There’s a version of a day in Alvor that sounds very simple and is, in practice, one of the better ways to spend a summer afternoon: play 18 holes of mini golf through Eden’s tropical garden, then spend the rest of the afternoon in the heated saltwater pool.
These two things complement each other in a way that isn’t immediately obvious until you’ve done it. Mini golf is active and social – 45 minutes on your feet, something to focus on, some light competition, a bit of laughter. The pool is the opposite: horizontal, warm, calm. The contrast is the point.
Mini golf at Eden is priced from €13 for adults and €8 for children. Under-5s play free. Pool half-day access from €18 for adults (including a sunbed), or €27 for a full day. Kids’ pool access is €12 for a half day and €18 full day. Done together, you have the bones of a genuinely full half-day activity for a family or a couple.
Practically speaking, the natural order is golf first, then pool. Golf requires some movement and concentration; the pool is where you decompress afterwards. If you arrive at noon, you can play the course in the early afternoon while the garden’s 2,000-plus tropical plants provide shade and the animatronics entertain the children, and then sink into the warm water for a few hours once the round is done.
The courtyard is between the two, which helps. You can grab drinks and snacks when you transition from golf to pool, and the games room means that if anyone isn’t quite done with activity but wants to be out of the sun, there are options.
The pool area also has massages available, so if the afternoon has gone well and you want to reward yourself further… that’s right there.
There are more involved days you can plan in the Algarve. But not many that are easier to have go well.
