GROUND-ONLY · WHERE THE EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYED

Two clifftop courses, five hundred metres above the Atlantic.

Madeira golf holidays

Santo da Serra, where the European Tour's Madeira Islands Open was decided for two decades, sits above the bay where the first explorers landed. A short drive west, Cabell Robinson's Palheiro hangs over Funchal in old botanical gardens, the ocean a long way down. Two courses, the same volcanic ridge.

4.9 from real golfers · 2 courses · from £515pp (≈ €585) (≈ $675) (≈ CA$955) (≈ AU$965) (≈ NZ$1,175) (≈ CHF 545) · ATOL-protected where flights are added

See Madeira breaks · from £515pp (≈ €585) (≈ $675) (≈ CA$955) (≈ AU$965) (≈ NZ$1,175) (≈ CHF 545) ↓ Build your trip

Madeira rises out of the Atlantic in green ridges and terraced slopes, a Portuguese island that plays golf against a backdrop of mountains, ocean and subtropical garden. Just two courses crown the island, and both are worth the journey: Palheiro Golf Course on the hillsides above Funchal, and Santo da Serra Golf Course higher into the interior. This is a destination for golfers who want their game framed by drama rather than flat fairways, with Funchal's harbour life, botanical gardens and easy island warmth waiting at the end of each round.

We have arranged Madeira golf since 1981. Every itinerary is hand-built and hand-priced around your dates, your group and the courses you want to play.

Why play golf in Madeira

  • Two distinct hillside courses, Palheiro above Funchal and Santo da Serra in the cooler interior, both played against mountain-and-ocean views
  • A genuine winter-sun island: warm and playable through our November-to-March off-season
  • Compact and walkable as a trip, with Funchal as a single elegant base and short transfers to both courses
  • The kind of scenery, terraced fairways and Atlantic backdrops that make every round feel like an occasion
  • Stays that range from a botanical-garden retreat to a Funchal manor house, hand-picked to match the golf

The courses you’ll play

Madeira's golf is defined by its two courses, and we know both well enough to build a trip around either or both.

Palheiro Golf Course sits on the slopes above Funchal, woven through the gardens and woodland of the Palheiro estate. It rewards thoughtful placement over brute length, with elevation changes and tree-lined fairways that open, now and then, onto sweeping views down to the bay and the harbour.

Santo da Serra Golf Course climbs higher into the island's interior, where the air is cooler and the holes tumble across plateaux and ravines. It is the more dramatic of the two, with downhill tee shots and far-reaching panoramas over the eastern coast and the mountains beyond.

Where you’ll stay

We base most Madeira trips in and around Funchal, where the island's best stays sit within an easy transfer of both courses.

  • Casa Velha do Palheiro in Funchal, a refined manor-house retreat set in the Palheiro estate, ideally placed for the golf on its doorstep
  • Pestana Casino Park in Funchal, a striking hotel above the harbour with sweeping bay views and a central position for exploring the city
  • Quinta Splendida Hotel and Botanical Garden in Canico, just east of Funchal, set among gardens and well placed for the run up to Santo da Serra

We hand-pick each stay to suit your group, your budget and the rhythm of golf you want, then build the rest of the itinerary around it.

Best time to play golf in Madeira

Madeira is a true year-round golf island, and one of the reasons we recommend it most warmly is its mild winter. Through our off-season, roughly November to March, the island stays comfortably warm, making it a genuine winter-sun escape when much of Europe is too cold to play. This is when many of our golfers come.

Spring and autumn bring reliably pleasant, settled conditions and are lovely on both courses. High summer is hot and the island is at its busiest, so for golf we often steer people toward the shoulder months. Note that Santo da Serra sits higher and cooler than Palheiro, so the inland course can be a touch fresher and cloudier on any given day.

A sense of Madeira

History & heritage

Madeira has been a mid-Atlantic crossroads for five centuries, settled by the Portuguese in the 1400s and shaped ever since by trade, seafaring and the famous fortified wine that carries the island's name. Funchal, the capital, layers all of this together: cobbled streets, baroque churches, the old town's painted doors, and a working harbour that has welcomed ships for generations.

The island wears its history quietly and elegantly, in its manor houses, its terraced hillsides carved by hand, and its enduring craft of embroidery and wickerwork. It is a culture of gardens, gentle pace and Atlantic light, the perfect counterpoint to a few days of hillside golf.

Food & wine

Madeira's table is built on the Atlantic and the island's own subtropical bounty. Expect fresh fish straight off the boats, the local espada (black scabbard fish) often served with banana, and espetada, beef skewered on bay-laurel sticks and grilled over wood. Bolo do caco, a warm garlic-buttered flatbread, accompanies nearly everything.

The island's signature is, of course, Madeira wine, the fortified wine aged in Funchal's lodges and poured everywhere from harbour bars to manor-house dining rooms. A poncha, the local rum-honey-and-citrus drink, makes a fine after-golf ritual. Funchal rewards lingering evenings, and we are happy to point you toward the tables we rate.

Beyond the fairways

Madeira gives non-golfers and rest days plenty to fill them. Funchal itself rewards a slow wander, from the old town and the harbour to the cable car that climbs to Monte and its tropical gardens, with the famous wicker-toboggan ride back down.

The island's interior is its great draw: dramatic mountain peaks, the levada walking trails that thread along old irrigation channels, and viewpoints that fall away to the Atlantic. The botanical gardens around Funchal, including those on the Palheiro estate, are among the finest in Europe. We can weave a walk, a garden visit or a coastal drive into any itinerary, around the golf you have planned.

Getting around & exploring

Madeira is compact, and most golf trips run comfortably from a single Funchal base with short transfers to each course. We arrange private transfers from the airport and to the golf so the logistics are taken care of from the moment you land.

For exploring beyond the courses, the island's roads are scenic but steep and winding, with plenty of tunnels through the mountains. A hire car gives you freedom to reach the levadas and viewpoints at your own pace, though many of our guests are happy to leave the driving to us and enjoy the views from the back seat. We will advise on what suits your group.

Getting there

Madeira is served by Funchal's Cristiano Ronaldo Airport, with regular connections from the UK and mainland Europe. The island sits in the Atlantic off the coast of north-west Africa, a few hours' flight from the UK.

Flights are a separate, ATOL-protected add-on rather than part of the holiday itself, so you are free to book your own or have us arrange them as a financially protected extra. Either way, we coordinate the timings with your private transfers and the rest of your itinerary so the whole trip joins up seamlessly.

Good to know

  • Ground-only: our holidays are arranged on the ground; flights are a separate ATOL-protected add-on, never included in the package price
  • We are not ABTA members. Our trade credentials are ATOL (flights only), PTS and IATA
  • The island has just two golf courses, Palheiro and Santo da Serra, which makes it ideal as a relaxed two-or-three-round break or part of a wider Portugal trip
  • Santo da Serra sits higher and cooler than Palheiro, so pack a light layer for the inland course
  • Madeira's roads are steep and winding; we recommend private transfers for the golf and can advise on car hire for exploring
  • Currency is the euro; the island is on the same time zone as the UK
  • Every Madeira itinerary is hand-built and hand-priced around your dates, your group and the courses you want to play, drawing on relationships we have held since 1981

The courses you’ll play in Madeira

Santo da Serra Golf Course — Madeira golfSanto da Serra Golf CourseDesigned by Robert Trent JonesPlayed on tailored stay & play breaksDiscover this course & breaks →Palheiro Golf Course, Funchal — Madeira golfPalheiro Golf Course, FunchalPlayed on tailored stay & play breaksDiscover this course & breaks →

Golf resorts — stay & play on-site

Casa Velha do Palheiro, Funchal — Madeira golfCasa Velha do Palheiro, FunchalPalheiro Golf Course, Funchal · Santo da Serra Golf Coursefrom£515 (≈ €585) (≈ $675) (≈ CA$955) (≈ AU$965) (≈ NZ$1,175) (≈ CHF 545)per personDiscover this course & breaks →

Hotels — play the area’s courses

Pestana Casino Park, Funchal — Madeira golfPestana Casino Park, FunchalPalheiro Golf Course, Funchal · Santo da Serra Golf Coursefrom£995 (≈ €1,145) (≈ $1,315) (≈ CA$1,855) (≈ AU$1,875) (≈ NZ$2,275) (≈ CHF 1,055)per personDiscover this course & breaks →Casa Velha do Palheiro, Funchal — Madeira golfCasa Velha do Palheiro, FunchalPalheiro Golf Course, Funchal · Santo da Serra Golf Coursefrom£515 (≈ €585) (≈ $675) (≈ CA$955) (≈ AU$965) (≈ NZ$1,175) (≈ CHF 545)per personDiscover this course & breaks →Quinta Splendida Hotel and Botanical Garden, Canico — Madeira golfQuinta Splendida Hotel and Botanical Garden, CanicoPalheiro Golf Course, Funchal · Santo da Serra Golf CoursePlayed on tailored stay & play breaksDiscover this course & breaks →

Ready to play Madeira?

Tell us your dates and group — we’ll build a tailored itinerary and hand-priced quote, usually within 15 minutes.

Plan my Madeira trip →Talk to a specialist · 01277 284284

ATOL & PTS protected · Tailor-made since 1981

What golfers say about Madeira

4.997 reviews

We have just returned from a superb golf holiday to Madeira. Everything was professionally arranged by Nigel at Golf Planet. Would highly recommend this company.

Anthony Aylett · Madeira · 7 years ago

Frequently asked questions

Golf holidays in Madeira — answers to the questions our golfers ask most.

How much does a golf holiday in Portugal cost?

Golf holidays in Portugal start from £205 (≈ €235) (≈ $265) (≈ CA$375) (≈ AU$385) (≈ NZ$465) (≈ CHF 215) pp with Golf Planet Holidays. That is a tailor-made ground package, and the final price depends on your hotel, the courses you play and the season.

Which region of Portugal is best for golfers?

The Algarve is Portugal's most popular golf region and home to the highest concentration of top courses — Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo, Vilamoura and Monte Rei are all within an hour of Faro Airport. The Lisbon Coast is growing rapidly in popularity with outstanding courses including Oitavos Dunes, Aroeira and Royal Obidos, plus easy access to Lisbon city. Madeira suits those wanting dramatic scenery and a quieter atmosphere. We'll help you choose based on your preferred courses, budget and travel dates.

Do I need a hire car in Portugal?

For most Algarve golf holidays, a hire car is optional rather than essential. Many resorts — particularly in Vilamoura and Vale do Lobo — have golf courses and facilities on-site or within walking distance. We include private transfers from Faro Airport to your hotel in all packages, and can arrange inter-course transfers as needed. That said, a hire car gives you the freedom to explore the Algarve's beaches, villages and restaurants at your own pace — we're happy to recommend the best approach for your group.

When is the best time to play golf in Portugal?

Spring and autumn, roughly March to May and September to November, are best, and the Algarve's mild winters make it a year-round escape.

How many golf courses are there in Portugal?

We feature 44 courses and 54 resorts across Portugal including Quinta do Vale and Ribagolfe. Your specialist matches the courses to your group's standard and budget.

Is there plenty for non-golfers to do in Portugal?

Portugal offers non-golfers a wonderful range of experiences. The Algarve has superb Atlantic beaches, historic Moorish towns like Tavira, excellent seafood restaurants and water sports. Lisbon — accessible from the Lisbon Coast courses — is one of Europe's most captivating cities, with world-class museums, vibrant food markets and stunning architecture. The Sintra palaces, Évora's Roman ruins and the Douro Valley wine region are all within reach. Portugal consistently ranks among Europe's favourite holiday destinations for very good reason.

Still have a question? Ask our golf travel team — a free, no-obligation quote, no call centre.

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