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Don't be fooled by the small size of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. This island is packed with beauty and adventure for every type of traveler. From surfing at black sand beaches, and drinking the islands best wine at the most unique winery, we have no doubt that the things to see in Lanzarote will blow you away.

We also wrote another article about everything you need to know about visiting this Canary Island like where to stay, how to get around, and the cheapest ways to travel there.

But there are so many things to do in Lanzarote, that we couldn't possibly fit it all in just one article! That's why we've created the ultimate list of 50 things to see in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Let's jump right in!

Beaches in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

Being that Lanzarote is an island, of course there are beaches. Actually, the neighboring island of Fuerteventura is much more well known for its Caribbean like beaches. However, Lanzarote in the Canary Islands definitely has some awesome beaches to check out as well. Here are a few of the ones worth visiting.

1. Playa Famara

Calling all surfers! This long sand beach is perfect for those that want to use Lanzarote's wind to their advantage. You'll find both surfers and kitesurfer flock to this beautiful spot tucked away along a line of jaw dropping cliffs.

Not a surfer? It's quite a beautiful beach to see, even if you aren't planning on doing any sports. We went for sunset, and we definitely recommend it.

2. Playa Papagayo

This is known as one of the best beaches in Lanzarote. It has Caribbean feels with its white sands and turquoise waters, and is tucked away in the west of the island.

We took an excursion to Papagayo, but unfortunately only sailed by it, and not to it. The water looked just stunning, and we can't wait to properly make it back one day.

*Shot taken with the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro

Book a catamaran to Papagayo:

3. Playa de la Cera

A small hidden gem, Playa de la Cera is just around the corner from Playa Papagayo. With warm blue waters and lesser crowds, this is the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxing day, as well as a beautiful sunset.

4. Playa Mujeres 

This is another beautiful beach in the same strip as the previous two that we've mentioned. Playa Mujeres also is a sandy beach with bright turquoise waters, making it one of the best spots to check out in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.

5. Playa de Montaña Bermeja

This tiny beach is tucked away right outside of Timanfaya Park. It has black sand, and a beautiful backdrop of a volcano. But the best part?

This beach is known for having black volcanic rocks which contain small green precious stones. Come early and you can find people searching to collect them.

*Shot taken with the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro

6. Playa el Golfo

Just down the road from Playa de Montaña Bermeja lies the cutest beach town. This is a great place to watch the sunset, and eat great seafood.

But our favorite part is that it has a bright green lake called "Charco de los Clicos". A long strip of black sand contrasts the green lake, as well as the red rock formations surrounding it. The rock formations form small pools, and even one area that has a natural bathtub!

Playa el Golfo is the ultimate hidden gem containing all you need for the perfect afternoon in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.

7. Playa Caleton Blanco

Now let's head to the north of the island. Normally visited for a day trip to the island of La Graciosa, Orzola also has plenty charm of its own. Playa Caleton Blanco is a gorgeous palette of green and blue hues swirling around the rocky landscape here.

8. Playa del Risco

Tucked away in the west of the island, is a long secluded beach called Playa del Risco. This sandy slice of paradise is backed by cliffs, and is the perfect place to enjoy a quiet sunset.

Other Bodies of Water in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

Lanzarote has some great beaches, but we also truly enjoyed the other bodies of water as well. You can't swim in all of them, but their unique colors alone make them worth a stop.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

9. Los Charcones

This was one of our favorite things to see in Lanzarote! Los charcones is tucked away in the western corner of the island, and is true a spot you won't want to miss. Here you'll find green and turquoise pools formed naturally by the rocky formations along the ocean.

The best time to witness the bright colors is in the middle of the day. However, if you wait a bit the crowds will disappear, and you'll get to experience a magical sunset.

*Shots taken with the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro

10. Charco de los Clicos

Charco de los Clicos isn't somewhere you can swim, but its bright green color, and black sand beach below are definitely reasons to check this spot out. 

11. Charco Verde

This is similar to Charco de los Clicos. Bright green in color, it's located along another black sand beach, and actually just down the road from Charco de Los Clicos! 

12. Salt Ponds

This is another spot you can't swim, but it is definitely unique and cool to check out! Just perched up on a hill close to the water are a set of manmade salt ponds of all different hue of pink, red and orange.

You can stop by the viewpoint on the side of the road, or head to the restaurant that overlooks them.

13. Charco de San Gines

Head to the capital for a beautiful lake connecting to the ocean. Charco de San Gines is full of cute wooden boats, and lined with restaurants, bars, and shops. It's the perfect spot to stroll around and have a bite to eat, especially on a Friday night.

14. Punta Mujeres

This tiny beach town is home to a beautiful natural pool, Punta Mujeres has rocks naturally forming a pool right in the sea of the north east coast of the island. 

Unfortunately when we visited it was overflowed. However, if you visit when the water are calmer the tide is low, it's a beautiful little hidden gem to see in Lanzarote.

Volcanos in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

Did you know that Lanzarote has over 100 volcano/ Maybe you read our other article, and already know, but if you didn't, you should give it a read! There are so many different volcanos to enjoy around the island, and here are our favorites.

15. Timanfaya National Park Volcano Tour

Timanfaya is a national park, and a large protected area of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. You can actually enter some of the parts of the park for free. However, one of the most popular areas to visit is the tour that goes from the visitor's center.

It is 12 euros a person, and the tours are a little under an hour. They take you on a bus around some jaw dropping volcano landscapes (that you can only go with the tour), giving you plenty of information about the history of the area, as well as showing you the geysers that can be formed from pouring water into a small hole of the volcano soil.

Book your tour to Timanfaya:

16. Caldera Blanca

You can actually experience the inside of a volcano crates in Lanzarote! Caldera Blanca is located inside Timanfaya Park, but further down the road past the visitors center. The trail is full of black volcanic rock, and then ha a short walk up to the rim where you can appreciate the crater down below.

*Shot taken with the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro

17. Caldera de los Cuervos

This is another crater of a volcano that you can hike to near Timanfaya park. It can be reached by parking on the side of the highway LZ-56. We used our drone to capture it from above.

*Shot taken with the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro

18. Montaña Negra

Just across from Caldera de los Cuevos is another volcano worth checking out. Montaña Negra is popular to visit for the trails that go around it. You can also climb to the top to admire the views down below.

19. Montaña Colorada

Right next to Montaña Negra is a brightly hued volcano that will definitely catch your eye from afar.

Due to the different properties in the soil, many of the volcanos look very different from one another! This particular one has a deep red color, and has a trail that circles all the way around, which takes about 45 minutes.

*Shot taken with the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro

Museums + Historical Sites

There are so many things to see in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands when it comes to landscapes. But that's not all! If you're not super adventurous, and prefer some lower key activite, there are still plenty of other things to check out. Here are a few of our favorites.

20. Cesar Manrique Foundation

Cesar Manrique is the most famous man of Lanzarote, and has truly influenced a great deal of the island with his artwork.

This house is built right in the middle of black volcanic rock, and is surrounded by gorgeous gardens, a pool, and quirky art installations. Learn about the history of Cesar Manrique, and why he made such an impact on the island of Lanzarote.

Tickets are 10 euros, and the museum is open from 10 am to 6 pm daily.  

Join a tour with the Cesar Manrique Foundation included:

21. Cesar Manrique House Museum

Not to be confused with the Cesar Manrique Foundation, the Cesar Manrique House is actually where the artist lived until he died. Located in a beautiful palm grove of Haria, this is another place to appreciate the beauty and creative style of Cesar Manrique.

The Cesar Manrique House is 10 euros to enter, and is open daily from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm.

If you plan on visiting both the foundation and house of Cesar Manrique, you can buy a joint ticket for 17 euros to see both.

22. The Cactus Garden

You didn't think we were done showing you the masterpieces of Cesar Manrique right? Well, the Cactus Garden is just that. This was his final work of art before he died, and is home to over 7,200 cacti from around the world!

Tickets to enter are 6.50, and the gardens are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. 

Not only do we encourage you to check out all of the variety of cacti here, but definitely head to the cafe to try some of their unique cacti infused dishes!

Here are some tours that include the Cactus Garden:

23. Castillo de San Gabriel

Okay, we are going to take a small break from Cesar Manrique to appreciate some of the other historically important spots around the island.

Head to the capital of Arrecife and you will be able to appreciate a fortress dating back to 1572, designed to fight off pirates from North Africa. It is one of the island's biggest fortresses, and sits right over the calm waters of Arrecife.

24. Santa Barbara Castle

This 14th century castle is unique because it was built on the rim of a volcano! Unfortunately, it was temporarily closed when we visited Lanzarote, but it may open back in the future to check out.

Caves in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are full of interesting caves to check out. Whether there are towns built into them, or there are picturesque ones on the beach, the caves of the Canary Islands should definitely be added to your bucket list.

Here are a few of our favorite caves to check out in Lanzarote.

25. Jameos del Agua

Now we're back to Cesar Manrique! James de Agua is one of the mos popular things to see in Lanzarote, and it truly is unique. This gorgeous cave has turquoise waters, and is decorated lavishly by the famous Canarian artist.

They have three restaurants/cafes on site, as well as a large pool in the middle of the venue (no swimming-sorry!)

Tickets to Jameos del Agua cost 10 euros, but can be bundled with the other venues by Cesar Manrique for a cheaper rate. This place is open daily from 10 am to 5:15. We suggest getting here super early to beat the bus loads of tour groups that line up here.

Here are some tours that include Jameos de Agua:

26. Cueva de los Verdes

Right down the road from Jameos del Agua is another cave that is just stunning. Cueva de los Verdes was originally a place of refuge for people hiding from pirate attacks. Now it is a tourist attraction to admire one of the most interesting tunnels in the world.

Tours that include Cueva de los Verdes:

27. Cueva de los Suecos

This cave is tucked underneath one of our favorite viewpoints in Lanzarote. Mirador del Risco de La Famara has stunning views of the beach below (which we will mention a little later).

Hidden right below is a small staircase that takes you to a cave overlooking the beach, a truly magical place to watch the sunset.

28. Montaña Cabrera

Right near some of the other popular volcanoes we mentioned lies an area that you would never even know existed.  

Montaña Cabrera is located right off the highway, and looks like a path around a normal volcano. However, climb up and you will find several natural caves worth exploring.

Viewpoints in Lanzarote

Despite Lanzarote not being a super hilly island like La Gomera or Tenerife. there are some stunning viewpoints around the island. Here are some of the best ones to check out.

29. Mirador de Haria 

La Haria ia a small town located in the central north west area of the island. On your drive to Haria from the south, you'll find a viewpoint above the town to admire the white houses tucked down surrounded by the surrounding hills.

30. Mirador del Rio

This isn't just any viewpoint, but a piece of work done by the famous Cesar Manrique. Mirador del Rio is a clifftop structure from one of the most panoramic views in Lanzarote. It is open from 10 am to 5 pm, and costs 4.74 to enter.

31. Mirador de Nahum

Mirador de Nahum is located right by Mirador del Rio, but without an entrance fee. Enjoy similar views at any time of the day at this beautiful viewpoint.

32. Mirador de Guinate

Here is another viewpoint in the area that is open 24/7 and is free of charge. We suggest coming here if you have rented a car, as there isn't much else nearby.

33. Mirador de el Risco de Famara

This is our absolute favorite viewpoint in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Sitting high on the cliffs, you get a breathtaking view of Playa del Risco down below. Simply park and walk along the cliff on your left, and you'll find a small rock you can climb up on to get this epic view.

34. Mirador de Acercamiento

This is a bit of a different type of viewpoint. Here there is a platform that juts out over the water where you can enjoy the views of the planes flying into Lanzarote. Free of charge, you'll have to park and then walk 5-10 minutes to get here.

Discover Other Worldy Landscapes

Now you know about all of the amazing things to see in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands right? Well, other than volcanos, beaches, and historical sites, there are actually quite a few other spots to check out.

35. La Rofera

This is known as one of the most curious and unique landscapes in Lanzarote. La Rofera is a group of grey rock formations created by erosion and the high winds of the island. Simply walk around and enjoy this peculiar location. Just be aware it gets very windy!

36. Las Grietas

This hidden gem is a wild site to see. Located right off the highway appears to be a large crack in the land, and that's exactly what is it.

You can actually walk through and experience this volcanic crevice. The parking lot is right on the side of the road, and is just a short walk. It is open 24 hours a day, and is free of charge.

37. Palmera Inclinada

This is one of those things to see in Lanzarote that is truly random, but photographic. In the middle of nowhere there is a sole palm tree that is bent from the high winds of the island.

Disclaimer: This is not nearly as easy to walk along as it looks!

38. La Geria

La Geria was one of our absolute favorite parts of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. This winery (and the others around it) have a unique style to harvesting their grapes, and producing the islands delicious wine.

There is no machinery used, and every hole that is dug is manmade into the volcano rock. Not only is it wildly unique to see, but also super interesting to learn about!

*Shot taken with the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro

Make sure to take a tour here to learn all about the interesting methods, and have a sampling of local wines, meat, and cheeses.

Tours that include La Geria:

39. Los Hervideros

Located right by El Golfo, outside of Timanfaya Park lies a unique colored area of cliffs. Perched right along the coast, this is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset and enjoy the stunning views.

40. Where Dunes Meet Volcanic Rock

Driving around Lanzarote you'll find some of the most unique and gorgeous landscapes. One of our favorite areas that we saw was the road to Orzola, just a few kilometers outside the city.

Drive along a road surrounded by black volcanic rock, and all of a sudden the area will turn into sand dunes. Check out the shots below, which were actually right next to each other!

*Shot taken with the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro

To get to many places like this, you'll need to rent a car while in Lanzarote. Here is a site that we typically use to book our rentals:

Wander the Small Towns

While we love Lanzarote mostly for its beautiful and unique landscapes, we also had a lot of fun visiting the small towns. Here are a few of our favorites that we think are worth the visit.

41. Arrecife

This is the capital of Lanzarote, and has tons of things to see and do. Walk around the historical town, or have a wild night out. Arrecife is a must visit while in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.

42. Teguise

Teguise was our favorite town in all of Lanzarote. Tucked away in the center of the island, it's one of the only villages that attracts tourists outside the coastal area.

This place has quaint streets, cute shops, and one of the best markets on the island. Make sure to come here on Sundays to experience it!

Here are some fun tours that include Teguise:

43. Haria

Haria is a small town in the north of the island, which is home to the Cesar Manrique house. With charming buildings, history, and a great view from above, this is definitely a spot to add to your list of things to see in Lanzarote.

44. Playa Blanca

This is one of the busiest areas of Lanzarote, and home to the port which connects Lanzarote to Fuerteventura. Playa Blanca has restaurants lines along the water, plenty of shops, and an amazing local market on Saturdays.

45. Puerto del Carmen

Puerto del Carmen is another rather touristy area of Lanzarote, but still worth a visit. Enjoy swimming in the turquoise waters, or grab a drink on the water. This is also a great spot to go out on Friday nights, and a hub for boat excursions.

46. Masdache

Masdache is a tiny town that is tucked away right near all of the wineries. The whole area is surrounded by volcanic holes, and is well worth a stop, or at least a drive through.

47. Yaiza

This is a town right outside the national park of Timanfaya. It has a tiny town center, with all white buildings surrounding. Make sure to check out the cute market with homemade goods, and get there early as they close around 5:00.

48. San Bartolome

San Bartolome is another tiny town painted entirely in white. Roam the streets or check out one of the museums inside.

Day Trips from Lanzarote

Now that you know all of the amazing things to see in Lanzarote, there are a few things worth checking out nearby. Here are a couple of the best day trips from Lanzarote.

49. La Graciosa

There is a bit of a debate about how many principal islands make up the Canary Islands. While many say there are 7, some recognize La Graciosa as the 8th. La Graciosa is a protected area, and is definitely an island worth visiting while in Lanzarote.

There are ferries that leave from Orzola, arriving to Caleta de Sebo in 25 minutes, making it the perfect day trip. Here you can find beautiful beaches, a picturesque town, and some great hiking trails.

*Shot taken with the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro

Want to take a tour to La Graciosa? Here are a few different options:

It's also possible to spend a night on the island of La Graciosa! Want to learn more? We have a full article that you can check out below!

Book a stay in La Graciosa:

50. Fuerteventura

Want a tropical beach getaway? How about to see some wild other worldly landscapes? Well, Fuerteventura is just a half hour boat ride away from Lanzarote, and is easily reachable with Lineas Romero.

We definitely think Fuerteventura is worth at least a few days. However, you can definitely check out quite a few cool things by taking a day trip there from Lanzarote.

The ferry goes from Playa Blanca to Corralejo, which is the northern most point of the island of Fuerteventura. Here you can find a beach town, dunes, and even a beach made of popcorn! (Well, actually they are rocks, but they look like popcorn).

Discover the beaches of El Cotillo, or check out the wild "Laberinto de Wolf Patton". There is so much to do in the north of Fuerteventura for a fun day trip from Lanzarote.

Take a day tour to Fuerteventura:

Book a stay in Fuerteventura:

Lanzarote in the Canary Islands is a fascinating place, which so much to discover. Any type of traveler can enjoy their trip here, from the adventurer to the history buff.

We spent 10 days in Lanzarote, and it was the perfect time to be able to experience all that the island had to offer. Want to learn more about what it's like to visit here? Check out our full Lanzarote travel guide. 

Want to learn more about the other Canary Islands? We have a guide for each one, as well as the smaller ones such as Isla de Lobos and La Graciosa.

Need help planning your trip? We spent a full two months in the Canary Islands, and can help you explore more, and spend less! Want to learn how? Take a peak at the travel packages we offer.

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