The Best of the Lisbon Golf Coast
This week’s blog is a guide to some of the best golf hotels and resorts located on the Lisbon Golf Coast. The city of Lisbon is a great holiday destination with history, culture, great nightlife and many brilliant golf courses within close proximity of the city to enjoy such as Lisbon Sports Club and Belas.
With stunning beaches, spectacular golf courses and a great range of accommodation, it comes as no surprise that golfers flock to the Lisbon Golf Coast in huge numbers year after year. Here are some of our top recommendations for where to stay to enjoy outstanding golf opportunities in this popular part of the world.
Why Lisbon?
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, and although a big city in Iberian terms it still manages to have a village kind of feel about it, making it a popular choice for all kinds of holidays. It is almost impossible to have enough time in one trip to visit everything that you would like to see whilst doing it at your leisure, but certain things really cannot be missed by anyone visiting this cosmopolitan city.
Travelling by tram or on foot is by far the best way to travel around this city as even the trams can take you into the cobbled, multi-coloured streets with tiny cafes and restaurants. Whether it’s history or culture or music that you’re looking for it would be a real challenge to be disappointed with a Lisbon holiday
Everyone knows about the tourist guide “must do and see” lists for this amazing place, but not many have discovered the hidden gems and how to really experience life as a local in Lisbon. A must-do is the walk up to the Castle of São Jorge, which is the highest point of the city with beautiful views of both the city of Lisbon as well as views of the river Tragus. If the sight-seeing opportunities and the magnificent architecture aren’t enough to convince you then there are also art museums and designer label shops to capture your attention.
A local tradition that is almost unmissable whilst in Lisbon is the city’s music. Whether you’re just strolling through the streets or having dinner at a restaurant, you are bound to hear some Fado at some point, which is a style of music thought to have originated in the 1820s in Portugal.
Not only does Lisbon host some fantastic historical monuments, divine restaurants, cute little cafes and some fun nightlife, but it is also home to some fabulous golf courses as well as some world-class football. What could be more perfect than a holiday that combines this fabulous city with that world-class football and some fabulous golfing experiences?
A little further afield from Lisbon is a smaller but equally stunning town just 40km south of Lisbon called Sesimbra. It is situated on an incredible coastline with some stunning beaches and is surrounded by Serra da Arrabida National Park, which is perfect for those looking for some activities during their holiday.
Sesimbra is off of the usual tourist trail which makes it perfect for peace and quiet and a chance to see what life is like in a traditional Portuguese town. Although Sesimbra has managed to maintain the feel and atmosphere of a quiet fishing village, it carries the bustle of the fun nightlife equally as well.
The town is increasingly popular with Portuguese tourists, but this only means that if you are to go to Sesimbra you should expect traditional and authentic Portuguese food as well as reasonably priced restaurants and bars – what could be better?
The 6 Best Golf Resorts
Bom Sucesso Resort
One of the Lisbon Golf Coast’s best known and most loved resorts is the Bom Sucesso Resort, home to a superb golf course and luxury five-star self-catered accommodation. The resort itself comprises of many modern private villas and apartments, all of which have been individually designed by different architects in contemporary designs with modern décor.
For the perfect luxury golf escape to the Lisbon Golf Coast, the Bom Sucesso Resort is a great choice. Guests here have it all; great facilities, superb accommodation, and most importantly, a spectacular golf course located on-site.
All of the spacious villas here have their own private swimming pools, as well as access to the resort’s tennis club. Furthermore, the resort is also home to a large swimming pool for the use of all its guests, as well as sunbeds and parasols.
Located on-site at the Bom Sucesso Resort is the Guardian Bom Sucesso a European Tour Destination designed by the world-renowned golf architect, Donald Steel. After having undergone complete renovations in previous years, the golf course is consistently kept in immaculate condition throughout the year. With a new and improved layout, the Guardian Bom Sucesso has challenged and entertained all the golfers that have played its greens.
Onyria Quinta da Marinha
Just a couple of kilometres from Cascais, we’ll find the Onyria Quinta da Marinha; a fully-fledged luxury resort having recently been completely renovated and upgraded to a 5-star hotel. The onsite Quinta da Marinha course is a traditional style layout surrounded by pine trees with a few water hazards and several bunkers adding to the challenge.
Adjoining Quinta da Marinha is the wonderful Oitavos Dunes golf course. Oitavos has starting and finishing holes among the dunes forests but otherwise, it is very much a links layout. The wind invariably blows hard here as the course is exposed to the coastline; the course is truly one of Lisbon Golf Coast’s best and has held numerous PGA European Tour events.
Penha Longa
Just 20 minutes drive away from the coast, you’ll find the luxury golf resort at Penha Longa. This property is home to the Penha Longa Resort Hotel; a glorious 5-star hotel with exceptional quality and service. The hotel is one of the area’s iconic landmarks and has hosted royalty and celebrities over several decades, keeping its full splendour intact throughout several renovations and ownerships.
On-site is the equally magnificent Penha Longa Golf. There are 18 holes of superb Championship golf with the 9 hole Monastery course offering higher handicaps respite from the challenge of the main course. The Championship course is undulating and offers a great challenge to golfers in the beautiful countryside. The peace can be shattered on several holes if there are events at the neighbouring race track though!
Montado Hotel & Golf Resort
The four-star Montado Hotel & Golf Resort boasts a tranquil and idyllic location set amongst vineyards and is just 30 minutes drive south of Lisbon. The guest rooms are decorated with a contemporary theme and have their own flat-screen TVs, coffee rooms and a private balcony with views across the golf course.
When you’re not playing around on the fantastic Montado golf course, you can relax in the spa or around the pool. The hotel’s own restaurant, All in One, serves delicious regional and international dishes for you to enjoy and the Pitch and Putt bar is great for a few cold drinks and a lighter meal.
On-site of the resort is the 18-hole Montado golf course, which provides all golfers with a great challenge with the amount of strategically placed hazards throughout the course. This course has recently been upgraded and is definitely one to add to your itinerary if you are in the Lisbon area.
Dolce Campo Real Golf Resort & Spa
Dolce Campo Real Golf Resort & Spa is a beautifully designed five-star hotel located in the Portuguese countryside amongst vineyards and small villages. All of the rooms are individually decorated and boast either courtyard or golf course views.
There are three different restaurants at the hotel and two bars as well as many Portuguese towns and villages nearby that you could venture out to find a great restaurant there too. You will never be short of things to do whilst staying here as the hotel has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an extensive spa, tennis courts, horses. a football pitch and the beaches of the Silver Coast are also very nearby!
On top of all of that, there is the brilliant Campo Real golf course. The course is surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards and fits into its surroundings well with its dramatic hills along the course and wooded valleys. The views are spectacular from both the clubhouse and the course, especially the 17th hole where you can see right across the resort and the vineyards.
Praia d’el Rey Marriott Golf and Beach Resort
The five-star Praia d’el Rey Marriott Golf and Beach Resort is another top choice for your next golf holiday to Lisbon, with so many golf courses in its surrounding area as well as the fabulous Praia d’el Rey course on-site of the resort.
Aside from the brilliant golf here, there are other activities for you to enjoy, such as relaxing by the pool, using the spa facilities or venturing into the nearby town of Obidos. There are also two restaurants and a bar at the hotel which offer you beautiful views of the ocean or the pool whilst you are dining.
Praia d’el Rey Golf is a classic links course with a variety of holes through lush forests to coastal dunes where you can enjoy tremendous sea views. It is no surprise that this is one of the most popular golf courses with fantastic conditions and an interesting layout as well as beautiful surroundings.
With one of Europe’s finest courses on-site, you cannot really go wrong with booking your next Lisbon getaway to the Praia d’el Rey Marriott.
The 3 Best Golf Hotels
Troia Design Hotel
The Troia Design Hotel is perfect for all those looking for an unforgettable golf escape with the ideal mix of sun, sea and golf. The hotel is set next to one of the Lisbon Golf Coast’s most stunning beaches, meaning that all guests here are never without an opportunity to make the most out of one of the many beautiful beaches that Portugal is known so well for.
Just next door to the hotel lies the Setubal Bay, which has even been labelled as one of the ’35 Most Beautiful Bays in the World’, so all guests at the Troia Design Hotel have the perfect spot to catch a tan and soak up the rays while they are taking a break from challenging the greens of the local golf courses.
However, the Troia Design Hotel is not just ideally located for its guests to make the most out of one of the region’s beautiful beaches; it is also ideally located for its guests to play one of the region’s best golf courses. Located just next door to the Troia Design Hotel is the Troia golf course, a superb golf course that is responsible for setting the standard of golf in the area so high.
Oitavos Hotel
Another superb option for your next luxury golf escape to the Lisbon Golf Coast is the Oitavos Hotel, a fantastic five-star hotel located in Cascais. The Oitavos Hotel is very contemporary in its design, and guests here are never without an opportunity to enjoy the stunning views across the neighbouring sea.
Guests at this hotel can enjoy the best of both worlds as they are sufficiently set back from all of the hustle and bustle of the centre of Cascais, but they are still just a short drive into the centre of town if they fancy a fun evening out or an evening of exploring. Furthermore, golfers at the Oitavos Hotel can also enjoy easy access to a spectacular golf course; the Oitavos Dunes golf course is positioned just next door to the hotel.
The Oitavos Dunes golf course has been consistently ranked as one of the top golf courses in Europe, meaning all golfers should anticipate an unforgettable round of golf here. With strong prevailing blowing across from the coast, some tight doglegs and a range of tricky hazards, golfers are set to have every aspect of their game challenged during their round here.
Sesimbra Hotel and Spa
The Sesimbra Hotel and Spa is a brilliant modern four-star hotel that boasts a fantastic location surrounded by the Arrabida Natural Reserve, situated on the beachfront with direct access to Sesimbra’s beautiful sandy beach and within walking distance of the town of Sesimbra’s bars and restaurants.
The hotel was refurbished in 2015 which means that all of the guestrooms boast stylish and modern décor and are fitted with all of the amenities and facilities that you could need, including a flat-screen cable TV, free Wi-Fi, a minibar and a private balcony from which you can enjoy views over the stunning surroundings of the hotel and maybe even the Atlantic Ocean.
When you’re not enjoying a round of golf on one of the excellent local golf courses like the Aroeira courses or Quinta do Peru, you can either venture into town to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a few drinks and a meal or relax at the hotel. The spa within the hotel offers its guests a wide range of health and beauty treatments including a hot stone massage or you can just enjoy the facilities which include a heated swimming pool, a Turkish bath, a sauna and a Tropical Shower.
Besides the spa, the hotel boasts a large outdoor infinity pool for you to relax around and soak up some of the Portuguese sunshine. It is so easy to venture into town to explore the restaurants there but if you prefer to eat within the hotel then the Aquarius Restaurant won’t disappoint with its lovely traditional Portuguese menu featuring some delicious fish dishes.
We hope that you have enjoyed this week’s blog and that you will consider one of these fantastic hotels when you are planning your break in Portugal. For more information and to start booking a bespoke holiday to a golf resort or hotel in Lison, get in touch and speak to a member of our team.
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