16°17°18°19°20°20°19°17°16°
Temperatures in degrees Celsius. Measured at: Faro. Mean values 1961 to 1990.

What a round costs in Portugal

In Portugal the green fee depends on the golf course, on the region and on the month. So that you still get an idea, I give you the middle price here from the price lists of 42 golf facilities (as of August 2026). That is the value at which one half of the golf facilities is cheaper and the other half more expensive.

93 euros18 holes on weekdays
96 euros18 holes at the weekend
53 euros9 holes on weekdays
42 eurosbuggy for 18 holes

On weekdays the range runs from 28 to 220 euros, with the middle half of the golf facilities charging between 66.25 and 141.50 euros. The region makes the biggest difference.

Region18 holes on weekdaysGolf facilities with a price list
Algarve136.50 euros14
Lisbon93 euros18
Porto60 euros5

In the Algarve the middle price is therefore clearly above the one around Lisbon or Porto. Added to that are the prices graded by month there, which I show you on the page about the Algarve. Rental clubs are in the price list at 18 golf facilities and cost 30 euros as the middle price.

What the clubs want to see from you

Portuguese clubs take the handicap seriously. Two examples from the Algarve show you what you can expect.

ClubWhat applies there
Monte ReiAll guests present a valid handicap certificate. The club recommends a maximum of 28 for men and 36 for women. Young people under 18 may not drive a buggy.
Quinta do LagoOn all courses an official handicap certificate is compulsory. As maximum values the resort gives 28 for men and 36 for women.
Mirco’s tip

I would print out your handicap certificate before the trip and put it with the membership card of your club. If your handicap is above 28 or 36, you can ask the golf course before booking.

Getting around the country

In Portugal rental cars are popular with golfers because the golf courses are not all right outside the hotel door. When you book, it is important that all your fellow travellers and their golf bags fit into the car. If you do not want to drive yourself, you can book the transfers to the golf course with the trip.

In Portugal it is one hour earlier than in Germany and you pay in euros.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to travel for golf in Portugal?

Spring and autumn are the strongest months. In December and January the risk of rain rises, and in Faro it then rains on eight days a month on average. In July and August it gets just under 29 degrees.

Do I need a handicap in Portugal?

On the well-known golf courses of the Algarve, yes. Monte Rei and Quinta do Lago require a handicap certificate and give 28 for men and 36 for women as the maximum.

Do I need a rental car in the Algarve?

If you want to play several golf courses, a rental car is practical because the courses are not all right outside the hotel door. In a resort with a course of its own you also get by without a car.

Details last checked on .

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The book behind the website

Golftourismus: Dein Guide für Golfreisen

So that you know what happens behind the desk on your next golf trip, I have written down what I learnt in the golf office, the golf hotel and in sales. The book is written in German.

„Mit seinem Buch ‚Golf-Tourismus‘ wendet sich Autor Mirco Timm gleichermaßen an Golfreisende, Golf-Pros, Hoteliers und Reisebüros.“

fvw, German travel trade magazine, 8 August 2025

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