Lanzarote

Lanzarote is the easternmost of Spain's Canary Islands. Famous for its spectacular volcanic landscapes and beautiful sandy beaches, it is an ideal destination for relaxing holidays.

In our travel guide, you can find all you need to know about your trip to Lanzarote: how to get there, the best beaches, top sights, and activities, local cuisine and ferry schedules. Book your ferry tickets to Lanzarote online on Ferryhopper with no hidden fees!

The impressive cliffs of Famara in the north of Lanzarote

Holidays in Lanzarote

Located approximately 125 km off the northwestern coast of Africa, Lanzarote is a beautiful volcanic island that is unique in many ways. It is well-known for its otherworldly lunar landscapes, lava fields, impressive craters, and black volcanic earth. Thanks to its amazing beaches, it’s also great for water sports, even in winter.

The island has been developed in an environmentally-friendly way and remains relatively unspoiled. Even in Lanzarote's main tourist resorts, such as Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen, the architecture follows the traditional Canarian white-washed style. 

How to get to Lanzarote

You can easily travel to Lanzarote by ferry from the neighboring islands of Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria.

You can also take the ferry to Lanzarote from Huelva and Cádiz on the southwestern coast of Spain.

Visiting Lanzarote this year? Below, you can find more information about ferries to Lanzarote.

Alternatively, Lanzarote also has an international airport, which is located about 7 km from Arrecife. 

Papagayo beach with its golden sand and turquoise waters

What to do in Lanzarote

Even though the island is quite small, there are plenty of things to do during your vacation in Lanzarote. Apart from swimming in the turquoise waters and basking in the sun, you should not miss the chance to explore the island's interior and its awe-inspiring volcanic landscapes. Lanzarote is perfect for outdoor activities and water sports, including cycling, hiking, surfing, and scuba diving.

Do you want to discover the best of Lanzarote? Read on to find out what to see and what to do in Lanzarote, as well as useful information for your trip.

Beaches in Lanzarote

From hidden coves and sandy stretches with calm turquoise waters to spots that offer the perfect waves for surfing, Lanzarote’s beaches come in all flavors!

Some of the best Lanzarote beaches are:

• Famara: backed by spectacular cliffs, this impressive long sandy beach is a surfing hotspot, due to the strong winds that prevail in the area. It is located in the northwest of the island and does not offer many amenities for visitors.
• Papagayo: many consider this to be the best beach in Lanzarote. Located on the south coast, the stunning small bay is sheltered by cliffs and has golden sand and calm turquoise waters. There is also a little chiringuito (beach bar) just above the beach.
• Chica: this is a family-friendly beach with golden sand and calm waters. It is located in the southeast of Lanzarote, next to the resort town of Puerto del Carmen, and is popular with divers. If you decide to join them, you might meet Felix, the enormous 50 kg grouper fish that is the bay's most famous occupant!
• La Cantería: this is a wild, isolated beach located on the north coast, close to the quiet village of Órzola. The beautiful unspoiled beach offers great views of La Graciosa and has white sand and pitch-black stones and rocks. While the high waves are perfect for surfing, La Cantería is not a great place for a relaxing swim due to the strong currents.
• Mujeres: located on the south coast, this is one of the most popular beaches in Lanzarote, even though it has no amenities for visitors. The long beach has golden sand and crystal-clear waters and is nude-friendly.
• Caletón Blanco: this heavenly beach is located on the north coast and has white sand and black lava rocks. The natural pools formed by the receding tide are great for kids to splash in.

The Martian landscape of Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote, Spain

Sightseeing in Lanzarote

Lanzarote's unique volcanic landscape is the island's top attraction. You can visit Timanfaya National Park to discover its otherworldly beauty and marvel at the hundreds of volcano cones, massive lava fields and extraordinary rock formations. The island, which was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993, also boasts many other impressive natural sights that are definitely worth exploring.

Combining art, architecture, nature, and tourism, the unique spaces designed by César Manrique are a must-see in Lanzarote. Among them, Jameos del Agua stands out as one of the most fascinating attractions on the island: a cultural center built inside part of a long lava tunnel that collapsed, creating a series of roofless caves (jameos). The complex includes a cavernous restaurant, an underground lagoon where albino crabs live, a swimming pool surrounded by palm trees, and an amazing 600-seat auditorium!

Here is a list of what to see in Lanzarote: 

• the Timanfaya National Park with its spectacular lunar and Martian landscapes
• the Montañas del Fuego, where you will feel like being on the moon
• the impressive lava caves, such as Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua
• the natural monument of La Corona, one of the highest volcanoes in Lanzarote
• the Jardín de Cactus, a beautiful cactus garden designed by César Manrique
• the Museo Atlántico, a unique underwater museum
• the César Manrique Museum, housed in the artist's old home
• the Mirador del Río, an observation deck designed by César Manrique that offers breathtaking views of La Graciosa

As for what to do in Lanzarote, we recommend:

• Surfing at the Famara beach
• Diving in Charco del Palo and Puerto del Carmen
• Snorkeling at the beaches of Chica and Mujeres
• Stargazing at Peñas del Chache in the north of Lanzarote

Fun fact: parts of Lanzarote have such an uncanny geological resemblance to the moon and the planet of Mars, that NASA and the European Space Agency have been sending astronauts there to train!

Local tip: from Lanzarote, you can plan a day trip to La Graciosa, one of the smallest and most pristine of the Canary Islands. Located only 6 km north of Lanzarote, this unspoiled paradise is home to some gorgeous secluded beaches with stunning turquoise waters. Ferries from Lanzarote to La Graciosa depart several times per day from the port of Órzola and the trip takes 25 minutes on average.

View of the Jardín de Cactus, designed by the visionary architect César Manrique

Nightlife in Lanzarote

While the nightlife in Lanzarote is not quite as wild as in Tenerife, there are plenty of great bars and nightclubs to suit all tastes. The center of the island's bustling nightlife is Puerto del Carmen, a popular holiday resort on the south coast. Avenida de las Playas is the main hotspot in Puerto del Carmen, with a wide range of venues where the party keeps going until the early morning hours.

Playa Blanca, Lanzarote's second biggest resort, has a more low-key nightlife. Near the Marina Rubicón, a yacht marina frequented by celebrities, you can find many elegant and glamorous bars, including the popular Café del Mar.

For a more family-friendly and laid-back atmosphere, head to Costa Teguise. The resort has several bars where you can enjoy great cocktails, dance and listen to live music. If you prefer to mingle with the locals, Arrecife is the place for you. Lanzarote's capital is home to many lively clubs and bars with amazing views of the sea.

Food in Lanzarote

Lanzarote's cuisine is a fusion of different influences from Spain, North Africa and South America. The island's restaurants offer an amazing array of local fish and seafood. Hearty soups and peasant-style stews also occupy a prominent place in Lanzarote's culinary tradition.

One of the island's most famous products is its wine, which is produced uniquely in the La Geria region. The black volcanic ash that covers the entire area helps retain humidity, while circular or semi-circular stone walls shelter the vines from the wind. We recommend visiting La Geria's wineries to try the internationally acclaimed wine and marvel at the awe-inspiring landscape.

Make sure to try the following local dishes and products during your holidays in Lanzarote:

• pescado a la plancha (grilled fish)
• papas arrugadas con mojo (boiled potatoes served with spicy garlic sauce)
• sancocho (fish stew with potatoes)
• pulpo a la plancha (grilled octopus)
• lapas (limpets)
• goat stew
• Malvasía Volcánica wine
• desserts with gofio (type of Canarian flour made from roasted grains)

Tip: if you visit Lanzarote in May or June and want to try something different, the Lanzarote Wine Run & Traditional Cuisine Festival is just what you were looking for. Participants walk or run through the island's volcanic vineyards, stopping at the wineries for tapas and wine tasting. It's quite a feast, so make sure you pack your running shoes!

The unique vineyards in La Geria, Lanzarote's main wine-producing region

Towns and villages in Lanzarote

It's worth spending one day exploring Lanzarote's capital, the port town of Arrecife, located in the east of the island. Arrecife boasts some of the best shopping and nightlife options in Lanzarote.

The main sights in Arrecife are the castle of San Gabriel and Charco de San Ginés, an inland saltwater lagoon dotted with beautiful old fishing boats. Stroll around the narrow backstreets near the lagoon to get an idea of how Arrecife used to be in the past.

Apart from Arrecife and the popular resorts in Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise, Lanzarote has plenty of charming locations to explore. Some of the prettiest Lanzarote villages and towns are:

• Haría
• Villa de Teguise
• El Golfo
• Yaiza
• San Bartolomé
• Arrieta

Tip: to taste local products and shop for souvenirs, head to one of the colorful open-air markets that take place almost every day in the towns and villages of Lanzarote. Visiting Teguise market, the island's oldest and biggest one, is a great way to spend a Sunday morning. Haría market is much smaller, but also quite popular.

The Las Bolas bridge is a symbol of Lanzarote's capital, Arrecife

Useful information about Lanzarote

Lanzarote is the third most populated island of the Canaries and a popular beach holiday destination for travelers from all over the world. Lanzarote offers plenty of accommodation options, from boutique hotels and bungalows built in the traditional Canarian style to eco-friendly rural houses and luxury yurts! If you're wondering which is the best area to stay in Lanzarote, most travelers choose one of its 3 main resorts: Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca.

If you would like to avoid the busy resorts, you can stay in Arrecife or one of the smaller towns and villages. The capital of Lanzarote has many value-for-money hotels as well as great bars and restaurants, exciting cultural events and lots of boutiques and shops. The inland villages are perfect if you prefer more peaceful holidays. Accommodation there is more limited, so make sure that you book as early as possible.

There is a hospital in the capital and medical centers in the main towns and resorts.

Important phone numbers for your stay in Lanzarote

Here are some useful contacts to keep handy during your trip to Lanzarote:

• Lanzarote General Hospital in Arrecife (Dr. José Molina Orosa Hospital): +34928595000
• Arrecife tourist information office: +34928811762
• Costa Teguise tourist information office: +34928592542 
• Puerto del Carmen tourist information office: +34928513351
• Playa Blanca tourist information office: +34928518150
• César Manrique - Lanzarote International Airport: +34902404704
• Arrecife Port Authority: +34928214600
• IntercityBus Lanzarote: +34928811522
• Taxi services (Arrecife area) : +34928803104, +34928812710
• European emergency number: 112
• Local police: 092
• Medical emergencies: 061

Boats at the Marina Rubicón in Playa Blanca

Transportation in Lanzarote

The cheapest way to get around Lanzarote is by bus. Buses are called guaguas and are operated by IntercityBus Lanzarote. Public bus services are reliable, though the network is quite limited. While regular bus routes connect Arrecife to most major towns and resorts, services to rural areas are not very frequent.

You can also get from the airport to Arrecife by bus easily and conveniently, as there are regular itineraries with affordable fares. For more information on bus routes and how to travel around Lanzarote by bus, check out the official IntercityBus Lanzarote website.

Taxis in Lanzarote are cheaper compared to other countries in Northern and Central Europe. Fares are metered and taxis can be flagged down in the street. Alternatively, there are taxi ranks in all big resorts and outside the arrivals hall at the airport.

If you prefer to explore the island at your leisure, hiring a car is very affordable in Lanzarote. There are several companies to choose from, but make sure that you book as early as possible, especially if you are visiting Lanzarote in the high season.

Ports in Lanzarote

Lanzarote has 3 ports: Arrecife, the island's capital, Playa Blanca and Órzola. The port of Arrecife is located on the east coast. It serves direct ferry routes to Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, and indirect connections to Tenerife and La Palma. From Arrecife, you can also catch the ferry to Huelva and Cádiz on the southwestern coast of Spain.

Playa Blanca is located in the south, approximately 36 km from Arrecife and 30 km from Lanzarote Airport. The port of Playa Blanca mainly serves ferry routes to Fuerteventura.

From the port of Órzola, you can take the ferry to La Graciosa. Órzola is a small village located on the north coast of Lanzarote, about 36 km from Arrecife and 42 km from the airport.

A ferry traveling from the port of Órzola in the north of Lanzarote to La Graciosa

Island hopping from Lanzarote

From Lanzarote, you can easily travel by ferry to the neighboring islands of Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and La Graciosa. There are also indirect ferry routes to Tenerife and La Palma.

Ferries from Lanzarote to Fuerteventura depart several times per day from Playa Blanca and once a week (on Wednesdays) from Arrecife. The trip duration is 25 minutes to 2.5 hours.

The ferries from Lanzarote to Gran Canaria travel once a day from the port of Arrecife. There is also an indirect ferry connection from Playa Blanca. The trip from Lanzarote to Gran Canaria usually takes around 5 to 9 hours.

The small island of La Graciosa is ideal for a day trip from Lanzarote. There are several daily Lanzarote - La Graciosa ferry crossings and the journey duration is just 25 minutes. Ferries depart from the port of Órzola and arrive at Caleta del Sebo, the main town in La Graciosa, and the route is served by the ferry companies Líneas Romero and Biosfera Express.

On Ferryhopper’s Map of ferries, you can find all the available Lanzarote ferry routes, so that you can easily plan your island hopping in the Canaries.

Impressive rock formations in Lanzarote

Lanzarote ferry: schedules and tickets

You can take the ferry to Lanzarote from Huelva and Cádiz in mainland Spain. The duration of the journey from Huelva to Lanzarote is 27-28 hours, just like the ferry from Cádiz to Lanzarote. Both ferry routes are served once per week.

Ferry timetables are subject to change depending on the season. On Ferryhopper, you can find real-time schedules and compare prices for ferry tickets to Lanzarote at a glance.

Book ferry tickets to Lanzarote online

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