Lisbon Golf Holidays

Why Golfers Travel to Lisbon

Lisbon enjoys a mild Atlantic climate, with warm, dry summers and gentle winters. That means golf is playable all year, with spring and autumn offering the best conditions.

Flights from the UK take under three hours, and many of the best golf courses in Lisbon are within an hour of the airport. That makes it ideal for long weekends as well as week-long trips.

Golfers visiting the golf courses in Lisbon will find:

• Links, parkland and clifftop courses, including some of Golf World's top-ranked courses in Portugal
• Courses by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr., Seve Ballesteros, Cynthia Dye and David McLay Kidd
• Five-star golf resorts with the course on the doorstep
• A vibrant city with world-class food, wine and nightlife

The biggest advantage? Variety. You can play a different style of course every day without changing hotel.

The Best Golf Courses in Lisbon

The golf courses in Lisbon fall into four main areas, each with its own character. Here are the courses that regularly feature on our golf itineraries.

The Silver Coast and bidos (around 1 hour north)

This stretch of Atlantic coastline is home to some of Portugal's most talked-about golf. West Cliffs Golf Links is a Cynthia Dye design that opened in 2017. It was named World's Best New Course that year and weaves through clifftop dunes above the ocean.

Nearby, Praia D'El Rey is a 7,004-yard Cabell Robinson links whose par 5 12th overlooks the Atlantic. Royal bidos was the last course designed by Seve Ballesteros and hosted the Portuguese Open in 2023. Bom Sucesso is a Donald Steel design with wide fairways and links-style touches, set beside the bidos lagoon.

Inland, around 45 minutes from the airport, Donald Steel's Campo Real is a parkland course that has hosted the Ladies Portuguese Open twice.

Cascais and Sintra (around 3040 minutes west)

Close to the city, Penha Longa's Atlantic Championship Course is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout in the Sintra hills. It has hosted the Portuguese Open twice, and a historic aqueduct runs alongside the 6th. The resort's Monastery Course offers two shorter nine-hole loops.

Nearby, Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s Quinta da Marinha runs through pine forest above Cascais, with sea views and the famous downhill 13th.

South of the Tagus (around 3045 minutes)

Cross the river and you'll find some of Lisbon's most established golf. The Frank Pennink-designed Aroeira Pines Classic Course is known as the "Wentworth of Lisbon" and is a two-time Portuguese Open venue. Its sister, the Aroeira Challenge Course, is a longer, tougher Donald Steel layout.

Quinta do Peru offers tree-lined parkland golf at the foot of the Arrábida hills. Montado winds through cork oak forest and vineyards, with an island green at the 13th.

Troia and Comporta (around 11.5 hours south)

For something special, head south. Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s Troia is a links-style course on a narrow peninsula between the Sado estuary and the ocean, and it's regularly ranked among Portugal's best.

Further down the coast, David McLay Kidd's Dunas opened in 2023 and was named World's Best New Course that year. It's one of the few true links courses in southern Europe.

When Is the Best Time to Play Golf in Lisbon?

One of the reasons golfers keep coming back to the golf courses in Lisbon is the long season.

Spring (March May)

Warm, sunny days and courses in superb condition. This is peak season, so book tee times early.

Summer (June August)

Hot inland, but cooled by Atlantic breezes on the coast. Tee off early and enjoy long evenings in the city.

Autumn (September November)

Arguably the best time to visit. The weather is still warm, the summer crowds have gone and courses are in great shape.

Winter (December February)

Mild and quieter, with some rain. Green fees and hotel rates are often lower, which makes it ideal for a winter-sun break.

Planning a Golf Trip to Lisbon

A golf trip to Lisbon works best when you choose a base that matches the courses you want to play.

On the Silver Coast, the Marriott Praia D'El Rey and its self-catering Beachfront Apartment and Village Ocean Apartments are next to the course. Bom Sucesso Resort and the West Cliffs Ocean & Golf Resort Villas are nearby, while Dolce CampoReal Lisboa sits on its own course inland.

Closer to the city, Penha Longa Resort and the Onyria Quinta da Marinha Hotel put you near Sintra and Cascais. South of the river, choose the Aroeira Lisbon Hotel or the Sesimbra Oceanfront Hotel. For Troia and Comporta, stay at The Editory By The Sea Troia, the Troia Residence or AlmaLusa Comporta.

Between rounds, you can:

• Explore Belém and the historic Alfama district, and try a pastél de nata
• Visit the palaces of Sintra
• Wander the medieval walls of bidos
• Relax on the beaches of Cascais, Sesimbra or Comporta

Our ready-made packages start with a 2-night break at Dolce CampoReal Lisboa and go up to 7 nights and 5 rounds at West Cliffs. If you'd prefer something tailored, you can build your own golf trip.

Travel Tips for Visiting Golfers

When planning a trip to the golf courses in Lisbon, a few practical tips will make the trip run smoothly.

Book tee times early The top-ranked courses, especially West Cliffs and Dunas, fill up quickly in spring and autumn.

Choose your base carefully The courses are spread over a wide area, so pick a hotel close to the courses you most want to play.

Hire a car or book transfers Distances between areas can be over an hour, so plan your travel between rounds.

Pack for the breeze The coastal links can be windy, even on warm days.

Travelling as a group? See how it works for small deposits and individual payments, ideal for golf societies.