4 Day Algarve and Lisbon Golf Itinerary
Two of Portugal's great golf regions in one trip: the sun soaked Algarve and the wilder Lisbon coast, linked by a single scenic drive north. Open on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Monte Rei and championship Quinta do Lago, then finish among the pines and dunes of Penha Longa and Oitavos near Cascais. Here is the four day plan, with indicative 2026 green fees and drive times.
Photograph: Monte Rei Golf & Country Club, via Google
Who this trip suits
This is the grand tour of Portuguese golf in miniature, built for the golfer who does not want to choose between the Algarve and Lisbon. The two regions are very different. The Algarve is the warm, polished heartland of Portuguese resort golf, all umbrella pines and immaculate fairways, while the Lisbon coast is cooler, wilder and more dramatic, with links and clifftop holes among the dunes near Cascais. Linking them takes one drive of about three hours up the A2 motorway, which the right routing turns into a single one way leg rather than a there and back. Fly into Faro, out of Lisbon, and the trip flows naturally from south to north.
It suits a couple or a small group who want range and quality over four days, and who would rather see two regions properly than tour one. The golf climbs from the lush parkland of the Algarve to the seaside drama of the Sintra coast, and the off course rewards shift too, from the beaches and seafood of the south to the palaces, the food and the city of Lisbon at the finish. Aim for spring or autumn for the best balance of weather and price, hire a car, and let the four days carry you across the best of Portugal.
The 4 day plan
Monte Rei, North Course
Open in the eastern Algarve on the course routinely rated the best in Portugal, a Jack Nicklaus Signature design from 2007 set in a quiet valley near Tavira. Immaculate, secluded and famously exclusive, with a forecaddie or buggy and a roaming refreshment service that make it feel like a private club for the day. A serene, strategic start to the trip. About forty minutes from Faro. Indicative 2026 green fee around 300 euros.
Quinta do Lago, South Course
The grande dame of central Algarve golf, a William Mitchell design from 1974 that brought American standard conditioning to the region and has hosted the Portuguese Open many times. Rolling through umbrella pines beside the Ria Formosa nature reserve, with its famous water carry at the par three fifteenth, it is a classic of the golden triangle. About forty five minutes west of Monte Rei. Indicative 2026 green fee around 225 euros.
Penha Longa, Atlantic Course
After the drive north, open the Lisbon leg on the Atlantic Championship Course, a Robert Trent Jones Jr design from 1992 that hosted the Portuguese Open in 1994 and 1995. Set in the wooded Sintra foothills within a handsome five star resort, it climbs and tumbles through pines and granite with glimpses of the sea, a varied, scenic round. About thirty minutes from Lisbon. Indicative 2026 green fee around 120 euros.
Oitavos Dunes
Close the trip on the pick of the Cascais coast, one of only two European courses by the American Arthur Hills, opened in 2001 and routed through umbrella pines and rolling dunes with the Atlantic and the Sintra hills behind. Natural, walkable and beautifully balanced, a still morning here is among the best golf near Lisbon and a fitting finish. A few minutes from Cascais. Indicative 2026 green fee around 145 euros.
Green fees, drive times and logistics
| Round | Indicative 2026 fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monte Rei, North | Around 300 euros | About 40 minutes from Faro; forecaddie or buggy included |
| Quinta do Lago, South | Around 225 euros | About 45 minutes west of Monte Rei; golden triangle |
| Drive north to Lisbon | Around 3 hours | A2 motorway, Algarve to the Sintra and Cascais coast |
| Penha Longa, Atlantic | Around 120 euros | About 30 minutes from Lisbon; Sintra hills |
| Oitavos Dunes | Around 145 euros | A few minutes from Cascais; walkable links |
Green fees and drive times verified indicatively in June 2026 from course and ranking listings; they vary widely by season and change without notice, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking. Find bases in the Algarve and Lisbon.
When to go and where to stay
Play the trip in spring or autumn, roughly March to May or September to October, for warm, dry days, firm turf and sensible green fees, with summer hotter and busier and winter mild and cheapest, the Algarve a touch warmer in the cooler months. Split your nights between the two regions: base the first two days in the eastern or central Algarve, around Tavira or the Quinta do Lago and Vilamoura golden triangle, close to the beaches and the seafood, then drive north and finish on the Lisbon coast, staying around Cascais or in Sintra for Penha Longa and Oitavos, with a city night in Lisbon at the end. Flying into Faro and out of Lisbon makes the three hour drive a one way leg, and a hire car makes the short hops between courses simple.
Plan your Algarve and Lisbon golf trip
We hold the tee times across Monte Rei, Quinta do Lago, Penha Longa and Oitavos, match your two bases to the golf, and arrange the drive north and the cars. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Algarve and Lisbon itinerary questions
Can you combine the Algarve and Lisbon in a 4 day golf trip?
Yes, and it makes a superb long weekend. Spend the first two days in the Algarve, playing the Jack Nicklaus Signature Monte Rei and the championship Quinta do Lago South, then drive about three hours north to the Lisbon coast for two more rounds, the Robert Trent Jones Jr Atlantic course at Penha Longa and the Arthur Hills links of Oitavos Dunes near Cascais. Flying into Faro and out of Lisbon turns the drive into a one way leg. Always confirm tee times and fees directly before booking.
How much does a 4 day Algarve and Lisbon golf trip cost in green fees?
Four rounds on this route add up to roughly 750 to 900 euros per golfer in green fees in peak 2026 season, with Monte Rei the dearest at around 300 euros, Quinta do Lago South around 225, and Penha Longa and Oitavos near 120 to 145 each. Shoulder and winter rates are markedly lower, especially on the Lisbon coast. These are indicative figures, so always confirm current fees directly before booking.
Should you start in the Algarve or in Lisbon?
Either works, but flying into Faro and out of Lisbon, playing the Algarve first and finishing on the Lisbon coast, makes the three hour drive a single one way leg and avoids backtracking. The Algarve courses are within an hour of Faro, and the Lisbon coast courses are twenty to forty minutes from Lisbon airport. A hire car makes the move and the short hops simple. Always confirm rates and availability before booking.
When is the best time for an Algarve and Lisbon golf trip?
Spring and autumn, roughly March to May and September to October, give the best mix of warm, dry weather, firm turf and sensible prices across both regions. Winter is mild and the cheapest time to play, and summer is hot and busy but reliably sunny, with the Atlantic wind the main variable on the Lisbon coast year round. The Algarve is a touch warmer in the cooler months. Always confirm conditions and rates before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Indicative green fees and drive times verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.