Turkey vs Egypt for Golf
Two warm weather value destinations that pull European golfers all winter, and a real choice for a buddies or society trip. Turkey's Belek is the dense, all-inclusive golf resort capital of the Mediterranean, with more than 15 championship courses side by side. Egypt is the warmer, cheaper, more adventurous pick, where the golf shares the bill with the pyramids and the Red Sea. Here is the honest head to head, verdict first.
Photograph: The Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Belek, via Google
The verdict
For a dedicated golf week with the most courses, the best conditioning and unbeatable all-inclusive value, Turkey wins. Belek, on the Mediterranean coast near Antalya, packs more than 15 championship courses into one short stretch, among them the Montgomerie Maxx Royal, P.B. Dye's heathland inspired Carya, Cornelia and Sueno, most a few minutes apart and many reached without leaving an all-inclusive resort. The model is built for golfers: five star lodging, food and drink and several rounds bundled into one price, with guaranteed tee times and tournament standard turf. For four to seven rounds in a week with no logistics to manage, nowhere does it better at the price.
But for winter warmth, the lowest green fees and a trip that is more than golf, Egypt wins. Its courses are fewer and more spread out, led by Gary Player's superb Cascades at Soma Bay on the Red Sea and the strong Cairo and El Gouna layouts, but they sit in genuine heat from October to April when Belek can be cool, the per round fees are lower, and only Egypt lets you set your golf beside the Pyramids of Giza, a Nile cruise or world class diving. Pick Turkey for the purest, best value golf week. Pick Egypt for deep winter sun and a golf and sightseeing holiday combined.
Head to head
| Turkey (Belek) | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A dense Mediterranean golf resort hub with 15 plus championship courses side by side | A spread of fewer, scenic desert and Red Sea courses across the country |
| Where | Belek, near Antalya on the southern Turkish coast | Red Sea coast (Soma Bay, Hurghada, El Gouna) and Cairo |
| Marquee courses | Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Carya, Cornelia, Sueno, Gloria, Kaya Palazzo | Cascades at Soma Bay (Gary Player), Madinat Makadi, El Gouna, Katameya, Allegria |
| Indicative green fees | Higher per round; outstanding value bundled into all-inclusive packages | Lower, often around 60 to 90 euros for 18 holes (indicative; confirm) |
| Course density | Exceptional; most courses minutes apart, several from one resort | Lower; courses are clustered by region and a drive or flight apart |
| Best season | Spring (Feb to May) and autumn (Oct to Nov); high summer is very hot | October to April; the stronger deep winter sun choice |
| Beyond golf | Aspendos and Perge ruins, old Antalya, the Taurus mountains | Pyramids of Giza, Nile cruises, Red Sea diving and snorkeling |
| Getting there | Antalya Airport, wide European connections; short transfers to Belek | Hurghada for the Red Sea, Cairo for the city courses |
| Who it suits | The group wanting maximum golf, all-inclusive ease and best value | The traveler wanting winter heat, low fees and golf plus sightseeing |
Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026 from the resorts, clubs and leading golf travel listings; fees and packages vary by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Turkey if
You want the most golf, the best conditioning and the easiest week. Belek is purpose built for the traveling golfer: more than 15 championship courses, among them the Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Carya, Cornelia and Sueno, sit within a short drive of all-inclusive five star resorts that bundle the lodging, the food and drink and several rounds into one price. Tee times are guaranteed, the turf is kept in tournament shape, and a group can play four to seven different courses in a week without organizing a thing. It is the value benchmark for a dedicated golf trip, best in spring and autumn.
Pick Egypt if
You want winter warmth, lower green fees and a holiday that is more than golf. Egypt's best courses, led by Gary Player's Cascades at Soma Bay on the Red Sea and the strong Cairo and El Gouna layouts, deliver real heat from October to April when Belek can be cool, and the per round fees are gentler. The trade off is fewer courses, more spread out. But only Egypt lets you tee it up a short drive from the Pyramids of Giza, follow golf with a Nile cruise, or pair it with some of the finest diving in the world off the Red Sea. The pick for a sun and sightseeing trip with golf at its heart.
Plan your Turkey or Egypt golf trip
The all-inclusive ease of Belek, the winter warmth of the Red Sea, or a trip that pairs golf with the pyramids. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, transfers and base, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Turkey vs Egypt questions
Is Turkey or Egypt cheaper for a golf holiday?
Egypt has the lower individual green fees, often around 60 to 90 euros at Red Sea and Cairo courses, while Turkey's Belek fees run higher per round. But Turkey wins on packaged value, because its all-inclusive resorts bundle five star lodging, food, drink and multiple championship rounds into one price that is hard to beat for a dedicated golf week. The best value depends on whether you want maximum golf at the lowest package cost, where Turkey usually leads, or the lowest per round green fee, where Egypt leads. All figures are indicative for 2026, so always confirm directly before booking.
Which has better golf courses, Turkey or Egypt?
Belek in Turkey has the deeper and more concentrated collection, with more than 15 championship courses including the Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Carya, Cornelia and Sueno, most within a short drive of each other. Egypt's best courses, led by Gary Player's Cascades at Soma Bay and the Cairo and El Gouna layouts, are excellent but fewer and more spread out across the country. For sheer choice and championship density, Turkey leads.
When is the best time to play golf in Turkey and Egypt?
Belek plays best in spring, from February to May, and autumn, October and November, when temperatures are comfortable; high summer is very hot. Egypt's Red Sea and Cairo courses are at their best from October to April, making Egypt the stronger choice for deep winter sun in December and January when Belek can be cool. Always check the forecast for your dates.
Can you combine golf with sightseeing in Turkey and Egypt?
Both reward it. From Belek you can pair golf with the Roman ruins of Aspendos and Perge, the old town of Antalya and the Taurus mountains. Egypt is the stronger sightseeing trip, letting you set golf alongside the Pyramids of Giza, a Nile cruise from Luxor, or world class Red Sea diving and snorkeling at Hurghada and Soma Bay. Egypt suits the traveler who wants golf as part of a bigger holiday.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.