Lanzarote Area Guide

Lanzarote is the most easterly of the Canary Islands situated less than a hundred kilometres from the African continent. It is a beautiful natural island with an artistic and cultural heritage that has been successfully preserved and which was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993 with the Timanfaya National Park and unique volcanic landscapes which helped inspire the Lanzarote artist César Manrique .

Next to Lanzarote is the Chinijo archipelago which has four small uninhabited islands: Alegranza, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste which cover 886 km² running 60 km north to south and only 20 km at the widest point.

Fishing and agriculture once formed the basis of the island’s economy but have since been overtaken by the tourism industry which is no surprise as Lanzarote enjoys an average annual temperature of 22ºC because of its location in the Tropic of Cancer. Lanzarote is made up of seven municipalities: Arrecife (the capital), Teguise, Haría, San Bartolomé, Tías, Tinajo and Yaiza with most of the islanders residing in the south-central zone.

There are endless things to see and do in Lanzarote ranging from visiting its volcanic craters, underground grottos and natural parks, spending a family day out in an amusement park to discovering the history and culture of the island in its many historic monuments and museums. Our Local Attractions Guide provides you with information to help you decide what you want to see and do.

 

The beaches in Lanzarote vary from dark volcanic to white sand. We have provided a guide to the best beaches on the island.

 

 

Although Lanzarote has had a golf course for nearly 30 years it has not been well known for the sport. There are currently a number of new courses in the pipeline and with the enviable year round climate and new irrigation systems that is all about to change.

 

In Lanzarote there are restaurants for all tastes with a goof choice of Mexican, Italian, Chinese and Indian eateries, but above all try the local cuisine which are prepared with fresh local produce. Our Restaurant Guide gives details of some of the most popular ones on the island.

 

Lanzarote and the rest of the Canary Islands enjoy a special Duty Free Tax status with cigarettes, alcohol, perfumes and petrol being much cheaper than in mainland Spain and the rest of the EU. These duty free goods are usually much cheaper in the resorts and towns than in the airport or on the plane. For full details on the best places to shop and local markets take a look at our guide.

 

There are a number of places offering different activities for all members of the family. For full details visit our Amusement Parks Guide

 

 

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car . There are a number of car hire firms based at Lanzarote Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We have lived in Spain for a number of years and to make life easier for you we have provided information on Lanzarote including a Lanzarote Area Guide which covers the best Lanzarote Shops, Local Attractions in Lanzarote, Lanzarote Markets, Lanzarote Golf Courses, the different types of Beaches in Lanzarote, recommended Lanzarote Restaurants, details of Lanzarote Amusement Parks