European golf and spa breaks are the ultimate form of golf-based relaxation – offering a combination of leisure activities that get you moving, followed by pampering when you want to relax after. As Europe is home to some of the most beautiful golf courses and spa resorts in the world, it’s no surprise that golf and spa holidays have become increasingly popular in recent years.
In countries like Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Cyprus, visitors can enjoy a range of world-class golf courses, pristine beaches and luxurious spa experiences. What more could you want from a Europe golf holiday?
Call us on 01904 406550 to discuss booking a golf and spa break in Europe.
Golf Resorts in Europe: Where to go for the best golf and spa experiences
In Spain, golf enthusiasts can tee off on some of the finest golf courses in Europe, with beautiful landscapes like the hills of the Costa Del Sol, challenging greens to keep you on your toes and Mediterranean views.
Visitors to Portugal can expect rolling hills, breathtaking cliff-side courses like Vale Do Lobo’s Royal, and some of the best greens in the world.
Turkey and Cyprus, meanwhile, offer a unique blend of traditional golf and spa experiences with the added excitement of exploring exotic cultures and historical sites like those in Paphos.
At the end of a day on the fairways, golfers can unwind in the comfort of a world-class spa, where they can enjoy a range of treatments and therapies designed to help them relax and rejuvenate ahead of the following day’s play. Whether it’s a massage, a steam bath or a dip in a hot tub, a spa break in Europe provides the perfect way to wind down after a long day on the course.
Golf & Spa Breaks In Spain
Costa Del Sol
The stunning 4-star La Cala Golf Resort in the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas has three breathtaking courses – called Asia, Europa and America – that have been crafted by renowned course architect Cabell B. Robinson.
The 107 rooms are always snapped up quickly. Part of its appeal is that it’s home to Spain’s leading Hydrotherapy Health Spa as well as four restaurants and numerous bars. Everything you need to experience a memorable golf break is here.
La Cala Spa offers a range of treatments, and includes a comprehensive hydrotherapy circuit consisting of a Tepidarium, herbal steam bath, hammam, dry sauna and igloo. There’s even more on offer including indoor and outdoor hot tubs, and a climate-controlled swimming pool that’s a bonus especially if you are traveling in golf season.
The Costa Del Sol is incredibly popular with UK golfers and therefore is accessible all year round via Malaga Airport.
Away from the resort, the Costa Del Sol offers so much to do – Malaga city is just under an hour away and steeped in history and culture. Marbella, Puerto Banus and Rhonda are also great places to plan a day trip.
Costa Blanca
La Finca Resort in the Costa Blanca region of Spain is a secluded golf and spa destination with everything you need for a European golf and spa break. There are two 18-hole golf courses in La Finca Golf and Villamartin Golf, a fabulous spa, tennis and paddle courts, a gym with all the latest technology and equipment.
The La Finca Spa offers beauty treatments, body treatments such as various massages. You can do a spa circuit that uses the indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, cascade, swan neck shower, bubble volcano, chromotherapy cabin, Finnish sauna, Turkish bath and cyclonic showers.
Alicante Airport is accessible from most UK airports and serviced by numerous budget airlines making this a good option for those seeking a long weekend or working to a budget. As with the Costa Del Sol, the best time to travel for a golf and spa break is Spring or Autumn – avoiding the Summer season where accommodation and airfares can be higher priced.
Golf & Spa Breaks In Portugal
Algarve
Anantara Vilamoura overlooks Dom Pedro Victoria’s Old Course and offers a luxury golf and spa experience in one of Europe’s best known golfing destinations.
There are 280 rooms and suites on-site. You’re just a taxi ride away from the beaches, restaurants, bars and marina of Vilamoura.
If the evening entertainment by the marina and the bottles of wine or Superbock run away with you, then you can recover in the Anantara Spa – here you will find six treatment rooms, an indoor vitality room, sauna and a steam room.
Faro Airport is just 30 minutes away, making this the ideal base for a long weekend. Flights are available all year round and provided by numerous budget airlines making it a destination that can fit plenty of budgets.
There are lots of pretty towns along the Algarve coast to visit on your days off the course, such as Lagos, Albufeira and Lagos. If you go further east along the sea, then Tavira is slightly off the beaten track for tourists and offers an insight into a more authentic Portuguese town.
Lisbon
Beyond the Algarve, there are some incredible golf courses and resorts further North in the Lisbon region. With plenty of direct flights to Lisbon Airport from most main UK airports, and a surprisingly warm climate given it’s further North than the Algarve, this region is ideal for those looking to combine golfing, luxury spa facilities, and cultural attractions.
The 5-star Onyria Quinta Da Marinha sits 30 minutes west of Lisbon city centre on the outskirts of Cascais. On-site there is a stunning 18-hole golf course and a wealth of facilities including The Natur Spa By Onyria and gymnasium.
This spa provides packages aimed at golfers, as well as a sauna, gymnasium and indoor swimming pool.
Another option near Lisbon that’s close to Quinta Da Marinha is the stunning 5-star Penha Longa Resort. Located in the Natural Park of Sintra, this resort is surrounded by trees providing an instant sense of tranquillity.
There are 27 holes of golf here that have been expertly crafted by architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. and often features in the shortlist of various top 100 course rankings. Away from the fairways you can experience one of the finest spas in Europe in the Penha Longa Wellness Club. It features great views of the outdoor swimming pool, Sintra Mountains and the golf course. Facilities here include a heated indoor pool, two outdoor pools, a sauna, Turkish bath and Jacuzzi.
This region follows the Algarve in that spring and autumn are the most popular times for a golfing trip to Lisbon. This also allows you to avoid the higher prices the resorts and hotels might charge during the summer holidays, yet still provide the perfect temperature for golf.
Lisbon Airport is accessible from most major UK airports. Cascais, Estoril and Sintra are worth adding to your list of places to visit as they’re all beautiful towns in their own right. Estoril is home to Europe’s largest casino and formed some of the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Cascais has a pretty little beach and marina, and Sintra is a must see due to its colourful historical architecture. You also have Lisbon city centre itself to explore, which has numerous castles and buildings of historical significance, museums, art galleries, markets and shops.
Madeira
This island off Portugal is considered a hidden gem for golfing holidays in Europe – there are plenty of hotels with spa facilities in the town of Funchal, but we’ve picked out Savoy Palace to consider.
This 5-star hotel is considered one of the leading one’s in Madeira and offers a range of room types with modern interior finishes. There are a number of restaurants and bars providing you with plenty of variety, irrespective of your proposed length of stay.
As you would expect from a 5-star hotel, the spa facility is comprehensive and the range of treatments expansive. There are 11 treatment rooms at Laurea Spa that was inspired by the island garden of Madeira, so are plenty of tranquil greens and plant themes throughout. You can unwind in a sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, ice fountain, heated indoor pool, beauty salon, halotherapy room and sensorial showers.
For those still with energy to burn after the golf, the state of the art gym features the latest equipment.
Madeira is a beautiful island to explore, offering plenty of walks in the stunning natural landscape as well as botanical gardens, while Funchal has lots of bars, cafes and restaurants to keep you entertained in the evening or rest bite during the day.
Madeira Airport (previously Funchal Airport) is serviced by plenty of UK airports, and it is just under four hours flight time.
Golf & Spa Breaks In Tenerife
Playa de La Americas
Considered by many to be a traditionally winter destination, Tenerife offers year-round sunshine. For a golf break, we’d advise avoiding the summer months due to the heat. Plus, you can get the benefit of reduced flight prices as it won’t be peak season for the island.
Our top choice is Hotel Las Madrigueras Golf Resort And Spa, a luxury 5-star resort overlooking Las Americas Golf Course. This adults-only hotel is decorated in a tasteful traditional style and offers a choice of rooms. The on-site spa has a heated swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath and a gymnasium.
Tenerife has something for everyone – plenty of bars and restaurants if you want to eat outside of the hotel, beautiful sandy beaches for days when you aren’t on the fairways, plus waterparks and plenty of shops.
Golf & Spa Breaks In Turkey
Belek
The Cullinan Belek is the latest 5-star luxury resort in this golfing mecca in Turkey. On-site is the revamped Cullinan Links Golf Club (formerly Titanic), which now features two 18-hole golf courses in the form of Aspendos and Olympos.
This brand new resort boasts stunning natural surroundings with 574 natural plants and over 100 species of birds. Despite this being a modern new build hotel, effort has been made to integrate it properly into the environment.
Away from the fairways you can experience C’espace Spa, which is absolutely huge and packed with facilities. Spread over 8000 square meters, it has a fitness centre with all the equipment you need including free weights and cardio equipment. In addition, there’s an indoor heated pool that’s perfect for those traveling in the golf season, avoiding the summer months. Additional facilities include saunas, steam-room and hammam.
Belek differs slightly from other golf and spa break destinations in Europe in that the majority of guests stay on-site throughout the duration of stay. The Cullinan Belek – and all the resorts here – offer so many bars, restaurants, and facilities on-site that it’s the norm for people to stay within it for the duration of stay.
If you want to explore local culture, then the other places we profile might suit better. If you simply want an all-inclusive experience with everything at your fingertips in the resort, this is the place to be.
Flights should be sought to Antalya Airport, which is just 20 minutes from Belek and accessible from most UK airports. Peak times for golf here are March, April and May, as well as September, October and November. However, we urge you to book well in advance whether you stay here or any course in Belek as prime tee times are highly sought after.
Golf & Spa Breaks In Cyprus
Paphos
Our review of some of Europe’s finest golf and spa resorts concludes with the 5-star Aphrodite Hills Resort near Paphos. This resort is home to a Championship 18-hole golf course that opened in 2002 and is another Cabell B. Robinson masterpiece. The standout feature here is the 130 metre gorge that divides tees on the 7th hole – definitely one of those moments on the course to get the camera out.
Away from the fairways, you can stay in the hotel, which has access to other sports too such as tennis, riding, hiking and cycling among others. If all that feels way too energetic, then head to The Retreat Spa by Atlantico which offers Reiki, Swedish massage, Royal Thai massage, reflexology and full Hammam ritual. There’s also a gym.
Away from the resort, Paphos offers so much to do – visit Paphos Zoo, explore the harbour and port for people watching from a nearby bar. Take in some historical tours around the Tomb of Kings or Kato Paphos Archaeological Park.
Flights to Paphos are year-round, but like most golf holiday destinations in Europe, the ideal time to take a golf break book ends the summer – this way you avoid the peak season holiday prices and the weather is more akin to that of a golf break as oppose to 30 degrees. Which many might find uncomfortable on the fairways.
About Glencor Golf
If you’re looking for a holiday that combines the best of both worlds, look no further than a golf and spa break in Europe. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer, a beginner or just want to relax, there’s something for everyone in countries like Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Cyprus, where you can enjoy golf, spa, sun, and culture all in one unforgettable experience.
Here at Glencor Golf Holidays we can help you find the perfect resort to unwind, both on and off the fairways! Call our team on 01904 406550 or email info@glencorgolf.com
