Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais: A New Era for Golf Holidays in Portugal
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
One of Portugal’s best-known golf hotels has entered an exciting new chapter. Onyria Quinta da Marinha Hotel officially reopened on 1 July 2026 as Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais, following an extensive renovation of its guest rooms, suites and shared spaces.
The transformation brings together the heritage and local knowledge of the family-owned Onyria Group with Kimpton’s contemporary, lifestyle-led approach to luxury hospitality. The result is a refreshed five-star hotel that feels more modern and sociable while remaining closely connected to the landscape, golf and character of Cascais.
For golfers, this is much more than a hotel rebrand. With an 18-hole golf course on the estate, several outstanding courses nearby and the centre of Cascais only around five minutes away by car, the hotel has all the ingredients for a memorable Portuguese golf holiday.
A completely refreshed five-star golf hotel
The redesigned Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais takes inspiration from its setting between the pine forests and Atlantic coastline of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. Natural materials, Portuguese craftsmanship, greenery and relaxed design features help the hotel feel connected to its surroundings rather than like a traditional corporate resort.
There are 194 rooms and suites, with accommodation overlooking the golf course, gardens or pool. Rooms include private balconies and walk-in showers, giving golfers somewhere comfortable to slow down after a day on the course.
The facilities make it particularly well suited to groups and couples who want more than golf alone. Guests can enjoy:
An indoor and outdoor swimming pool
A spa and fitness centre
Tennis and padel facilities
Complimentary loan bikes
Two restaurants and social bar spaces
Evening receptions and relaxed shared areas
Dining is also a bigger part of the new hotel experience. FICA! offers petiscos, cocktails and local wines in an informal setting, while Ao Ponto focuses on seasonal Portuguese cooking prepared over an open grill. That gives golf groups the option of enjoying a relaxed evening at the hotel without always needing to arrange transport into town.
Play golf without leaving the estate
The greatest advantage for golfers is the immediate access to Quinta da Marinha Golf Course.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the 18-hole, par-71 course measures 5,870 metres and provides views towards both the Atlantic Ocean and the Sintra Mountains. Elevated tees and greens, strategically positioned bunkers and several water hazards make it an enjoyable test without feeling overly punishing for the average holiday golfer.
Having a course on the estate makes arrival and departure days much easier to use. Depending on flight times and tee-time availability, golfers may be able to fit in an additional round without committing to a lengthy transfer.
It is also ideal for mixed groups. Those playing golf can head out for their round while non-golfers use the spa, pools or nearby cycling and walking routes.
Some of Portugal’s best golf is close by
Although Quinta da Marinha provides excellent resort golf, we would recommend using the hotel as a base from which to experience several different styles of course.
Oitavos Dunes
Located in the wider Quinta da Marinha area, Oitavos Dunes is one of the headline courses of any Cascais golf holiday.
The Arthur Hills-designed course runs through sand dunes, umbrella pines and exposed Atlantic landscapes. Its natural links characteristics, coastal wind and constantly changing scenery give it a very different personality from the resort course at Quinta da Marinha.
The 18-hole, par-71 layout has received international recognition and has appeared in rankings of the world’s leading courses. This is the round most likely to become the talking point of the holiday, particularly for golfers who enjoy firm conditions, natural landscapes and imaginative course design.
Estoril Golf Club
Estoril Golf Club offers something more traditional. The original course dates back to 1929 and was redesigned by Mackenzie Ross in 1936, making it one of Portugal’s oldest and most established golf clubs.
At a little over 5,200 metres and playing to a par of 69, Estoril places greater importance on positioning, accuracy and course management than outright distance. Tree-lined holes and smaller targets create an old-school challenge that contrasts nicely with the more open coastal golf found elsewhere in the region.
Penha Longa Atlantic Championship Course
Set among the wooded hills of Sintra, Penha Longa Atlantic Championship Course is another essential addition to a Cascais golf itinerary.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the 18-hole course opened in 1992 and hosted the Portuguese Open two years later. Its elevation changes, bold approaches and views across the Sintra landscape create a dramatic championship test.
Penha Longa is approximately 12 kilometres from Quinta da Marinha, making it straightforward to combine with rounds at the hotel and along the coast.
Why Cascais works so well for UK golfers
A great golf holiday needs more than a collection of good courses, and this is where Cascais has a real advantage.
The town combines beaches, a marina, traditional streets, waterfront restaurants and lively bars without feeling as busy as a large city. Guests can spend the evening walking through the centre, enjoying Portuguese food and drinks or relaxing beside the bay.
Cascais also has enough variety to keep non-golfers entertained, making the hotel suitable for couples and mixed groups rather than golf-only parties. The destination is known for its beaches, seafood restaurants, museums, parks and gardens, with plenty to explore throughout the year.
One of the easiest local outings is Boca do Inferno, a dramatic coastal rock formation where Atlantic waves crash into a natural sea arch. It is particularly impressive around sunset and can be combined with a walk along the coast.
For a more active day, guests can visit Guincho Beach, explore the trails of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park or make use of the area’s cycling, surfing and sailing opportunities. Guincho’s dunes and open Atlantic setting make it worth visiting even for those who have no plans to enter the water.
Discover Sintra and Lisbon
A free day can easily be used to explore Sintra, where colourful palaces, historic estates and forested hills create one of Portugal’s most distinctive destinations.
Highlights include the Palace of Pena, the Moorish Castle, the National Palace of Sintra and the gardens of Monserrate. The Moorish Castle’s hilltop walls also provide far-reaching views across Sintra and towards the Atlantic.
Lisbon is also close enough for a day or evening trip. The hotel is approximately 25 kilometres from the Portuguese capital, allowing golfers to add historic neighbourhoods, viewpoints, restaurants and nightlife to their itinerary without changing hotels.
For travellers arriving from the UK, Lisbon Airport provides the main gateway, with transfers to Cascais generally taking around 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. That makes the region practical for both longer golf holidays and shorter three- or four-night breaks.
Our verdict
The reopening of Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais makes an already popular golf resort considerably more appealing.
Golfers still have the benefit of an established Robert Trent Jones course on the estate, but the upgraded rooms, improved social spaces, new dining concepts and Kimpton service style give the hotel a fresher and more distinctive identity.
Most importantly, it is not a resort where guests are likely to feel trapped inside a golf bubble. Cascais is close enough for dinners and evenings out, Sintra offers a memorable non-golf day, Lisbon can be added to the itinerary and courses such as Oitavos Dunes, Estoril and Penha Longa provide plenty of variety.
For golf groups, couples and mixed parties searching for five-star accommodation, championship golf and a destination with plenty happening away from the fairways, Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais deserves a place near the top of the list.
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