“Tell me who you are and I’ll tell you where to stay in Lanzarote” could be the title of this article.
Yes, because on this beautiful island there are actually only a few towns and areas where you can stay, but they cater to very different types of travelers. Thatâs why itâs best to find out where to stay in Lanzarote based on your preferences so you donât risk ruining your vacation or getting bored! đ
I felt the need to write this guide also because I often see âflight+hotelâ offers to Lanzarote at really low prices, but when you dig deeper, the hotel is located in totally isolated, unattractive, or inconvenient areas. Who knows how many people, disappointed by those offers, came home saying Lanzarote is an ugly island, just because they stumbled on the wrong deal… such a shame!
You might also like: Guide to the best beaches in Lanzarote
Map of towns in Lanzarote
Letâs start, as always, with a map of the island to understand the location of the areas to stay in Lanzarote that weâll talk about in this guide.
Letâs now take a look at all these areas one by one. The list will start from the most popular areas and move towards the quieter places to stay in Lanzarote or those ideal for surfers or water sports enthusiasts.
Spoiler: if you’re in a hurry, the first two places (Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca) are probably the best choices for 90% of people! đ
Puerto del Carmen
Pros : location, nightlife, services, modest beach in front
Cons : some steep slopes
Puerto del Carmen is probably the best compromise to stay in Lanzarote for most needs. Itâs a town facing southeast, making it a great base approximately in the middle of the island, allowing quick movements by car both north and south: don’t miss the guide about 16 things to visit in Lanzarote.
Have I mentioned that renting a car in Lanzarote is a must? It’s the perfect (and in the Canary Islands, also affordable) way to see all the beaches and the island’s attractions, which are otherwise hard to reach. Check out this guide to car rentals in the Canaries.
In Puerto del Carmen thereâs a beautiful promenade to walk along at any time of day or night, a main street with bars and restaurants, a few disco bars, as well as a decent beach in front for quick breaks or if you donât feel like driving around.
In short, Puerto del Carmen has everything, while not being too crowded (except maybe in August, which is normal everywhere).
If you choose Puerto del Carmen to stay in Lanzarote, itâs better to stay close to the coast. The neighborhood is hilly and has steep slopes as soon as you move away from the sea; keep this in mind if you donât like uphill walks or need to push strollers.
- Apartamentos Elena: where I stayed myself. Offers spacious apartments for up to 5 people + kids, some with huge kitchen/living areas, very affordable especially for groups.
- Pension Magec: 2-star guesthouse with great reviews, rooms for 1 or 2 people + kids, with shared or private bathrooms, good if you’re on a budget.
- Apartamentos La Peñita: Family-run aparthotel with spacious 50 sqm apartments for 2 or 3 people, bidet, wifi and parking, pool and gym options.
- Relaxia Olivina: 4-star hotel with all-inclusive options, not far from the main beach.
Playa Blanca
Pros : serviced area but not chaotic, relaxed, close to the beautiful southern beaches;
Cons : longer travel times to visit the north, limited nightlife.
Despite the name, Playa Blanca is not a beach but an entire neighborhood at the southernmost tip of the island, which can be a good choice for staying in Lanzarote for those who want to stay in a quieter area but complete with services or if you’ve fallen in love with the southern beaches.
Near Playa Blanca, in fact, besides some partially artificial bay-shaped beaches with all services, there are also the beautiful natural beaches of the Papagayo Natural Park: I talk about these in the guide to the beaches of Lanzarote.
Moreover, the beaches in the south of Lanzarote are among the most sheltered from the wind and strong waves: if you have children, this could be an advantage. Don’t forget that even with calm waters, the utmost attention should be paid on Canary Islands beaches: itâs not just a simple sea, weâre facing the ocean, often unpredictable.
This area, quieter than Puerto del Carmen and mostly populated by resorts and private apartments, has quieter nightlife. There are some bars/pubs gathered at the Centro Comercial Papagayo.
In Playa Blanca, there are no steep slopes, and the streets are wider compared to Puerto del Carmen, where they were quite narrow.
One disadvantage of staying in Lanzarote in this area, however, is that to head north by car to visit other attractions, it will take a bit more time: itâs about 25-30km more than starting from Puerto del Carmen.
- TUI Blue Flamingo Hotel: a well-maintained 2-star in excellent location with apartments for up to 3 people, excellent reviews, and affordable prices.
- Villa Pura Vida: a beautiful 180 sqm holiday home that accommodates up to 6 people, with a terrace, mountain view, large rooms, 3 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms, bidet.
- Casa Fantasia: an 80 sqm apartment with a terrace, kitchen, fridge, up to 4 people at a very competitive price. Wifi, parking, pets allowed.
- THB Royal: a 3-star hotel at good price with 2 pools, 24-hour reception, A/C: itâs close to Playa Dorada and the Centro Comercial Papagayo, for easy walking during the day and evening. Rooms for up to 3 people.
- Sandos Papagayo Beach Resort: a 4-star resort with rooms for 1 to 4 people, spa, gym, and pools.
- Iberostar Lanzarote Park: a 5-star property on a “rocky point” with almost 180-degree ocean view. Just a few steps from Playa Flamingo, offering free gym access, parking, wifi, sauna, hammam, solarium, and 4 pools.
Costa Teguise
Pros : quiet and serviced place, sheltered sandy beaches;
Cons : limited nightlife, need to travel.
Now letâs continue with progressively quieter areas to stay in Lanzarote.
Costa Teguise is a village on the eastern coast of the island, a bit further north of Puerto del Carmen, mainly aimed at beach tourism. Quieter than the previous areas, it is populated mainly by 3-4 star hotels or resorts.
In the Costa Teguise area, we find 3 small sandy beaches and some rocky ones in bay shapes, sheltered from the waves, as well as some streets lined with palm trees and typical tourist shops; Itâs a peaceful area, apart from some traffic as this small neighborhood requires frequent car travel (though the bus also passes) to reach other attractions.
- Neptuno Suites: 2-star aparthotel with kitchenette and living room, excellent reviews, direct access to the beach, in-house restaurant, wifi and free parking, pool, and shuttle service available;
- Blue Sea Apartamentos Costa Teguise Gardens: 3-star property with excellent prices, free wifi, bar and restaurant with all-inclusive options, spa and wellness center, pool, or non-smoking rooms.
Punta Mujeres
Pros : peaceful and little traffic, natural pool;
Cons : few services, no nightlife, sea not suitable for children.
Punta Mujeres is a small village about 500 meters in diameter with a distinctive look and, depending on the sea’s condition, a bit wild.
It is characterized by a maze of narrow streets and white villas, where silence often prevails thanks to the low traffic and lack of noisy activities.
One of the attractions of this area is the natural pools: some sections of the coast feature rocky formations that create “pools”. Some have been completed artificially, like the main one, while smaller ones are entirely natural and can be found while walking along the short waterfront. đ
Punta Mujeres is a very peaceful area, also visited by locals. Itâs a good choice for those seeking relaxation and wanting to stay away from the typical mass tourism, as long as youâre willing to drive to other parts of the island. Itâs less recommended for families with children due to the rocky coast and rough seas.
Caleta de Famara
Pros : quiet and away from mass tourism, ideal for surfers;
Cons : incessant wind, location, no nightlife, limited services.
Caleta de Famara is a small village located along a large bay facing northwest of Lanzarote, ideal for surfers. The beach, Playa de Famara, is exposed to wind and has perfect waves for those who know how to ride them, with an impressive cliff in the background as a scenic backdrop.
Given the less touristy vibe, staying in Lanzarote at Caleta de Famara means more relaxation and meeting people who are dedicated to water sports; however, if your goal is to sunbathe, or you have children or don’t like the wind, this might not be the place for you. The wind here often blows quite fiercely.
Keep in mind that in Lanzarote, the wind usually flows from the north, which is why there are waves to surf! In the photo above, you can spot the stone barriers built along some beaches on the island to protect against the wind. đ
- Sunset Inn: Inn with dormitory beds or budget rooms for solo travelers or those on a limited budget;
- Red Star Surf & Yoga Camp Lanzarote: hostel with dormitory beds or private rooms, shared kitchen and bathrooms, sun terrace and surf shop, free wifi.
- Casa Maralba: two-bedroom apartment for up to 4 people, with kitchen/living room and excellent reviews.
Teguise – Yaiza
Pros : quiet, typical areas, away from mass tourism, sometimes more affordable;
Cons : limited nightlife, far from the sea.
Teguise and Yaiza are two of the major villages located inland, roughly in the center of the island.
Those who choose to stay in typical inland villages in Lanzarote are definitely looking for an authentic part of the island, where they can admire the classic villages made mostly of white-painted houses, where tourism is almost nonexistent, where you can find some family-run restaurants, and where peace reigns.
If youâre willing to be away from the sea (which you can reach by rental car), you can stay in villages like Teguise, Yaiza but also Uga or HarĂa further north.
These areas are perfect for enjoying typical food at lower prices, tasting Lanzaroteâs wines like Malvasia Vulcanica (from the spectacular vineyards on volcanic land between the craters) or visiting an aloe vera finca.
In addition to the limited nightlife, one downside of these areas is that you might encounter a few more clouds compared to the coast, and in the late afternoon, the wind tends to pick up a bit, also due to the higher altitude.
Bonus: La Graciosa
Whether you plan to stay there or not, you absolutely must plan a visit to this small island to the north of Lanzarote: La Graciosa.
It is a small island reachable by ferry from the village of Orzola, on which there is a small village (Speedy Gonzales style :D), while the rest of the barren island is accessible on foot, by bike, or on a 4×4 tour along various paths between the craters.
A route I suggest? A ride around the island with a rented bike (better a fat bike to easily cross the sandy stretches) until you reach the beautiful and secluded Playa de Las Conchas on the opposite side of the island; maybe stay overnight in the quiet village and return to Lanzarote the next day.
Alternatively, if you donât want to organize it yourself, you can also consider joining a guided tour to La Graciosa.
Now let’s move on to areas where, personally, I don’t recommend staying in Lanzarote.
Arrecife
Arrecife is the capital city of the island, and like other similar cities, it inherits one bad thing: traffic! Getting stuck in traffic in the city center by car is easy and could make you forget you’re on vacation.
In front of Arrecife there are some beaches, although they aren’t unforgettable.
On the plus side, Arrecife has a modest nightlife, less touristy and more frequented by locals; I would recommend spending an afternoon/evening in Arrecife to experience this aspect as well.
Playa Honda
This small village is just a few steps from the airport (literally, you could walk there in a few minutes), and it’s another predominantly touristy area with residences, accommodations, and not much else, facing the beach of the same name.
Playa Honda is basically a network of streets with numerous residential/tourist houses and a few restaurants, complete with basic services, facing a wide sandy beach.
Its extreme proximity to the airport makes me strongly advise against staying there; you would have planes taking off and landing practically right above your head, with noise and smell depending on the wind direction (can you tell I work at an airport?), which isnât ideal for the atmosphere one might expect in a paradise like Lanzarote.
Where to stay in Lanzarote in winter?
To summarize, the best areas to stay in Lanzarote in winter are those in the south or southeast, primarily Playa Blanca or possibly Puerto del Carmen, although a bit windier.
Lanzarote, along with Fuerteventura, is one of the two Canary Islands most affected by the winds, so don’t make the mistake of booking in the north or inland villages (at higher altitudes), as the wind can be really strong (and cold).
Where to stay in Lanzarote to surf?
At Famara, without a doubt. That said, you will still find centers for water sports in other areas of the island.
Where to stay in Lanzarote with children or as a couple
The best area to stay in Lanzarote with children is probably Playa Blanca. The presence of services, beaches with calmer seas, and the lack of slopes make life easier even for those with strollers.
If prices in Playa Blanca are too high, Costa Teguise might also be an option to consider.
Where to stay in Lanzarote for young people
In this case, Puerto del Carmen is the best choice.
Lanzarote doesnât offer the wild nightlife of other Spanish islands, but along Puerto del Carmenâs promenade, youâll find a few lively disco where you can spend some fun evenings, even dancing.
However, this is mainly in the warm season; during winter, you might not find much, as the average age tends to be higher, and some venues might be closed.
Now that you know where to stay in Lanzarote and possibly found a great deal, donât get ripped off when booking your flight! Use the box below to find the best deal or the fastest flight!
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