Properties with Tennis Courts Portugal: A Guide to the Best Locations

While Portugal is renowned for its golf scene – there are more than 70 golf courses in the country – tennis enthusiasts looking to relocate to Portugal will find a wide range of properties that come with tennis courts. Whether you are a seasoned player or just enjoy spending some quality time on the weekend with your family and friends to get into some great rallies, having your own tennis court makes it incredibly easy to get out and about whenever takes your fancy.

In this article, Properties with Tennis Courts Portugal: A Guide to the Best Locations, we’ll delve into the top locations where you can find properties with tennis courts. We will also arm you with some key information on the types of properties you’ll find in the country, the advantage (excuse the pun) of owning a property with a tennis court, and key considerations to keep in mind.

Portugal: A Favorite for Sports Enthusiasts

The Portuguese are well known for their love of sports, and many will be able to talk for hours about their love of a specific football team, whether it’s Benfica, Sporting, or Porto. And then you have water sports, with world-class surfers heading to Nazaré and Peniche to test their mettle year after year. The country is well-known internationally for having some of the best waves in the world.

When it comes to tennis, Portugal has seen many great players, such as João Sousa (the former world number 28), Micaela Carolina Larcher de Brito (now, coincidentally a real estate agent), and currently, Nuno Borges, light up courts around the world, and their love of this sport runs deep. The Millennium Estoril Tennis Tournament takes place every year in Estoril, close to Cascais, where you can catch the biggest stars in the world line up to play on the red dirt.

Popular Regions in Portugal for Properties with Tennis Courts

If you love to play tennis, from the north to the south of Portugal, you’ll find stunning properties that come with their own tennis courts, from spacious villas with tennis courts in the Algarve region to fabulous country homes in the center of the country.

Below, we delve into some of the most popular locations to find properties with tennis courts in Portugal. Note that this list is by no means exhaustive and there are several other top locations to find property with a tennis court. Some other areas to consider include the Alentejo region, which is situated north of the Algarve, and the autonomous islands of Madeira and the Azores.

The Algarve

The stunning Algarve region in southern Portugal is perhaps the most famous spot in the country after Lisbon. Should you move here, you’ll discover stunning beaches, such as Praia da Rocha, close to Portimão and Praia da Marinha in Lagoa.

For those seeking a central location, Portimão, Faro, and Albufeira are top options in the Central Algarve, with each providing easy access to stunning beaches and all the amenities you could possibly need, while the Golden Triangle of Vale de Lobo, Quinta do Lago, Almancil, and Vilamoura is the spot to be for the finest luxury properties. The Vilaoura Marina is one of the standout marinas in the world, and, should you want to rent a boat, or if sailing in Portugal appeals to you, we highly recommend heading here.

The Western Algarve, where you’ll find Lagos and, further west still, Sagres, are perfect spots for water sports and for nature lovers, where you’ll find an array of unique landforms, such as the Benagil Caves close to Lagos, while keen surfers will be able to enjoy some of the best waves in the country in Sagres.

And then you have the quieter, more authentic Eastern Algarve, with Tavira as the crowning glory of this region. Home to 37 churches, this picturesque city is one of the most beautiful in Portugal, with its white-washed houses and blue façades and the Roman bridge arching over the Gilão River. You will find the Eastern Algarve to perhaps be the most relaxing part of the region, where you will find less toursits in the summer months and where the local way of life really shines through.

If you’re on the hunt for lush properties with tennis courts, you’ll find an amazing array of options. The fact that, wherever you are in the Algarve, you are not too far away from a stunning beach is another massive attraction to snapping up property here – with more than 100 beaches, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Lisbon and its surroundings

Lisbon, the beating heart of Portugal, is the perfect spot for expats from all walks of life. From the vibrant city center to the Portuguese Riviera leading up to the seaside town of Cascais, you’ll find plenty of spacious properties that come complete with a tennis court. As we’ve mentioned, the Millennium Estoril Tennis Tournament also takes place in Estoril, close to Cascais, so tennis fans can get to see the world’s best firsthand.

You will also find a range of museums, art galleries, and countless exhibitions in Lisbon, while the food scene is incredible. You’ll find family-run restaurants, known as tascas, alongside fine dining establishments. If you are in the city, make sure to check out Ramiro, where you’ll find some of the best seafood in the country.

Lisbon has a thriving expat community where you can easily establish your own network. With an array of events and festivals that take place throughout the year, from Jazz and food festivals to Carnival and the Festas de Santo António (Festival of St Antonio), where the city comes alive, and the streets are filled with music and the smell of grilled sardines, there is always something going on in Portugal’s cosmopolitan capital.

The Silver Coast

There’s nowhere quite like the Silver Coast. Picture driving by quaint villages, each with its own unique style, from the white-washed houses and blue façades of Ericeira to the sleepy town of Peniche, with a view of the glimmering Atlantic Ocean not too far away. For beach lovers looking to avoid the often-touristic region of the Algarve, then the Silver Coast may be the perfect place for you.

Should you be looking to buy here, we recommend spending some time meandering around the different towns to see which one catches your eye. There are several stunning options to choose from, including Nazaré, Caldas da Rainha, and Ericeira, and Peniche, which we have already briefly mentioned. Each will have its own customs but, one thing is for sure, you will be able to find some of the best food in the country here, wherever you choose to move to.

Should you be looking for a home with a tennis court, you will find several options. What’s more, you may be able to get more for your money, as the Silver Coast is known to be more affordable than Lisbon and the Algarve.

Porto and the north

Porto, the second-largest city in Portugal, has established itself as one of the trending cities in Europe. Whether it is the city’s thriving luxury market, which, alongside the Algarve, has been pinpointed as one of the top ten places to invest in luxury real estate by Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2023, to turning itself into a thriving tech hub, with modern co-working spaces having popped up around the city, Porto is one of the hotspot locations in Europe.

With welcoming locals and some of the best cuisine in the country – even the Portuguese locals head to Porto and the north of the country to find the best Portuguese food – should you be seeking property in the north of Portugal, you will find several options.

And, if you are looking for a spacious country home with a tennis court, the surrounding area is sure to deliver, from the stunning Douro region, where the famous Douro wines are produced, to Vila Nova de Gaia, where you’ll be able to set up to enjoy stunning views of Porto, just across the River Douro.

How to choose the right location for you

The first step is deciding where you’d like to move to. Do you want to live close to Lisbon, Portugal’s captivating capital? Would you like to wake up to the calm ambiance of the Atlantic? First, decide on the location. Also, should you be moving with your family, consider international schools. Most are located in Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve, so this could be a way for you to narrow down the search. Or are you looking to retire to Portugal? Then the Algarve and Porto would be the top of the list.

Benefits of Owning a Property with a Tennis Court

So, you are considering buying a property in Portugal with a tennis court where you can spend long summer days enjoying one of the very best sports in the world to the fullest? Below, we delve into some of the key benefits of having your very own property with a tennis court.

Investment potential and rental opportunities

A property’s value will increase based on the amenities and facilities it offers. While you will likely have to pay more for a property that comes with a tennis court, the value of the property will be strong and will increase over time, especially if the property is situated in a sought-after location.

Should you be looking to rent out your property, the added luxury of having a private tennis court can be a magnet for holiday makers, providing strong potential for higher rental rates.

Health and wellness benefits

Tennis is regularly being pinpointed as one of the healthiest sports, where a game of tennis can burn calories, promote coordination, channel strength, and tone many muscle groups as you use both your leg and arm muscles.

If you do have a tennis court at home, you’ll be able to stay physically active throughout the year – all you need is an opponent to play against, which shouldn’t be too difficult to find. Whether you are a retiree looking to keep active or have moved to Portugal with family, where you can enjoy mini-tennis tournaments on the weekend together, tennis is a sport for all ages to enjoy.

Community and social aspects

If you have a property with a tennis court, this is a great way to foster ties with the community and to have friends over for a game of tennis. The court can become a center for socializing and connecting with both fellow expats and locals.

Considerations When Buying a Property with a Tennis Court

As with any property, there are certain considerations that you’ll need to bear in mind when purchasing a property with a tennis court.

Maintaining your Tennis Court

When looking for a property specifically with tennis courts, consider the court surface type. Most in Portugal will be acrylic, hard, or clay courts, with very few having artificial grass.

You will need to consider maintenance costs and upkeep considerations. For example, acrylic courts are often thought to be the easiest to maintain, as they usually require little upkeep, so bear this in mind when choosing a property with a court. Grass courts are not so commonly found in Portugal, but they will require a lot more work, as will clay courts, where you will need to brush the top material loosened by the wind or due to play. You will also need to water a clay court, often twice daily, if the court does not have enough moisture.

Legal and zoning regulations

Before you begin the purchasing process, you’ll want to ensure there are no legal or zoning regulations that could apply. Working with an experienced real estate lawyer in Portugal will enable you to adhere to the local regulations so that you will face no legal issues during the buying process or any setbacks.

How to Find Your Ideal Property in Portugal

You’re on the hunt for your dream property in Portugal with a tennis court. But how do you find the property that hits the mark? While it is important to research prospective locations, property types, and property prices to get to grips with the market, nothing beats the experience of local experts who know the ins and outs of the market. The Portuguese real estate market is also fragmented, meaning that whatever online platform or site you are checking out will not provide you with all the options on the market.

A real estate professional will be able to provide you with a list of properties that meet your exact requirements – in this case, a property with a tennis court – and be able to guide you through the whole property-buying process, from scouting out your dream property through to choosing the date to sign the final deed when the ownership of the property is transferred over to you. They will also have access to properties that you will not find elsewhere, no matter how many websites you comb through.

Bear in mind that while real estate agents will work on behalf of the seller and will get a higher commission for a higher sale, buyer’s agents work solely on behalf of you, the buyer, ensuring there is no conflict of interest and helping you secure your dream property at the best price possible.

Goldcrest: How We Can Help You 

Goldcrest is a buyer’s agent that is based in Lisbon. We provide expert, impartial advice on real estate investments and how to buy property in Portugal. From scouting out the perfect property through to property acquisition, we have you covered throughout the process.

If you are looking to purchase property in Portugal, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team of skilled experts is available to solve all your real estate doubts, helping you with the property search and offering insightful expertise and strategic advice.

Why choose Goldcrest?

• Local knowledge: With offices located across Portugal, our presence nationwide allows us to assist you personally across the country.
• Independent service: As an independent buying agent, we do not represent any development or project. Our service is entirely tailored toward each individual client, providing you with everything you need to secure the perfect property at the best possible price. As an impartial advisor on the market, we work solely on behalf of our client and provide a service tailored to your needs and requirements.
• Streamlined process: Our real estate agents speak English and Portuguese, and our service is completely focused on providing you with a hassle-free buying experience, saving you time.
• Experienced team: Our expert real estate team has a vast local knowledge of the Portuguese property market. We have cutting-edge technology and metasearch tools at your disposal to provide full market coverage, ensuring the best investment choices and negotiated prices.
• Network of partners: We have a close network of partners, including lawyers, property management services, builders, architects, designers, and landscape gardeners, again saving you time and hassle by providing you with trusted experts in their field of work.