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Hotel Fariones, Lanzarote

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Lanzarote

Updated 1 October 2026 · 13 things to do

Pictured: Hotel Fariones

Lanzarote looks like another planet that someone has tidied up. Eruptions in the 1700s buried a third of the island under lava, leaving fields of black rock and rust-red volcanoes, and then the artist César Manrique spent his life turning caves, cliffs and craters into some of the most original attractions in Europe.

It's a small island, so you can see the highlights in a few days by car: the volcanoes and the wine country in the south-west, Manrique's lava caves and lookouts in the north, and the beaches of Papagayo whenever you need a break.

Don't miss

  1. 1Timanfaya National Park
  2. 2Jameos del Agua
  3. 3Cueva de los Verdes
  4. 4Mirador del Río
  5. 5The Papagayo beaches

Volcanoes

  1. Timanfaya National Park

    Nature

    A volcanic crater in Timanfaya National Park
    Photo: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez (Lmbuga), CC BY-SA 3.0

    The Fire Mountains are the heart of the volcanic landscape: a sea of craters and frozen lava in shades of black, ochre and red. Coach tours wind along the Route of the Volcanoes, and at Islote de Hilario the ground is still hot enough to grill food over a volcanic vent.

    Tip: Go early to beat the queue of cars at the park entrance.

  2. El Golfo

    Nature

    The green lagoon of Charco de los Clicos at El Golfo
    Photo: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez (Lmbuga), CC BY-SA 3.0

    On the west coast, half a volcanic crater has collapsed into the sea, leaving a startlingly green lagoon, the Charco de los Clicos, between black sand and red cliffs. The fishing village next door is known for seafood restaurants on the rocks.

  3. Los Hervideros

    Nature

    Lava cliffs and caves at Los Hervideros
    Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Where the lava met the sea it left caves and blowholes that boil with Atlantic waves on a rough day. Paths and lookouts let you get close to the spray.

  4. La Geria

    Nature

    Vines growing in black volcanic ash at La Geria
    Photo: Nikodem Nijaki, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Vines grow in thousands of shallow pits dug into black volcanic ash, each sheltered by a little crescent wall of stones. It's one of the strangest wine landscapes in the world, and the bodegas along the road pour the local malvasía.

Manrique's Lanzarote

The artist who shaped the island, and the places he made.

  1. Jameos del Agua

    Landmark

    The cave lake inside Jameos del Agua
    Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Manrique turned a collapsed lava tube into a fantasy of cave lakes, a white swimming pool among palms and a concert hall in the rock. Look for the tiny blind white crabs in the underground lake, found almost nowhere else.

  2. Cueva de los Verdes

    Nature

    Inside the Cueva de los Verdes lava tunnel
    Photo: Lviatour, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A guided walk through a kilometre of the same lava tunnel, lit to show off its colours and with a famous surprise at the end that we won't spoil.

  3. Mirador del Río

    Landmark

    The Mirador del Río lookout on a clifftop in the north
    Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Built into a clifftop in the far north, Manrique's lookout gives a giddy view across the strait to the island of La Graciosa, with a café behind huge windows.

  4. Jardín de Cactus

    Landmark

    Terraces of cacti at the Jardín de Cactus
    Photo: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez (Lmbuga), CC BY-SA 3.0

    Thousands of cacti from around the world fill an old quarry, terraced like an amphitheatre around a windmill. Manrique's last major work, and photogenic from every angle.

Beaches

  1. The Papagayo beaches

    Beach

    A golden cove at the Papagayo beaches
    Photo: Lviatour, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A string of golden coves with clear water in a protected area east of Playa Blanca, reached by a dirt track or by boat. They are the island's most beautiful beaches.

  2. Famara

    Beach

    Playa de Famara beneath the cliffs
    Photo: Chmee2, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A long, wild beach beneath towering cliffs on the north-west coast, popular with surfers. The water can be rough, but the setting is magnificent.

Towns and markets

  1. Teguise

    Market

    The main square and church in Teguise
    Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The island's old capital is a pretty town of whitewashed houses and cobbled squares, and its Sunday market is the biggest on Lanzarote.

  2. Charco de San Ginés

    Neighbourhood

    Boats on the Charco de San Ginés lagoon in Arrecife
    Photo: Marc Ryckaert, CC BY 3.0

    In the capital, Arrecife, an inland lagoon is ringed by old fishermen's houses, bars and restaurants, a lovely spot for an evening drink.

Day trips

  1. La Graciosa

    Day trip

    La Graciosa seen from the Mirador del Río
    Photo: Edmundo Sáez, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Ferries from Órzola cross to this tiny island off the north coast, where there are sand streets, no tarmac roads and empty beaches.

Where to stay in Lanzarote

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Lanzarote →

Getting around

A hire car is the best way to see the island; distances are short and roads are good. Buses link the main resorts with Arrecife, and organised tours cover Timanfaya and the Manrique sights.

When to go

Lanzarote is a year-round destination with mild winters and warm, breezy summers. It can be windy, which the surfers love.

Questions about visiting Lanzarote

What is Lanzarote best known for?
Its volcanic landscapes (especially Timanfaya National Park), César Manrique's caves and lookouts such as Jameos del Agua, and beaches like Papagayo.
How many days do you need in Lanzarote?
Three or four days of sightseeing covers Timanfaya, La Geria, the Manrique sights in the north and the Papagayo beaches, which fits easily into a week’s holiday.
What is there to do in Lanzarote with kids?
The volcano demonstrations at Timanfaya, the lava caves, the Papagayo beaches and the calm beaches of Puerto del Carmen are all hits with children.
Do you need a car in Lanzarote?
It helps, as many of the best sights are outside the resorts. Tours and buses are alternatives.

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