Penha Longa Atlantic: 2026 Access and Booking Update
Penha Longa's Atlantic course is the dramatic Robert Trent Jones Junior championship layout set in the wooded hills of the Sintra Cascais Natural Park, attached to the Ritz-Carlton resort half an hour from Lisbon. For 2026 it stays open to visitors, and it is the standout round on the Lisbon coast.
The news: a championship course you can still book as a visitor
The 2026 message at Penha Longa is welcoming. The Atlantic course is a resort and visitor course rather than a closed club, so travelling golfers can book a tee time through the resort or a golf travel partner. Staying at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa makes the round seamless, but the course can be played without being a hotel guest when booked ahead.
Given its tournament pedigree and its setting, demand is healthy, so the practical advice is to reserve early, particularly in the busy spring and autumn windows when the Lisbon coast is at its most popular.
The course, Trent Jones Junior in the Sintra hills
The Atlantic Championship course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Junior and opened in 1992, and it announced itself quickly by staging the Portuguese Open just two years later. It plays as a par 72 of around 6,290 metres, using the steep, rolling terrain of the natural park to spectacular effect, with elevation changes, woodland and far reaching views toward the Atlantic.
This is golf with genuine drama. Trent Jones Junior leaned into the contours rather than flattening them, so the round climbs and falls through the hills, and no two holes feel alike. It is consistently rated among the best courses in the Lisbon region and in Portugal as a whole.
How to play it in 2026
To play Penha Longa Atlantic in 2026, book a tee time through the resort or a golf travel partner, ideally well ahead in peak season. As a guide, green fees have reached up to around 130 euros for 18 holes in the high season, with lower rates at quieter times and for resort guests. Treat these as indicative for the 2026 season and always confirm directly before booking, as resort pricing changes with demand.
The Lisbon coast plays all year, with spring and autumn the prime windows for warm, settled weather. Summer is hotter and busier, while winter offers mild golf and the lowest prices, making this a true year round destination.
Our take
Our take is that the Atlantic course is the reason to base a golf trip on the Lisbon coast rather than heading straight for the Algarve. The combination of a Trent Jones Junior championship layout, the wild beauty of the Sintra hills and a five star resort at the turn is hard to match this close to a major European capital.
If you are planning a 2026 trip, anchor it at Penha Longa and add the fine courses around Cascais and Estoril, with the sights of Sintra and Lisbon between rounds. Tell us your dates and we will build the golf and the stay together.
Plan your Lisbon coast golf trip
From Penha Longa across the courses of Cascais and Estoril, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
Can visitors play Penha Longa Atlantic?
Yes. The Atlantic course is a resort and visitor course, bookable through the resort or a golf travel partner. Staying at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa makes it seamless, but you can play without being a hotel guest when you book ahead.
What is the green fee at Penha Longa Atlantic for 2026?
As a guide, high season green fees have reached up to around 130 euros for 18 holes, with lower rates at quieter times and for resort guests. Treat this as indicative for the 2026 season and confirm directly before booking.
Who designed the Penha Longa Atlantic course?
Robert Trent Jones Junior designed the Atlantic Championship course, which opened in 1992 and hosted the Portuguese Open in 1994. It plays as a par 72 of around 6,290 metres through the hills of the Sintra Cascais Natural Park.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course, access and fee details verified June 2026 from resort and golf reference sources; conditions and green fees change, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.