Turkey vs Portugal for a Golf Holiday
Two of Europe's biggest winter and shoulder season golf destinations, and two very different trips. Turkey's Belek is a wall of modern resort courses sold as all inclusive packages at sharp prices. Portugal's Algarve is the more established name, with greater variety, a shorter flight from the UK and the option to mix golf with a beach. Here is the honest head to head, verdict first.
Photograph: Carya Golf Club, Atanas, via Google
The verdict
For pure value and a self contained, golf all day package, Turkey edges it. Belek packs a dozen tournament grade courses into one pine fringed strip on the Mediterranean, almost all attached to five star all inclusive resorts, with buggy, food and drink folded into a single price that is hard to match anywhere in Europe.
But the Algarve is the better all round golf destination and the easier sell for most travelling golfers. It has more genuine variety, from the championship layouts of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo to Jack Nicklaus's Monte Rei, a far shorter flight from Britain and Ireland, and a coastline that lets non golfers and families come too. Pick Turkey for value and a focused golf week. Pick Portugal for variety, a quick hop from the UK and golf you can wrap a holiday around.
Head to head
| Turkey (Belek) | Portugal (Algarve) | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature courses | Regnum Carya, Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Cornelia Faldo, Gloria New, Sueno Dunes, Lykia Links | Monte Rei North, Quinta do Lago South and Laranjal, Vale do Lobo Royal and Ocean, Dom Pedro Victoria, San Lorenzo |
| Style of golf | Modern, manicured resort parkland through umbrella pines; one genuine links at Lykia | Mature pine and cork parkland, dramatic clifftop holes and Nicklaus signature design |
| Green fees, 2026 | Indicative roughly €69 to €219 per round; many courses bundled into all inclusive packages | Indicative roughly €67 to €230 plus per round; the marquee courses among the dearest in Europe |
| Flight from UK | Around 4 hours to Antalya; outside the EU, longer transfer culture | Around 2 hours 45 to Faro; the shortest hop to a major golf coast |
| Best season | March to May and late September to November; hot midsummer | Year round; spring and autumn peak, winter mild and cheaper, midsummer hot |
| Beyond golf | All inclusive resorts, spas, Roman Aspendos and Side nearby; less walkable beyond the gates | Beaches, marinas, Michelin dining, towns and family resorts within easy reach |
| Who it suits | Groups and societies wanting maximum golf and value in one resort bubble | Couples, families and groups wanting variety, short travel and golf plus a holiday |
Course facts and indicative fee ranges verified June 2026 from course and operator listings; fees vary by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Turkey if
You are travelling as a group or society and want the most golf for the money. You like the idea of an all inclusive base where green fees, buggies, food and drink are one price, you are happy with a four hour flight, and you want a string of immaculate, big resort courses within a short transfer of each other. Belek in spring or autumn is one of the best value golf weeks in Europe.
Pick Portugal if
You want the shortest flight to a great golf coast, more variety in the courses you play, or a trip that works for golfers and non golfers alike. The Algarve pairs championship golf with beaches, dining and towns, suits a long weekend as easily as a week, and offers everything from value rounds to a bucket list day at Monte Rei.
Plan your golf trip
Belek, the Algarve or a question of which suits your group. 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 Portugal questions
Is golf cheaper in Turkey or Portugal?
Turkey's Belek is generally the better value, especially booked as an all inclusive package where green fees, buggies and full board sit under one price. Indicative 2026 green fees in Belek run roughly 69 to 219 euro, broadly comparable to the Algarve at the top end, but the all inclusive resort model and lower on the ground costs make a Turkey golf week cheaper overall for most groups. Always confirm current prices directly before booking.
Is Belek or the Algarve better for golf?
Both are excellent. Belek offers a dense cluster of modern, immaculately kept resort courses and unbeatable all inclusive value, ideal for a focused golf week with a group. The Algarve has more variety, a shorter flight from the UK and Ireland, and the option to combine golf with beaches and dining. Choose Belek for value and concentration, the Algarve for variety and convenience.
When is the best time to play golf in Turkey or Portugal?
For Belek, March to May and late September to November are the sweet spot, with comfortable temperatures and courses in peak condition; midsummer is very hot. The Algarve plays year round, with spring and autumn the busiest and dearest, mild and cheaper golf in winter, and hot midsummer days. Always confirm directly before booking.
How long is the flight from the UK?
The Algarve is far closer, at roughly two hours forty five minutes to Faro from London, making it ideal even for a long weekend. Antalya, the gateway to Belek, is around four hours from the UK, better suited to a full week given the longer journey.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.