Onyria Palmares
The most beautiful golf on the western Algarve. Set on a hillside above Meia Praia between Lagos and Alvor, Palmares pairs a Robert Trent Jones Jr redesign with some of the finest sea views in Portugal, several holes tumbling down toward the beach. It is scenic, varied and genuinely playable, the round travelling golfers remember long after the conditioning of the Vilamoura courses has faded.
Photo: Palmares via Google.
The verdict
Palmares began life in the 1970s as a Frank Pennink layout, but its modern reputation rests on the wholesale redesign by Robert Trent Jones Jr, whose firm rebuilt the course into 27 holes that reopened in 2011. The result is one of the Algarve's most striking layouts, a hillside site above Meia Praia with three distinct nines, Alvor, Lagos and Praia, and a long, gentle run of holes down toward the beach where the Atlantic fills the horizon. For scenery alone it competes with anything in the Algarve.
It is also a thinking golfer's course rather than a brute. The redesign asks for placement off the tee and a deft short game on greens that roll true, and the variety across the three loops keeps a round interesting from the higher, more rolling ground down to the seaside stretch. This suits a wide range of players, which makes it a fine choice for a buddies group or a couples trip based around Lagos. Add the relaxed western Algarve setting and Palmares is the easy recommendation for golfers who want beauty and good golf in equal measure.
Palmares at a glance
- Reopened
- 2011
- Design
- Robert Trent Jones Jr
- Type
- Coastal parkland
- Par
- 72
- Holes
- 27
- Green fee
- €105 to €180
Design, layout and reopening verified June 2026 from the architect and course databases. The current course is a Robert Trent Jones Jr redesign of the original Frank Pennink layout, reopened in 2011 as 27 holes across the Alvor, Lagos and Praia loops; each 18 hole combination plays to a par 72 of around 6,000 to 6,500 meters. Green fees are indicative, roughly 105 euros in the quieter months rising to about 180 euros in the spring and autumn high seasons of 2026. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Palmares is a course of two moods, and that contrast is its great strength. The higher ground on the Alvor and Lagos nines rolls through low hills and umbrella pines with longer views inland and out to sea, asking for shaped tee shots and respect for the slopes. Then the Praia loop drops you down to sea level, where holes thread along the edge of Meia Praia with the dunes and the beach right there, an unusual, almost links like stretch for the Algarve.
The run down to the coast is the part everyone talks about, a sequence of holes where the railway line, the sand and the sea frame the golf and the wind off the Atlantic adds bite. It is photogenic and fun rather than punishing, the kind of golf that rewards a sensible plan and a steady nerve over the closing holes back up the hill.
Across all 27 holes the conditioning is reliably good and the greens fair, so the course tests judgement more than nerve. That blend of beauty, variety and playability is exactly why Palmares sits among the western Algarve's best, and why it pairs so well with a relaxed week based in Lagos.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to visitors and to guests of the on site Palmares hotel; bookable year round |
| Green fee | Around 105 to 180 euros for a 2026 visitor round (indicative), depending on season; twilight and early bird rates available |
| Booking | Book online or through the resort; spring and autumn are busiest, so reserve well ahead |
| On the day | Buggies recommended for the hillier loops; smart golf dress; full practice ground and clubhouse with sea views |
| Getting there | Just east of Lagos on the western Algarve, around 15 minutes from the town and an hour from Faro Airport |
| Best months | February to May and September to November, when the Algarve is warm, dry and uncrowded |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the resort and public listings; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The Palmares resort has its own hotel and villas above the course, the simplest base for a golf focused stay with the first tee on the doorstep and the beach below. It suits a couple or a small group wanting to settle in one place.
Lagos itself, fifteen minutes away, is the western Algarve's most appealing town, with a historic centre, marina restaurants and a wide choice of hotels, an easy springboard to the other western courses. Faro Airport is an hour east, and the quieter beaches of the far west are within reach for a day off.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Lagos.
A western Algarve golf trip
We build Lagos golf weeks around Palmares, pair it with the best of the western Algarve, and arrange a base with transfers from Faro. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Onyria Palmares questions
Who designed Onyria Palmares?
The current 27 hole course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, who rebuilt and expanded the original 1970s Frank Pennink layout. The reworked Palmares reopened in 2011 as three nine hole loops, Alvor, Lagos and Praia, with several holes running close to the beach at Meia Praia.
Does Palmares have sea views?
Yes. Palmares is one of the most scenic courses on the Algarve, set on a hillside above Meia Praia with wide views over Lagos bay. Several holes, especially on the Praia and Lagos loops, play down toward the beach and along the dunes, making the sea a near constant presence.
How much does it cost to play Onyria Palmares in 2026?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 105 euros in the quieter months to roughly 180 euros in the spring and autumn high seasons, with twilight and early bird rates available. Fees change by season and demand, so always confirm current prices and availability directly before booking.
How many holes does Palmares have?
Palmares has 27 holes arranged as three nine hole loops named Alvor, Lagos and Praia. Visitors play any two loops as an 18 hole round, each combination a par 72 of around 6,000 to 6,500 meters depending on the pairing.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, layout and reopening verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.