What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Lanzarote, Spain.
Photo: Lviatour / Wikimedia Commons
Lanzarote, in Spain, mixes open landscapes, small towns and beaches. Most visitors come for Timanfaya National Park, the vineyards of La Geria, the Papagayo Beaches and the caves and viewpoints around Haría. Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise suit families. Caleta de Famara draws surfers, and Arrecife suits budget travellers who want local life. Our data puts the best months at June to September, with July and August at the top.
Timanfaya, La Geria and the Papagayo Beaches each take half a day. Most other sights take 1–2 hours. Jameos del Agua, Cueva de los Verdes and Mirador del Río are all in Haría, so you can see them on one trip.
Yaiza
A huge field of lava and volcanic cones formed by eruptions in the 18th and 19th centuries. You see the core of the park on a guided coach route from Islote de Hilario, where staff show how hot the ground still is. You cannot drive or walk freely inside, so if you dislike coach tours, see the edges instead.
Haría
A collapsed lava tube that artist César Manrique turned into gardens, a pool and a concert hall. The dark underground lake is home to tiny blind white crabs. It gets crowded when tour coaches arrive, so go early or late if you can.
Haría
A long lava tube near Jameos del Agua that you visit on a guided walk. The lighting and one clever surprise make it more than just a cave. Paths are low and uneven in places, so it is not ideal if you have trouble bending or with steps.
Haría
A viewpoint built into the cliffs at the island's northern tip, designed by César Manrique. From the glass-fronted café you look straight down to La Graciosa and the smaller islands. Skip it on cloudy or misty days, when the view can disappear.
Tahíche, Teguise
Manrique's former home, built into five volcanic bubbles in a lava field. It now shows his art and his ideas about building in harmony with the landscape. It is the best place to understand why the island looks the way it does.
Between Yaiza and San Bartolomé
A wine area where each vine grows in its own pit in black volcanic ash, protected by a low stone wall. Drive the road slowly, stop at the viewpoints and visit one or two wineries for a tasting. Arrange a driver if you plan to drink.
Yaiza
A green lagoon sitting between a black beach and a red-brown crater wall on the west coast. Walk to the viewpoint above it, then have fish in the small village of El Golfo. Swimming in the lagoon is not allowed.
Playa Blanca, Yaiza
A row of sandy coves with calm, clear water inside a protected natural area. Access is by a rough dirt road, on foot, or by boat from Playa Blanca. There is little shade and few facilities, so bring water and sun protection.
Teguise
The island's old capital, with whitewashed houses, churches and quiet squares. It is pleasant to wander on a normal weekday. The large weekly Sunday market brings big crowds and traffic; go then only if you want the market.
Guatiza, Teguise
Manrique's last major project: a cactus garden laid out in terraces inside an old quarry, with a restored windmill above. It works well as a short stop on the way to the north of the island. Visit in the morning, before the midday heat.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°C / 13°C | 2 days (8 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 9.5/10 |
| February | 19°C / 13°C | 4 days (19 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 9.3/10 |
| March | 20°C / 14°C | 4 days (11 mm) | 11.3 h/day | 9.3/10 |
| April | 21°C / 15°C | 2 days (7 mm) | 11.8 h/day | 9.6/10 |
| May | 22°C / 16°C | 1 day (4 mm) | 12.5 h/day | 9.7/10 |
| Best month: June | 23°C / 17°C | 1 day (3 mm) | 13.0 h/day | 9.8/10 |
| Best month: July | 25°C / 19°C | 0 days (1 mm) | 12.3 h/day | 10.0/10 |
| Best month: August | 26°C / 20°C | 0 days (1 mm) | 11.7 h/day | 9.9/10 |
| Best month: September | 25°C / 19°C | 1 day (8 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 9.8/10 |
| October | 25°C / 18°C | 3 days (18 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 9.5/10 |
| November | 22°C / 16°C | 3 days (11 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 9.4/10 |
| December | 20°C / 15°C | 2 days (8 mm) | 9.5 h/day | 9.6/10 |
Highs reach 18.5°C with 2.3 rain days and 9.6 sun hours a day. Mild and dry, scoring 9.5, a best-time month.
Highs near 18.9°C with 3.7 rain days, the wettest spread of the year at 19mm. Still a best-time month, score 9.3.
Highs climb to 19.7°C with 3.6 rain days and 11.3 sun hours. Score 9.3, rated a best time to visit.
Highs of 20.9°C, rain drops to 2 days and 7mm. Sunshine rises to 11.8 hours; score 9.6, a best-time month.
Highs reach 21.9°C with just 1.3 rain days and 12.5 sun hours. Dry and warm, scoring 9.7.
Highs of 23.1°C and only 0.8 rain days make this one of the driest months. Score 9.8, a best-time month.
Highs hit 24.5°C with 0 rain days and 12.3 sun hours. The top-scoring month at 10, dry and reliably sunny.
Highs of 25.8°C, the hottest month, with just 0.3 rain days. Score 9.9, a best-time month for heat lovers.
Highs stay warm at 25.2°C with 1 rain day and 11.2 sun hours. Score 9.8, still a best-time month.
Highs ease to 24.6°C but rain days rise to 2.6 with 18mm, more than most of the year. Score 9.5, still rated best.
Highs of 22.1°C with 3.2 rain days and 9.7 sun hours, cooler and wetter than summer. Score 9.4, a best-time month.
Highs of 19.7°C with 2 rain days and 9.5 sun hours. Mild winter weather closes the year with a score of 9.6.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Spain →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for families, couples, quiet
A calmer resort on the southern tip, with a seafront promenade and a short drive to the Papagayo beaches. Ferries leave from here to Fuerteventura, which makes day trips easy. It is spread out and far from the northern sights, so you will need a car or long bus rides to see the rest of the island.
Good for families, watersports
A mid-sized resort on the east coast, close to Arrecife and the airport, with sheltered beaches and good conditions for windsurfing. It is quieter than Puerto del Carmen but still has enough restaurants. It is often windy, and some parts feel dated.
Good for budget, independent travellers, local life
The capital is a working Canarian town with a lagoon harbour at Charco de San Ginés, local bars and the island's main bus hub. It suits travellers who want everyday Spanish life rather than a resort. The town beach is urban, and evenings are less geared to holidaymakers.
Good for surfers, nature lovers
A small surf village with sandy streets, a long wild beach and cliffs behind it. It feels relaxed and very different from the southern resorts. Wind and currents are strong, so swimming is often unsafe, and there are few services, so a car is almost essential.
Good for walkers, quiet, rural stays
A white village in a green valley of palm trees in the north, with a small weekly market and good walking nearby. It is peaceful and close to northern sights. It is far from the main beaches, and you will need a car to get around.
Small wrinkly potatoes boiled in salty water and served with mojo sauce, either the red spicy version or the green herb one. It's a standard side dish in almost every local restaurant.
A toasted grain flour, often made from maize or wheat, used in soups, desserts, or mixed with milk for breakfast. It's a staple across the Canary Islands and often served in traditional guachinches.
Caught along the coast, grilled fish and seafood stews like sancocho (salted fish with potatoes and mojo) are common lunch dishes in seaside villages.
Goat cheese, sometimes smoked, is produced locally and served as a starter or with mojo sauce, honey, or gofio on the side.
Grown in volcanic soil in pits called hoyos, the island's wines, especially malvasía, pair with local dishes and are a point of pride at wineries open to visitors.
Best: Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Best: May, Jun, Nov, Dec
Best: Apr, May, Jun, Oct
Yes, August works well. Daytime highs reach 25.8°C and lows stay near 19.6°C, with only 0.3 rain days and 11.7 hours of sunshine a day. It's one of the warmer months but not uncomfortably hot, and the island scores 9.9 out of 10 for August conditions.
July scores highest at 10 out of 10, with August, June and September close behind. July has 24.5°C highs, 18.7°C lows, zero rain days and 12.3 hours of sun. These four months combine warm, dry weather with long sunny days, though the data shows every month scores at least 9.3, so timing is flexible.
Rain is light all year. The wettest months are February and October, each with 18–19mm and around 2.6–3.7 rain days. June, July and August are driest, with 0–3mm of rain and under 1 rain day a month on average.
Plan for 3 to 4 days. The island's main sights, including Timanfaya National Park, La Geria, Papagayo Beaches, Jameos del Agua and Teguise, each take from 1 hour to half a day, and fitting the ten listed attractions comfortably needs at least three full days.
Yes, winter stays mild. January highs average 18.5°C and lows 13.3°C, while December is similar at 19.7°C highs and 14.5°C lows. Sun hours drop to around 9.5–9.9 a day, less than summer's 12–13 hours, but temperatures rarely feel cold.
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