Lanzarote's volcanic landscape makes it the most visually dramatic of the Canary Islands, and its three main resort areas each suit a different kind of trip.
Puerto del Carmen is the island's main resort and its nightlife hub — bars and restaurants line the seafront, and it's close enough to the airport that you don't need a hire car if you don't want one.
Playa Blanca, at the southern tip, is quieter and noticeably more upmarket, with the golden-sand Papagayo beaches nearby and a slower pace that suits families. It's also the departure point for the ferry over to Corralejo in Fuerteventura, if you want to island-hop for a day.
Costa Teguise sits between the two in character — calmer than Puerto del Carmen, with good conditions for surfing and windsurfing.
Wherever you stay, the island's César Manrique-designed attractions — Jameos del Agua, the Green Cave, Timanfaya National Park — are all doable as day trips from any of the main resorts.
César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport (ACE, also called Arrecife Airport) is the island's only airport, with direct flights from UK cities including London, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh and Liverpool — around 4 hours 15 minutes from London. Puerto del Carmen is about 10 minutes from the airport; Playa Blanca is roughly 30 minutes.
Lanzarote's nickname, the "Island of Eternal Spring," is well earned — temperatures rarely drop below 20°C even in winter, and rain outside December-February is practically unheard of. Late February through April and September through November hit the sweet spot: warm, sunny, and well short of the summer crowds and heat, which peaks around 30°C in June-July.
Papas arrugadas — small, wrinkled potatoes boiled in salted water and served with mojo picón (spicy red) or mojo verde (coriander) sauce — are the island's signature dish, on every menu from beach bar to fine dining. Pair them with freshly grilled dorada or vieja (parrot fish), and look out for the island's volcanic-soil goat's cheese.
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