Lanzarote in winter: a good idea?
Absolutely! Here’s our guide to help you decide and plan your trip:
- Lanzarote’s winter sun, temperature and weather,
- Reasons to visit Lanzarote between December and March,
- Tips and things to do in Lanzarote in winter,
- Christmas in Lanzarote (and New Year).
Our favorite car rental platform: DiscoverCars
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is Lanzarote a winter destination? Short answers
What should you expect when visiting Lanzarote in winter?
Lanzarote has a lot to offer all year round. When it comes to winter, you can expect the following:
- The days are long – the shortest day of the year still has 10 hours of sunshine (sunrise around 7:30am and sunset around 6pm).
- Warm winter sun – It’s not hot like summer, but it’s warm. Especially when the sun is out. Daytime temperatures between 18°C and 24°C
- It’s a desert climate, but there may be a few days of rain – but the rains are normally short.
- Sea temperature between 18°C and 20°C
- Beautiful beaches, a little less crowded than in summer (except at Christmas and Easter)
- Breathtaking volcanic landscapes
- Great hiking opportunities thanks to cooler temperatures.
- Almost everything stays open in winter
So, is Lanzarote a good winter destination?
Absolutely.
If you’re looking to escape the winter chill, enjoy a little warmth and breathtaking scenery, traveling to Lanzarote is a great idea.
Enjoy longer days, warmer temperatures and plenty of activities.
6 reasons to visit Lanzarote in winter
#1. Climate
Lanzarote offers a warm climate in winter, ideal for escaping the cold.
Temperatures are similar to spring – around 18 to 24°C during the day.
There is rain, but not as much as in northern countries, and it doesn’t last long.
#2 – The tours and activities don’t stop
As a year-round destination, you can enjoy most visits and activities in winter too.
Boat tours, wine tasting…
See all activities in Lanzarote
#3 – Fewer people (more or less)
Lanzarote is very popular, especially in summer (high season). Beaches can be crowded.
In winter, it’s always popular (it’s a year-round destination), but you can more easily find quieter spots.
However, the Christmas and Easter vacations are also very busy!
#4 – Nature comes to life
Lanzarote has a desert climate. Volcanic soil doesn’t have much vegetation.
It’s in winter, when there’s little rain, that the island gets this greenery and a few flowers appear, creating magnificent landscapes.
#5 – Surfing
If you want to go surfing, winter is considered one of the best times to surf in Lanzarote, with superb waves.
The water temperature is ideal and the waves are there.
#6 – Less wind
Lanzarote can be windy all year round. However, the windiest months are spring and summer.
You’ll feel less wind (especially with lower temperatures) in winter.
Discover all our favorite places (with GPS coordinates and practical tips) included in our eBook travel guide that helps you easily plan your trip to Lanzarote:
WITH OUR GUIDE PLAN YOUR DREAM TRIP TO lanzarote
All the information you need for your trip:
- 7 maps that make planning easier
- + 75 pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
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Lanzarote in winter – Sun, heat, weather
Is it warm in Lanzarote in winter?
In winter, temperatures to be expected are:
- around 18 to 24°C during the day
- 13 to 17°C overnight.
This makes it one of the warmest places in Europe in winter.
Winter sun in Lanzarote – how much sun can you expect?
With the climate, nothing is guaranteed.
But due to the island’s geography, most days offer beautiful blue skies.
It may rain, but not as much as the rest of Europe, and mostly in small patches. All you have to do is wait a little.
In winter, you have:
- at least 10 hours of daylight,
- 7 to 9 hours of sunshine on winter days out of these 10 hours.
Is it possible to sunbathe on Lanzarote in winter?
Absolutely.
As mentioned above, in December, January and February, daytime temperatures at the beach are around 18 to 24°C.
When the sun is out, due to the island’s low latitude, it’s quite warm.
See our selection of Lanzarote’s most beautiful beaches.
Visiting Lanzarote during the winter months – Tips
All our usual Lanzarote tips also apply to winter.
But here are a few special tips to keep in mind.
Best moment
There’s no better month. Just avoid the Spanish Christmas and Easter vacations to avoid the crowds.
Otherwise, our only advice is:
In summer, we recommend starting hiking and other activities early to avoid the heat of the sun.
In winter, the advantage is that it’s more comfortable in the afternoon. So you’ve got the whole day to explore the beauty of the islands and go hiking.
Getting around Lanzarote in winter
In winter as in summer, we believe that renting a car is the best way to explore the island.
This gives you the freedom to see the most beautiful sights and stop whenever you like.
There are buses, but the frequency is not ideal.
Nothing special to think about for the car in winter. The same applies as in summer.
See all our tips for renting a car in Lanzaorte.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Lanzarote
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- A small car is all you need.
- But you can also choose a larger one if you wish, as the parking spaces are rather large.
- Demand is high, so book early.
How long can I stay in Lanzarote in winter?
It depends on what you want to do.
To explore the whole island, 10 days to 2 weeks are ideal.
But if you just want to enjoy the winter sun, 5 days to a week will give you the boost you need to get through the rest of winter.
Where to stay in winter
The whole island enjoys the same climate.
So there’s no better place to stay in winter.
It all depends on the type of city and accommodation you prefer, and on your criteria.
Just be aware that swimming pools are not always heated…
CHOOSING A HOTEL IN Lanzarote
Choosing where to stay:
Select by hotel type:
- 5-star hotels
- Best boutique-hotels
- Best adults-only hotels
- Best all-inclusive hotels
- Best hotels for families
Our favorite: Hotel Cala Lanzarote – See prices, photos and availability
Select by city:
Winter activities in Lanzarote
What is there to do in Lanzarote in winter?
Almost the same things as in summer. See our full article on the 21 best attractions in Lanzarote.
Here are just some of the highlights.
Enjoy the beaches
As mentioned above, you can sunbathe and enjoy Lanzarote’s beaches in winter.
For something a little wilder, head to Papagayo.
Located on the south coast, this is the oldest part of the island. The small cove has a beautiful shape and emerald waters.
There are no paved roads to get there, only a very bumpy track (where you’re not normally allowed to go with rental cars). The other option is to walk from Playa Blanca to Papagayo (along other beaches), which is an excellent walk.
To find out more, see our article on Papagayo.
Visit Timanfaya National Park
Lanzarote’s most famous activity is the bus tour inside Timanfaya National Park(see our Timanfaya guide). Located to the west, this is one of the best and most picturesque parts of the island. It is made entirely of volcanic soil. There aren’t many ways to find out. The main one is the bus tour along the park’s only road. You can’t get off the bus to protect the park, but you can see some of the most unique views you can imagine. It’s like visiting another planet!
If you don’t want to rent a car, half-day excursions take you from all the resorts to discover Timanfaya. See the program.
Hiking around volcanoes
With optimal temperatures, winter is the ideal time to enjoy these special hikes around and atop volcanoes.
Lanzarote’s volcanic landscapes are fascinating.
There are several hikes with different levels of difficulty.
The Montana Cuervo is one of our favorites: you can walk all around it and enter the dome.
But others are more colorful.
See our list of the best hikes.
Explore the island of La Graciosa
La Graciosa is a small island to the north of Lanzarote.
Access is by ferry, and there are no roads at all, only tracks in the sand. You can explore it either on foot or in one of the 4WD cabs.
Unlike Lanzarote, it is covered in white sand. But it also has a few volcanoes. The colors are breathtaking and you can enjoy a variety of landscapes: beaches, volcanoes and basalt columns. See our article on La Graciosa Lanzarote for more photos.
Ferries depart from Orzola. Please note that for those staying in Playa Blanca, the journey to the north is quite long (1h10min drive).
2 companies offer ferries from Lanzarote to La Graciosa. See departures.
Enjoy the works of César Manrique – attractions in Lanzarote
Thanks to the singular vision of César Manrique, Lanzarote boasts unique locations where architecture is integrated with nature.
He designed many of Lanzarote’s top attractions, such as..: Cactus Garden, Mirador del Rio, Jameos del Agua…
Discover all Manrique’s amazing attractions in this article.
Vertigo in a lava tube
This photo was taken at Cueva de los Verdes, in the north of the island. Jesus Soto installed lights in the lava tunnel to create a fascinating experience. We won’t say too much, so as not to spoil the surprise. But we were very impressed with the experience in the end!
Have fun!
Lanzarote is an ideal winter destination for the whole family.
There’s plenty to do:
HAVE FUN WITH THESE Lanzarote activities
- Dolphin watching
- Buggy / Quad
- Kayak excursion
- But also: Diving at the Museum of the Atlantic, Catamaran outings, Paddle excursions, Parasailing
And much more…
There’s lots to see and do on Lanzarote.
See the 21 best things to do in Lanzarote(in this article) or our selection of hidden gems(in this article).
Christmas in Lanzarote
What’s Christmas like on Lanzarote?
Lanzarote is a popular Christmas destination.
It’s a big event with festivities, decorations, delicious food…
There will be plenty of visitors. So book early.
Temperatures at sea level are very pleasant, around 18/22°C during the day.
What are the official vacation dates around Christmas?
In Lanzarote you can enjoy..:
- December 25
- January 1st
- January 6
On these days, many shops are closed.
Is it warm in Lanzarote this Christmas?
The weather’s not hot, but it’s warm. You can wear a t-shirt during the day.
All you need is a sweater for the evening.
On average, there are 6 to 8 hours of sunshine out of the 10 hours of daylight.
There’s a risk of rain, but nothing like in Northern Europe…
Christmas decorations
Because of the mild climate, you won’t find many traditional fir trees, but mostly artificial ones.
They are traditionally decorated with baubles, Christmas lights, snowflakes, bows, wreaths and more.
The Christmas atmosphere is very much in evidence.
You’ll hear Christmas music
If you go for a walk, you’ll also see many nativity scenes.
Christmas events – Epiphany
Christmas Day is, of course, a day of gathering.
However, Christmas festivities last until January 6, the day of the Epiphany.
The island’s biggest holiday is King’s Day, on January 6, when children receive their presents.
This festival refers to the day when the three kings visited Jesus with gifts.
On the 5th, the Kings make an appearance in every town on the island, riding camels for the Kings’ Parade.
Food
Of course, no tradition is complete without food specialties.
Most hotels will serve a typical British or Irish Christmas meal.
Most restaurants will also serve classic dishes: fish, tapas, met…
New Year in Lanzarote
New Year’s Eve in Lanzarote and the 12 grapes
Lanzarote celebrates New Year’s Eve just like anywhere else in the world.
One special feature is that Spaniards eat twelve grapes at midnight, one at each strike of the bell.
Almost every restaurant on the island offers a special meal on New Year’s Eve, which ends at midnight.
The best places to watch fireworks
Fireworks in all major coastal towns:
- Arrecife,
- Costa Teguise,
- Puerto del Carmen,
- Playa Blanca
Some of these can run quite late into the night, allowing people to finish their celebrations in restaurants.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Lanzarote
- Best of
Most beautiful landscapes
Best things to do in Lanzarote
Most beautiful beaches
Most beautiful villages
Best boat tours
César Manrique’s attractions
Secret places, off the beaten track
Most beautiful hikes
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Lanzarote
How to get around
How to rent a car in Lanzarote
Driving tips
Where to stay in Lanzarote
Best hotels in Lanzarote
Best excursions
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
