7 Day Algarve Golf Itinerary
The Algarve is Europe's most complete golf holiday, a sun soaked stretch of southern Portugal where a dozen of the continent's finest resort courses sit within short drives of each other, the beaches and the seafood. This week pairs the famous Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo courses with the beautiful San Lorenzo and a single special round at Monte Rei, ranked the best in the country. Here is the seven 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 classic Algarve golf week, built for the group or couple who want quality and variety without long transfers, plus sunshine, good food and a beach on hand. The central Algarve around Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago is the densest cluster of resort golf in Europe, so you settle into one base and drive ten to thirty minutes to most rounds, with a single longer hop east to Monte Rei. It suits everyone from low handicappers chasing the championship tees to social groups who want a relaxed, sunlit week, and the courses flex easily by tee and budget.
The two decisions that shape the week are the season and Monte Rei. Aim for spring or autumn for the best weather and conditions, and book Monte Rei and the marquee Vilamoura rounds ahead, then let the rest fall into place around a comfortable base near the coast.
The 7 day plan
Arrive and settle near Vilamoura
Fly into Faro and transfer to your base near Vilamoura or Quinta do Lago, about 25 minutes from the airport. Settle in, hit a few balls, and walk the marina or the beach to find your feet. With six rounds ahead over the next six days, an easy first afternoon sets the week up well. Confirm your tee times and the order with your host or planner over dinner.
Dom Pedro Old Course, Vilamoura
Open with the grand old course of the Algarve, a Frank Pennink design from 1969 that winds through mature umbrella pines on rolling ground, a strategic, traditional test that has aged beautifully. It is the gentlest introduction to the week and one of the most loved courses in Portugal. Indicative 2026 green fees start from around 109 euro; book the morning to beat the heat.
Dom Pedro Victoria, Vilamoura
Step up to the Algarve's tournament course, the Arnold Palmer designed Victoria, host of the Portugal Masters since 2007, a big, modern layout of around 7,270 yards with water, wide fairways and bold greens. Play it from a sensible tee and enjoy walking where the European Tour competes each autumn. Indicative 2026 green fees are around 164 euro; it is the most exposed round, so wind matters.
Quinta do Lago, South Course
A short drive west brings you to Quinta do Lago, where the South Course, a former host of the Portuguese Open and a long time tour favourite, runs through pines and lakes with the famous water carries that define the resort. Remodelled in 2014, it is polished, strategic and beautifully kept. Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 114 euro in the shoulder up toward 165 in peak; the Laranjal and North courses are fine alternatives alongside.
San Lorenzo Golf Course
Many golfers' favourite in the Algarve, a Joseph Lee design from 1988 laid out beside the Ria Formosa nature reserve, with the closing holes running along the lagoon and the sea, quiet, scenic and beautifully conditioned. It is the prettiest round of the week and one of the most peaceful. Indicative 2026 green fees start from around 142 euro; book ahead, as tee times are limited.
Vale do Lobo, Royal Course
The Royal Course at Vale do Lobo is home to the most photographed hole in the Algarve, the par 3 sixteenth, played across a series of red cliffs above the beach. The rest is a rolling resort course through pines and villas, but that one tee shot makes the round. Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 130 up toward 175 euro in peak; play it for the cliff carry and the seaside views.
Monte Rei Golf & Country Club, North Course
Save the best for last with a single special round at Monte Rei, the Jack Nicklaus Signature course in the eastern Algarve that opened in 2007 and is widely ranked the finest in the country. Limited daily play, immaculate conditioning and a buggy with service touches make it feel like a private club for the day. About 45 minutes east of Vilamoura, it is the perfect, memorable close to the week. Indicative 2026 green fees are around 230 euro.
Green fees, drive times and logistics
| Round | Indicative 2026 fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dom Pedro Old, Vilamoura | From around 109 euro | 10 minutes from a Vilamoura base |
| Dom Pedro Victoria, Vilamoura | Around 164 euro | Portugal Masters host; same resort |
| Quinta do Lago South | Around 114 to 165 euro | About 15 minutes west |
| San Lorenzo | From around 142 euro | Beside the Ria Formosa; limited tee times |
| Vale do Lobo Royal | Around 130 to 175 euro | Next to Quinta do Lago |
| Monte Rei North | Around 230 euro | About 45 minutes east of Vilamoura |
Green fees and drive times verified indicatively in June 2026 from course and tee time listings; they vary by season and change without notice, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking. Find an Algarve resort base.
When to go and where to stay
Play the trip in spring or autumn, roughly March to May or September to November, for the Algarve's best balance of warm, dry weather and good conditions, accepting peak fees and busy tee sheets, or take the mild, excellent value winter if you accept shorter days. Base the week near Vilamoura or Quinta do Lago, the heart of the resort golf, where you are within short drives of most rounds and minutes from the beach, the marina and the seafood restaurants. A hire car makes the short hops and the one longer drive to Monte Rei simple, and leaves the evenings free for the coast. Build the week around the Monte Rei and Victoria tee times and the rest follows.
Plan your Algarve golf week
We hold the marquee tee times at Monte Rei, Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago, match a resort base to the golf and the beach, and arrange transfers so the week runs smoothly. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Algarve itinerary questions
What is the best 7 day golf itinerary in the Algarve?
A week based in the central and eastern Algarve covers the region's best courses with short drives between them. Open at the two Vilamoura courses, the classic Dom Pedro Old and the Arnold Palmer designed Victoria, then play the Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo resort courses, the beautiful San Lorenzo beside the Ria Formosa, and finish with a single special round at Monte Rei, ranked the best course in Portugal. One base near Vilamoura or Quinta do Lago covers most of it. Always confirm current tee times and fees directly before booking.
How much does a 7 day Algarve golf trip cost in green fees?
Six rounds on this route add up to roughly 900 to 1,000 euro per golfer in green fees in peak 2026 season, led by Monte Rei at around 230 euro and the Vilamoura Victoria around 164, with Dom Pedro Old, Quinta do Lago and San Lorenzo in the 109 to 142 range. Multi round packages and shoulder season rates bring the total down. These are indicative figures, so always confirm current fees directly before booking.
When is the best time for an Algarve golf trip?
Spring and autumn, roughly March to May and September to November, give the Algarve its best balance of warm, dry weather and good conditions, and are the peak golf season for fees and tee sheets. Summer is hot and busy with beach holidaymakers, and winter is mild and excellent value if you accept shorter days and the odd shower. Book the marquee tee times ahead and play early in summer. Always confirm current seasonal rates and availability directly before booking.
How do you play Monte Rei in the Algarve?
Monte Rei, the Jack Nicklaus Signature course in the eastern Algarve that opened in 2007, is widely ranked the best course in Portugal, and access is by green fee with limited daily play to protect the experience, so it must be booked ahead. It sits about 45 minutes east of Vilamoura, making a fine single special round to close the week. The indicative 2026 fee is around 230 euro, often including buggy and service touches. Always confirm current access and fees directly before booking.
Related
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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.