You can cross the whole of Lanzarote in under an hour. That makes a lot of people think it doesn't matter where you sleep.
It does matter. It doesn't matter for getting there; it matters for living there. Yes, you can see the whole island from anywhere — but sleeping in the wrong spot means a forty-minute drive every morning and every night, dinner somewhere you didn't really want, and finding out on your last day that there was a completely different island twenty minutes from your hotel.
This guide compares the areas to stay in Lanzarote, the good and the bad of each one. No diplomacy here: every area is perfect for someone and a bad idea for someone else.
First things first: beach or island?
This is the question that decides everything else, and almost nobody asks it.
- If you're here for the beach and to relax → the tourist coast: Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca or Costa Teguise.
- If you're here to see the island → it's worth basing yourself inland or in the north, even if it means driving to the beach.
And a heads-up that applies to all six areas: you'll need a car regardless. There's no area from which you can reach Timanfaya, La Geria or Mirador del Río by guagua (local bus). How to get around Lanzarote »
The real distances (by car)
Approximate times, just to get your mental map sorted:
From ↓ Airport Arrecife Timanfaya Papagayo North (Jameos)
Puerto del Carmen10 min15 min30 min40 min45 minPlaya Blanca30 min35 min30 min20 min65 minCosta Teguise20 min10 min45 min55 min30 minArrecife10 min—35 min45 min35 minInland (Yaiza/Uga)25 min25 min15 min25 min55 minNorth (Haría/Arrieta)40 min30 min50 min65 min10 min
nobody has everything nearby. The north and south are worlds apart.
Puerto del Carmen — the safe bet
first-timers on the island, families, anyone who wants everything within reach.
Lanzarote's biggest and longest-running tourist hub. A huge seafront promenade, three beaches in a row (Playa Grande, Los Pocillos, Matagorda), hundreds of restaurants, shops, car hire on every corner and nightlife. It's 10 minutes from the airport and sits in the middle of the island: the most balanced base for day trips south and north.
it's old-school package tourism. You'll struggle to find the Lanzarote you see in the photos here. The "Old Town" area has a nightlife scene that can be a nuisance if you're after peace and quiet.
Los Pocillos and Matagorda are the same area but much quieter than the centre.
Playa Blanca — the pretty south
good beaches, couples, families after some calm.
At the southern tip. More modern and better kept than Puerto del Carmen, with a gorgeous seafront promenade, Playa Dorada and Playa Flamingo (sheltered and perfect with kids) and, 20 minutes away, the island's best beaches: Papagayo. The ferry to Fuerteventura leaves from here.
it's a long way from anything that isn't the south. The north is over an hour away, and you'll lose the whole day to driving if you head up there. It's also grown a lot: some stretches feel very resort-like.
Costa Teguise — the balance point for the north
families, windsurfers, anyone who wants the north nearby.
Quiet, functional, with Playa de las Cucharas (windsurfing) and El Jablillo (the best little beach for young kids). It's 10 minutes from Arrecife and the best base if you're interested in the Jameos, Cueva de los Verdes, Mirador del Río and Haría: half an hour away instead of an hour.
it has less character than the other two. It's convenient rather than exciting, and it's windy (hence the windsurfing).
Arrecife — the real city
short trips, tight budgets, anyone who wants Lanzarote without the stage set.
The capital, where the island's actual residents live. It has the Charco de San Ginés — that lagoon with fishermen's cottages and colourful boats — the best tapas scene in Lanzarote, the MIAC at Castillo de San José, Playa del Reducto (an urban Blue Flag beach) and city prices rather than resort prices. 10 minutes from the airport and right at the geographical centre.
it's not a postcard destination. It's a port city with its rough edges. If you're after "paradise", this isn't it.
Arrecife is seriously underrated. For a short break, or if you're here to eat well, it's a great choice.
Inland — the real Lanzarote
those coming to see the island, not to lie on a sunbed.
Yaiza, Uga, Tinajo, Mancha Blanca, San Bartolomé, La Asomada, Tías, Teguise… There's no beach on foot here: instead you get volcanic-stone fincas and rural houses, white walls, absolute silence and the starriest sky you'll ever see.
you're 15 minutes from Timanfaya and La Geria. With the timed-slot booking system Timanfaya now requires, bagging the first slot without an early start is a real luxury. How to visit Timanfaya » · La Geria wineries »
a car is compulsory for absolutely everything, including going out for dinner. Fewer amenities. If you're travelling with teenagers, brace yourself for complaints.
The north — the secret
repeat visitors, laid-back travellers, landscape lovers.
Haría and the Valle de las Mil Palmeras (Valley of a Thousand Palms), Arrieta, Punta Mujeres with its natural pools, Órzola. This is the green, cool and authentic side of the island, with César Manrique's work ten minutes away and the ferry to La Graciosa right next door.
you're 40 minutes from the airport and a good hour from Papagayo. If your trip is all about southern beaches, this is a bad idea.
And Famara, in a league of its own
Caleta de Famara is a world of its own: surf, wind, low-rise houses and that brutal cliff. Who it's for: surfers and people who couldn't care less about anything else. The downside: the wind, the isolation and a sea that's not for a leisurely dip.
The unusual options (which are sometimes the best)
- Puerto Calero: a smart, quiet, beautifully kept marina. No proper beach of its own.
- Playa Honda: between the airport and Arrecife. Local, cheap, with a long beach. You can hear the planes, but it's 5 minutes from the airport: ideal for your last night.
- La Graciosa: sleep on the eighth island, with no cars and no tarmac. It's an experience, not a base.
So, which one's for you?
Your trip Your area
First time, I want to see it allPuerto del Carmen (or Costa Teguise)Good beach and familyPlaya BlancaYoung kidsCosta Teguise (El Jablillo) or Playa Blanca (Playa Dorada)I want the north and ManriqueCosta Teguise or the northI'm here for the island, not the beachInland (Yaiza, Uga, Tinajo…)Short break / tight budgetArrecifeSurfingFamaraI've been before and want something differentThe north (Haría, Punta Mujeres)Two weeksSplit it: one week south, one week north
Four tips before you book
- Book ahead if you're coming in winter. Here, December to March is high season (Europeans escaping the cold), the exact opposite of mainland Spain. Best time to visit Lanzarote »
- Check the wind, not just the sun. The north and Famara are considerably windier than the south. It's very noticeable in July and August.
- Check the parking situation. Inland and in the villages it's free and plentiful; in the tourist resorts, not always.
- If you're staying more than five days, consider splitting your stay. Three nights in the south and three in the north changes the whole trip: you stop driving the same route over and over.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best area to stay in Lanzarote?
Puerto del Carmen or Playa Blanca?
Can you get by in Lanzarote without a car?
Is it worth staying inland?
Where should you stay with kids?
How many nights do you need?
Where to look for accommodation
Lanzarote has it all: big hotels in the tourist resorts, apartments, and something that works especially well here — villas, fincas and rural houses in volcanic stone scattered across the inland areas and the north, which is where you really sleep differently.
We're gradually putting together the ones we like on LanzaStay, our directory of accommodation on the island, with direct booking through the owner. We're adding new houses every week.
In the end, choosing an area in Lanzarote means choosing what you see every morning when you open the window: a seafront promenade, a sea of lava, or a valley of palm trees. You'll see the whole island either way. But only one of those windows is yours.
Which area did you stay in, and would you go back? 👇