Best time to play golf in Portugal

Portugal is the opposite of the British-Isles calendar. The prime golf season runs October to May — warm, dry winter-sun golf when the rest of Europe is frozen — with the sweet spots in the shoulders: late September–November and February–April. Midsummer is hot: still golfable early and late in the day, but really the beach season.

The Algarve enjoys around 300 days of sunshine a year and one of the mildest winter climates in Europe, which is exactly why it became the continent's busiest winter golf destination. Faro is typically 16–19°C even in January — sweater-and-shorts weather on a good day.

The best of both worlds: warm enough for comfortable golf, cool enough to walk 18 without wilting, and the courses in beautiful condition.

October–November

Arguably the finest golf weather of the year — warm (still 20–24°C in October), the sea warm from summer, the fairways recovered from the summer heat, and the crowds thinning after the holidays. Prices ease from the summer peak but climb again as the winter-sun season builds toward Christmas.

February–April

Peak winter-sun season and, for many, the very best time to come: mild days (17–22°C), the almond and wildflower blossom out across the Algarve, and courses in prime condition. This is the busiest and priciest stretch, so book the marquee rounds — Monte Rei above all — and hotels well ahead. Spring can bring the odd Atlantic front, but settled sunny spells are the norm.

The heart of the winter-sun draw. Days are mild (16–19°C) and often gloriously sunny, and the low winter light is beautiful on the courses — this is when northern Europe escapes the cold for a week of golf. It is cooler and can be showery compared with spring, and the days are shorter (around 10 hours of light), so plan earlier tee times. Christmas and New Year aside, value can be good, and the famous courses are easier to book than in February–April.

High summer is hot: inland Algarve regularly tops 30°C, and July and August can be draining for a full round in the middle of the day. Golf is still very much possible — play an early-morning or twilight tee time and retreat to the beach or pool in the heat of the afternoon — and green fees are at their lowest of the year, so summer suits a family beach-and-golf trip on a budget. Around Lisbon and the Silver Coast the Atlantic keeps things a few degrees cooler and breezier than the Algarve.

Sun protection first — hat, sunscreen and plenty of water, even in winter, when the low sun is deceptively strong. A light waterproof covers the occasional autumn or spring front, and a sweater for winter mornings and evenings. Buggies are standard and included at many courses, a blessing in the heat. Portugal uses the euro, cards accepted everywhere, and English is widely spoken. See what a trip costs and the week-long itinerary.