Find in this 5 days Travel Itinerary in Lanzarote what to do and see in this amazing island. Here you have a complete guide with the top attractions in the commonly called ‘island of volcanoes’.
It also includes recommendations on where to stay, excursions and the best beaches and hiking routes around the island.
5 Days Itinerary in Lanzarote: What to do and see
This is a detailed itinerary with a selection of some of the best places included in our Travel Guide about what to see in Lanzarote. For sure, you may customise your itinerary depending on your interests!
Day 1: A day to visit the north of Lanzarote
This 5-day itinerary around Lanzarote begins with the marvellous legacy of the local artist Cesar Manrique in the north of the island:
Cueva de los Verdes
This lava tunnel was used by local people to hide from pirates and corsairs. Pay special attention to its walls, which show a wide gamut of colours as a result of different eruptions. Discover the Big Secret of Cueva de los Verdes and don’t tell anybody… it’s a secret!
Jameos del Agua
This lava tunnel is nowadays a masterpiece thanks to the local architect Manrique. This natural underground lagoon is inhabited by ‘jameitos‘, that is to say, little blind albino crabs that are endemic to Lanzarote. Keep your eyes open!
Mirador del Rio
Also designed by the local architect Manrique, this breathtaking viewpoint has amazing views over an archipelago which consists of five small islands and islets: La Graciosa, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste and Alegranza. Enjoy the scenery while having a break at the restaurant.
Villa de Teguise
Let’s move on to your next stop: the old capital and the most beautiful city in Lanzarote. Two of the main tourist attractions are the Old Quarter and Santa Bárbara Castle, where you can visit a Pirate Museum and enjoy the views.
Visiting Teguise on a Sunday? Don’t miss the largest local market in the Canary Islands with handcrafts and typical products.
Famara
Your last stop today is the village of Caleta de Famara, a very popular area for surfing. Walk along its streets and its volcanic sand beach. You’ll be impressed by the cliffs nearby. Don’t forget your swimming clothes! However, be careful with the waves.
Day 2: Timanfaya National Park and nearby attractions
Timanfaya National Park
Let’s start day 2 with the most popular attraction in Lanzarote: Timanfaya National Park and Montañas del Fuego (an amazing volcanic landscape that appeared after the eruptions). There are some places that you can visit on your own and some others that must be visited on a guided tour.
These are the visits that can be done on your own:
- Visitor Centre of Mancha Blanca: the ideal place to discover the origin of the volcanic cones in Lanzarote.
- Echadero de los Camellos, where you can go on a camel ride surrounded by volcanoes! You can also visit a small museum about these dromedaries.
The following are some guided tours in the National Park:
- Islote de Hilario: a place where geysers are still active.
- Bus Route around the Volcanoes and Montañas del Fuego.
- El Diablo Restaurant, where dishes are made thanks to the heat of the ground.
The meeting point for these tours is at Islote de Hilario, where there is a big parking area where you can park your car.
Charco de los Clicos
This green lagoon is popular for its special colour and also for being located inside the crater of a volcano. Besides, it’s near a fishermen’s town called El Golfo, where you can have a walk or eat fresh fish by the seaside.
Los Hervideros Cliffs
Your next stop is this area of cliffs where waves hit the rocks heavily and create a wonderful visual effect and a roaring sound that will impress your senses. The rougher the sea is, the more spectacular the effect will be.
Janubio Salt Pans
Discover all the manufacturing process of one of the last active salt pans in the Canaries. Want a special souvenir? Buy some local salt here.
La Geria
The itinerary continues with a route to the vineyards of Lanzarote, where you’ll find a unique cultivation method in the world. Any of the most popular wineries (Bodega de El Grifo, La Geria or Rubicon) are worth a visit. They offer guided tours and also Malvasia wine tasting.
A Casa Jose Saramago in Tias
After tasting some wine from Lanzarote, it’s time to drive towards Tias to visit Jose Saramago’s House. It’s now a museum which shows the place where this Nobel Prize in Literature lived for more than twenty years.
Here you’ll discover some of his personal anecdotes, his library and also the place where he used to work on his novels. Book now your tickets here.
Beaches in Puerto del Carmen
Spend the rest of the day in Puerto del Carmen, where you can either go to the beach or walk along the seaside promenade which is full of shops and restaurants. Do you fancy snorkelling? Then, go to Playa Chica and discover the undersea world.
Day 3: Volcanos, Arrecife and Costa Teguise
Caldera Blanca Volcano and La Caldereta
Day 3 starts with a hiking route to visit two volcanic cones within the Volcanoes National Park: Caldera Blanca and La Caldereta. This route through lava paths will bring you to the two craters. Did you know that the diameter of Caldera Blanca is more than 1km long?
The route usually takes around 3 hours and it’s an easy trek.
Los Dolores Church
Stop by this beautiful chapel, where stays the patron saint of Lanzarote, Virgen de los Dolores. You’ll get to know a little bit more about the history of miracles during the last eruptions.
Monumento al Campesino
The local architect Cesar Manrique designed this monument as a tribute to all the farmers in Lanzarote, since they overcame all types of difficulties for centuries, especially after the eruptions of Timanfaya.
This monument includes three different elements: the Sculpture of Fertility (Monumento a la Fecundidad), the Farmer’s House-Museum (Casa Museo del Campesino) where you can see the workshops and the Restaurant.
Arrecife
Your next stop is the capital city of Lanzarote and you’ll see some tourist sites like Charco de San Ginés, Castillo de San Gabriel with a visit to the castle and its beautiful bridge and Calle León y Castillo, which is the main shopping street in the city.
There are some other beautiful attractions in Arrecife, but you’ll have to drive there. Some of them are Castillo de San José (a castle), the city beach Playa del Reducto and Telamon’s Ghost Ship on the coast.
Costa Teguise
Your final stop today is Costa Teguise, one of the most tourist places in Lanzarote. Here you may visit Pueblo Canario (a typical Canarian-style town designed by Manrique), the seaside promenade and the beaches of El Jablillo or Las Cucharas.
Day 4: Island of La Graciosa
It’s day 4 of this 5-day itinerary! Ready to hear about today’s plan? You are going to visit the Eighth Canary Island, which used to belong 100% to Lanzarote until 2018 when it was recognised as a separate island.
Discover all about La Graciosa in our travel guide: how to get there, what to see and what to do, where to stay (very recommendable), the most popular restaurants and the best excursions including water activities and lunch.
Day 5: Playa Blanca and Papagayo
On your last day, you’ll explore the southern coast of Lanzarote:
- First, Playa Blanca: a tourist area where you can visit the Port of Marina Rubicon, the Coloradas Castle or the beaches of Flamingo and Dorada.
- Secondly, Papagayo: considered the best beaches in Lanzarote, this area is full of small golden sand beaches with clear waters. You will not want to come back home!
Hope this travel guide has helped you to know what to see and do in this island. A 5 days Itinerary in Lanzarote to fall in love with the commonly called ‘island of volcanoes’ and its contrasts between volcanic landscapes and paradisiacal beaches.
Want some more information about Lanzarote? Find out more about the top attractions to see in Lanzarote at CanaryLands, the Travel Guide for the Canary Islands!
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