Top 10 Golf Courses near Lagos & the Algarve

Just minutes from the centre of Lagos at Meia Praia, Palmares is the area's standout course — 27 holes laid out across hills and dunes, with sweeping views over the bay and several holes running close to the sea in a links-like setting. It's scenic, varied and a genuine test, with fast greens and plenty of elevation change. A buggy is recommended for the hillier stretches.

Set in the hills just west of Lagos at Atalaia, Boavista is an attractive resort course offering fine views of the sea and the surrounding countryside. The layout is woven among the resort's properties, with contoured, undulating greens that demand a thoughtful short game. A welcoming clubhouse with a good bar and restaurant rounds out the experience. A reliable, enjoyable round close to town.

Near Praia da Luz, Espiche stands out for its eco-friendly design and unspoilt setting — there are no apartment blocks lining the fairways, just natural landscape and wide views. It's a genuine, rewarding test that asks you to be straight off the tee, with excellent practice facilities and a clubhouse overlooking the course. A favourite with golfers who value a course in harmony with its surroundings.

The most westerly course in the region, Parque da Floresta sits high in the hills above Budens, surrounded by forest and with beautiful views down to the sea. The terrain is dramatic and undulating, making for a memorable and challenging round through a quiet, unspoilt corner of the Algarve, with a spa and resort facilities on site. One for those who enjoy a course with character and scenery to match.

About 25 minutes east of Lagos near Portimão, Penina is a piece of Algarve golf history — the region's first great course, designed by five-time Open champion Sir Henry Cotton on former rice fields. Its mature, tree-lined championship layout is flat but far from easy, with water hazards and fast greens that have tested professionals for decades. A classic, and essential for anyone interested in the roots of golf here.

Around 35 minutes from Lagos near Carvoeiro, Pestana Gramacho is best known for its distinctive double greens, a clever design feature that gives the course a real identity. It's an enjoyable, strategic layout that rewards accurate approach play, set among gentle countryside with the coast nearby. Part of a large golf resort with several courses, it's a popular and accessible choice on a golf trip.

In the heart of the prestigious "Golden Triangle" near Almancil, about 55 minutes from Lagos, the Quinta do Lago South Course is among the finest in the country. A regular host of major tournaments, it presents generous fairways, strategic bunkering and beautifully conditioned greens, threading through umbrella pines and lakes. Top-tier in every sense — a bucket-list round for serious golfers, and worth the drive.

Long rated among the very best courses in continental Europe, San Lorenzo near Almancil is a spectacular layout running along the Ria Formosa lagoon, with its famous closing stretch among the most memorable in the Algarve. The course remains a wonderful test in beautiful surroundings; note that the clubhouse is currently being rebuilt, with temporary facilities in place. The golf, however, is as special as ever.

Out near Tavira in the eastern Algarve, about an hour and a quarter from Lagos, Monte Rei is frequently ranked the number one course in Portugal. This Jack Nicklaus Signature design is presented in immaculate condition, with impeccable service to match — a genuinely world-class experience. It is a premium course, with green fees to reflect it (around 200 euros and up), but for many it's the finest round in the country.

At Vilamoura, about 50 minutes from Lagos, the Victoria is a modern championship course designed by Arnold Palmer and the long-time home of the Portugal Masters on the European Tour. Spacious and immaculately presented, with water in play and large, sculpted greens, it offers the chance to test yourself on a course the professionals play. A polished, big-name round to round out any Algarve golf trip.