Famed for its prestigious golf courses, Vale do Lobo is an affluent resort town in the Algarve region of Portugal. It was established in the 1960s on the site of a stone pine forest and began attracting British tourists following the construction of two 9-hole golf courses designed by Sir Henry Cotton.
Stretching beneath the cliffs is the Praia de Vale do Lobo, a wide expanse of golden sand dotted with beach umbrellas and sun loungers. On top of the cliffs are a handful of bars and restaurants serving globally-inspired cuisine, accompanied by sweeping views across the Atlantic Ocean.
Nestled inland is the Royal Golf Course, which was designed in the 1990s by Rocky Roquemore. It was based on the drawings of the English golfer, Sir Henry Cotton, who designed the nearby Ocean Course. The Royal is among Portugal’s most prestigious golf courses and encompasses the most photographed hole in Europe, the clifftop 16th.
Getting there
Vale do Lobo is around 30 minutes’ drive from Faro and 25 minutes from Faro International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses connect to Vale do Lobo and the resort town is small enough to explore on foot.