We Played the Algarve in January — Here's Why You Should Too

I've just got back from four nights in the Eastern Algarve and I'm going to say something that might surprise you: January might be the best month to play golf in Portugal.

Not April, when every other flight from Gatwick and Stansted is packed with golfers. Not October, when the courses are baked brown after a long summer. January — when the rest of the UK is scraping ice off windscreens at 7am and you're standing on the first tee in a polo shirt at 18°C.

We played three courses over three days — Quinta de Cima, Quinta da Ria, and Benamor — and stayed at the AP Maria Nova Hotel in Tavira. Let me walk you through the whole trip.

The Courses: Quiet, Green, and Properly Maintained

Quinta de Cima

We teed off at 9:30 on a Tuesday morning. There was one group ahead of us and nobody behind. That never happens in April. The course was in superb nick — the greens had been recently hollow-tined and had recovered well, running at a pace that rewarded good putts without being stupidly quick.

If you haven't played Cima before, the front nine opens up through umbrella pines with wide, forgiving fairways. The back nine is where it gets interesting. The 14th is a cracking par 3 over water — about 175 yards from the yellows, all carry. I'd say it's the best short hole in the Eastern Algarve. The 16th doglegs left through the trees and demands a proper shape off the tee.

We walked round in just over four hours. No marshals chasing us, no waiting on every tee. Proper golf.

Quinta da Ria

Ria is the sister course and sits right alongside the Ria Formosa Natural Park. It's a bit more open than Cima, which makes it kinder if your driver's having a day off. The 3rd hole runs parallel to the salt marshes and on a clear January morning, with flamingos in the distance and zero wind, it felt like we had the place to ourselves.

The par 5 8th is a great risk-reward hole — reachable in two if you nail the drive, but water guards the front of the green. I went for it, found the bunker short-left, and still made par. That's the thing about Ria: it lets you play aggressively without punishing you too harshly.

Benamor

This was the one I'd been looking forward to. Benamor is a proper old-school Algarve course — tight in places, great variety, and the par 3 12th over a valley is worth the green fee alone. It drops about 50 metres from tee to green and plays two clubs shorter than the card suggests. I hit a 9-iron from 165 yards and it pitched pin-high. Moments like that stick with you.

The clubhouse at Benamor is excellent too — cold Super Bock on tap, a terrace with views down the 18th, and a steak sandwich that costs about €8. Try getting that at Wentworth.

The Hotel: AP Maria Nova, Tavira

We stayed at the AP Maria Nova in Tavira town. It's a modern four-star right on the river, ten minutes' walk from the old town. Rooms were clean, beds were comfortable, breakfast was solid — eggs cooked to order, decent coffee, pastéis de nata fresh every morning.

The rooftop pool was open (heated) and we used it every afternoon after golf. There's also a spa if you need to work on a tight back after 54 holes in three days.

We booked through Golf Planet Holidays at £675 per person for 4 nights and 3 rounds including transfers from Faro airport. That's bed and breakfast, three green fees, and a shared buggy at each course. In January, you simply won't find better value for this quality of golf.

If you want to go all-inclusive, there's also the AP Cabanas Beach & Golf at £850pp for 5 nights and 3 rounds. That includes all food and drinks at the hotel, which takes the guesswork out of budgeting completely.

January vs Spring vs Summer: The Price Difference

Here's what most people don't realise — January green fees in the Eastern Algarve are significantly cheaper than peak season:

You're looking at roughly 30-35% cheaper across the board. Multiply that by three or four rounds and you're saving €80-100 per person on green fees alone. That pays for a lot of wine at dinner.

The Weather: Better Than You Think

We had three days of sunshine and one overcast morning that cleared by lunchtime. The temperature ranged from 15°C to 19°C. I wore a mid-layer for the first few holes each morning and stripped down to a polo by the turn. One of our group wore shorts every day.

Yes, you can get rain in January — this is the Algarve's wettest month statistically. But "wettest" here means about 6 days of rain in the entire month. Compare that to the UK average of 15-17 rainy days in January and suddenly Portugal looks very appealing.

Where to Eat in Tavira

A few quick recommendations from the trip:

• Restaurante Bia — tucked down a side street near the Roman bridge. Fresh grilled fish, local wine, about €25 a head with drinks.
• O Castelo — up near the castle with views over town. Their cataplana (traditional seafood stew) is the best I've had in the Algarve.
• Pastelaria Veneza — the locals' choice for coffee and pastries. Cheap, no fuss, brilliant.

Who Should Book This Trip?

If you're a golfer who wants to play good courses in warm weather without spending a fortune, the Eastern Algarve in January is hard to beat. It's particularly good for:

• Couples who want golf plus a proper town to explore (Tavira is gorgeous)
• Small groups of 4-8 who want quiet, uncrowded courses
• Anyone tired of paying peak-season prices for the same experience

We had one group last January — four mates from Essex — who booked the 4-night AP Maria Nova package for £675pp. They came back and booked for the following January before they'd even unpacked. That tells you everything.

Ring us on 01277 284284 or get a quote at golfplanetholidays.com. We'll sort the lot — flights, hotel, tee times, transfers. You just need to remember your passport and your putting stroke.