Lanzarote Itinerary: How to Plan a 3 or 4 Day Lanzarote Road Trip

Out of all the Canary Islands, Lanzarote is probably the most unique and striking.

This is due in part to its arid, volcanic landscape and in other part to the impressive work of artist César Manrique, who designed several magnificent works aimed at creating harmony between nature, architecture, and art.

I spent over three months visiting nearly all of the Canary Islands (you can read my guides to its other islands, like Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife here), and Lanzarote is the one that stands out the most in my memory for its impressive landscape and gorgeous artwork!

Plus, there’s a good reason why the entire island was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, as the island is a great example of promoting sustainability and conservation of biodiversity!

If you ask me, you could spend well over a week exploring the spectacular landscapes and incredible museums on a Lanzarote road trip. However, the island is a great destination also for a short trip, as it’s relatively compact and easy to visit.

The Lanzarote itinerary below is ideal for a three or four-day trip, with the fourth being an optional trip to the nearby La Graciosa Island, the smallest and, in my opinion, most delightful of the eight Canary Islands.

Please note that this specific Lanzarote itinerary is designed as a road trip. Although most places are able to be reached by public transport, that would take longer, meaning less time for you to actually enjoy the sights if you have a short stay in Lanzarote! 

Getting Around Lanzarote

The Lanzarote airport is just 5 kilometers away from the island’s capital, Arrecife (where I suggest you stay in this itinerary), in the town of San Bartolomé. This Lanzarote itinerary is quite quick-paced, so it only works properly if you’ve rented a car in Lanzarote (read my tips here!)— I suggest picking it up at the airport right away.

I use Discover Cars to search for the best price on my rental cars whenever I’m traveling Europe (and beyond). They search through 500+ rental companies, large brands and small local agencies alike, to give you the best possible price on your rental.

They’re also very upfront with all the terms and conditions — what insurance is included, what mileage policies are, how to filter out the kinds of cars you want, etc. — and there’s no bait & switch in their pricing. Plus, Discover Cars has their own internal rating system for all the different rental companies, so you can check past customer experiences easily, which can give you peace of mind when renting from an unfamiliar local company.

I suggest picking up your car from Lanzarote airport for the best prices and the smoothest start to this itinerary.

Where to Stay in Lanzarote

This Lanzarote itinerary has you staying in the capital and centrally-located city of Arrecife. This city has a wide variety of accommodation options suitable for every kind of traveler — here are a few of my suggestions!

5-STAR SPA LUXURY | A stunning beachfront 5-star hotel, the Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa is the ultimate place to relax, with an excellent spa (additional fee to access) with a Turkish bath, sauna, hot tub, and massage rooms. It also has an indoor pool and a gorgeous 17th floor restaurant with amazing views — it’s the tallest building on the island!

Check availability and prices here!

MID-RANGE HOTEL | Recently renovated last year, the mid-range Hotel Lancelot offers spacious, clean rooms with excellent views at an affordable price, with amenities like an outdoor pool, roof terrace, and fitness center. It’s also right across from Reducto Beach, so the location couldn’t be better!

Check availability and prices here!

SEAFRONT APARTMENT | If you prefer apartment-style accommodations, Apartamentos Islamar Arrecife is a great choice with gorgeous design. The vibe feels very boutique hotel-like, but then you have the comforts of home, like a well-equipped kitchen. The balcony views are epic and there’s even a shared hot tub!

Check availability and prices here!

Day 1: Arrecife & César Manrique’s art

Have breakfast in Arrecife.

The perfect way to start your first day in Arrecife is by having breakfast at one of the many lovely coffee shops scattered throughout the old town.

After spending a lot of time in Arrecife and narrowing down the options, I have my two favorite spots. I suggest you check out the charming Lemon Love or try the specialty coffee at Cafetería ANTIPØDA for the perfect breakfast to start your day.

You can also explore the old town for a while, but still, I suggest to get in the car early to get to your first stop of the day. You’ll have another chance to explore more of Arrecife in the late afternoon and evening, as well as on other days of this itinerary, so don’t worry about trying to see everything right away!

Visit César Manrique’s Foundation.

What really sets Lanzarote apart from the other Canary Islands is the breathtaking work of César Manrique, the artist and activist who was born in Lanzarote.

He dedicated his life to enhancing and honoring the island’s natural beauty through complementing it with his impressive works of art and buildings. In fact, many of the most important landmarks on the island are his creations.

So if you love both nature and culture — and particularly the places where they intersect beautifully — I suggest you dedicate the first day of this Lanzarote road trip itinerary to discovering César Manrique’s legacy!

From Arrecife, drive to the César Manrique Foundation in the small town of Tahiche, just 15 minutes to the north. The foundation is located the artist’s former residence, and here, you’ll also get the chance to see a curated selection of his sculptures and paintings.

What I most love about Manrique’s artwork is how it all seems to blend in with the surrounding nature: a characteristic you will find in all his creations. 

Visiting the foundation will give you the perfect introduction to the artist’s life and art and help you better understand his other works that you’re sure to encounter as your Lanzarote road trip continues!

Admire the wonderful Jameos del Agua.

After you leave the César Manrique Foundation, drive north for roughly 20 minutes to reach Jameos del Agua, another of Manrique’s creations — one that you can interact with in the most delightful of ways, in fact! 

This place is incredibly unique, as the artist Manrique transformed this series of lava caves into a unique place where nature blends seamlessly with his art for an unforgettably striking — but still natural-feeling — effect.

Beautiful facilities like the pool, auditorium, restaurant, and bar all work together to complete this natural-meets-manmade effort.

Fun fact for my fellow marine biology nerds out there (I can’t be the only one…): Jameos del Agua is also home to a unique species of squat lobster called blind lobsters!

You can see these tiny white crustaceans in the water that partially fills the lava caves, which were formed thousands of years ago after a series of volcanic eruptions.

The site is open from 10:00 AM – 5:15 PM every day of the year.

Good to Know: You can get an entry ticket exclusively for Jameos del Agua (€15 for an adult ticket, or €20 if you include the new Casa de los Volcanes museum) .

There are six CACT centers (Centros de Arte, Cultura y Turismo) in Lanzarote, including Jameos del Agua, Jardín de Cactus, and Mirador del Río among others. You can buy tickets for these attractions here.

Have lunch in Punta Mujeres.

Next up, it’s time to visit Punta Mujeres, a delightful little town just south of Jameos del Agua. This is the perfect spot to stop for lunch and to stretch your legs a bit before continuing your trip back to Arrecife. 

If you have the time and walk to take a break from all that car time, I highly recommend walking the gorgeous coastal path that connects Jameos del Agua to Punta Mujeres — it takes less than 30 minutes to explore.

Since you’ll likely travel by car, you can check out the trail after lunch instead of walking it all. 

Punta Mujeres is famous for its beautiful natural pools (much larger than those at Jameos del Agua) and lovely whitewashed houses in the backdrop. If you’re looking for that perfect Instagram photo opportunity, you couldn’t ask for a better location!

Wander around town and stop for lunch at one of the many restaurants. Having spent many meals there, I suggest you try the tasty local dishes at Restaurante Tahoyo or grab a quick sandwich at Bocatería Las Salinas.

Visit the Jardín de Cactus.

For your last stop before going back to Arrecife, visit Jardín de Cactus, another CACT center courtesy of — who else? — Manrique.

Plant and succulent lovers will be in heaven: the garden houses an incredible 500+ species of cacti from all over the world!

What’s even cooler about this story is that Manrique chose a former landfill to renovate. He took an area formerly cactus plantations and transformed it into a stunning succulent garden, adding both natural and decorative elements.

And the acclaim has been widespread — this unique CACT space has received multiple awards for its unique mix of architecture, gardening, sculpture, and design.

Check out the first cactus planted in the garden, the Euphorbia Candelabrum, and don’t miss the little pond with its quirky sculptures and cute orange fish!

Have dinner back in Arrecife.

End the day by driving back to Arrecife and exploring the city. Park your car for the night, and walk around the small historical center to soak in any sights you missed this morning.

Stroll along Parque Jose Ramirez Cerda and cross the river to Castillo de San Gabriel to watch the sunset (one of my favorite sunset spots in the city!).

If you have any time left before dinner, you could check out the Church of San Ginés and the wonderful art collection at Casa De La Cultura Agustín de la Hoz, which actually stays open rather late — until 8 PM. 

For dinner, try the tapas at Bar Andalucia 1960 or the tasty dishes at Restaurante El Nido. If you’re looking for some vegan options, head to The V Factor.

Day 2: Parque Natural de los Volcanes and Timanfaya 

One of the biggest highlights of all of Tenerife to me is the incredible hiking area of Parque Natural de los Volcanes, which is free to access and surrounds the larger area that makes up Timanfaya National Park.

While the Parque Natural is free to enter, the area of Timanfaya is a bit different… first of all, there’s zero car access allowed! Timanfaya is accessible exclusively on foot, by camel (yes, really!), or on organized bus tours – plus, it has an entry fee of €12 for adults as of this 2025 update.

If you don’t want to explore the natural parks by yourself, you can also join a guided tour which will show you all the highlights and can be convenient if you want a form of transport within the park since you can’t bring your own car.

Here are two tours I recommend, both of which are available year-round!

You can book for a half-day Timanfaya National Park Volcanic Craters Tour, or the full-day Tour of Timanfaya National Park Area.

Follow the Ruta de los Volcanes.

The national park derived its name from its eponymous volcano, Timanfaya, and became a national park following the last eruption — don’t worry, it was more than 200 years ago, in 1824. Prior eruptions (in 1730 and 1736) were largely responsible for shaping Lanzarote’s otherwordly beauty which tourists enjoy to this very day!

One rather unique aspet of Timanfaya is that right in the middle of the surreal volcanic landscape, you’ll find yet another fingerprint of Manrique’s unique style — the restaurant he himself designed, cheekily named Restaurante El Diablo.

Like all the artist’s creations, it aims to combine both natural elements and manmade design choices effortlessly — with the goal that one flows right into the other, without breaking form. 

So, how does this work in the context of a restaurant? Well, the unique thing about it is that all food is cooked using volcanic heat as a grill…. Talk about sustainable!

While admittedly, the restaurant isn’t known for having the best food in Lanzarote (the volcanic heat part, while cool, is a bit of a gimmick), it still offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience that is worth it, especially since there aren’t a ton of other restaurants in the area.

From the visitor center, you can set off on the Ruta de los Volcanes bus tour if you haven’t already selected a different Timanfaya guided tour. 

This bus tour will take you through the impressive volcanic terrain so you can admire craters, old lava flows, caves, and otherworldly landscapes. You will also see Manrique’s iconic statue El Diablo, the symbol of the national park.

If you want to explore the Timanfaya National Park by camel instead, you’ll need to drive to the Echadero de Camellos.

The camel ride lasts around 30 minutes and will allow you to see the stunning landscape up close on camelback — just be warned that only a true sadist would describe a camel ride as anything close to ‘comfortable’, as I learned from my disastrous Sahara desert camel ride!

The landscape here is all sorts of colors, ranging from reddish-brown to gray to yellowish-beige, creating a unique rainbow palette of colors that has to be seen to be believed. It’s like Peru’s “Rainbow Mountain” in miniature… and with far less climbing and altitude issues to deal with along the way.

Marvel at the beautiful Charco Verde.

After exploring Timanfaya National Park, don’t miss a few more things in the natural park area where there are endless beautiful colors that will surprise you and make you feel like you’re on another planet (a common feeling that Tenerife evokes — for me, at least!)

One spot you absolutely shouldn’t miss is Charco Verde. This special place is an emerald-green little lake, which shines like a gem (no pun intended) against the background of black sand on Playa El Golfo and the reddish sand leading down to the beach. With red, black, green, and blue all standing in contrast to one another, it really reminds me of a painting.

To get here, just drive to the small town of El Golfo where you can park your car nearby and then hike the short trail to Mirador del Charco de los Clicos. At this viewpoint (mirador), you’ll get the full sweep of contrast: the green lake, the black sand, the reddish mountains, and the deep blue ocean.

You can also stop for lunch in El Golfo if you haven’t packed any food for the day. Having spent so much time on Tenerife, I can safely vouch that this teeny town has some of the area’s best seafood, so my two recommended spots to try the fresh fish at are at Restaurante El Caleton or El Pescador Casa Barriguita.

Take in the stunning landscape of La Geria and its vineyards.

In such an arid, volcanic, and seemingly inhospitable landscape, your mind may not go immediately to wines… but you’d be underestimating the delicious wines that these windswept and rugged islands can come up with!

Lanzarote’s unique wines come from grapes grown in lava fields, specifically in the protected landscape of La Geria, named for the holes excavated in the volcanic gravel where grape vines can be planted. To protect the vine from the often-vicious Atlantic winds, the winemakers create a mini crescent-shaped stone wall to protect the wine from the worst of the winds. Pretty cool, right?

As you drive back from Charco Verde, you’ll get the chance to pass by the stunning landscape of La Geria and its unique vineyards, where the literal thousands of gerias create a spectacular pocked landscape where the bright green plants stand out in the charcoal black of the lava.

In the small town of La Geria, you can also visit family-owned wineries offering tours and tastings: if I had to recommend just two, I’d suggest either Bodegas Rubicón and Bodega La Geria. 

If you prfer a more guided epxerience, I suggest taking a wine-focused tour of Tenerife where you can learn more about this incredible style of winemaking!

If you want to do a tour, you can check out the famous El Grifo Bodega and take a sommelier-led wine tasting and tour.

Hike Caldera de Los Cuervos.

If you have any time left before you ought to head back to Arrecife for the night, I definitely recommend that you stop by the Caldera de Los Cuervos for a short hike; there’s a small loop trail with volcanic terrain views for days

The hike only takes around an hour, so it’s not a huge commitment to add to your Lanzarote itinerary if you’re making good time today and aren’t in a rush (and aren’t too sloshed from any wine-tasting adventures you may have had).

Return to Arrecife for dinner.

End your second day in Lanzarote by driving back to Arrecife in time for dinner. The city offers so many restaurant choices, so you can try different places each evening — at least, that’s what worked for me!

If you’re trying to figure out where to dine out tonight, I have two more suggestions. Barbacana Bar & Grill is a great option for meat-lovers, while Bar Strava is a small and cozy place for local cuisine.

No matter where you go, if it’s on the menu, I suggest you try the traditional Canarian papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) with the typical sauces (mojo rojo and mojo verde).  

Day 3: Playa Blanca and Surroundings

Wander around Las Grietas.

On your way to the main stop of today’s itinerary — Playa Blanca — let’s make a quick detour to explore Lanzarote’s unique little canyons. This place, Las Grietas, translates to ‘cracks’, and yes, these are indeed cracks down the side of the volcano, similar to the slot canyons you’ll find in the American Southwest.

To get here, start by driving in the direction of Montaña Blanca. As you reach the roundabout near the edge of town, use it to make a left and drive in the direction of Tías. It’s best to park where you can — I suggest the Parking Grieta Volcanica if it’s not full — and explore the area on foot. 

There are several cracks that form mini-canyons in the side of the volcano, and you can walk for several meters inside some of them, which is a really cool feeling as long as you’re not easily made claustrophobic.

There aren’t any directions or signs, so you’ll have to find these cracks in the volcano on your own, but hey, isn’t searching for them much of the fun?

Take a Salinas de Janubio tour.

From Las Grietas, continue driving south until you reach La Hoya, where you can stop at the ultra-colorful salt pans of Salinas de Janubio, best seen first from an aerial perspective at the Mirador Salinas de Janubio. Here, you can have an incredible panoramic view of the colorful salines — it’s a great photo spot, no drones required.

You can then join a guided tour of the salines to learn about the sea salt-making process, walk around the salines, and even sample the local salt or take some home as a souvenir.

Fun Fact: The Salinas de Janubio is the oldest continuously active salt mine in the Canary Islands since its foundation over a century ago!

Make your way to the town of Playa Blanca for lunch.

Next, it’s time to drive to Playa Blanca, a beautiful beach town at Lanzarote’s southernmost reaches. So named for its hundreds of whitewashed houses along the coast, Playa Blanca is truly spectacular.

While the town is quite big, the main tourist area is rather small and revolves around the much smaller region surrounding Playa Blanca Beach. But before going to the beach, I suggest stopping in the town proper for lunch first.

Not sure where to eat? My favorite choices are: traditional Spanish dishes with a sea view at Restaurante la Cuadra, the tasty burgers at Chacho Fresh Burger, or Avenida 55 for a tasty chance of pace, serving up Italian food.

Have some beach time at Punta Papagayo.

The beautiful Playa de Papagayo is one of the most popular and stunning beaches in Lanzarote, part of the incredible Los Ajaches National Park, nestled beneath a sea cliff for the optimal location.

Being such a popular spot, you can expect it to get crowded. You can easily get to Punta Papagayo from Playa Blanca, by car (via a toll-access dirt road) or after a short hike which you can take from the parking lot…

… But easily the best way to arrive in style and enjoy it to the maximum is via a catamaran cruise which will pick you up at any accommodation all throughout the island.

Book your spot on a catamaran cruise to the Papagayo beaches here!

Take in the sunset at Punta Papagayo or visit the natural pools.

As an added bonus, Punta Papagayo is one of the best sunset spots in Lanzarote. 

If you don’t mind driving back to Arrecife in the dark, I recommend staying for the sunset!

Head to Mirador de Papagayo and find a spot to sit and watch the sun sink into the ocean.

If you choose not to stay for sunset, you can also take a small detour on the way to Arrecife and stop by the Piscinas Naturales Charcones.

The natural pools are just a 20-minute drive northwest of Playa Blanca.

You could also work this in between some beach time and the sunset if you don’t mind doing a bit of a detour in order to also visit these special pools!

Day 4: La Graciosa Island 

If you have an extra day to spend in Lanzarote, I highly recommend visiting the smaller island of La Graciosa, just off the northern tip of Lanzarote! To get this smaller island, you can catch a ferry from Lanzarote in Órzola and it takes less than half an hour.

Or, if you didn’t have time to the do the catamaran cruise on the previous day, now may be the perfect time, especially if you’re getting a little tired of driving everywhere and prefer a more laid-back approach to your final day of this Lanzarote itinerary.

Take in the views at the lovely Mirador del Rio.

Before heading to Órzola to board your ferry to La Graciosa, make a quick stop at Mirador del Rio. This is another of César Manrique’s works!

The spectacular viewpoint offers sweeping views of Lanzarote’s coastline and the small island of La Graciosa. Whether you admire the views from the parking lot or have a coffee at the café, you’ll find gorgeous views either way.

Walk around the pedestrian-only La Graciosa.

Fortuantely, La Graciosa is a car-free island, which means you can enjoy pure, unspoiled nature. The island is small and easy to explore on foot, but you can rent bikes to cover more ground. 

Personally, I chose to walk since it allowed me to enjoy admiring the stunning landscape at a slow pace… but it also wasn’t the peak of the warmest season when I was there, so if it is rather hot, you may prefer to bike or join one of the available Jeep safaris.

You’ll notice immediately that the island is not very populated — and that’s exactly its appeal.

You will get off the ferry in the small town of Caleta de Sebo to notice there aren’t even proper streets, just sand and rocks. Even the town’s streets are all made of sand!

One place worth checking out on La Graciosa is Casas de Pedro Barba.

This small village in the northern part of the island consists of just a handful of whitewashed houses built around a small bay with delightful little gardens. 

You can walk there from Caleta de Sebo in just over an hour. Walk along the coast and return inland or the other way around.

When walking inland, you’ll pass by La Aguja Grande and La Aguja Chica, two volcanic peaks offering panoramic views of the island.

Along the coast, stop by the beautiful beach of Barranco de los Conejos.

If you rent a bike instead of walking, check out the views from the impressive Montaña Bermeja and the marvelous Playa de las Conchas with its white sand and turquoise waters.

After completing the island tour, which can take anywhere from four hours to a full day, catch the ferry back to Lanzarote.

End your trip in Teguise.

Before concluding this Lanzarote itinerary, one last place worth checking out is Teguise.

You can stop by the small town on your way back to Arrecife from Órzola. 

Teguise is best known for its Sunday market selling everything from fruits and vegetables to arts and crafts.

If you’re in Lanzarote on a Sunday, you may want to check it out then!

Even if you don’t go to the market, Teguise is worth a visit. The town is one of the oldest on the island and its former capital!

Wander around the charming old town and pay a visit to the curious cemetery with its surreal statues.

Roxana Fanaru

Roxana is a Romanian-born freelance travel writer who has lived in Italy for over 15 years. She has a Master’s in Journalism and a Bachelor’s in Film Studies, and she studied at Università degli Studi di Roma Tre. Besides her native Romania, Roxana has lived in Rome, Lisbon, and Berlin, and she has traveled through much of Europe in search of hidden gems, history, and culture.