Lanzarote is the most visually arresting of the Canary Islands, a volcanic landscape of black lava fields, crimson craters, and ash vineyards that feel more like the surface of Mars than a European holiday destination, shaped as much by the vision of a single artist-architect, César Manrique (1919–92), as by the volcanic eruptions that buried a third of the island in lava in the 1730s. Manrique, painter, sculptor, architect, and environmental visionary, returned to Lanzarote from New York in the 1960s and dedicated his life to protecting the island from the concrete-and-neon excesses of mass tourism that were already devouring the Spanish costas. His influence, no building taller than a palm tree (in the traditional areas), no advertising hoardings, the integration of art, architecture, and the volcanic landscape, has made Lanzarote one of the most distinctive and aesthetically coherent destinations in the Canary Islands.

Quick Facts: Lanzarote, Canary Islands

• Best time to visit: Year-round, Lanzarote enjoys a subtropical climate with average temperatures of 20-25°C and low rainfall; the best months are April–June and September–November (warm but not the intense heat of July–August); the island can be windy, the constant trade winds keep the temperatures bearable but also make the beaches cooler than you expect. The surf is excellent year-round
• How to get there: Lanzarote Airport (ACE, near Arrecife) with flights from across Europe (4–4.5 hours from UK); the island is small (60 km north to south), a car is recommended for exploring; the roads are excellent and the driving is easy
• Don’t miss: Timanfaya National Park (the Montañas del Fuego, the Fire Mountains, the heart of the volcanic landscape. You cannot walk freely through the park (the terrain is fragile and dangerous), a bus tour (40 min) takes you through the lava fields, and the visitor centre demonstrates the geothermal heat beneath your feet (water poured into a borehole erupts as steam seconds later). Entry: ~€12. Go first thing or late afternoon, the queues at midday in summer are long). Jameos del Agua, the most beautiful of Manrique’s creations (a volcanic tube transformed into a subterranean auditorium, a swimming pool (for the eyes only, a protected species of blind albino crab lives in the lagoon), a restaurant, and a garden of cacti and palms, one of the most magical places in the Canary Islands. Entry: ~€10). The Cueva de los Verdes (a 7-km lava tube, part of the same system as Jameos del Agua, with a guided tour through the illuminated cave formations. Entry: ~€10). The Mirador del Río (a viewpoint designed by Manrique, carved into the cliff face at the northern tip of the island, with views across to the island of La Graciosa, the most spectacular panorama on Lanzarote. Entry: ~€5). The vineyards of La Geria (the most unusual wine region in Spain, vines planted in individual hollows dug into the black volcanic ash, sheltered by curved stone walls from the wind. The Malvasía white wine is the speciality, visit the Bodegas El Grifo (the oldest winery in the Canary Islands, founded 1775) for a tasting)
• The beaches: Papagayo (the most beautiful beach, a series of golden coves at the southern tip, sheltered from the wind, with clear turquoise water. Entry: ~€3 (car access). The walk from the car park is part of the experience). Famara (the surfing beach, a wild, 6-km stretch of sand on the northwest coast below the 600-metre cliffs of the Risco de Famara. Not for swimming, the currents are strong, but the surf school here is excellent, and the sunsets are among the best on the island)

A Travel Guide to Lanzarote by TourSpain.org. Travel tips for Lanzarote and some of the most interesting places to visit in Lanzarote. Video Rating: 4 / 5

Have you explored the volcanoes of Timanfaya, the caves of Jameos del Agua, or the vineyards of La Geria? Share your Lanzarote discoveries in the comments! 🌋

Explore all our Europe travel guides, discover the best of the continent.

Explore More

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like:

• Top 10 Travel Attractions, Madrid, Spain – Travel Guide – Uncategorized
• Travel Guide: Norway – Uncategorized
• Top 5 Travel Attractions, Brussels – Travel Guide – Uncategorized