Updated June 7th, 2020

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I don’t think I have ever appreciated the sunshine more than I did today in Arrecife. Arrecife is the capital city of Lanzarote, one of the Spanish Canary Islands. My first day of my week in Lanzarote was spent in the port city of Arrecife soaking up the rays while doing my favorite travel activity, aimlessly wandering around a city to see what I could discover. Continue reading to find out what to do in Arrecife, Lanzarote.

What to Do in Arrecife, Lanzarote

Visit a Castle

From Hotel Miramar where I was staying, I was in the perfect location to visit Castillo del Gabriel. The castle is directly across the street from the hotel in the middle of the sea! One of the best parts is going up to the rooftop and taking in the spectacular 360 degree views. Read more about my time around the castle and my visit to the Museo del Historia inside the castle.

Castillo de San José is another historic castle you can visit in Arrecife. It has an art museum inside of it. It is further out from the center of the city though.

Fun fact: Both castles were built to protect the island from pirates!

Walk Along the Waterfront

One of my favorite things to do in Arrecife was simply walking along the water. From the castle I took my time walking along the oceanfront all the way to Parque Temático. On the way you can stop for a swim or a lounge in the sand at Playa Reducto. There are numerous restaurants in this area.

20180218_143738 — Ice cream break by the ocean

Discover Parque Temático

There are a few parks that I discovered right along the coastline, such as Parque Temático. It’s a small park with great views of the water. The park is a nice green oasis away from the busier part of the city.

20180218_140923 — Exercise equipment for humans

20180218_141403 — Exercise area for dogs

Do Some Shopping

Knowing there was more to the city I started to explore the inner streets. The main pedestrian shopping street, known locally as Calle Real, was fairly deserted because it was a Sunday. That brought me back to my study abroad days in Spain when everything shut down on Sundays. It was also another reason why I spent my day walking around instead of visiting any other sites or museums. If you visit on a Sunday and do want to shop you can go outside of the city to Centro Comercial Deiland.

Learn More About Lanzarote at a Museum

If it wasn’t closed I would have ventured inside of La Casa Amarilla, a small museum showcasing Lanzarote’s history. If you are interested in aviation, Museo Aeronáutico would be an interesting museum to visit. There are several art museums, like the International Museum of Modern Art that feature local artists.

Savor the Day at Charco San Giles

I veered off the deserted streets and came upon another glistening body of water! Still the Atlantic Ocean technically, but Charco San Giles is more like a little lake. I just couldn’t stay away. It’s a wonderful part of Arrecife to explore and get something to eat. On Saturdays you can shop at the local market in this area.

20180218_162049 — Where I ate my first late afternoon Spanish lunch

20180218_153524 — Flavorful food and fantastic view

Take a Day Trip from Arrecife

Things to Do in Arrecife, Lanzarote — Los Hervideros

I chose to travel around Lanzarote and stay in different resort towns. You can easily base yourself in Arrecife for your entire time. Arrecife is in one of the most convenient, centrally location parts of the island to take day trips from. The island is small enough that you can leave in the morning, explore any part of the island and return before bedtime!

A few day trips from Arrecife to consider are:

Hiking in the Fire Mountains

Visiting Timanfaya National Park and the other sights in southern Lanzarote

Going on a submarine adventure

Kayaking in Papagayo Beach

Learning about César Manrique’s influence on the island

I hope this post helped you figure out what to do in Arrecife and you enjoy this seaside city as much as I did!

Where to Stay in Arrecife

Arrecife is a great town to start or end your time in Lanzarote not only because there are so many things to do in Arrecife, but also because there is a lot of reasonably priced hotels only a short taxi ride away from the airport. My stay at Hotel Miramar was perfect! Search below for other great places to stay in Arrecife.

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