Lanzarote in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Are you going to visit Lanzarote and do not know what are the best things to do on the island? Then you will be interested to know that in just three days you can visit the most significant museums and parishes in the historic center of Arrecife, the Timanfaya National Park, the wine valley of La Geria, the Hervideros, the Salinas de Janubio, the island of La Graciosa, the beach of Famara and the village of Teguise, among other essential destinations.

In this article I leave you information regarding the schedules of each attraction and how to get faster from one destination to another, as well as a summary of what to see in each of them.

If this is your first time in Lanzarote, visiting its capital should be one of the first activities to consider in your itinerary. With a walk through its streets you will be able to know part of the history of the island.

Charco de San Ginés

To start the first day of your stay, you can visit the Charco de San Ginés, located approximately four minutes from the center of Lanzarote.

It is a natural fishing port with a history of just over six centuries, whose atmosphere will immediately take you back to the time when corsairs and pirates were the main enemies of the inhabitants of the island.

El Charco de San Ginés is surrounded by small white houses and shopping streets. My advice is to simply walk around this important port, while enjoying the beautiful natural panoramic view of the place.

You also have the possibility to book a boat trip around Lanzarote or simply sit on one of the terraces to admire the scenery and take pictures.

San Ginés Parish Church

Just 200 meters away from the previous point you will find the Parroquia de San Ginés, which will be your second destination on the tour of Arrecife.

It is one of the architectural icons of the island, built during the eighteenth century, rebuilt after a flood and expanded several times.

Upon arriving at this ancient temple you will immediately see the tower arranged in the outer area, made during the year 1842, which fits perfectly with the neoclassical style of the facade.

In addition, you will notice the incorporation of volcanic stone, which is usual in the constructions of the town.

On the other hand, in the interior, the Mudejar style of the ceiling and the Tuscan columns stand out. In addition, there is an image of San Ginés de Clermont, who is the patron saint of the island.

Bridge of the Balls and the Castle of San Gabriel

Once you finish your visit to the Parish of San Ginés, you should walk approximately 650 meters in the direction of Coll Avenue or Vargas Avenue.

In this way, you will reach the promenade, where you will find the historic Puente de las Bolas, which connects to the Castle of San Gabriel, built with the purpose of protecting Lanzarote from North African incursions.

The best thing to do is to walk across the imposing stone bridge built during the sixteenth century and with an extension of 175 meters. If you look, you will see some canyons of the time and a privileged natural panoramic view.

Then you can access the Castle of San Gabriel, which is currently the headquarters of the Museum of History of Arrecife, where you will have information about the different historical stages that the island has experienced.

For this, you must visit from Monday to Friday (10:00 to 17:00 hours) and Saturdays (10:00 to 14:00 hours).

Yellow House

The next stop on your tour of Arrecife is the Casa Amarilla, which is only 350 meters from the Castillo San Gabriel, a five-minute walk at a moderate pace.

There, you can enjoy a series of temporary exhibitions organized by the island's government information system, which houses the Memories of Lanzarote.

This house with a yellow facade, formerly used as the headquarters of the town council, has been preserved and converted into a cultural space that you can access for free. You will only have to visit it from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 hours and on Saturdays until 14:00 hours.

San José Castle and the Museum of Contemporary Art

The last destination of the itinerary of this first day in Lanzarote is the Castle of San Jose, built during the eighteenth century and which houses since 1976 the Museum of Contemporary Art of the island. Inside you will find numerous permanent exhibits and a beautiful view of the bay.

This fortress is located approximately 30 minutes walk or 25 minutes by bus from the Casa Amarilla, so it offers quick access within the historic center of the city.

To access you must pay an entrance fee with an average price of 4 €. It is open between 11:00 and 18:00 hours. In addition, if you wish, you can stop by the restaurant area to taste some traditional food, have a drink or a coffee, while contemplating the scenery.

The goal of this day is very simple: to visit as many destinations located in the southern area of Lanzarote and, thus, fall in love with this beautiful island to visit it again in the future.

The wine valley of La Geria

La Geria is the starting point for the second day tour in Lanzarote. It is located right at the foot of Timanfaya, in the southwestern part of the island.

You can drive along its roads to contemplate a real volcanic landscape with craters, cactus and beautiful vineyards. Also, you can't avoid stopping to explore the region more closely and learn about the history of this land, its wineries and delicious wines.

Among the activities offered in the wine valley of La Geria you will find:

• Visit to the Museo del Campesino, whose entrance is free. You can enter from Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 18:00 hours.
• Wine tasting in the many wineries in the region. For example, El Grifo, considered the oldest winery in Spain and in whose building you can see an exclusive museum, dedicated to telling the history of wine. Another option is the Bodega Rubicón, present since 1979.

Timanfaya National Park

Just 18 minutes drive from La Geria is the Timanfaya National Park, a historic natural area of extraordinary beauty.

The first thing that strikes you is the contrasting landscape of the region: wide, desert-like plains, a variety of colors (black, red, orange, ochre), volcanic silhouettes and a series of deep fractures through which the lava of the fierce volcanoes once moved.

As one of the main destinations on the island, you will find several excursions to Timanfaya, if you prefer to be taken there.

Once in the park, you will be able to choose between different activities such as a hiking route through this historic park, one of the best buggy tours that Lanzarote offers or a camel caravan on the slopes of the volcano of Macizo del Fuego.

You can't miss the visitor's center, which is free of charge. There, you will find a souvenir store, as well as an elevated walkway where you can walk while enjoying a privileged view. It also houses a projection room and an exhibition hall.

Montaña Bermeja Beach

If you are an enthusiast of good waves, after touring the Timanfaya National Park, you should head to Playa de Montaña Bermeja.

This magical place is located approximately 14 minutes away from your previous destination and offers a unique natural landscape to its visitors. There you will see the black sand and the crystalline waters of the sea at the foot of an imposing mountain of reddish tone.

On the other hand, if you plan to slide in these waters with your surfboard, you should keep in mind that the waves in this area are quite strong, so if you are not a professional of this sport, you should refrain.

However, you should not be discouraged, as there are many tours and excursions from Lanzarote that offer surfing lessons on the island.

Similarly, if you do not want to come into contact with the water, you can dedicate yourself to stroll the area and take advantage of its natural beauty to take amazing pictures.

The Hervideros

After enjoying the charm of Playa de Montaña Bermeja, you can take advantage of its proximity to Los Hervideros and, thus, contemplate an impressive natural spectacle, in which the protagonists are the sea and the volcanic caves formed as an effect of erosion.

You can access this volcanic coast at any time of the day, to see the water of the Atlantic Ocean penetrate and impact in these caverns.

There you will enjoy two different types of views, depending on the strength of the waves. On the one hand, you may find the waters calm, giving you a view with varied blue tones thanks to the reflection generated by the natural sunlight.

On the other hand, on days when the sea is rough, you will be able to see how the water is expelled from the solidified magma cavities, thus providing a mind-blowing effect that will make you think it is boiling.

Janubio Salt Flats

23 minutes away from Los Hervidores is the last destination of the day. It is the famous Salinas de Janubio, which date from the nineteenth century and are part of the historical and natural heritage of the island of Lanzarote.

In this space there was once a lagoon that, by the action of volcanic activity in the region, ended up shrinking. Thus, the salt mines were born, where the work of dozens of generations of Lanzarote people is evident , who adapted to the faults of nature to prosper, evaporating salt water and obtaining salt for consumption.

Certainly, when visiting the Salinas de Janubio you will be in direct contact with the history of the island and at the same time you will enjoy an amazing view with a significant variety of shades. All of them, produced by the reflection of the sun on the surface of the pools of water. A natural scenery that you will not be able to resist photographing.

In addition, between 12:15 and 21:00 hours (except Thursdays) you can go to the viewpoint of the salt flats, a restaurant with a breathtaking view of the region.

There you can sit on the terrace to enjoy a delicious traditional meal. And, if you have traveled to Lanzarote with children, you will not have to worry, because there is a special menu for them.

On the third day in Lanzarote, your itinerary will take you to the northern region. In this part of the island you will find real hidden treasures that will allow you to enjoy a quiet atmosphere, full of incredible landscapes.

In addition, if you like water sports, this is one of the best areas to practice them. Finally, you can be part of a cave transformed into a work of art.

La Graciosa Island

An excursion to La Graciosa island from Lanzarote is a must in your plans. This natural area is located in the Chinijo archipelago and, if you do not want to go with an organized tour, you can access it by ferry from the port of Órzola.

The ferry arrives at Caleta de Sebo, a jetty and central area of this small island. This is a perfect spot to start exploring the place, either on foot or by bicycle, as there is no car rental due to the absence of paved roads.

During the excursion to La Graciosa you will find some of the best beaches in Lanzarote. Such is the case of Playa de la Laja, Playa Salado, Playa Montaña Amarilla and Playa de la Francesa, whose crystal clear and calm waters provide a risk-free experience.

But if what you want is a quiet environment to relax, your place is Amber beach, which is usually less crowded. In addition, you can go to the Barranco de los Conejos, which is a path of approximately 20 meters long in which you will enjoy a privileged panoramic view.

Famara Beach

Back in Órzola, your next destination requires going by car or public transport (line 9 Arrecife or line 31 Caleta de Famara) to Famara beach.

There the characteristic fishing atmosphere of the village merges with a lively tourist environment: restaurants, bars and many surfers, who come daily in search of good waves to glide across them on their boards.

There are approximately 6 kilometers of golden sand that merge with crystal clear waters. All this, framed by the Peñas del Chache, considered the highest area of the island, with an altitude of 672 meters above sea level.

This beach is a fairly busy place , so you will find many people (athletes, tourists, locals), no matter what day of the week you decide to visit.

You can take a long walk by the sea while admiring the scenery and breathing fresh air or lie on the sand in the areas where the tide is low and sunbathe.

In addition, if you are a water sports enthusiast, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of the waves for surfing, kitesurfing and bodyboarding. You can also climb the Famara cliff to go paragliding.

Village of Teguise

After the aquatic experience in Famara, you must take the car (or the route 31 bus) and go to the village of Teguise, a journey of only 31 minutes.

When you arrive in the old capital of Lanzarote you will immediately notice its particular colonial architectural style: houses with white facades and colorful balconies decorated with beautiful flowers.

In addition, its cobblestone streets invite you to walk through them to discover each of the historical and cultural treasures of this town.

In this town you can visit the Spínola Palace Museum, where you will find important samples of art that support the history of the island.

You can also visit the parish church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and the Ermita del Santísimo Cristo de la Vera Cruz, which is a small Christian temple, as well as El Castillo de Santa Barbara, built in the 16th century and inside which you will find the ingenious Museo de la Pirateria (Museum of Piracy).

Water Jameos

At the end of your visit to the village of Teguise, your next destination is Jameos de agua, a perfect farewell to your stay in Lanzarote.

To get there you just have to get on the bus route 9 Orzola and, in about 35 minutes, you will be at your destination. In this way, you will discover one of the famous works of art of César Manrique, who turned a huge volcanic cave into a house and museum.

I assure you that you will be amazed with the display of ingenuity and talent present in every detail. In addition, you can enjoy a quiet natural environment, with an interesting contrast of colors, given by the rocks, the crystal clear waters and beautiful plants.

To visit Jameos del Agua in Lanzarote you must pay an entrance fee with an average price of 8 €. After descending some rock stairs you will reach the so-called Jameo Grande.

There you will find a restaurant integrated into the rocky environment and accompanied by a natural lagoon, where there is a species of albino and blind crabs, characteristic of the abyssal pits.

If you cross the lagoon through a small corridor, you will see the Jameo Chico, with some tables and a pleasant musical background. From there you can go up some stairs to a pool with a tropical atmosphere and, further on, you will find the Casa de los Volcanes (House of the Volcanoes).

The latter is a space where you can learn about the history of the island's volcanoes, learn about the eruption process and contemplate geological samples.

Lanzarote is an island with a very efficient transportation system to reach the different tourist destinations to visit. However, you must keep in mind that there are some places where you will need a car or just walk, as there is no road or it is a protected site.

For example, if you go to the Timanfaya National Park, Montaña Bermeja beach, the Volcanoes Park and other remote areas of the southern region, you will have to go by car or hire a guided tour by buggy or other authorized means of transport.

On the other hand, the southern region of the island and the cities provide greater access by bus or guaguas to the main places to see in Lanzarote, for an average price of 1.40€ from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.