After travelling around Lanzarote for a few weeks, I made this list of things to do, see and experience on the island. I also included some things to avoid and not do to ensure you have a great holiday in Lanzarote. I provide (affiliate) links for more details, prices and bookings.
Visit Arrecife
Arrecife is the capital of Lanzarote and, while you might not expect it, has one of the most beautiful beaches in Lanzarote. The Playa Reducto beach also often is much quieter than other more touristy beaches on the island. On top of that, the prices of restaurants and bars next to the beach are also much more friendly than the main tourist resorts.
Volcano baked chicken anyone?
El Diablo restaurant in Lanzarote is one of these unique experiences you can only get here on the island. Where else can you get volcano baked chicken? The food is nice and the surroundings spectacular.
Montanas del Fuego
Don’t want to eat but see some demonstrations of the power of the volcanoes at work, then make sure to visit the Montanas del Fuego where demonstrations are given about the power of the volcanos. Impressive to see for young and old.
Rent a car
Lanzarote has some massive resorts. Especially Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen are huge. It might be tough to get around if you stay in the back or on the sides of these. Renting a car in Lanzarote is very cheap and will save you loads of money on taxies or busses for getting around.
Often you can find cars for around 5 euros a day if you are ok with just the basic insurance. However, if you want fully comprehensive insurance (what I would advise), most of the time, this only cost a few euros more per day. So please look at my car rental guide first to ensure you have a good car rental experience and book with the right companies.
Go snorkeling
The whole island of Lanzarote is very rocky, meaning there is not much sand. This makes for very transparent waters and unique habitat for sea life. This makes it ideal for snorkelling. Therefore, you can also find many tour operators offering these snorkel excursions, but you can also go on your own if you have snorkelling equipment.
Don’t miss out on Rancho Texas
If you want a great variety day trip for the entire family, I can advise Rancho Texas. There are lots to see and do here. A bit of zoo, live animal shows and a water park as well to enjoy. Plus much more. Rancho Texas is my top tip to do with the family on Lanzarote.
Ride a camel
There are only a few places in Europe where you can ride a camel through a unique landscape. Lanzarote is one of these, and I would advise taking the opportunity. A camel ride is a unique experience for the entire family.
Skip the aloe vera farms and museums
Every organized excursion in Lanzarote includes some visit to an aloe vera farm or museum. While these can be a bit interesting, some of the health claims made are not backed up. Also, the visit always ends with a hard sell of aloe vera products.
My advice would be to have a look if you think it is interesting but don’t feel pressured to buy. All these products are also available online.
Things to see
The Jameos del Agua volcanic cave system, Cueva de los Verdes lava formed tunnels, the Cactus Gardens and Los Hervidores are often advised to tourists in Lanzarote. If you can do them as part of a tour or a package day trip, they make for a fun day trip. But individually, they are all activities that you are pretty fast finished with. So if you can do them included in one of the better rated organized tours on the island, I can advise a visit to all of these.
Take a jacket with you in the evenings
Lanzarote is often windy, and what starts as a sunny day can get chilly at night. Especially when sitting out on a terrace for dinner in the evenings, you might notice it a lot. So always in the evening, take a jacket or sweater with you.
Go on a dolphin cruise
Want to take the kids on a real adventure? Take a dolphin-watching tour on the Atlantic Ocean. Many boats and companies are offering this excursion. And while you are pretty much for sure to see actual dolphins make sure you pick a great boat to go on for the best chance of seeing them. Also, better boats offer lots of fun stuff to do along the way.
Visit Playa Papagayo on a windy day
Playa Papagayo is one of the most popular and most advised beaches on Lanzarote. And I can see why. It is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island but often gets too crowded. Therefore my advice is to visit it on a windy day. Many people don’t go then, but the beach is not affected by it. Since it is located sheltered from the wind, you will find it warm and comfortable. Just don’t forget to bring a few euros if you are going by car as there is an entry and parking fee. You can find my complete list of the best beaches in Lanzarote here.
Mercadillo de Teguise market
Near Costa Teguise, you will find the largest market on the island in Villa del Teguise. If you are going to visit a market, this one should be it. It is held each Sunday from 9 in the morning till 2 o clock in the afternoon.
Put on sunscreen
I travelled a lot to warm places and spent a lot of time in the sun, and I rarely get burned. However, in Lanzarote, I got burned from day 1. The climate here is surprising. It often is very sunny but with a cold wind at the same time in Lanzarote and before you know it you are sunburned for the rest of your holiday.
Take a sailing trip to La Graciosa
La Graciosa is the little island next to Lanzarote. It is also the purest and most untouched and has some fantastic beaches. So if you have the chance, I would advise you definitely to take a sailing trip to the island. With most boats, you will also get the opportunity to swim and snorkel along the way.
Drive up to the Mirador del Rio
An incredible drive through the mountains will take you to the Mirador del Rio. From 400 meters high, you will have great views over the Atlantic Ocean and the La Graciosa island. You don’t have to pay an entry ticket if you don’t want to, but you might want to consider it to get the best views. Even without an entry ticket, you can get amazing views if you’re going to make it a quick stop.
Pick the right time to go
A lot of people think that Lanzarote has excellent weather all year round, and it is true. But in winter, it gets, of course, more cold and windy. Still, winter in Lanzarote can get pretty busy as it is a popular time for many people to escape the bad weather in their own countries.
If you want it to be busy and everything to be open, make sure to visit during school, university and college holidays. Many other months are more for singles and an older generation. Here is my complete guide to when to visit Lanzarote.
Go on a buggy, quad or jeep safari
Lanzarote has arid, dusty and rough terrain. Because of this, it makes for the ideal landscape to do some off-roading. There are many different options and many companies offering these. Make sure you go with a reputable buggy excursion company to spend actual time off-roading and not just driving on paved roads.
Choose the right holiday destination and hotel in Lanzarote
Lanzarote is pretty small and only has 6 real destinations on the island. All of them are somewhat different, so make sure you pick the right one for you. My favourite ones would have to be Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca, but this might not be right for you. Here you can find a complete comparison of all the destinations on Lanzarote.
