Arrecife is a beautiful port city with a vibrant seafront and colorful streets. Our tourist map shows the top attractions, historical buildings, museums, points of interest and open-space areas.
The elegant boutiques and small cafés found in the marina, also help create a delightful island atmosphere.
What Makes Arrecife Unique?
Character restaurants, bars, and hotels have also helped turned this once small fishing village into the urban and contemporary capital of Lanzarote it is today.
Unlike its neighboring resort towns of Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise however, you’ll find this area to be city-like. If you’re wondering where Lanzarote locals come to shop and to party, you’ve found it.
Interactive Tourist Map
We’ve included every tourist attraction, things to do and place to visit in Arrecife on our map below. All of the city’s famous castles, beaches, shopping areas, museums, and parks are clearly marked, as are local landmarks, statues, and monuments.
City Sightseeing Train
While many visitors prefer to taking scenic walks through Arrecife, the tourist train offers the easiest access to the city’s attractions in the shortest amount of time.
The City Sightseeing Train starts from Charco San Ginés offering hop-on, hop-off access to all the major tourist attractions and points of interest. Multilingual audio commentary is also available for those who wish to stay aboard or learn about an attraction prior to visiting.
Castles
Two castles can be found along the coastline in Arrecife with both containing important local museums and throngs of tourists.
Castillo de San Gabriel
The San Gabriel Castle sits the center of Arrecife and out to sea along Calle Punta de la Lagarta. The Puente de Las Bolas drawbridge leads the way and is named after the balls that stand upon its pillars. The fortress itself was constructed in 1599 to defend against pirate attacks and within the castle, you’ll find a History Museum for both Arrecife and Lanzarote.
Castillo de San José
The San José Castle was built overlooking the port in the 18th century and is now often used as a concert hall. Inside you’ll find the Museum of Modern Art (MIAC) along with a bar and restaurant which can be visited separately from the art exhibitions.
Museums
No matter which part of town you’re touring in Arrecife, there will be a museum nearby. You can even view them individually on our Arrecife Museum Map.
César Manrique handiwork is most notable in his former home and studio (César Manrique Foundation).
When it comes to looking back in time, the Museum of History found within San Gabriel Castle offers some unique geological exhibits and some pirates ones as well. For history buffs, The Archaeology Museum documents the origins of Lanzarote’s ethnographic heritage while more can be found at La Casa Amarilla.
For art lovers, International Museum of Modern Art has a delightful offering of local artist including some Manrique works. You’ll also find more local art, as well as cultural history at Casa de La Cultura (Augustin de la Hoz) and the Cultural Innovation Center (El Almacen).
Lastly, the Aeronautical Museum showcases the history of flight in Lanzarote and makes for a great thing to do while waiting for a flight.
Local Landmarks
While you’ll find many sculptures and statues from César Manrique and many other artists in Arrecife’s parks and roundabouts. The scenic churches, rooftops, music kiosks are a photographer’s delight, as is the temple hall shipwreck.
Iglesia de San Ginés
Built-in the 17th-century, the San Ginés Church was a tribute to the island’s patron saint of the same who was originally from Cuba. The bell tower and Mudéjar-style ceiling make it both an interesting and historic landmark that appears more modern than it’s dark whitewashed volcanic stones would suggest. It’s easily visited when walking around Charco San Gines or the La Recova Market.
Gran Hotel Rooftop
If you want a stunning view of Arrecife and El Reducto Beach, the terrace Pool Bar atop the Arrecife Gran Hotel is the place to be. You’ll find many tourists lounging in the Balinese beds and comfortable furniture during the day and even more at night when they have DJs and live concerts.
Barco Telamon Encallado
While some may call the Temple Hall Shipwreck a decades-old eyesore, photographers tend to enjoy its unusual location. Found across from Playa de Barlovento and near the Arrecife Port, it captures quite nicely at sunset. Divers will also enjoy the marine life that has made their home in and around the wreck.
Kiosco de la Música
Located near Castillo San Gabriel and beside Jose Ramirez Park, this Music Kiosk is a replica of an old seafront bandstand. It was rebuilt for tourism in the 1960s, and surprise, surprise, it now houses one of Arrecife’s Tourist Information Offices.
Estatua de Heraclio Niz Mesa
The enormous statue of Heraclio Niz Mesa welcomes visitors to the pedestrian shopping district of Calle del Leon y Castillo with a friendly smile. The touristic photo op, however, has a much more interesting backstory which begs to be discovered.
Beaches
There are 7 beaches in Arrecife, with the touristy ones being Playa del Reducto and Playa Honda. The Barco Telamon shipwreck found at Playa Barlovento makes a great spot for snorkeling.
Playa Reducto
If you think the capital city that’s also the closest one to the airport would not have an amazing beach… you’d be wrong! To the delight of many tourists, the beautiful golden sand of Playa del Reducto is accompanied by calm waters from a sheltered reef. Numerous bars and restaurants are located nearby and many people come to relax after doing their shopping.
Shopping
With a local population of over 55,000 on this small island, you can expect to find a lot of shopping opportunities here. If you’re looking for the unique items or the best deals in Lanzarote, Arrecife is the place to shop.
Deiland Shopping Centre
Deiland Shopping Center has two floors with more than 60 commercial stores that are open until 10 pm. Stradivarius and Cortefeil offer high-end fashion options while bargains can be found in H&M, Lefties, and Springfield.
Boutique shops like Bimba y Lola, Cucumber, Pull & Baer offer unique designs while UnderWear & Co, Calzedonia and Women’s Secret, and specialize is more simple clothing. Marypaz and Ola Zapatería have decent options for women’s shoes, while B2, Sprinter and Primitive are popular for those into sports.
If you want to pamper yourself, The Body Shop, Keihl’s, and Perfumería Sam are good options, while Toy Planet, Imaginarium and Canada House are great for kids.
La Recova Market
Hidden away in the city center and only accessible by small passageways, this unique little area contains a bevy of artisan craft shops. On weekdays you’ll also find a fresh food market and a second-hand market on weekends.
Saturday Market
The Saturday morning market can be found along the pedestrian streets between Leon y Castillo and Charco San Ginés. Items for sales include traditional crafts and handmade goods along with fresh produce.
Scenic Walks and Parks
The iconic César Manrique helped design many of Arrecife’s scenic areas which numerous places to relax that go well beyond the beach.
Charco de San Ginés
In the heart of Arrecife, César Manrique turned a sleepy fishing village into a bustling pedestrian quarter. This natural seawater lagoon is filled with picturesque little fishing boats while surrounded by palm tree promenade and footbridge. Modern apartments, historic buildings are merged with tapas bars, cafes, and restaurants. A Saturday Market brings even more crowds as does the El Aguaresío alleyway which leads to the San Ginés Church.
Marina Lanzarote
Amidst the decent number of yachts in Arrecife marina, you’ll find a wide selection of shops, bars, restaurants, and a small food market. The area is also known for its popular late-night bar and music scene.
Parque José Ramírez Cerdá
José Ramírez Cerdá Park is a hidden gem along Avenue la Marina near the entrance of Castillo San Jose. It contains a tiny cafe, a children’s play area and an artist’s garden where you’ll see an enchanted fountain surrounded by mosaic shards and organic shape trees. The path leads to the Music Kiosk tourism office and beyond to an open-space boardwalk with shaded sea-view benches with beautiful bougainvillea growing up the sides.
Parque Tematico
Temático park can be found at the far end of the beach on the West side of Playa del Reducto, and directly opposite Cabildo de Lanzarote. Inside you’ll find the Arrecife Skate Park, along with many open areas with green grass along with a gazebo to get out of the sun. There are also a children’s play area and exercise equipment along with a few picture-worthy sculptures and gardens.
Parque Islas Canarias
While Islas Canaries Park does have a few minor sculptures, it’s just a grassy open area on Calle Dr. Rafael González with some benches and a small children’s playground. It can be a place of rest while heading toward San Jose Castle, but more importantly, it has 900 underground parking spots making it convenient for those visiting the Gran Hotel and Casino Club Náutico.