Beyond the Resort: How to Experience the Real Lanzarote on Holiday

It’s easy to book one of the island’s all inclusive holidays and picture a blissful week beside the pool and there’s nothing wrong with that. But settle for the resort alone and you’ll only ever meet a sliver of what makes this place so special. Step a little further and you’ll find volcanic wonders, historic towns, black-sand wine country and quiet hidden coves scattered right across the Lanzarote island. Think of this as your shortcut to the real Lanzarote, so every day of your trip earns its place.

Whether you’re keen to explore the island’s famous Lanzarote attractions, tempted by a day of easygoing Lanzarote excursions, or simply wondering what to do in Lanzarote once you’re off the beach, you’ll find it rewards a little curiosity like nowhere else in the Canaries. Know where to go and when to arrive, and the real Lanzarote will feel within reach from your very first morning. For the fuller picture before you travel, our Lanzarote travel guide maps out the volcanoes, vineyards and villages in more detail.

The volcanic wonders of Lanzarote

Lanzarote is famous the world over for its year-round warm climate and its extraordinary volcanic scenery, and the finest Lanzarote attractions grow straight out of that fiery past. Start at Timanfaya National Park, born from eruptions almost three centuries ago, a Mars-red landscape of craters where guides tip water into a borehole and it erupts straight back as steam. Save time for Jameos del Agua, a concert hall and crystal-clear lagoon built inside a collapsed lava tube; arrive before eleven, though, because once the tour coaches roll in the spell breaks. Add Mirador del Río for its breathtaking view across to La Graciosa, and a morning of Lanzarote sightseeing here will feel less like ticking off landmarks and more like discovering a world you never knew existed.

Teguise and the historic old town

For a real sense of the island’s history, give a morning to the Lanzarote old town of Teguise. The former capital sits peacefully inland – built out of sight of the pirates who once raided the coast and its cobbled lanes, whitewashed mansions and shaded plazas are made for wandering. Come on a Sunday and you’ll land in one of the liveliest markets in the Canaries, piled with local cheeses, mojo sauces and handmade crafts; come any other day and those same streets are calm and near-empty which is the better choice, honestly, for a long lunch and an unhurried stroll.

La Geria and the island’s adventures

One of the island’s great pleasures is simply getting out to explore, and the choice of Lanzarote excursions makes it easy. Drive the LZ-30 through La Geria and you’ll meet one of the most astonishing vineyards on earth: thousands of vines, each planted in its own scooped hollow – a hoyo – in the black volcanic gravel, each one sheltered by a low crescent of dry-stone wall that breaks the wind coming off the sea and the Sahara. That dark grit, known as picón, gathers the night-time dew and feeds it slowly to the roots. Pull in at a roadside bodega and taste the crisp Malvasía it produces; you’ll never look at a glass of wine quite the same way again.

There’s far more on offer. Boat Lanzarote tours run to Papagayo and across to La Graciosa, while active travellers can surf, cycle or kayak the coast. For a fuller menu of things to do in Lanzarote – from buggy safaris to diving, and the wonderful surf beach at Caleta de Famara – that guide is the place to begin.

El Golfo and Lanzarote’s hidden gems

The island’s most magical moments tend to hide in its quieter corners. Make El Golfo your first stop – a little fishing village beside the vivid green crater lagoon of Charco de los Clicos, startling against the black sand. Time it for lunch: Casa Torano and Bogavante sit right on the seafront, serving the day’s fresh catch with wrinkled papas and mojo, and both are worth booking ahead in high season. It’s the perfect place to head once you’ve ticked off the headline sights. Close by, seek out LagOmar – the cave-house museum carved into the cliffs at Nazaret and once linked to Omar Sharif – one of the Lanzarote hidden gems most visitors drive straight past.

The island’s most beautiful beaches

No Lanzarote holiday is complete without time by the sea, and the best beaches in Lanzarote reward the short journey: the golden coves of Papagayo behind Playa Blanca, reached down a rough track, and the wide, glorious sweep of Famara beneath its dramatic cliffs. Hire a car for a day and you can happily hop between them – bring water and shade, and don’t expect a beach bar at every one; that’s part of the appeal.

The real Lanzarote is worth the extra effort

So there’s the real Lanzarote – not the resort strip, but the lava fields, the volcanic vineyards, the old market town and the fishing villages where the island feels most itself. The beauty of it is that you needn’t choose between comfort and discovery: base yourself somewhere easy, hire a car for a day or two, and let curiosity do the rest. Travelodeal can help you shape your holidays to Lanzarote around a mix of headline sights and unhurried afternoons – so you come home having seen the island as it deserves, and already planning your return.

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