Belek vs Costa del Sol for Golf
Two of the Mediterranean's great golf coasts, and a study in contrasts. Belek is the value capital of European golf, a dense cluster of championship courses among the umbrella pines near Antalya, wrapped in five star all inclusive resorts. The Costa del Sol is bigger, glossier and deeper, with more than fifty courses and the elite names at the top. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: Cornelia Golf Club - Golf in Belek Antalya Turkey, Cornelia Golf Club, via Google
The verdict
For a golf week that delivers the most for the money, Belek wins comfortably. Around fifteen championship courses sit within a short transfer of Antalya, the resorts are all inclusive five star, and the indicative green fees undercut Spain by a distance. Carya, the Peter Thomson designed heathland course and a regular Turkish Airlines Open host, Colin Montgomerie's Montgomerie Maxx Royal and the Antalya Golf Club pair of PGA Sultan and National give you a serious run of golf with food, drinks and transfers wrapped in. For a society or a buddies group it is the most efficient sun and golf week in Europe.
The Costa del Sol is the bigger, deeper and more glamorous destination. More than fifty courses span everything from Valderrama and Finca Cortesin at the elite end to easy resort layouts, the Sotogrande enclave is the best concentration of top tier golf on either coast, and Marbella offers far more off the course for a mixed group. Pick Belek for value, density and an all in price, the Costa del Sol for variety, the very best courses and a fuller holiday. Both deliver reliable sun and good golf; the right answer is about the trip you want.
Head to head
| Belek | Costa del Sol | |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship courses | Carya, Montgomerie Maxx Royal, PGA Sultan and National at Antalya Golf Club, Gloria Old, Cornelia, Kaya Palazzo | Valderrama, Finca Cortesin, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, La Reserva, Los Naranjos, La Cala |
| Depth of golf | Around 15 courses tightly grouped near Antalya; excellent quality in a compact resort strip | More than 50 courses along a longer coast; the widest variety in southern Europe |
| Green fees, flagship | Indicative 2026 roughly 69 to 219 euros, with resorts often bundling golf into all inclusive packages | Indicative 2026 from affordable to well over 500 euros; Valderrama among Europe's dearest rounds |
| Resort model | Five star all inclusive is the norm, with food and drinks included and golf packages built in | Hotels, villas and golf resorts, food and golf usually paid separately, a wider lodging range |
| Getting around | Antalya airport; most courses within 20 to 40 minutes, minimal driving | Malaga or Gibraltar airports; courses spread along the coast, more driving between clusters |
| Off the course | Resort focused, beaches, spas and the all inclusive scene; quieter and more golf led | Marbella glamour, Puerto Banus, more nightlife, dining and non golf options |
| Who it suits | Societies and buddies groups wanting value, density, sun and an all in price | Mixed groups, luxury seekers and golfers who want the very best courses and more to do |
Course facts and indicative fee ranges verified June 2026; fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Belek if
You want maximum golf and sun for a fixed, predictable budget. The all inclusive model means food and drinks are handled, the courses are minutes from the resort, and the green fees are among the lowest in championship golf. A society, a buddies group or any party that values an easy all in week, short transfers and warm weather will get more rounds for the money here than almost anywhere in Europe, and Carya and Montgomerie Maxx Royal are genuinely world class.
Pick the Costa del Sol if
You want the best courses, the most choice and a fuller holiday around the golf. You are drawn to playing Valderrama, Finca Cortesin and the Sotogrande clubs, you like having more than fifty courses to pick from, and a mixed group wants Marbella's restaurants, shopping and nightlife as part of the trip. For glamour, variety and the elite end of the game, the Spanish coast has the edge over the all inclusive simplicity of Belek.
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Belek vs Costa del Sol questions
Is Belek or Costa del Sol better for golf?
Both are top Mediterranean golf destinations with very different characters. Belek, on Turkey's Antalya coast, is the value champion, with around fifteen championship courses set among the pines, all inclusive five star resorts and short transfers, led by Carya, Montgomerie Maxx Royal and the Antalya Golf Club layouts of PGA Sultan and National. The Costa del Sol is bigger and more varied, with more than fifty courses including Valderrama and Finca Cortesin, the Sotogrande enclave and far more to do off the course. Choose Belek for value and a self contained golf week, the Costa del Sol for breadth, glamour and the elite courses.
Which is cheaper, Belek or Costa del Sol?
Belek is generally cheaper, and the all inclusive model makes the saving larger. Indicative 2026 green fees in Belek run from around 69 to 219 euros, and the resorts bundle food and drinks, so the daily spend is low and predictable. The Costa del Sol spans a wider range, from affordable everyday courses to Valderrama, one of Europe's dearest rounds at well over 500 euros in peak season, with food and golf usually paid separately. Fees move with the season, so always confirm directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Belek or on the Costa del Sol?
Both coasts peak in spring and autumn. Belek's prime windows are March to May and September to November, with a popular cool weather season through the winter and hot summers best played early. The Costa del Sol follows the same pattern, with mild winter golf that draws northern Europeans and hot July and August days. Always confirm conditions and overseeding dates before you travel.
Can you combine Belek and Costa del Sol in one trip?
They are in different countries and a fair distance apart, so they are not a natural pairing in a single short trip. Most golfers pick one for a week. If you want two contrasting Mediterranean weeks in one longer tour we can plan it, but the simplest plan is to base on one coast and play it well. We build either as a standalone trip.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.