Are you looking for a winter sun destination for your next solo trip? The answer may be a small Spanish island lying off the North African coast.
With its otherworldly landscapes, artistic heritage and excellent safety record, Lanzarote is a great destination for those travelling alone.
Whether you are a shutterbug, beach bunny or culture vulture, get the lowdown in this Lanzarote solo travel guide. Find out why you should add this Canary Island to your travel bucket list, where to visit, how to get around and where to stay.
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How I Visited Lanzarote as a Single Traveller
I travelled solo to Lanzarote and used public transport to visit most of the places in this article, basing myself in Costa Teguise.
I took this full-day tour to visit Timanfaya National Park, Jameos del Agua, Cueva de Los Verdes and Mirador del Rio. To visit the vineyards of La Geria, I joined a tour with Wine Tours Lanzarote.
Why Lanzarote is Good for Solo Travellers
You can’t go far wrong with Lanzarote as a solo traveller. In addition to its warm climate, it has an excellent public transport system, it is safe and affordable and there is something to suit everyone, from its sandy beaches to its volcanic terrain.
Balmy climate – Lanzarote is warm year-round with very little rainfall.
Unique landscape – Lanzarote’s barren landscape has an almost eerie, otherworldly quality. Although the island’s last volcanic eruption was in 1824, much of it is blanketed in cindery malpais (badlands).
Sandy beaches – While Lanzarote’s smaller coves retain their coarse volcanic soil, its resort towns – Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise – plus Famara have large stretches of golden sand.
César Manrique – Lanzarote’s most famous artist has left his architectural stamp on the island and it is thanks to him that development has been restrained.
Wine tourism – Lanzarote has a small wine industry in the La Geria region which you can learn more about on a wine tour.
Transport infrastructure – It’s easy to travel around Lanzarote by bus if you are not keen on hiring a car. In exchange for modest fares, IntercityBus Lanzarote will take you to most of the places that you want to visit on the island.
For the rest, there is no shortage of local tour operators offering affordable day excursions.
Affordable – Lanzarote is a relatively cheap destination for a solo traveller.
Eating out is inexpensive. I rarely paid more than €20 for an evening meal with wine.
Is Lanzarote Safe for Female Solo Travellers?
Personal safety when travelling is one of the most important considerations of those on singles holidays, particularly women.
Lanzarote is considered to be safe for solo female travellers. Crime, including pick-pocketing, is rare. At no point did I feel unsafe in Lanzarote.
But, as ever, don’t make yourself a target. After dark, stick to familiar streets and make sure that you know your way back to your hotel or apartment.
Keep your valuables at your accommodation and use an anti-theft backpack when you are out and about. I use this PacSafe backpack which has anti-RFID technology and a hidden pocket.
My Favourite Places in Lanzarote
With just a week in Lanzarote, you can easily hit its highlights, from the lunar landscape of Timanfaya National Park to the architectural delights of César Manrique.
Here is my pick of the best, all of which can be visited using public transport or on an inexpensive day tour.
1. Timanfaya National Park (Parque Nacional de Timanfaya)
Covering a quarter of the island, the Mars-like landscape of the UNESCO-listed Timanfaya National Park is a must-see for any first-time visitor to Lanzarote. As this is one place in Lanzarote not served by public bus, I visited Timanfaya on a day tour of the island, which also included Jameos del Agua, Mirador del Rio and Cueva do Los Verdes.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOUR
2. Jardín de Cactus (Cactus Garden)
Blending with the surrounding landscape, this terraced garden is set in a bowl-like amphitheatre of a volcanic crater. Jardín de Cactus was designed by César Manrique and is home to around 500 species from across the globe.
3. Fundación César Manrique
Learn more about Lanzarote’s favourite son at his former home on the outskirts of Tahiche. Fundación César Manrique celebrates the life and work of this joyful man through his sculptures, paintings, archive photos and videos.
4. Jameos del Agua
Manrique also created the extraordinary subterranean world of Jameos del Agua from a volcanic tunnel system running from Montaña de Corona to the Atlantic Ocean. Its lower-level lake is home to a unique species of crab (Munidposis polymorpha), from where landscaped terraces lead back to ground level.
5. Cueva de Los Verdes
This five-mile-long cave network features interior lagoons and galleries with vertical interconnections, reaching up to fifty meters in height. Cueva de Los Verdes was used as a refuge and takes its name from the family – the “Greens” – who tended their goats in the upper level of the cave.
6. Teguise
Charming Teguise was not only Lanzarote’s first capital but it was also the first colonial capital in the world. It has many attractive buildings, a lovely main square, a few churches and a surprisingly compelling museum dedicated to the timple, the island’s traditional five-stringed instrument.
Visitors from across Lanzarote descend on this small town every Sunday for its weekly market.
7. Arrecife
Today, Arrecife is Lanzarote’s capital and the place to visit for a slice of real island life. Its attractions include an excellent urban beach (Playa del Reducto), a pretty tidal lagoon, a 16th Century fortress and a landmark 17th Century church set in an attractive colonial square.
8. Yaiza
As the prettiest village in Lanzarote, Yaiza is a solo photographer’s dream.
Scarlet geraniums decorate the green balconies of the village’s whitewashed Canarian-style buildings. At the heart of Yaiza is the small but perfectly formed church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios.
9. La Geria vineyards
Learn more about wine production on Lanzarote – and sample the island’s wine – on a half-day tour. I did the Wine and Vineyard Walk with Wine Tours Lanzarote, which was huge fun.
10. Famara
Caleta de Famara, the adjacent fishing village, is one of the few unspoilt places in Lanzarote
Located on Lanzarote’s northwestern coast, Playa de Famara was my favourite beach on the island. Popular with surfers, this 5 km stretch of soft sand, hugging the face of a steep cliff, is impossibly photogenic.
Getting There
Several scheduled and charter flights from across Europe land at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport (ACE), also known as Arrecife Airport.
There are boat services linking Lanzarote with Fuerteventura, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the ports of Huelva and Cádiz on mainland Spain.
Lanzarote is also a hugely popular cruise destination.
Getting Around
Whilst the most flexible way of exploring Lanzarote is by car, this is not for everyone. Thanks to an extensive network and cheap fares, it’s easy to get around Lanzarote by bus.
To reach the few places in Lanzarote not served by public buses – Timanfaya National Park, for example – or to maximise your time on the island, join one of the very affordable day tours. Excursions are also an excellent way to meet other people as a solo traveller.
I booked my Lanzarote tours through GetYourGuide, my go-to platform when travelling. I like the booking interface, there’s an easy-to-use app and their tours usually come with a generous free cancellation window.
>>> CLICK HERE TO SEE LANZAROTE DAY TOURS
Where to Stay in Lanzarote as a Solo Traveller
It is important to choose the right hotel or apartment as a solo traveller. As well as being comfortable and welcoming, it needs to be in a safe location.
Where you stay in Lanzarote will depend on your itinerary whilst on the island, especially if you are not hiring a car.
Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen attract package tourists in their droves. But to explore the more interesting places in the northeast of the island by bus, stay in Costa Teguise, the smaller and more restrained of the three tourist resort towns, or in Arrecife.
Where to stay in Costa Teguise
Hotel HD Beach Resort & Spa
I stayed at this 4-star resort at the quieter end of town. There are uninterrupted sea views and I was lucky to be upgraded to a swish duplex suite.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS AND RATES
Here are a few alternatives that I have found that may suit other tastes and budgets:
Meliá Salinas
This lovely hotel which is next door to Hotel HD Beach Resort & Spa is famous for its interior garden designed by César Manrique.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS & RATES
Apartamento recién reformado en la playa de Las Cucharas
For a self-catering option, take a look at this modern apartment close to the beach, which has a sun terrace, washing machine and daily housekeeping.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS & RATES
Where to stay in Arrecife
5***** Charco loft
This highly-rated apartment is in an excellent location and has superb views.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS & RATES
Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa
Next to Arrecife’s lovely El Reducto Beach, this landmark 5-star hotel offers a spa and panoramic views.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS & RATES
Why You Should Take a Singles Holiday to Lanzarote
Choosing a solo travel destination can be challenging, especially if you are taking your first solo trip. Ideally, you want somewhere that fits your interests, is easy to get around, has a good climate and is affordable. Above all, it needs to be safe, especially if you are a female solo traveller.
Lanzarote ticks all of those boxes.
Don’t be discouraged by its popularity as a sun, sea and sand flop for vitamin D-deprived Northern Europeans. It’s easy to escape the purpose-built resort towns for a taste of Canary Island life.
if you’ve found this article helpful, check out my other Lanzarote destination guides:
- Best Places to Visit in Lanzarote in One Week
- Exploring Lanzarote by Bus in 2024: Tips, Popular Routes and Fares
- 10 Fabulous Things to Do in Arrecife, Lanzarote
- How to Visit the Cactus Garden, Lanzarote
- 5 Reasons to Visit Famara, Lanzarote: The Hawaii of Europe
Finally, if you are interested in solo travel in the Canary Islands, take a look at my Tenerife solo travel guide or how to travel alone in Gran Canaria.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.