Penha Longa Atlantico
Robert Trent Jones Jr carved the Atlantico championship course into the wooded hills of Sintra in 1992, a tumbling par 72 of dramatic elevation and mountain views half an hour from Lisbon. A three time host of the Portuguese Open, it is the strongest test on the Lisbon coast and the centerpiece of one of the great resorts in Europe.
Photo: Penha Longa Atlantico via Google, by Carive.
The verdict
Robert Trent Jones Jr found one of the most dramatic golf sites in Portugal in the protected hills of the Sintra and Cascais natural park, and the Atlantico course he opened in 1992 makes full use of it. Holes plunge and climb through pine, eucalyptus and cork oak, granite outcrops frame the greens, and the Sintra mountains and the distant Atlantic fill the long views. It is a par 72 of roughly 6,290 meters that has hosted the Portuguese Open three times, in 1994, 1995 and 2010.
This is the championship counterpoint to the gentler resort golf of the Algarve, a strong, hilly, demanding layout that asks for accurate driving and a steady head on the steeper holes. Paired with the five star Penha Longa Resort and the historic monastery grounds it sits in, it makes a complete luxury golf base within easy reach of Lisbon, Cascais and the beaches of the Estoril coast. Plan a buggy and bring your climbing legs.
Penha Longa Atlantico at a glance
- Opened
- 1992
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones Jr
- Type
- Hill and parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,290 m
- Green fee
- Indicative €90 to €160
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from Penha Longa Resort and leading course databases. The Atlantico course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened as a full 18 in 1992, a par 72 of about 6,290 meters, roughly 6,880 yards. Indicative green fees for the 2026 season run from around 90 euros to 160 euros depending on season and tee time, with resort guest and stay and play rates available. Figures change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Atlantico opens on more rolling, parkland ground before the land tilts and the round becomes an adventure through the hills. The signature is the long sixth, a hole that combines the stiffest challenge on the card with the best of the Sintra scenery, the green set against a backdrop of forested slopes and granite. It is the hole most visitors photograph and the one that decides plenty of matches.
The back nine is where the drama peaks. The 16th is rated the hardest hole on the course, a long two shotter that asks for a drive across a valley to a fairway far below the tee, then a firm uphill approach to a narrow green tucked against the hillside. Watching a well struck drive hang against the mountains is one of the great tee shot views in Portuguese golf. The par 3s are strong throughout, several played across fall away ground that punishes a timid stroke.
Conditioning is consistently high, the greens quick and subtly contoured, and the elevation means club selection rarely matches the yardage on the card. Take a buggy, play to the fat of the greens and enjoy the views. Penha Longa rewards the thinking golfer who keeps the ball in play more than the long hitter who fights the terrain.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visitors and Penha Longa Resort guests; advance tee time booking recommended |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 from around 90 euros to 160 euros depending on season and tee time; resort and stay and play rates available |
| Booking | Book online or through the golf reception, or let a golf travel planner secure the tee time with your stay |
| On the day | Buggy strongly recommended for the hilly terrain; smart golf dress; practice facilities and academy on site |
| Getting there | Linho, Sintra, about 30 minutes from central Lisbon and 20 minutes from Cascais and the Estoril coast |
| Best months | Spring and autumn for the most comfortable golfing conditions; mild for golf year round near the coast |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; resort policies and seasonal rates change, so always confirm directly before booking with the resort or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is the Penha Longa Resort itself, a five star property set in historic monastery grounds with the golf on the doorstep, several restaurants and a spa, ideal for a stay and play group that wants everything in one place. It is one of the most complete golf resorts in Europe and the easiest way to guarantee morning tee times.
For a livelier evening, the resort towns of Cascais and Estoril sit a short drive away on the coast, full of seafood restaurants, beaches and the Lisbon day trips that make this a strong choice for couples and mixed groups. A Sintra and Lisbon coast base lets you pair Penha Longa with the other good courses of the region for a varied, premium golf week.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Penha Longa.
Build a Lisbon and Sintra golf trip
We book the Penha Longa tee times, pair them with the best of the Lisbon coast and arrange the resort or coastal base around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Penha Longa Atlantico questions
Who designed Penha Longa Atlantico and when did it open?
The Atlantico championship course at Penha Longa was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened as a full 18 holes in 1992, set in the wooded hills of Sintra near Lisbon.
What is the par and length of Penha Longa Atlantico?
Penha Longa Atlantico is a par 72 of about 6,290 meters, roughly 6,880 yards, from the back tees, with significant elevation change across the Sintra hills.
Has Penha Longa hosted professional tournaments?
Yes. The Atlantico course hosted the Portuguese Open in 1994, 1995 and 2010, and is regarded as one of the strongest championship tests in the Lisbon region.
Can visitors play Penha Longa Atlantico?
Yes. Penha Longa is a resort course open to visitors and resort guests, with tee times bookable in advance. Green fees vary by season, so confirm the current rate directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees for the 2026 season. Last reviewed June 2026.