In this blog, I’ve picked out 15 of the best beaches in Lanzarote, to give you a head start on the best places to lay your towel on your upcoming holiday.
Made a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1993, it is an island of over 200 beaches, from picturesque coves to kilometres of light golden sand stretching around the coastline.
You can enjoy relaxing days of sunshine and sangria, get active with a plethora of water sports, or explore the island’s towns and villages, coast and interior on one of the many available excursions.
In the evenings, you can dine in local restaurants offering the best of regional cuisine, or international restaurants serving dishes from around the world. Savour the excellent local wines and beers, or chill with your favourite cocktail.
So, break out the shorts, slip on the flip-flops, and let’s tour 15 of the best beaches in Lanzarote.
15 Best Beaches in Lanzarote
1. Playas de Papagayo, not one beach, but a group of golden sandy coves
Located on the south coast of the island, the beaches of Papagayo lie 10km from the resort of Playa Blanca, in the protected Los Ajaches Natural Park.
The beaches can be reached by hire car from any resort on the island. As you get closer the park and beaches are well signed, taking you down a well-maintained dirt road to the car park. The entrance fee is €3 for the vehicle.
From there, it is a short but steep climb down to the beach area. And for those on a backpacking/camping holiday, there is a small campsite in the park close to the beach.
A more popular way of reaching this picturesque area is by one of the many ferries that make regular journeys to the beaches throughout the day. Or one of the popular catamaran trips that include lunch and drinks.
The beaches are surrounded by high, sandy, shrub-covered volcanic cliffs, with volcanic rock providing natural breakwaters that divide the pretty coves of Papagayo, Mujeres, de la Cera, Caleta del Congrio and Puerto Muelas.
The result provides an area of stunning natural beauty.
At low tide, you can paddle around the breakwaters to visit the other beaches, or use the clifftop paths if the tide is in. On a bright clear day, from the clifftops you can see the island of Fuerteventura shimmering in the distance.
With just one small shop near the park entrance and no sunbeds or shades, be sure to take a cool box with fluids, snacks, sunblock and extra towels.
All the beaches are relatively safe with calm waters, but only a couple have lifeguards on duty if you have small children.
There are no water sports facilities, but many visitors arrive with snorkels and scuba sets to explore the marine life at the base of the cliffs and breakwaters.
Also, a warning for those not particularly enamoured with the au-naturel body beautiful, the beaches of Caleta del Congrio and Mujeres are both popular with visiting naturists.
2. Playa Flamingo, a favourite beach in Lanzarote for families with young children
Although there are two other beaches closer to the town, if you are staying at the Playa Blanca resort, you are just a short walk from one of the best beaches in Lanzarote for fun family holidays.
Playa Flamingo lies just to the west of the resort. Small, at just 200m long, what the beach lacks in size it makes up for in quality.
At each end are large, artificial groynes that ensure the water stays millpond calm. The soft white sand wouldn’t look out of place on a Caribbean island, and the sea is a sparkling shade of blue.
Plenty of sunbeds and parasols are available to hire, and lifeguards are on duty throughout the day. Those with mobility issues will also find excellent access to the beach area.
Along the wide, palm-fringed promenade at the rear of the beach, you will find showers and WCs, souvenir and beach shops and bars and restaurants. If you are self-catering, there is everything you need close by to sustain you for the length of your stay.
Although snorkelling and diving are popular around the breakwater areas, there is little else by way of water sports facilities on Playa Flamingo. For jet skis and the like, head for Central Beach by the harbour, or Playa Dorada, to the east of Playa Blanca.
3. Playa de Famara, cheap lodgings and Lanzarote’s favourite beach for surfer dudes
Stretching for six kilometres along the northwest coast, we have picked Famara beach as one of the best beaches in Lanzarote due to its popularity with surfers at all levels, its wide-open space, and naturally surreal landscape.
With almost constant winds, it provides ideal, relatively safe conditions for all forms of water surfing, wind surfing and kite surfing, and is the favourite head-to area for most of the surf schools in Lanzarote.
As a sandy, rugged coastal area and backed by the Risco de Famara range of steep cliffs and mountains, Playa de Famara has no visitor facilities, so be sure to pack a backpack with snacks and drinks.
A couple of kilometres from the top of Famara beach is the one-time small fishing village of Caleta de Famara, the only inhabited place in the area. The village has a few private lets for those looking for lodgings, but no large hotels or apartment complexes.
Even if you’re just day-tripping, La Caleta has a couple of grocery stores, surf shops, bars and restaurants where you can do a little shopping, or enjoy a meal before starting the journey back to your resort.
Playa Famara is also popular with nature lovers, walkers and hikers, who arrive early to explore the coast and countryside.
Young children may well enjoy some time running about in the wide-open spaces, but there is little else to keep them amused. The sea here can be treacherous with waves and currents, so only strong adult swimmers should consider it, even when green flags are showing.
Although remote, the main coast road runs from the capital, Arrecife, along the rear of Playa Famara up to the village, with five public bus journeys a day operating week-days only.
Organised excursions are available, or you can do things in your own time by picking up a hire car.
Read also: Where to stay in Lanzarote: Best areas
4. Playa del Jablillo, an excellent beach for family holidays
Lying on the east coast of Lanzarote, Playa del Jablillo is one of three clean golden sand beaches serving the resort district of Costa Teguise.
At 150 metres long, with soft golden sand underfoot, the beach is enhanced by a natural rocky breakwater that keeps the water smooth and calm.
With an on-beach diving school offering lessons to all over eight years old, it gives a great first insight for the kids into what life under the waves is all about.
As the tide retreats at the top end of the beach, the breakwater retains a large seawater pool around 200 metres in length. Here, divers and snorkellers can explore the cliff base and seabed for marine life left behind until the sea returns.
With its calm waters, it’s also a great beach to enjoy some on-water activities, such as paddle boarding or kayaking. To further enhance safety, Playa del Jablillo has lifeguards on duty 365 days a year.
With the kids sorted out, plenty of sunbeds and parasols are available for mum and dad to enjoy a little down-time. The promenade at the rear of the beach has showers, WCs and the usual touristy shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
The beach is also disabled-friendly, with boardwalks to take you down to the water’s edge.
If arriving from out of town by hire car, there is a large car park just to the rear of the beach, although it fills up quickly during high season.
For that change of scenery and a break from the hot sun, a short stroll behind the beach will bring you to the main shopping areas, where you can enjoy a little window shopping or a cocktail on the shaded terrace of one of the many cafes and bars you will find around the area.
5. Playa de las Conchas (La Graciosa), a beach day on the Canary’s newest island
If you fancy a day away from the touristy hot spots of Lanzarote, on a deserted golden sand beach (save for a few of your fellow ferry passengers), book a ticket to La Graciosa.
At just 20km in length, it became an island in its own right in 2018. You can only get to the island by ferry from Lanzarote’s northern port of Orzola, with around six sailings a day. The trip takes 25-30 minutes.
At La Graciosa, you will dock at the port and island capital of Caleta de Sebo. From here, to get across the island to Playa de las Conchas you can walk (around an hour), hire a cycle (around 30 minutes), or hail one of the old Land Rover cabs (10 minutes).
These cabs also offer trips around the whole island, and are an excellent way to get a true feeling of what the island and its amazing landscape is really like.
Excursions take around an hour to 90 minutes, and you can arrange for the driver to drop you at Playa de las Conchas and pick you up for the return journey. Remember, the last ferry leaves the port for Lanzarote at 7pm.
Before continuing your journey, there are no tourist facilities on the island save those in the town. So be sure to fill a bag with drinks, snacks and sunblock, as there is no shade on the beaches.
The golden-yellow sand beach of Las Conchas is 600 metres long and around 150m wide. In the distance, across the sparkling blue Atlantic, you can see the uninhabited islets of Montaña Clara and Alegranza.
To the rear, from the foothills of Montana Bermeja, the landscape is one of sandy soil full of brush and native shrubs, with volcanic cones and Mount Clara in the background.
With no lifeguards on duty, children shouldn’t be allowed to enter the sea unaccompanied. At different times, strong undercurrents can pull the unwary off their feet, which is why you will often find red flags flying.
If you have little ones with you, consider some ball games or taking a kite. The almost constant breeze provides perfect conditions for kite flying and will keep the youngsters occupied.
6. Playa de la Francesa (La Graciosa), an anchor point for boat excursions
Still on the island of Graciosa, when discussing the best beaches in Lanzarote, it would be remiss to leave without mentioning pretty Playa de la Francesa.
Nestling on the island’s southern coast, Playa de la Francesa lies just two kilometres, or a 15-minute stroll, from the port of Caleta de Sebo.
Its closeness to the harbour and it’s few shops makes this beach a popular choice to chill in the sun, and it is invariably the busiest of the six main beaches on the island.
With its 400m of golden sand, horseshoe-shaped bay and long, rocky outcrop splitting it in two, the seas are invariably calm.
With an incoming tide, this natural phenomenon also provides a sizeable tranquil lagoon, often used by private boats, visiting catamarans and other boat trips as an anchorage, further adding to visitor numbers.
Being on the south of the island, you can gaze across the blue water for a seagull’s eye view of the cliffs of Famara on Lanzarote’s north coast.
Swimming should be safer on Playa de la Francesa due to its calmer inner lagoon, but care should still be taken with young children. Look out for warning flags and beware of stronger currents.
To round off your relaxing day, whether visiting Playa de las Conchas, Playa de la Francesa, or both on the same day, return to the port a couple of hours before your return ferry trip.
Do a little souvenir shopping, and enjoy an early meal of Canarian potatoes, chicken and mojo sauce. All washed down with a local beer or wine as you reflect on the pleasing tranquillity of the perfect day.
>>> Book your ferry ticket here <<<
7. Caleton Blanco, a relaxing day of sand, sun and sea for all ages
Staying on the north coast for number seven on our tour of the 15 best beaches in Lanzarote, we’re heading for Playa Caleton Blanco. In English, White Cove Beach.
Caleton Blanco is actually four coves, separated by lava outcrops that have been battered and shaped over millions of years to provide seawater pools, where little ones can splash around and go shrimping to their hearts’ content.
Close to the small fishing village of Orzola, it is another of Lanzarote’s magnificent coastal gems virtually untouched by the hand of tourist commercialism.
The only way to get to the beach area is by cab or hire car, and there is a large parking area to the rear of the beach.
Another au-naturel jewel, there are no facilities at any of the four coves, so if you’re travelling from further afield, call into the village first to stock up on snacks and drinks.
The sand in these coves is pearly-white. With the contrast of dark, algae-covered rocks, crystal-clear turquoise waters and a blue sky dotted with a little cumulus, the landscape will keep photographers busy for hours.
Caleton Blanco is a favourite with families in the know. The many pools left by the retreating tide are excellent for the kiddies, and even the main sea area beach remains shallow for a reasonable distance out.
Plastic beach shoes are a good idea for the little ones as clambering over some of the rockpools can be sharp on the feet.
If your idea of the best beaches in Lanzarote are quieter, unspoilt, natural beaches, move Caleton Blanco a few notches up the list.
8. Playa de los Pocillos, everything at your fingertips in this purpose-built resort
Pre 1990, Playa de los Pocillos was just another pretty beach lying around three kilometres south of the popular resort of Puerto del Carmen, on Lanzarote’s southeast coast.
With tourism increasing across the island, especially along the popular east coast area, it was decided a new resort area was needed, and work began at the back of the beach on the purpose-built resort of the same name.
Being just eight kilometres from Arrecife International Airport and three from Puerto del Carmen, the resort was an instant hit and is very popular with British visitors.
Playa de los Pocillos boasts over a kilometre of golden-yellow sand. And the waters that shelve gently into the warm Atlantic make it ideal for younger family members.
Playa de los Pocillos is a more relaxed beach than its larger neighbour, with plenty of sunbeds and parasols available. However, you won’t find any jet skis, banana boats or para-gliders here.
The odd surfer may be seen riding a sneaky wave at the beach’s north end, but surfing is also officially banned.
A wide, palm-lined promenade running right along the coast has been constructed, stretching from Playa de los Pocillos to Puerto del Carmen.
Shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels, apartment blocks and villas run the entire length, and a pleasant 20-minute stroll in the sunshine will give you an enjoyable change of scenery in the busier Puerto del Carmen.
Read also: Best things to do in Lanzarote
9. Playa del Charco de los Clicos, a visit to the green lagoon
For something a little different, consider a visit to a small coastal village on Lanzarote’s southwest coast by the name of El Golfo and its black sand beach of Playa del Charco.
Here, with a backdrop of volcanic craters, you will find one of nature’s wonders, a large saltwater lagoon that is a deep emerald green.
The lagoon receives its nutrient supply from seawater entering fissures deep down in the base. This supply of nutrients feeds the microscopic algae that proliferate in the lagoon, changing the colour to its deep shade of green.
The lake area is a designated nature reserve, so no paddling or swimming is allowed. You will often find the lake itself roped off, although this shouldn’t stop you from getting some great photos.
If you drive to the top of the hill, there is a designated car park and viewing area, where you can take some great shots looking down on the lake.
If you’re visiting late afternoon, make your way down to the beach, where some excellent sunset photos can be snapped against a background of dark multi-coloured cliffs, black sand beach and emerald lagoon.
10. Playa Grande (Puerto del Carmen), a prime beach at the island’s largest resort
As the island’s largest resort, Puerto del Carmen has, for many years, attracted visitors from across Europe and beyond – and with good reason.
While accepting all the facilities needed for a good holiday are just a short walk away, Puerto del Carmen also has three pristine beaches along its coastline, two of which we have included on our list of 15 of the best beaches in Lanzarote.
Wide, and stretching for over one kilometre along the coast, Playa Grande, or ‘Big Beach’, has everything going for it. The cleanliness of the beach is superb. The sand shelves gently into the warm sea, making it ideal for children.
And disabled visitors are well catered for with wood boardwalks and amphibian chairs to get them safely into the water. The beach also has lifeguards on duty throughout the day.
Water sports here are strictly controlled. While swimming and snorkelling are allowed, the only other water activities are pedal-powered boats in various shapes and styles.
An inflatable water park is set up just offshore during the summer, where kids and adults can wade out and pay for 30 minutes of sliding, jumping, and diving off the various floating shapes.
The beach has plenty of sunbeds and shades for visitors, with all the usual shops, bars, restaurants, WCs and showers along the beachfront. More can be found along the Avenue de las Playas, which follows the coast just to the rear of the beach.
11. Playa Chica (Puerto del Carmen) small, friendly, with diving and water sports
With just a few hundred metres between them, these two beaches couldn’t be more diverse.
Playa Chica boasts just 60 metres of golden sand, and is surrounded by seawater hewn lava breakwaters, rockpools, and diving areas. Yet it is a top-rated beach with families, couples, divers and snorkellers who return year on year.
While young children can splash about in the rock pools and seafront shallows, divers and snorkellers can get up-close and personal with the large variety of marine life in the caves and around the base of the craggy lava outcrops.
Sun loungers and shades are available at the back of the beach. One beach shack is located on the beach, with shops, bars and restaurants just a few yards to the rear.
Water sports are available on Playa Chica, including jet skis, banana boats, paragliding and boat trips.
Between Playa Grande and Playa Chica, you have an amazing change of outlook just a few hundred metres apart, making both these beaches worthy of our top 15 best beaches in Lanzarote list.
12. Caleta de Congrio, one of Lanzarote’s favourite nudist beaches
On Lanzarote’s east coast, in the Los Ajaches Nature Reserve, lies the wild, barren and gloriously uncommercialised Caleta de Congrio, so before starting your journey, stock up on snacks and drinks.
For many years the realm of visiting naturists from across Europe, today it is popular with all who enjoy the peace and tranquillity of time away from the masses.
The views are breathtaking both out to sea, where you can make out Fuerteventura in the distance, and in the interior, with its sand dunes and patches of shrub and succulents.
It is one of the Papagayo group of beaches. When entering the park’s car park, you will notice a designated parking area for those touring in motorhomes or campervans.
From here, you are just a short five-minute walk to the cliffs and dunes, where you can follow the path down to over 300 metres of clean, golden-yellow beach.
Nowadays, naturists tend to head off to the right-hand end of the beach, so if you find the naked body a little off-putting, head off to the left.
13. Playa del Risco, a beautiful and isolated beach
What makes one of Lanzarote’s most spectacular natural vistas so apparently un-appealing? Answer – access.
Lying on the island’s northwest tip, Playa del Risco lies at the base of the Famara cliffs and stretches for over 1000 metres around the coast.
Although you may be able to take in Playa del Risco as part of an organised round-the-island tour, your time is usually limited to a few photo opportunities from the cliff top.
If you are touring by hire car (there is no public transport to this area), follow directions to the Mirador del Rio viewpoint and park up on the outskirts of the tiny village of Yé.
The area is totally as nature intended, so make sure you have snacks and drinks. Good walking shoes are also recommended.
The walk from here along the well-worn paths will take around 60/75 minutes. Already at an altitude of over 500 metres, it won’t be long before the island of La Graciosa comes into view as you slowly start to work your way down to Playa del Risco.
Once on the yellow sand beach, you can enjoy the feeling of total seclusion. Be amazed by the surrounding landscape. Enjoy your picnic lunch. Swim in the turquoise sea – and try not to think about the trek back.
14. Playa de la Garita, a popular beach in Lanzarote with locals, surfers and older families
Located on the north-eastern coast of the island, Playa de la Garita sits alongside the village of Arrieta. It is a one kilometre long stretch of golden sand beach.
Being more a rural resort than a tourist resort, it is a popular venue with visitors who prefer to engage with the culture of the local population.
On the walkway at the back of the beach are a small popular restaurant, bar and shop, and showers and changing rooms. Other shops, bars and eateries can be found in the village.
Sun loungers and shades are few, with most visitors happy to lay their towels on the beach. For a north coast resort, Playa de la Garita doesn’t suffer the strength of wind others do. Nonetheless, that doesn’t stop a few surfers from riding what waves they can find.
Access to the beach is good, with the local bus service to Arrieta dropping off passengers around 300 metres from the beach.
15. Playa Blanca (Yaiza), a beach family resort
Playa Blanca is Lanzarote’s newest resort around an hour’s transfer time from Lanzarote Airport, and sitting close to Yaiza village. The large, nine-kilometre wide bay is divided into three fabulous beaches, with the beach of the same name being central to the resort.
The area includes a ferry port and a new marina for private yachts and cruisers. The beach is one of soft white sand curving around the coast and is protected by artificial breakwaters and shelves gently into the sea.
With lifeguards on duty every day, the area is ideal for young children.
Sun loungers and shades can be hired on the beach, while the wide promenade stretches along the resort’s coastline, with plenty of tourist shops, bars and restaurants, low-rise hotels, apartment blocks and luxurious villas.
With everything you need at your fingertips, Playa Blanca is another excellent resort that should be enjoyed to the fullest, and is worthy of being on our list of the 15 best beaches in Lanzarote.