Lanzarote: 10 Tips for Your Trip to the Canary Island

Planning a trip to the Canary Island Lanzarote and unsure what to expect? In this post, we’ll share our best tips and information about Lanzarote with you.
This will prepare you well and give you an idea of the delicious dishes served on the island, the best ways to get around, ideal accommodation options, and much more.

1. THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO LANZAROTE

Lanzarote is a perfect travel destination all year round, so the ideal time to visit largely depends on your personal preferences and interests.
The island is geographically close to Africa, roughly on the same latitude as the Sahara, and offers pleasantly warm weather throughout the year.
Even in winter, temperatures rarely drop below 15°C, which is why Lanzarote is often called the "Island of Eternal Spring".

From March to November, you can expect ideal weather conditions for a dreamy beach and swimming holiday.
Between June and October, average daytime temperatures range from 25°C to 29°C, with water temperatures between 20°C and 22°C.
However, during the summer months, the hot Sahara winds can quickly push temperatures above 40°C.

In the winter months from December to February, there can be occasional showers, but temperatures remain comfortable between 15°C and 20°C.
It never gets really cold. Whether in summer or winter, the wind can blow strongly at up to 50 km/h.
Therefore, it’s advisable to pack a pair of long pants and a sweater, as it can get quite cool in the evenings, at night, or in the early morning.

2. THE CLIMATE IN LANZAROTE

Lanzarote has a desert-like, dry climate year-round. This is because the island has no high mountains, allowing most rain clouds to simply pass over it.
For you, this means you can expect pleasant average temperatures throughout the year.

The water temperature also remains constant, ranging from 20°C to 25°C.
Thanks to the dry climate, the humidity in Lanzarote is always low, usually between 15% and 20%, making the island an ideal destination for a sunny and relaxing holiday.

3. THE IDEAL LENGTH OF STAY FOR LANZAROTE

Like the best travel time, the ideal duration of stay depends on your personal interests.
Many tourists spend between 7 and 14 days on the Canary Island, which is enough time to see a lot of the island and enjoy a few relaxing beach days as well.

We stayed for just 6 days in Lanzarote before traveling to the neighboring island of Fuerteventura. In our opinion, even with only 6 days, you can see and experience a lot of the island.
You might just need to make some compromises on beach days or sightseeing.

4. THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

The official language of Lanzarote is Spanish. However, due to the numerous tourists who visit the island every year, English is also widely spoken by locals.
This means that you can communicate easily in English even without knowledge of Spanish.

5. TIME DIFFERENCE

Fuerteventura is 1 hour behind Central European Time (CET) during both summer and winter.

6. GETTING TO LANZAROTE

The Spanish island is easily accessible with convenient and affordable flights from many major cities worldwide.
Several airlines operate regular connections to Lanzarote, and platforms like skyscanner.com can help you find and compare the best flight options for your trip.
‍Flight time varies depending on your departure location but is typically around 4 to 5 hours from most European cities and longer for intercontinental travelers.

Entry requirements depend on your nationality. Citizens of many countries, including the European Union, the United States, Canada, and Australia, can travel to Spain without a visa for short stays. Make sure your passport or other travel documents are valid for the duration of your visit.
For specific travel and entry requirements, check with your local embassy or consulate or consult your government’s travel advisory website.

7. GETTING AROUND LANZAROTE

BY RENTAL CAR

It’s advisable to book a rental car before you arrive so you can explore Lanzarote flexibly. This way, you can travel comfortably from the airport to your accommodation and explore the island at your own pace. Rental cars can be easily booked through platforms like rentalcars.com, and prices are often incredibly affordable. For example, we only paid around $16 per day.

There are even cheaper options, but they’re usually very small and less robust vehicles. We recommend spending a few dollars more on a larger and more stable car, as many of the most beautiful beaches and remote locations can only be reached via unpaved roads. In other words, the worse the road, the better the destination.

A few tips for driving in Lanzarote:

• Drive on the right, as in many countries worldwide.
• Speed limit: 120 km/h on highways, 50 km/h in town, and 90 km/h on country roads.
• In Lanzarote, blue lines indicate paid parking zones where you must purchase and display a parking ticket, while yellow lines signal parking restrictions—continuous yellow lines prohibit stopping and parking entirely, and dashed yellow lines indicate temporary or specific parking restrictions; additionally, avoid parking in front of waste containers, as vehicles obstructing access may be towed.
• The alcohol limit is 0.5%.

BY BUS

Lanzarote has a well-developed public bus network between Arrecife and the island’s larger towns. Bus stops are marked with a white "P" on a blue background.
Most buses run every 15 minutes to an hour according to the schedule, but in reality, buses can arrive late despite the timetable.

One advantage, however, is that bus fares are very affordable. Tickets can be purchased directly from the driver upon boarding.
You can find a schedule and route overview on the arrecifebus.com website.

BY TAXI

Another way to get around the island is by taxi. In virtually every town, you’ll find at least one taxi, with more available in larger cities.
There are usually several fixed taxi stands in tourist areas.

The price per kilometer varies by company but averages around $1.10 per kilometer. You’ll find price tables at taxi stands for reference.
If you hail a taxi outside a taxi stand, it’s wise to agree on a fare in advance to avoid misunderstandings.

8. HOTELS & ACCOMMODATIONS

The entire Canary Island is well-equipped for tourism and offers everything you could wish for as a traveler.
Options range from affordable to luxury hotels, Airbnb options, hostels, and private accommodations.
We stayed in an apartment in Puerto del Carmen, which we booked through booking.com. Where you choose to stay largely depends on your interests.

Since you can reach the other end of the island in less than an hour and a half by car, you can choose your preferred accommodation regardless of location.
You’re sure to find the right option for your stay on popular platforms like booking.com or Airbnb.

9. THE CULINARY SIDE OF LANZAROTE

Though Lanzarote is part of Spain, the island’s culinary diversity is quite different from the mainland. Thanks to its proximity to the sea, fish dishes are an essential part of traditional cuisine. Meat dishes, paella, and a variety of delicious tapas are also very popular across the island.

One typical and widespread dish is papas arrugadas with a spicy red sauce. These are small boiled potatoes cooked in salty water and served with “mojo” sauce.
Mojo is made from fresh garlic, vinegar, oil, and local spices. There are various versions of this sauce, including mojo verde (with parsley and coriander), mojo picante (with paprika and Spanish peppers), mojo palmero (a milder version of classic mojo), and mojo de queso (with cheese and cumin).

Another island specialty is Gofio, a type of bread made in the same way it was hundreds of years ago. This salty or sweet bread is baked from ingredients like wheat, corn, or barley flour. Queso blanco, a goat cheese, is also a traditional island dish and is often served as a tapa. Our recommendation: Try Queso blanco with mojo or cactus jam – simply delicious!

Lanzarote also has plenty of sweet treats. Typical island desserts include almond cake (turrones), caramel pudding (flan), nougat cream dessert (Maripepa), and almond cream (bienmesabe), a sweet dessert made from milk and corn (frangolio).

10. OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Don’t drink tap water: The tap water on the island mainly comes from salty seawater and is heavily chlorinated, as it rarely rains in Lanzarote. Therefore, it’s not advisable to drink tap water. You can buy larger drinking water containers in supermarkets. Drinking sustainably without plastic can be challenging on the island.
• Avoid Nudity: While topless sunbathing is common and generally accepted on most beaches in Lanzarote, locals might not appreciate it in less touristy areas.
  There are designated naturist beaches, such as parts of the Papagayo beaches or the naturist village of Charco del Palo, where full nudity is permitted.
  In churches, it’s important to wear modest clothing, avoiding sleeveless tops, short shorts, or mini-skirts, as this is considered inappropriate.
  Generally, Spain values proper attire—beachwear is best reserved for the beach and not for restaurants, shops, or city centers.
  While Spaniards are often polite and may not comment, dressing appropriately in urban areas shows respect for local customs.
• Opening hours: Lanzarote doesn’t have standard opening hours.
  They are heavily influenced by the traditional Spanish siesta, which runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. In tourist areas, some shops, especially supermarkets, stay open throughout.
  Most other shops open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and on Saturdays, usually until 2:00 pm. On Sundays, all stores are generally closed except in tourist areas.

In our post "Lanzarote: Highlights & Tips for the Canary Island", we’ve summarized the most exciting sights and highlights of the island. Be sure to check it out!

USEFUL LINKS & RECOMMENDED TRAVEL GUIDES FOR YOU

• Discover the best accommodations
• Find affordable flights at skyscanner.com
• Find affordable rental cars at rentalcars.com
• The best Travel Guides for Lanzarote
• Unique Excursions to Experience in Lanzarote

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Note: This blog post contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or purchase something through these links, we earn a small commission. There is absolutely no change to the price for you.