Canary Islands
Best hotels in Lanzarote: where to stay, area by area
Lanzarote has three main resorts, and each suits a different holiday. Playa Blanca faces Fuerteventura across the strait, Puerto del Carmen has the longest beach, and Costa Teguise is closest to the airport. These are the hotels we recommend in each.
Picolo Editorial
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In short: hotels in Lanzarote
Where to stay: Playa Blanca for calm beaches and families, Puerto del Carmen for restaurants and a long beach, Costa Teguise for a short transfer.
Best for families: Princesa Yaiza in Playa Blanca, with family suites of 95 m² and a free kids' club.
Best for couples: La Isla y el Mar, an adults-only hotel by the old harbour in Puerto del Carmen.
Transfer: about 10 to 15 minutes from the airport to Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise, and about 30 to 40 minutes to Playa Blanca.
Our choice: Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort, where even the smallest double is 55 m² and the beach is a one-minute walk.
Check availability and prices at Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort
Which part of Lanzarote should you stay in?
Lanzarote's airport sits on the east coast near Arrecife, and the main resorts lie south and north of it. The choice comes down to how long a transfer you accept and what you want outside the hotel.
Playa Blanca is the southern tip, about 30 to 40 minutes from the airport. The beaches are sheltered, the Papagayo coves are close, and the ferry to Corralejo on Fuerteventura takes about 25 minutes.
Puerto del Carmen is the largest resort, about 10 to 15 minutes from the airport. A promenade runs along the beach to the old harbour, where the fish restaurants are.
Los Pocillos and Matagorda are the quieter eastern end of Puerto del Carmen, closest to the airport.
Costa Teguise lies about 10 to 15 minutes north of the airport, with small beaches and a golf course.
Arrecife is the capital. Stay here for a city break with a beach, not for a resort holiday.
Playa Blanca: calm beaches and the best family hotels
Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort
Princesa Yaiza stands by Dorada Beach, a one-minute walk from the sand, and the centre of Playa Blanca is about eight minutes on foot. There are four outdoor pools, seven restaurants and a free kids' club. The rooms are large by any standard: superior doubles are 55 m², suites 75 m², and the family suites in the annex 95 m² for up to five. Guests give it 9.4 out of 10 across 576 reviews on Hotels.com.
It suits families who want space, and couples who want a suite without paying for a villa. It suits less well if you want to walk to lively bars at night. Playa Blanca is quiet after dinner.
Check availability and prices at Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort
Princesa Yaiza in Playa Blanca, where the pools look across the strait to Fuerteventura and the small island of Lobos. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Hotel LIVVO Volcán Lanzarote
Volcán lies beside Marina Rubicón, which is a three-minute walk away. It has three outdoor pools, four restaurants and a spa. Doubles are 38 m², and the Club rooms and suites are reserved for adults. More than 1,000 guests on Hotels.com give it 9.2 out of 10.
Choose it if you like an evening stroll among the yachts and restaurants of the marina. The trade-off is the beach: Dorada Beach is about 17 minutes on foot, so this is a pool hotel first.
Check availability and prices at Hotel LIVVO Volcán Lanzarote
Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park
Iberostar lies at the western end of Playa Blanca, a two-minute walk from Playa Flamingo. Children get a free water park inside the hotel, and the Aqualava water park is about 12 minutes on foot. Family rooms are 36 m² and sleep four. Guests give it 9.0 out of 10 across 587 reviews.
Compared with Princesa Yaiza, the rooms are smaller, but the water park keeps children busy without leaving the hotel.
Check availability and prices at Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park
Puerto del Carmen: the long beach and the old harbour
Hotel Fariones
Fariones stands at the heart of Puerto del Carmen, a two-minute walk from Puerto del Carmen Beach. Every room on Hotels.com faces the sea, from doubles of 34 m² to Ocean Suites of 80 m². There is a spa, and the old harbour is about ten minutes on foot along the promenade. On Hotels.com, guests score it 9.8 out of 10.
It suits anyone who wants the beach and the evening walk to the harbour without a taxi.
Check availability and prices at Hotel Fariones
La Isla y el Mar Hotel Boutique
An adults-only hotel about five minutes on foot from the old harbour of Puerto del Carmen. Every room is a suite of at least 50 m², and the Premium Loft is 74 m². There are two restaurants and a spa. It scores 9.6 out of 10 across 487 reviews.
The trade-off is the beach. Puerto del Carmen Beach is about 13 minutes on foot, and the nearest cove, Playa Chica, about eight.
Check availability and prices at La Isla y el Mar Hotel Boutique
A garden terrace at La Isla y el Mar, an adults-only hotel five minutes on foot from the old harbour. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Hotel Lava Beach
Lava Beach stands between Matagorda and Los Pocillos, the quieter end of Puerto del Carmen. Both beaches are about seven minutes on foot. Rooms are 28 m², and the junior suites facing the pool 35 m². There is a spa and a pool bar. Guests give it 9.8 out of 10 across 258 reviews.
Guests mention how close it is to the airport, which helps on a short break.
Check availability and prices at Hotel Lava Beach
Costa Teguise and Arrecife: close to the airport
Barceló Teguise Beach
An adults-only hotel in Costa Teguise, about five minutes on foot from Las Cucharas Beach. Deluxe rooms are 26 m², and some have a hot tub. Junior suites are 39 m². There are three restaurants, two outdoor pools and a spa. Guests give it 9.2 out of 10 across more than 1,000 reviews.
Choose it for a short break with a short transfer. The rooms are smaller than in Puerto del Carmen's suite hotels.
Barceló Teguise Beach in Costa Teguise, about five minutes on foot from Las Cucharas Beach. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa
A city hotel on El Reducto Beach in Arrecife, a three-minute walk from the sand. El Charco de San Ginés, the lagoon with the capital's bars and fish restaurants, is about ten minutes on foot. Rooms are 30 m² and suites 45 m². There is an indoor pool and a spa. It scores 9.0 out of 10 across 1,000 reviews.
It suits a first or last night, or a winter break where you want a town around you.
Check availability and prices at Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa
Which room should you book?
At Princesa Yaiza, the suite of 75 m² gives you 20 m² more than the superior double of 55 m². For two adults, the superior is already roomy, so upgrade only if you want a sea view. At Fariones, every room faces the sea, so the Junior Suite of 38 m² is worth it only for extra space. At Lava Beach, the pool-view junior suite adds 7 m² to the 28 m² double. Families of five should look at Princesa Yaiza's 95 m² suites before booking two rooms.
Getting there from the UK
Jet2 flies to Lanzarote from 13 UK bases in winter 2026/27, according to Selling Travel. Ryanair, TUI and British Airways also flew direct from UK airports in winter 2025/26, according to La Voz de Lanzarote. The flight from London takes about four hours, according to Trip.com. From the airport, allow about 10 to 15 minutes to Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise and about 30 to 40 minutes to Playa Blanca.
Our recommendation
Princesa Yaiza: room for the whole family by Dorada Beach
Princesa Yaiza stands a one-minute walk from Dorada Beach in Playa Blanca. Superior doubles start at 55 m², and the family suites in the annex reach 95 m² for up to five, with a free kids' club and four pools.
Our verdict
What Picolo chooses: Princesa Yaiza for a family, La Isla y el Mar for two adults, and Hotel Fariones for anyone who wants the beach and the harbour on foot.
Why: Princesa Yaiza's family suites are 95 m², La Isla y el Mar has only suites of 50 m² or more, and Fariones is two minutes from Puerto del Carmen Beach.
The trade-off: Playa Blanca is the furthest resort from the airport. For a weekend, Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise saves you about half an hour each way.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay in Lanzarote?
Puerto del Carmen suits most first visits. It has a long beach with a promenade, and the transfer from the airport takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Choose Playa Blanca for calmer beaches and family hotels, Costa Teguise for a short transfer, and Arrecife for a city break. Our hotel picks for each area are above.
Which part of Lanzarote is best for families?
Playa Blanca, in the south. The beaches are sheltered, and the family hotels there have the biggest rooms. Princesa Yaiza has family suites of 95 m², and Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park has its own water park. The transfer from the airport takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
Is Lanzarote or Tenerife better for a winter holiday?
Both are reliable winter sun islands with direct flights from the UK. Lanzarote has volcanic landscapes, smaller resorts and quieter evenings. Tenerife has more variety, from Mount Teide to large resorts such as Costa Adeje. Our guide to choosing a Canary Island compares all four main islands.
How far is Playa Blanca from Lanzarote Airport?
About 30 to 40 minutes by road, according to Lanzarote Guidebook. Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise are closer, about 10 to 15 minutes. Book a transfer or hire a car in advance, because Playa Blanca is at the far southern tip of the island.
Can you visit Fuerteventura from Lanzarote?
Yes. Ferries run from Playa Blanca to Corralejo on Fuerteventura, and the crossing takes about 25 to 35 minutes, according to Direct Ferries. Fred. Olsen Express, Naviera Armas, Baleària and Líneas Romero sail the route. A day trip works well from a hotel in Playa Blanca.
Sources
Room sizes, walking times and guest ratings come from Hotels.com. Airport transfer times come from Lanzarote Guidebook and ferry times from Direct Ferries. Flight times come from Trip.com, the Jet2 winter programme from Selling Travel and the winter 2025/26 routes from La Voz de Lanzarote. The comparison of the areas, the room advice and our choices are Picolo's own. Last checked: 3 November 2026.
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