This Is The Ultimate Itinerary For 4 Days In Lanzarote
So, you’re thinking of going on holiday to Lanzarote? Good choice! This island is B-E-A-UTIFUL. Beautiful in a weird this-place-looks-like-it-could-be-mars kind of way. And it’s completely mesmerising. But, you’ve only got 4 days here so how the heck do you maximise your time? What are the best things to do in Lanzarote? Well, here’s the ultimate itinerary for 4 days in Lanzarote – hold on, because it’s going to be quite the adventure.
Read More: Here Are 13 Of The Best Things To Do In Lanzarote
Where Should I Base Myself In Lanzarote?
Puerto del Carmen is a great central base for 4 days in Lanzarote. The beach is vast and clean and there’s plenty of shops, hotels, and places to eat. It’s also only about 7 minutes from the airport and is an ideal place from where to explore the rest of the island.
Arrecife is Lanzarote’s capital. There are plenty of restaurants here too but it’s a little more busy. There is a beach though, and a cute marina, so if you fancy a bit more going on in the evening, this might be the place for you.
Famara in the north of the island, is a cool little surfing spot. I’d probably stay here if I was coming to Lanzarote again. It’s a bit further away from some of the island’s attractions but Lanzarote isn’t a huge place and if I can have waves and yoga studios on my doorstep, I’m sold.
How Can I Travel Around Lanzarote?
The ideal way to get around the island is to hire a car. You can pick one up from the airport and be on your way in no time. The roads are some of the best I’ve seen in Europe and the island is super easy to navigate. Hiring a car also gives you major flexibility when it comes to seeing all the sights. This guide to Lanzarote is based on having a car but if that’s not an option for you, just adapt and change depending on your mode of transport!
Alternatively hop on a bus – there are stops conveniently located around the island so you can get just about anywhere you might want to go. The buses are run by the Intercity Bus and although the price of your journey will depend on your route, you can buy a top up bus card called Bono Bus Lanzarote to make things a little easier. Just buy your card on the bus or at Arrecife bus station.
Is 4 Days In Lanzarote Enough To See Everything?
How many days in Lanzarote is enough? Well, I’d say spend as much time here as you can but 4 days is the perfect amount of time to see all of Lanzarote’s main sights and do a couple of fun activities. If you prefer your travel a little slower, want to soak up the atmosphere, find your favourite coffee shop, read a book on the beach… You might need a day or two longer to really enjoy Lanzarote.
4 Days In Lanzarote: The Ultimate Lanzarote Itinerary
Day 1
Le Jardin de Cactus de Lanzarote
Start your Lanzarote adventure with a trip the Lanzarote’s Le Jardin de Cactus. Created by Cesar Manrique, a visionary who created Lanzarote as you see it with it’s gorgeous white houses and hidden focal points, Le Jardin de Cactus is an incredible celebration of cacti. There are over 4,500 specimens of them here all situated in an amphitheatre framed by dark stone and the gorgeous white Gofio Windmill looking over the plants.
Wander the winding paths around the cacti and stop in the restaurant for a refreshment. Among other items on the menu, you’ll be able to pick up a cactus juice (like cranberry juice but stronger) and even a cactus burger! The latter is a weird taste but where else can you eat a burger made from cactus? Definitely put it on your “Things To Do in Lanzarote” list!
Address: Carretera General del Norte, 35544, Guatiza, Teguise, Lanzarote
Winter Opening Hours: 10.00 to 17.45
Summer Opening Hours: 9.00 to 17.45
Prices: Adults – 6.50 euros. Children – 3.50 euros
Facilities: Free Parking, Toilets, Restaurant, Wheelchair Access, Gift Shop
A Sunset Walk On Playa de Los Pocillos
This beach is the perfect place to watch sunset. Take a stroll along the sand as the sun drops behind the mountains and the sky glows orange. It’s worth checking the times of sunset but this is the perfect way to spend an hour relaxing before dinner, especially if you’re staying in Puerto del Carmen.
Day 2
Cycle Around The Volcan El Cuervo
Lanzarote is a big cycling destination. With its incredible hills, spectacular scenery and dedicated cycle routes around the island, it’s easy to see why. If you’re not a pro cyclist though, but still want to get on two wheels, get in touch with Papagayo Bike Tours. They’ve got a great route which will take you around the Volcan el Cuervo, a dormant volcano which makes for the most incredible focal point for a bike ride. Over a couple of hours, you’ll explore a circular route around the whole volcano and you’ll get to walk inside the crater too.
If you don’t fancy cycling, the path around the volcano is great for a walk. There’s parking on the road and there’s information points around the circumference so you can learn about the history and geology of the area.
Trainers are the best footwear whether you’re cycling or walking. But if you only have flip flops don’t feel like you have to miss out. You just might get a few pebbles in your toes as the path is full of volcanic ash.
Jameos Del Agua
For a post bike ride outing, head towards Jameos del Agua – another one of Cesar Manrique’s creations from the 1960s – to experience one of the most unique settings on the island. What was the debris of a volcanic lava tube from 4,000 years ago, has been transformed into an iconic sight where you can feast in a cave, discover the famous albino blind crabs in the lagoon, and imagine what it was like to swim in the now ornamental, very Instagram friendly, turquoise blue pool. Here you can also visit an auditorium that’s carved into the lava tube – classical concerts are often held here thanks to its incredible acoustics.
Address: LZ 204, Parcela 109, Carretera Arrieta – Órzola S/N Lanzarote, 35542 Punta Mujeres, Las Palmas
Opening Hours: 10.00 to 17.00 every day and 19.00 to 02.00 on Tuesdays and Saturdays
Prices: Adults – 10 euros. Children – 5 euros
Facilities: Free parking, Restaurant, Bar, Gift Shop, Toilets
Cueva de los Verdes
After your visit to Jameos del Agua, head to Cueva de los Verdes. Formed from the eruption of the Volcan de la Corona, these caves will be unlike anything you’ve seen before. They’re bone dry, made from lava, there’s no wildlife, and there’s even a heart stopping surprise at the end which you just have to see to believe.
Address: 35520, Haría, Lanzarote
Winter Opening Hours: 10.00 to 17.00
Summer Opening Hours: 10.00 to 18.00
Prices: Adults – 10 euros. Children – 5 euros
Facilities: Free parking, Toilets
Day 3
Wine Tasting Tour
Now, when you’re travelling around Lanzarote, you’ll be hard pressed to find many plants, apart from cacti and palm trees, that grow on the regular. So, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there’s no way grapes can grow here to produce wine. But, they do. The volcanic ash the vines grow in soaks up all the moisture it can. This moisture comes from the dew in the morning and any rain which might occasionally fall, allowing grapes to grow with a unique earthy flavour.
Wine Tours Lanzarote do an amazing tour which takes you around some of the best vineyards. From Bodegas Vega de Yuco where you can try a semi sweet white wine, to a small boutique vineyard where you can try a delicious red with some local goats cheese to complement the wine.
Even if you don’t like wine, a tour that takes you to 3 different vineyards with 6 different tastings, is a great way to learn about some of the island’s produce while getting to try some wine at the same time! Like me, you might even end up finding a wine you enjoy!
Price: From 49 euros
Duration: 3.5 hours
Tour Start: 9.30 or 15.00
If you don’t want to do a tour around several vineyards, head for Bodega Stratvs. Located in Bishop’s Ravine on the edge of Timanfaya National Park, Stratvs was built with volcanic stone, iron and wood to create a low visual impact and to remain respectful of the surrounding area. Though it may look humble from the roadside though, when you walk into the winery, this place is spectacular. Make time for a tour if you can and although all the wines are delicious, if you have a sweet tooth the Malvasia Naturalmente Dulce is delicious!
Address: Crta. La Geria km. 18 35570 Yaiza
Timanfaya National Park
One place that you have to visit, and one of the best things to do in Lanzarote is Timanfaya National Park. This Mars-like landscape is made up of pure volcanic soil and is a part of the Lanzarote Biosphere Reserve.
As it’s such a special part of the island, the land is studied by scientists and you have to go on an arranged tour to see the true beauty of this place. You can arrange an external tour, in which case you just enjoy the journey from the entrance. However, if you arrive by car, just park up at the restaurant! You then hop on a bus to take you on the 30 to 40 minute journey around Timanfaya National Park.
You’ll drive through huge lava fields, past dormant volcanos, and above the vast expanses of rust coloured land created hundreds of years ago.
Once you’ve enjoyed your tour, sit down for lunch at El Diablo restaurant. Here they’ll cook your food over the heat from the volcano. Alternatively, cook your own food over the volcano’s heat – cheese toastie anyone? There are also a few cool surprises here too: Watch as dry plants catch fire only a few feet underground and water explodes like geysers from the ground…
Top tip: If you want to get out and about in the park, book your place on a walking tour. These take place a few times a week, they’re free and the tours are led by rangers of the park so you’ll really get to know the landscape.
Address: 35570, Las Palmas, Spain
Price: Adults – 8 euros. Children – 4 euros.
Opening Times: 9.00 to 16.30
Facilities: Free parking, restaurant, toilets.
El Golfo and Los Hervideros
Enjoy more of the Timanfaya National Park by soaking up its coastline. El Golfo and Los Hervideros are incredible places that will wrap up the day perfectly.
At El Golfo you’ll see Lanzarote’s famous green lagoon that has algal phytoplankton to thank for its unusual colour. On the contrary, Los Hervideros is a great place to see the blue ocean contrast against the orange landscape. Time your visit right and this is the ideal place to watch sunset.
Day 4
Surfing At Famara Beach
End your last day in Lanzarote with a trip to Famara Beach. Now you don’t have to surf, but this place is perfect for it. Surf schools dot the edge of the beach and the waves look perfect for some fun in the ocean. If you don’t want to get into the water, take a walk on the sands, paddle in the water, enjoy the dunes, and the gorgeous mountains with clouds cascading over them. This beach feels worlds away from some of the tourist resorts and is the perfect place to soak up the sun and enjoy a local side of Lanzarote.
Haria And The Valley Of A Thousand Palm Trees
The Valley of a Thousand Palm Trees is a beautiful place to drive through. One of the lushest places thanks to its location in the mountains, the valley of a thousand palm trees was created during the 17th and 18th centuries. The villagers of Haria planted one palm tree for every boy born, and two palm trees for every girl born. The result is a carpet of palm trees through a village where today only 2000 people live.
Top tip: If you drive here, you get a great view of the valley from above. The road is called the Serpentines of Haria and it makes for an incredible drive. You can also stop for a coffee in the village of Haria too.
Mirador Del Rio
For the last stop of your 4 days in Lanzarote, hop to the north east of the island to Mirador del Rio. This incredible view point looks over the edge of Lanzarote to a small island called La Gracisosa and the Chinijo Archipelago. This viewpoint, another place designed by Cesar Manrique, is definitely one for the photo album. Just hold on to your hat as it does get a little windy!
Address: 35500, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Spain
Winter opening hours: 10.00 to 17.45
Summer opening hours: 10.00 to 18.45
Price: Adults – 5 euros. Children – 2.5 euros
Facilities: Free car parking, cafeteria, gift shop, free wifi, toilets, wheelchair access to the top floor.
So that’s it for your 4 days in Lanzarote! This itinerary really is jam packed but you won’t feel like you’re rushing around the island at all. There’s time for lazy breakfasts, long lunches, and relaxing evenings before dinner. Plus, since Lanzarote isn’t a huge island, this Lanzarote itinerary is flexible depending on what you fancy doing each day.
If you had 4 days in Lanzarote, is there anything you’d add into this itinerary?
Hey, I’m Emma!
