Honestly, up front: of the Canaries I only know Gran Canaria; I haven't been to Lanzarote yet. But hardly any island gets mentioned to me as often when it comes to reliable winter sun – so I have put together what I have read and heard from readers. Compared with Madeira it is the opposite: instead of green levadas a black volcanic landscape, instead of rainy days the driest of the Canary Islands. Here are the tips that emerged. If you've been there: your tips below are very welcome.
Why Lanzarote in winter – and why not
Lanzarote is the Canary Island for anyone who wants one thing above all in winter: sunshine that reliably shows up. In Arrecife it is 21–23 degrees by day and 13–15 at night in January and February, with six to seven hours of sunshine a day and only two or three rainy days a month – about 100 millimetres of rain fall in the whole year, less than Zurich gets in one wet month. The sea is 18–19 degrees, so swimmable for the hardy. From Zurich, Edelweiss flies nonstop in 3 hours 50, three times a week in winter; from Germany there are direct flights from almost every major city.
The honest side: Lanzarote is barren. If you are after palms, forests and flowers, Madeira or La Palma are the better choice. The trade wind blows almost always – pleasant at 22 degrees, but on the beach you need a windbreak, and the north coast is more for surfers than for bathers. And the resorts of Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise are full of British and German winter residents; if you want peace, stay inland or in the north.
What I would go and see
The island is small – 60 kilometres long, crossed in an hour – and almost everything worth seeing goes back to one man: the artist César Manrique, who in the 1960s made sure no high-rises were built on Lanzarote and all houses stayed white. His works are the main sights: the Mirador del Río high above the neighbouring island of La Graciosa, the lava cave Jameos del Agua with its underground lake, the cactus garden at Guatiza and his house in Tahíche, built into five lava bubbles. Plus Timanfaya National Park with the bus ride through the Fire Mountains, the green lagoon of El Golfo, the vineyards of La Geria, where every vine grows in a funnel of volcanic ash sheltered from the wind – and the Papagayo beaches in the far south.
A week on Lanzarote, how I would plan it
Two days in the south: Papagayo beaches, Playa Blanca, a day trip by ferry to Fuerteventura (30 minutes to Corralejo, dunes). One day Timanfaya with El Golfo and the Janubio salt pans, then wine tasting in La Geria. One day in the north: Mirador del Río, Jameos del Agua, Cueva de los Verdes, the village of Haría in the «valley of a thousand palms». One day Teguise – the big market is on Sundays – and the Manrique house. Plus a day or two of simply nothing, I can do that by now. A hire car is essential, the roads are good and empty; from Arrecife airport you often get one from 20 francs a day in winter.
Where I would stay
Three places that kept coming up in my research – with very good reviews, cheaper in winter than in high season. I haven't tested them myself yet:
How I would book Lanzarote
Four things I noted down
- Book the south, visit the north: Playa Blanca has the most sunshine hours and the best beaches; the north around Haría is greener and windier – a day trip.
- Reserve Timanfaya in advance – mandatory since June 2026, see above. Early in the morning the buses are emptiest.
- Windproof jacket instead of a jumper: 22 degrees by day, but the trade wind almost always blows; evenings get cool at 14 degrees.
- Sunday is Teguise: the market in the old capital is the biggest in the Canaries – go early, the coaches arrive from eleven.
Your tips – you've been there
Here I collect your Lanzarote experiences: beaches, restaurants, hotels, the best month. The first tips will appear as soon as they arrive – with first names.
Your Lanzarote tip
Been to Lanzarote? Tell me what was worth it – I check the tips and publish the best ones here with your first name. I'm curious myself.
More warm winter destinations For comparison: Madeira Post on Facebook
The links lead to partners; if you book, I receive a small commission – the price does not change for you. Photos: Unsplash (Martin Woortman, Thibault Mokuenko, Bruno da Costa, Andrea Huls Pareja, JP Files), free to use. Sources: Edelweiss (flight times), CACT Lanzarote (Timanfaya tickets), climate data AEMET Arrecife.