Arrecife

The capital of Lanzarote, Arrecife is a place bustling with life, history and wonderful natural beauty. As well as the busy town, Arrecife is also made up of a chain of small islands, many of which are so small they become covered during high tide.

The main town of Arrecife is home to the two busiest tourist areas, located near to the port and the airport. Here you will find many of the attractions, shops, bars and restaurants. The tourist industry and the hugely successful fishing industry support the majority of the population.

As well as excellent beaches and raucous nightlife, Arrecife has much to offer its visitors. The Castle of San Jose, home to the Contemporary Art Museum, is well worth a visit. Not only is the castle itself a stunning example of architecture, there are also wonderful views over the port of Naos and the Marbles. The museum displays works by globally famous artists and sculptors such as Picasso, Miro, Mompo and Cesar Manrique.

The ‘Charco de San Ginés’ (San Ginés Pool) is another place which is well worth a visit. Here you will find the first hermitages that were built in the area and from which the original fishing villages grew. Times have moved on, but even today the area retains a very calming atmosphere with some peaceful bars and wonderful sea food.

As well as the historical buildings and excellent food, the biggest drawcards for visitors to the area are the stunning beaches and clean seas that are within Arrecife’s boundaries. Playa El Reducto is a picturesque beach on the western edge of Arrecife. The last few years have seen a rather drastic increase in building work near the beach, but Playa El Reducto still retains a friendly, family atmosphere.

Playa El Cable beach, situated three miles from the centre of Arrecife, is a large stretch of white sand that is especially good for windsurfing and body-boarding. From here you can also take a ferry out into the Atlantic Ocean and witness some of the fascinating sea-life.

Arrecife Airport handles more than five million passengers every year and is the eighth busiest in Spain. The airport contains a good number of facilities such as bars, restaurants and parking. Cars can be rented from here and Arrecife is easily negotiated by car.