East of Faro, running towards the Spanish border, there is a stretch of the Algarve most golfers drive straight past. Their loss. The salt pans glint at Tavira, orange groves run inland, and the golf, once you find it, stands with the best in Portugal, played in a
East of Faro, running towards the Spanish border, there is a stretch of the Algarve most golfers drive straight past. Their loss. The salt pans glint at Tavira, orange groves run inland, and the golf, once you find it, stands with the best in Portugal, played in a calm the busier west gave up years ago.
This is country for the unhurried golfer. A morning round on a championship course, lunch in a whitewashed town that has never rushed for anyone, an afternoon by the water. We have been building trips around this quiet corner for years, usually based at Monte Rei Golf & Country Club or in Tavira itself, and the courses that follow are those we keep going back to. Each has its own character and its own reason to play it.
Monte Rei — the benchmark for golf in Portugal
If one course defines the Eastern Algarve, it is Monte Rei Golf & Country Club, set in a private valley near Tavira and consistently rated the best course in Portugal. You understand why from the first tee. The conditioning is immaculate, the routing generous yet exacting, and the sense of arrival is quietly grand without ever showing off.
It rewards thought as much as power. Each hole sits in its own landscape, framed by hills and cork oak, so you play in something close to solitude, and the service from practice ground to halfway house matches anywhere in Europe. It is a serious test for the accomplished golfer and a flattering one for the improver. Staying on the estate, from
Quinta da Ria, Quinta do Vale and Castro Marim — the variety that makes a trip
What turns one great course into a proper golf holiday is the company Monte Rei keeps. Quinta da Ria & Cima Golf Club, near Tavira, gives you two contrasting layouts on a single estate. Ria runs gently down towards the Ria Formosa lagoon, with sea views and birdlife for company; Cima climbs into more strategic country inland. If you only have time for one, play Ria. Cima is a decent round, but the lagoon holes on Ria are the ones you will still be talking about at dinner.
A short drive away, Quinta do Vale is a more dramatic, sculpted test through the hills, while Castro Marim Golf and Country Club offers open, links-influenced golf with long views towards the Guadiana and Spain. Castro Marim comes with a warning attached: on ground this exposed, a breezy spring day can turn it into a much harder course than the card suggests, so save it for a calm morning if you can. Base yourself nearby at Praia Verde Boutique Hotel, from
Where our specialists would stay in Eastern Algarve
Benamor — the local favourite with real charm
Every good golfing region needs a course you simply enjoy, and here that is Benamor Golf Club near Tavira. It is the most relaxed of the area’s courses. Friendly, scenic and genuinely fun, it runs its front nine through open farmland before the back nine climbs into prettier, more undulating terrain, and in high summer those climbs are warm work on foot, so take a buggy.
Benamor is the round we often build in as a gentle opener or a final-day pleasure: less demanding than Monte Rei, but full of character and quietly clever in places. Staying at Vila Gale Tavira, from
Where to stay — Tavira and the eastern coast
The courses are only half the trip; where you sleep matters just as much. Tavira makes an elegant base, and we match the hotel to the mood you are after. In town, AP Maria Nova Lounge, from
Given a free hand, though, our pick for most groups is Praia Verde Boutique Hotel, over at Castro Marim. Set among umbrella pines above a quiet beach, it is the most intimate of the four and the best placed for Monte Rei. Whichever you choose, we build the whole trip by hand around the dates you give us, tee times, transfers and the order of your rounds all arranged for you, and every booking carries PTS protection.
Our specialists’ favourite stays in Eastern Algarve
What our golfers say
4.997 reviews
Great trip to Tavira with Golf Planet. Stayed at AP Capanas resort which was very good and close to the golf courses we were playing. Simon and the team arranged everything for our golf trip, from airport pick ups and transportation to and from the golf…
What a golf break here costs by month, Portugal
| 0.79 | 0.84 | 1.00 | 1.01 | 1.04 | 1.08 | 1.17 | 1.15 | 1.08 | 0.99 | 0.86 | 0.79 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Frequently asked questions
How many golf courses are there in the Eastern Algarve?
The Eastern Algarve has a smaller, more select collection of courses than the busy west — which is part of its appeal. The standouts we build trips around are Monte Rei, Quinta da Ria & Cima, Quinta do Vale, Castro Marim and Benamor, all within a short drive of Tavira.
Is Monte Rei really the best course in Portugal?
Monte Rei Golf & Country Club is consistently ranked Portugal’s number one course, and in our experience that reputation is well earned — for its conditioning, its sense of privacy and the quality of the experience from first tee to last. It is the centrepiece of most Eastern Algarve trips we arrange.
When is the best time to play golf in the Eastern Algarve?
Spring and autumn are the loveliest — warm, settled and quiet on the fairways — while winter offers mild, playable golf when much of northern Europe has packed its clubs away. We tailor the timing to suit you and the courses you most want to play.
Is my money protected when I book a golf trip with Golf Planet Holidays?
Yes, entirely. Golf Planet Holidays has arranged hand-built golf travel since 1981. We are ATOL Protected, and your money is held securely in trust with PTS until you travel — so you can plan your Eastern Algarve trip with complete peace of mind.
Which golf courses are near Tavira?
Monte Rei, Quinta da Ria, Quinta do Vale, Castro Marim and Benamor, all an easy drive from town. Monte Rei is the headline; Benamor is the one the locals would keep for themselves.
Is Tavira a good base for a golf holiday?
The best in the Eastern Algarve. In town, AP Maria Nova Lounge, from
Come and play with us
Wherever you're travelling from, you're welcome on a Golf Planet hosted tour — a small group, a host with you from the first tee to the last, and every round, transfer and dinner taken care of. You just bring the clubs.
