Looking for a streamlined golf destination where pretty much everything is laid on for you? Then Vilamoura and the surrounding golflands of Vila Sol, Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo are your answer. Vilamoura is a 1980s purpose-built marina designed purely for tourism on the sunny Algarve coast of southern Portugal. The front row around the harbour is occupied purely by bars and restaurants, the next layer is a string of large hotels and outside that are the six Vilamoura Golf Clubs. Everything is connected by the free shuttle buses in perpetual circulation.
Life for a golfer in Vilamoura is all very easy.
Vilamoura - golf courses
You would be hard pressed to find a greater concentration of golf courses than Vilamoura and the surrounding enclaves of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo. Between them they host a dozen superb courses (and a few easier ones too for those embarking on their overseas golfing career).
The timeless classic is the Old Course at Vilamoura: pure Portugal under the canopy of parasol pines.
There is also the new Vilamoura flagship course - the Victoria. Built with the Portuguese Open in mind (hence the five-star hotel alongside) it's a good test and visually stunning.
The next best courses at Vilamoura are Pinhal (a baby version of the Old) and Millennium (a change of scene with tall pines and water). The fifth course - Laguna, is also the cheapest (and the wettest as the name implies!).
One thing's for sure, you will not be short of golfing choice wherever you stay around Vilamoura!
Quinta do Lago & Vale do Lobo - golf courses
Close to Vilamoura but outside their stable, are five more courses that are the equal of golf anywhere in the world. One of the very best (and most popular) is the beautiful San Lorenzo that runs along the Ria Formosa wetlands: a rare beauty. Owned by the Dona Filipa hotel, it makes a great combination.
The two courses at Quinta do Lago (Royal and Ocean) and the two at Vale do Lobo (North and South) complete this handful of exceptional golf courses that should be on any golfers hit-list.
There is plenty more golf around too and the best of the second-tier (and reasonably priced) courses lie between the 27-hole resort at Vila Sol, San Lorenzo's sister course at Pinheiros Altos and the stylish Laranjal through old orange groves.
Vilamoura - where to stay?
Vilamoura is a lively spot for golf holidays that has moved pleasantly up-market over the last decade. It now has plenty of good quality restaurants around the marina (and one or two more inland) where you can while away a very enjoyable evening. And with so many hotels, it's the logical place to stay.
Of the big hotels all around the marina, the Tivoli is one of our favourites. However, there are some great accommodation and golf packages to be found if you stay in one of the Dom Pedro hotels - as they currently own the Vilamoura golf courses. The Dom Pedro Golf Hotel is a bit of a Vilamoura institution; we favour their smaller Marina Hotel for a little added intimacy.
Overlooking the beach is the Crowne Plaza hotel: totally rebuilt from the inside out in 2016 it's a very luxurious base with modern bedrooms and direct access to the beach.
Lovers of San Lorenzo will always head for the Dona Filipa hotel in Quinta do Lago (a smaller seaside resort) with their heavily discounted Green-fees at the enchanting San Lorenzo Golf Club (and Pinheiros Altos too).
Another idea, if you wish to play the Vilamoura courses and enjoy a little Portuguese lifestyle, why not stay in Faro? It's a proper little town filled with bars, boutiques and restaurants to stroll post-golf and only ten minutes from the majority of Golf Clubs - muito bom!
Vilamoura - around & about
For most visiting golfers the entertainment available on-tap around the marina is sufficient for après-golf relaxation: there are a lot of bright lights twinkling alongside the moored yachts. More intrepid travellers will want to investigate further afield and a very good place to start is Faro. More than just an airport, the town is riddled with the traditional Portuguese monochrome cobbled backstreets where you will find shops, bars, restaurants and cafés all at 'locals' prices.
Should you wish to head further back in time try a trip inland to Loulé, a pretty little town with some colourful backstreets. To dig deeper into Portugal take a trip up the scenic mountain roads to Alte – perpetual winner of the 'most-Portuguese-town-in-Portugal' title, so take your camera!
For beachside fun, Albufeira is pretty hectic! We would lean towards the Quinta do Lago beach (in front of the Dona Filipa hotel) where there is an extensive area of decking and lounge-like outlets where you can drink or dine as your appetite prefers.
Getting to Vilamoura
Getting to your golf holiday in Vilamoura could hardly be any easier with so many flights to Faro - the gateway to the Algarve. We can arrange flights for you if you wish or are equally happy to let you book these yourselves if you prefer? We can arrange a hire-car for the duration of your holiday, or we have a very reliable coach and minibus company that we use if you prefer to be chauffeured from golf course to golf course in and around Vilamoura.
For getting around once you are in-situ there is the free shuttle service to avail of, that links all the Vilamoura courses and hotels. However, if you have a party of more than a fourball, we would always recommend reserving private transfers for yourselves. It's almost free and adds a lot of convenience to your golfbreak for just a few extra €uro.
