Lanzarote is not a destination where you have to spend days ticking off a seemingly endless list of museums and art galleries. It does have a few of those, but a trip here is more about appreciating the natural drama of its volcanic landscape and the Atlantic Ocean. For me, the number one attraction is the work of local artist and architect César Manrique, whose tireless campaigning and singular vision has kept overdevelopment at bay and turned swathes of the island into a living work of art. On the active front, there are endless opportunities to hike, bike or even try tandem paragliding. The island is compact, making it easy to travel around from activity to activity.
Find things to do by type:
- Best for culture
- Best for nature
- Best for art
- Best free things to do
- Best for thrills
- Best for families
Best for culture
Arrecife
Explore a charming compact capital
Arrecife feels more like a relaxed town than a capital. Wander around picturesque El Charco de San Ginés, a former fishing village set on a sleepy lagoon. There are shops to check out too, a sprinkling of pavement cafés and the Castillo de San José, an old fortress revamped by the Fundación César Manrique, now housing the MIAC (Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporaneo).
Insider tip: You don’t need to head to the resorts to chill out on a beach after your city sightseeing. Follow the savvy locals to Playa del Reducto, which lies tucked right in the centre and is rarely busy. A promenade now runs right along the waterfront as far as the airport.
Website: cactlanzarote.com
Price: £
La Geria
Hop around volcanic vineyards
Shakespeare’s “Malmsey” is today’s Malvasia, usually a sweet wine in the bard’s day, today more renowned for being bone dry and packed with minerality. Some vines are cultivated in single volcanic craters; all are packed with flavour. The epicentre is La Geria, whose vineyards cling to the old lava fields. Each winery boasts its own appeal, with El Grifo being one of the best set up for visitors.
Insider tip: Many visitors leave the island presuming that Lanzarote only dishes up dry white wine. Today many producers also offer a sweet Malvasia, rosé and even venture into red- and sparkling-wine territory. Enjoy a tasting to expand your knowledge of the award-winning local wines.
Website: elgrifo.com
Price: ££
Best for nature
Timanfaya National Park
Immerse yourself in Lanzarote’s volcanic heart
Lovers of all things volcanic must explore the Timanfaya National Park. At the visitor centre, you can learn about how the island was created and the stories behind the volcanic scenery you will find all over Lanzarote. You can book a walking or bus tour around the moonscape of this truly remarkable national park.
Insider tip: For a truly unique experience, hop on a camel for a ride through this otherworldly corner of Europe. You can pay cash to the handlers for a short but surreal taste of the national park.
Website: reservasparquesnacionales.es
Price: Visitors centre, free; camel ride, ££
Museo Atlantico
Explore an underwater sculpture park
Lanzarote’s Museo Atlantico is the island’s most offbeat attraction – you’ll need scuba gear or a snorkel to check it out. Some 40ft below the ocean, this sunken “museum” is the brainchild of British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. Europe’s only underwater sculpture park tackles contemporary themes from refugee crises through to selfies.
Insider tip: The park was designed to attract rather than repel marine life, so there is plenty to ogle at beyond the sculptures themselves.
Website: underwatermuseumlanzarote.com
Price: Free
Best for art
César Manrique Foundation
Marvel at the work of Lanzarote’s most-celebrated artist
César Manrique is the seminal architect and designer who sculpted much of the most-dramatic built environment in Lanzarote. To get a handle on this visionary, head to the 32,300 sq ft “Volcano House” he fashioned for himself and lived in between 1968 and 1988. Manrique’s brilliant use of light and elegant natural lines is in full flow.
Insider tip: It’s best to visit early in your trip, as you’ll be seeing a lot of Manrique’s designs – hotels, viewpoints, public sculptures – as you explore the island. Seeing his studio and home first offers a valuable insight into his work and personality.
Website: fcmanrique.org
Price: ££
Jameos del Agua
Visit a cultural centre built within a cave
César Manrique’s work at the Jameos del Agua was perhaps his finest. He brought his ethos and signature style to a network of natural underground tunnels. Think James Bond villain’s lair meets Jurassic Park. It’s also unsurprisingly a regular venue for cultural events. There is also a cave restaurant, a snack bar with an ocean view and a bar. Look out, too, for the revamped museum, with its insight into Lanzarote’s unique geology. They’ve got seriously fun virtual reality headsets now and a museum section that delves into the island’s volcanic landscapes.
Insider tip: Make sure to check out the striking pool, as it is home to a rare species of blind crab. They can come and go with the tides as the caves lead straight into the ocean.
Website: cactlanzarote.com
Price: ££
Best free things to do
Teguise
Explore the former capital of Lanzarote
Historic Teguise is both the oldest and most-charming of Lanzarote’s hinterland settlements. Its key attraction is the bustling Sunday morning market. It is quieter and more appealing the rest of the time, with a couple of unassuming museums, including one dedicated unusually to pirates. The great joy, though, is just wandering around admiring Teguise’s historic architecture and relaxed ambience. Grab a taxi or bus there to avoid a potentially stressful ordeal trying to park.
Insider tip: Teguise’s sibling, Costa Teguise, stages a market of its own in Plaza del Pueblo Marinero on Friday nights from 5pm until 12am. It’s very handy if you’re staying in the resort or nearby Arrecife, though it’s not on the same scale as Teguise’s market.
Website: turismolanzarote.com
Price: Free
Best for thrills
Tandem paragliding
Fly high above the island
This once-in-a-lifetime activity requires no experience. Lanzarote offers excellent conditions for paragliding, especially in the cooler winter months. It’s the best way to appreciate the natural beauty and scale of the island, and if you’re lucky with the weather, you may even catch views of La Graciosa and down to Fuerteventura.
Insider tip: Remember to bring a jacket. It may be balmy down on the ground, but it can be nippy when you are up in the air so best come prepared.
Website: venturilanzarote.com
Price: £££
The Atlantic coast
Head off on a spectacular trek
Lanzarote may not be known as a hiking destination, but it offers a string of superb walking routes. You can ease across old lava flows, up and down volcanoes and enjoy rugged rambles along the Atlantic coast. The spectacular trek from the village of Haría to the old capital of Teguise is one of the finest, with plenty of viewpoints along the way and a great ridge.
Insider tip: Cicerone publishes an excellent guide to walking on Lanzarote (and Fuerteventura), which includes detailed route information and rough maps. You should still always have a proper map and a compass, plus have someone in your group who is able to use them.
Website: cicerone.co.uk
Price: Free
Best for families
La Graciosa
Escape to a real-life Treasure Island
Bijou La Graciosa, previously considered an islet, was reclassified and declared the eighth Canary Island in 2018. It is a real timewarp – a place you can seriously relax. Tarmac roads and the cares of the modern world have yet to descend on this oasis. It’s ideal day-trip territory just a short (often rough) boat ride from the north of Lanzarote. Explore on foot or take a bicycle. Day trips from Lanzarote’s resorts package the ferry together with a boat trip to the best beaches when you get there.
Insider tip: Make the effort to yomp up one of La Graciosa’s volcanoes, as they offer sweeping panoramas out over this deeply dramatic island and back towards Lanzarote. Head to the top of Montaña Bermeja for the best views.
Website: lineasromero.com
Price: £££
Submarine Safaris Lanzarote
Survey shipwrecks on the ocean floor
Forget those flimsy glass-bottomed submarines, Submarine Safaris Lanzarote is the real deal. Their €3 million submarine descends right down below 30m to survey shipwrecks and life on the ocean floor – an experience that is both an adventure and deeply educational. You will leave with a renewed appreciation of our oceans and the key roles they play in creating and maintaining our world.
Insider tip: Make time at the end to check out their office as it has much more information on Lanzarote and the surrounding oceans. If you’ve got kids in tow there are opportunities to take fun photos and grab some gifts. I recommend picking up a bottle of the wine they’ve been aging on the ocean floor too, a unique souvenir as you’ll have seen the bottles maturing while on the submarine trip.
Website: submarinesafaris.com
Price: £££
How we choose
Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations.