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City in Canary Islands, Spain
Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Arrecife is the capital city of Lanzarote, with the island's airport and sea port, and a population in 2022 of 63,750. It's a workaday commercial and administrative hub with limited tourist sights, and most visitors are bussed straight from the airport to their beach resorts further along the coast.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
This stands on the site of a 17th-century chapel; the tower was added in 1842. It ranks as a parish church - the cathedral is in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. Its patron saint day is 25 August but nothing is reliably known of Saint Ginés or Genesius, who may not even have existed, or may be several people including Genesius bishop of Clermont (d 662). His august patronage covers vineyards, farm labourers, storm-tossed sailors and childhood hernias.
Bahía de Arrecife
is a seawater lagoon in the heart of the city. Cafes line its west and north shores, and you can make a circuit via two bridges.
Island fortress guarding the harbour, now housing the local history museum. The Castillo was first built in 1573 to protect against pirates, but it was wooden so the pirates had fun torching it. The present stone fort was built during the 1590s. Access is by either of two causeways: better is the traffic-free Puente de las Bolas (built 1771), a drawbridge with two columns topped by stone balls, hence the bolas.
Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo
The Castillo was built in the 1770s, partly for defence but mainly as a work-creation programme when the island was blighted after an eruption. It was remodelled in the 1970s by César Manrique to house a museum of contemporary art. The artworks are mostly from 1950 to 1980: MIAC is the permanent collection, Canary Island Artists Room includes Manrique himself, and Pancho Lasso Room exhibits that local sculptor.
An old passenger terminal. The museum facilities are configured around eleven thematic rooms, displaying models of aircraft from all periods, photographs, videos, various documentation etc. Much of the visitor experience is supported by new multimedia technologies through touch screens and image projectors.
See Costa Teguise for this village, where the main attraction is César Manrique's former studio and home.
The town's main beach, lined with bars, restaurants and hotels, and suitable for kiddy-bathing. You can hire sun-loungers and parasols.
A small beach 2 km west of town, which you'll probably have to yourself.
A bigger beach and resort another 2 km west but it's right up against the airport.
A small plaza on C Dr Rafael González. It's supposed to reflect the designs of César Manrique, but there are just a few sculptures, and late afternoon this fierce opponent of high-rise finds his legacy cast into shadow by Gran Hotel the city's tallest building.
A paved plaza looking out to the castillo. Nice when it's buzzing, with the fleamarket or evening vuelta, but when it's quiet it's achingly empty.
On the shore in front of Guaguas Interchange. It's better to go with the flow of the arid climate, instead of municipal green. There's a children's playground, skate ramp and dog-walking area. Just east is Playa del Reducto.
They share a stadium that has a capacity of 7,000.
Reliable popular place for burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and so on.
Don Albahaca
Good pizza and other Italian food.
Friendly place for tapas overlooking El Charco.
Quality Italian food, good service, inexpensive and right on the beach.
Great reviews for the Uruguayan food in this friendly little restaurant.
Pretty little restaurant on El Charco with excellent food and wines, especially the tasting menu.
Limited menu but great quality food on El Charco north quay.
Pleasant trattoria overlooking El Charco, good vegan choices. They have another branch in Costa Teguise.
Cosy restaurant by El Charco with Spanish fare.
When they get it right, as they mostly do, it's about the best place in Lanzarote for a fine dinner. But at these prices they need to be more consistent, and several customers were disappointed.
Cosy little hostel with two four-bed dorms and one private room.
Friendly clean helpful pension; it's no longer a hostel.
Easy to find, it's much the highest building in Lanzarote. High scores for comfort and service. The bar on the 17th floor commands a nice view over the city.
Clean efficient hotel on the beach front.
Inexpensive hotel in a convenient location.
Friendly inexpensive place. Some rooms are dingy but renovation is promised during 2023.
By boat
Naviera Armas sail to Arrecife from Cádiz once a week (31 hr 30 min) and from Huelva once a week (26 hr 30 min). They also sail from these ports to other Canary Islands.
By bus
It literally means a howling baby and may derive from the sound of the horn.
By bus
There isn't a separate city bus system. For the art museum in Castillo de San José, take any bus towards Costa Teguise along C Los Marmoles. In 2023, a single ride within Arrecife costs €1.40.
By taxi
Taxis are plentiful, and greet the cruise ships in hungry swarms, but there's no e-hailing system on Lanzarote.
By e-scooter
Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen, Playa Honda and Costa Teguise are covered by Superpedestrian Link Scooters, which can be used with their app.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
San Bartolomé · International · ACE
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