Lanzarote is one of the most popular Canary Islands holiday destinations, with its impressive and incomparable volcanic landscape and sublime climate. As well as the rough terrain of much of the island, visitors can savour its famously flawless beaches, which are like something from a Hollywood dream sequence of paradise. The weather is sensational, there are plenty of family-friendly activities and attractions, the food is healthy and delicious, and the atmosphere ranges from mesmerisingly chilled to colourful and vibrant.
There's just something special about a Lanzarote holiday, an island where you can enjoy meats grilled in the heat from a volcano, experience lunar landscapes right here on Earth, and which you can visit at any time of the year and still expect great weather.
Parents – With its wonderful weather and countless kid-friendly attractions, there is so much for the children to enjoy that they won’t want to leave.
Watersports fans – There is almost every type of watersport to be found in Lanzarote, but the biggest attraction is perhaps the scuba diving opportunities.
Scenery fans – There are few other places on Earth with a landscape like Lanzarote.
Flight time:4h 15m
Average high temperature: 17°C (January) – 24°C (August)
You’ll find Puerto del Carmen to the south-east of Lanzarote, where the island’s nightlife grows lively and throbbing, and the 7km of shoreline helps to soothe bodies sore from dancing the morning after. It’s not all a raucous party-fest by any means – in Puerto Del Carmen, you’ll also find more traditional places to eat, sip coffee, and relax in the old town.
Playa Blanca’s main beach has a Blue Flag and a promenade packed with places to eat and drink, but you’ll also find two other strips of sand that are just as appealing. Although this south-western fishing village is small, it’s one of Lanzarote’s largest resorts that has numerous nightclubs, restaurants and cafes to enjoy. Backed by stunning volcanic mountains, Playa Blanca’s setting is attractive and appealing.
Costa Teguise is found at the east of Lanzarote and provides visitors with aquamarine waters, exciting hiking opportunities, and an eclectic nightlife. The aquapark is perfect for children, while adults might like to try golfing beside a volcano before a relaxing evening spent enjoying restaurants and bars on the resort’s long promenade. Few attractions can beat Costa Teguise’s five sandy beaches though!
This is one of Lanzarote’s quietest resorts, where you’re more likely to find low-key markets and a relaxing coastline than a busy high street or bubbling nightlife. It’s a laid-back town with a friendly, soothing atmosphere and a gold-sand beach, where you can stay and relax or visit nearby Arrecife for a more cosmopolitan experience.
Matagorda Beach is one of three Blue Flag beaches around Puerto del Carmen, where you can join fellow bathers relishing the sun and soothing their worries away. This little seaside town has restaurants and bars, but if you want malls, clubs, or crowds you’ll have to take a trip outside of the resort. Come to Matagorda for the serenity and the welcoming ambience.
Must visit – We recommend visiting Timanfaya National Park with its magical lunar landscape, the Jameos del Agua which is a 6km long lava tube with an almost mystical atmosphere, and the Mirador del Rio which at 479m high is the highest point on Lanzarote. The wine route through La Ruta de las Bodegas is an interesting and tasty day out, and you can also find plenty of places to shop, eat, drink, and watch the sunny world passing you by.
Family fun – Lanzarote’s beaches are a playground for children and families wanting to sunbathe or paddle in the water, try watersports, and even explore secret coves along the shore. While kids love beach days, they will also adore Lanzarote’s waterpark in Playa Blanca, with its rapids and water slides – but this is only one of many fun attractions for the young ones to enjoy. They can also race go-karts, visit the aquarium, watch a movie in Puerto del Carmen’s open-air cinema, hire a pedalo, and enjoy the pirate museum!
Natural attractions – The Timanfaya National Park is a park like no other, with its spectacular and surreal scenery formed by 6 years of volcanic eruptions during the early 1700s. While the national park and the island’s many volcanoes might be the most visually arresting sights in Lanzarote, the beaches are also sensational for their black and white sands and mirror-clear waters. The most unspoilt, solitary beach might be the Playa de las Conchas, which you will find off Lanzarote’s north coast. It’s a ferry ride and a 45-minute walk away, but the beach’s untouched beauty is well worth the journey.
Culture and history – Lanzarote’s vibrant culture is an exciting blend of fiestas, delicious food, tradition, and art of every kind. You can find art galleries and fine museums showing interesting exhibitions that describe the island’s long-standing culture across the whole of Lanzarote. In the capital, Arrecife, you’ll discover the International Museum of Contemporary Art, the Galeria Yaiza in the creative village of Yaiza, and museums near Tiagua, Mozaga, and Haria.
Food and drink – Lanzarote’s cuisine blends those of its closest neighbours, creating a melting pot of Spanish, African, and Latin American dishes. While you will find locally-sourced fish and seafood, meat is actually a more popular ingredient than its coastal counterpart. Traditional Lanzarote meals include meaty soups and stews, punchy pouring sauces such as green and red mojos, and gambas al ajillo, a rich starters featuring prawns cooked in olive oil, garlic, chilli, and brandy. You might also like to try the locally produced wines, which are sourced from thousands of acres of vineyards found across the island.
Night life – Lanzarote’s diverse nightlife offers romantic secluded bars, live music, stylish tapas, and energetic nightclubs for those who love to party. Puerto del Carmen is the most bustling area of the island’s nightlife, and is where you will find bars and clubs to enjoy until the early hours of the morning. While British and German tourists visit Lanzarote for the wilder aspects of the nightlife, you can also find elegant drinking spots and relaxing restaurants that are untouched by the island’s livelier guests.
Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise, Playa de los Pocillos, Matagorda
Turkey, Benidorm, Canaries, Mexico, Florida, Tenerife, Orlando, Ibiza, New York, Majorca,
Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Dorada, Portugal, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria
Family holidays, All Inclusive holidays, School holidays, Luxury
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