3 golf courses in Albufeira, Algarve
Albufeira and its surrounding coastline offer a diverse range of golf experiences, from the dramatic clifftop holes of Pine Cliffs to the inland parkland of Salgados and Balaia. The area is well-served by resorts and short transfers from Faro Airport, making it a popular base for golf holidays on the central Algarve coast.
A 9-hole, par-27 course of all par-3 holes set around the Balaia resort near Albufeira, ideal for beginners, families, and golfers wanting a relaxed afternoon round. The compact layout from 1974 is a low-pressure introduction to Algarve golf.
Perched atop the ochre sandstone cliffs of Olhos de Água, this nine-hole par-33 course delivers dramatic Atlantic views on every hole. Designed by Sir Henry Cotton and attached to the Pine Cliffs Resort, it is best known for the Devil's Parlour — a par-3 played over the clifftop edge.
Laid across a coastal wetland reserve between Albufeira and Armação de Pêra, Salgados is one of the Algarve's most ecologically distinctive courses. Pedro de Vasconcelos's par-72 design from 1997 features open links-style fairways where birdlife from the adjacent lagoon is a constant presence.
