The Top 10 Must See Places In Lanzarote

Lanzarote at a glance:

• Travel time: 4hrs 15mins direct flight from London.
• Vibe: Volcanic, chic, authentic. Thanks to strict building laws, you won’t find high-rise hotels; instead, it’s all whitewashed villages and black lava fields.
• Top must-see: Timanfaya National Park.
• Best for: Outdoor lovers, amateur photographers, those seeking “winter sun”.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Lanzarote twice, once when I was a child and then again as an adult. What was so lovely about the second trip is that nothing had really changed despite the amount of time that had passed. Its natural beauty remained and although there are touristy areas, it retains an authentic feel with a distinctive volcanic landscape. If you’re planning a visit, here’s the top 10 must see places in Lanzarote.

Arrecife

Arrecife is the capital city of Lanzarote. The highlight is the El Charco de San Ginés which is a natural lagoon of sea water. With lots of little sailing boats and white and blue buildings surrounding it, it’s a very photogenic area. This is a great spot to stop and have lunch – after several miles of walking in the heat I enjoyed a well-deserved sandwich looking at this view!

Another area to visit in Arrecife is Puente de las Bolas y Castillo de San Gabriel. You can walk across a drawbridge dating back to the late-1500s, which connects to a castle. It’s a nice walk with the sea alongside you and the best part is that it’s free.

Timanfaya National Park

For me this takes the number one spot for the must see places in Lanzarote. Timanfaya is a national park made up entirely of volcanoes. There are varying shades of red, orange, brown, and yellow rock that make a landscape that is like no other. It’s no wonder that it’s been the location for many films over the years and has also been used for training by NASA!

The main Fire Mountains (Montañas del Fuego) is where you can see for yourself just how hot the volcano is. Although it is dormant, temperatures are up to 277°C just 10cm below the surface, and 610°C recorded at a depth of 13 metres. You get to see straw put into a pit which is then set alight by the volcano in a matter of seconds. You can also witness cold water being poured into a hole in the ground where steam sprays out not long after.

The El Diablo restaurant boasts great views over Timanfaya. And what is amazing is that the geothermal heat is used for cooking the food that visitors eat. You can go into an area and watch the chicken as it cooks on a large grill over a pit that reaches deep into the volcano.

Playa Blanca

This is the newest tourist resort on the island. Avenida Maritima offers a beautiful walk along a well-maintained path that follows the coastline and the turquoise water. There’s plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops to stop at, and sandy coves to sunbathe in.

There’s even an underwater museum here, the only one in Europe, for those that are experienced divers. If you’re not experienced, you need to spend half a day training and then be accompanied by a professional guide as you explore the statues on the sea bed.

Playa de Papagayo

A little further along the coast from Playa Blanca is Papagayo Beach. This is said to be the most photogenic beach on the island. It is one of the smaller beaches set back in a horseshoe shape, with the surrounding cliffs helping to break the wind. This leaves the water calm and crystal clear.

Puerto Del Carmen

This is the main tourist resort in Lanzarote and where my Dad and I stayed for our trip. The newer part of the town is full of restaurants, bars, and shops that look out over the long stretch of sandy beach and sun loungers. Nearby is a shopping centre called Biosfera Plaza, with some decent clothes shops and a few more places to eat. There’s a lot of British and European tourists in this area.

The Old Town is quieter and has a more authentic feel to it. This is where the harbour is, and you can see where it started off as a small fishing village. There’s a boardwalk lined with the typical white houses you see all over Lanzarote, plus some incredible cactus gardens that you should definitely check out.

Jardín de Cactus

If you love cactus, then you may wish to check out the last piece of work by César Manrique before his death. He was a Lanzarote-born artist and architect. His aim was for all of his work to respect nature and the environment and showcase it as best as possible.

Located in a old ash quarry, Jardín de Cactus is a pathed garden with over 1,000 different types of cactus. There’s also a windmill up on an hill that you can go into to look out over the gardens. The gardens are small, but you can enjoy them a little longer by eating at the on-site café, where the main speciality is a cactus burger.

Mirador Del Rio

This place offers breathtaking views that really are hard to beat anywhere, making it one of the must see places in Lanzarote. You can look out to the stunning blue sea and the island of La Graciosa, which is five miles in length and two and a half miles in width. It has no paved roads and a population of only 700 people.

The viewpoint of Mirador Del Rio itself was designed by César Manrique, who was mentioned above. It’s another great example of his aim to showcase nature and the environment as inside you can get a sense of how vast the view is, before you step outside and see it in all its glory. You can dine here too in the contemporary restaurant.

Jameos Del Agua

This tourist attraction was conceived by César Manrique as well (as you can imagine, he is highly regarded on the island!). Jameos Del Agua is a tunnel that came about as the result of a volcanic eruption. As you walk down a stone staircase lined with plants, you can see the clear water that glistens in the sunlight. The way the light hits the water makes for some really interesting photos.

Tiny albino crabs live here in the darkness and if you’re lucky enough you may be able to spot some. They are sensitive to light and noise, therefore visitors are encouraged to be quiet during their visit, which makes the experience very peaceful.

After walking through the cove you’re greeted with a manmade garden complete with palm trees – it is quite a juxtaposition from the natural cove you’ve just been in! There is a very inviting swimming pool but swimming in it is forbidden unless you’re the King of Spain (I’m not joking). Beyond the pool is an auditorium, said to have brilliant acoustics for music performances and film screenings.

Charco De Los Clicos

The area of Charco De Los Clicos is a declared nature reserve. A crater formed by a volcano, within it is a bright green lagoon. This makes for a very eye-catching sight, given the contrast of the surrounding beach which is black. The lagoon’s colour is due to the algae that lives at the bottom of it, as well as sulfur in the water.

Cueva De Los Verdes

For a unique experience, Cueva De Los Verdes allows you to walk through caves that were formed by lava flows after a volcanic eruption. During the 16th and 17th centuries the caves were used as a hiding place against attacks and invasions by pirates from North Africa. You are taken underground on a guided tour that lasts around an hour. There is even a concert hall down there! The temperature remains around 19c naturally, so on a hot day it is a really pleasant way to cool down. One part of the tour holds a secret that I won’t spoil, but the trip offers amazing photo opportunities and is something you won’t forget.

---

Lanzarote FAQs (2026)