Boavista Golf
Boavista is the hillside golf of Lagos, an 18 hole course that Howard Swan laid out across the slopes above the bay and opened in 2002. A par 71 that rises and falls with the land, it trades flat resort fairways for sea views over Lagos on the lower holes and the Monchique mountains inland on the higher ones.
Photo: Boavista Golf and Spa via Google.
The verdict
Boavista sits on the hillside just east of Lagos, and that setting defines it. The English architect Howard Swan routed the course up and down the slope when it opened in 2002, a par 71 of about 6,053 meters that uses the natural barrancas, stone walls and rocky outcrops of the land rather than flattening them. The result is a course of changing elevations and views, never a long carry from the next vista of the sea or the mountains.
It is not the longest test in the western Algarve, but the gradients, the angled greens and the wind make it play to its yardage and then some. As a relaxed but scenic round on a Lagos golf week it earns its place, especially paired with the bigger names along the coast. See our best of Portugal ranking and the golf in Portugal guide.
Boavista at a glance
- Course opened
- 2002
- Designer
- Howard Swan
- Type
- Hillside parkland
- Par
- 71
- Holes
- 18
- Yardage
- About 6,053 m
Designer, opening year and layout verified June 2026 from Boavista, GolfPass and Algarve golf sources. Boavista, designed by Howard Swan, opened in 2002 above the Bay of Lagos as a par 71 of about 6,053 meters across the hillside. Green fees are an indicative 2026 guide from around 69 euros in low season to about 135 euros at peak, with buggy and twilight rates varying. Rates vary by season; always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The character of Boavista is the way the holes hang on the hill. The lower stretch falls toward the coast with the Bay of Lagos opening up beyond the fairways, while the climbing holes turn inland and reward the carry with long views to the Monchique range. The change in elevation is constant, so club selection up and down the slope is half the challenge.
Swan kept the native features of the site in play. Barrancas, dry stone walls and outcrops of rock edge several holes, asking for placement off the tee rather than raw length, and the greens are angled to the approach so the line into them matters more than the number on the card.
The wind off the Atlantic is the other variable, exposed on the upper holes and swirling around the contours below. Boavista is a course to think your way around, savoring the views, the kind of scenic, walkable round that rounds out a western Algarve trip rather than dominating it.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visiting golfers and resort guests year round; trip bookings welcome |
| Green fee | An indicative 2026 guide from around 69 euros low season to about 135 euros at peak, with buggy and twilight rates varying |
| Booking | Reserve online, through the resort or with your trip planner; a buggy is recommended given the hilly terrain |
| On the day | A hilly layout with real elevation change and sea breeze; standard golf dress code with collared shirts |
| Getting there | On the hillside just east of Lagos in the western Algarve, about 80 km and an hour from Faro airport |
| Best months | Spring and autumn are ideal; mild year round, breezier and more exposed on the upper holes |
Fees and access verified June 2026; the indicative green fees reflect 2026 pricing and vary by season, so always confirm the current rate and tee availability directly before booking. Book a tee time through our trip desk.
Where to stay nearby
The Boavista resort sits above its own course with apartments and a spa, and the historic town of Lagos is minutes away, with its old quarter, marina and the famous beaches and cliffs of the western Algarve. Meia Praia, Praia da Luz and the Sagres coast are all within easy reach for a varied base.
For a fuller western Algarve trip, pair Boavista with the seaside links and parkland of Palmares across the bay and the eco friendly golf at Espiche nearby.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Lagos.
Build an Algarve golf trip
We book the tee times at Boavista, set you up around Lagos in the western Algarve and build the rest of an Algarve golf week around your golf. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Boavista questions
Who designed Boavista and when did it open?
Boavista was designed by the English architect Howard Swan and opened in 2002 on the hillside above the Bay of Lagos in the western Algarve.
What is Boavista like to play?
It is a par 71 hillside course of about 6,053 meters that rises and falls across the slope, with sea views over Lagos Bay on the lower holes and the Monchique mountains inland on the higher ones. Several tee shots play across barrancas and stone walls native to the hill.
Is Boavista open to visiting golfers?
Yes. Boavista is a resort course open to visitors and resort guests year round, with buggies recommended given the hilly terrain. Reserve a tee time online, through the resort or with your trip planner.
What are green fees at Boavista?
Green fees are an indicative 2026 guide from around 69 euros in low season to about 135 euros at peak, with buggy and twilight rates varying. Always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
Related
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Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and layout verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.