Comparing Lanzarote Holiday Resorts

A frequent question on social media channels is 'What resort is best?'. Whilst each resort has it's merits, in our latest blog post we delve into the best features of each and which resort might be best suited for your family and requirements.

Lanzarote is an island that offers something for everyone, from solo travellers to couples and families, there is a resort, restaurant, beach, trip, bar and memory to be made for all.

If you haven't been to Lanzarote before, or if you're a stickler for one of the resorts and haven't made the move to try out a different one, then you might be wondering which is the best resort for you. There are three main resorts on the island. Puerto del Carmen is the largest, arguably most popular and most vibrant of the three. Costa Teguise is more tranquil and we feel is a favourite with families and Playa Blanca on the south coast is much more laid back and a favourite with families and more mature visitors.

So which resort is best for you?

Nightlife in Lanzarote Resorts

Puerto del Carmen Nightlife

If you're looking for a busy, vibrant nightlife with clubs open till the early hours of the morning then Puerto del Carmen would be the resort of choice for you. Puerto del Carmen is split into two areas known as the Old Town and The Strip. The Strip is the busiest area of the town with bars, restaurants and clubs packed along the Avenida which runs adjacent to the large sandy beach, Playa Grande.

For Nightclubs, the Centro Atlantico, is the place to be with late night clubs and bars open until the early hours. For those of you looking for entertainment at a more sensible time (editors opinion) then you have a great selection of restaurants and bars, with live music, Comedy Drag Shows, Bowling, Mini golf and much, much more.

Playa Blanca Nightlife

Playa Blanca takes a much more relaxed approach to nightlife, but that doesn't mean there isn't the means to keep entertained there. The promenade in the town is lined with fantastic restaurants and bars, and stretches to the Marina Rubicon where you will find an amazing ambience on an evening. Many of the bars in Playa Blanca offer free live music for drinkers and this tends to happen around 9.30pm until 11.30pm. For those of you that do prefer to stay out a little later, The Papagayo Center is the place to be with a couple of night clubs opening until the early hours.

Costa Teguise Nightlife

As a great resort for families, the nightlife in Costa Teguise starts quite early on in the evening with a great choice of restaurants and bars to welcome in the night. Beyond that you'll find some brilliant Karaoke Bars and light night bar / club venues which may suit the older members of the families or couples staying in the resort.

Beaches in the three main Lanzarote Resorts

Puerto del Carmen Beaches

Puerto del Carmen boats the largest, golden sand beach on the island. Playa Grande runs the entire length of 'The Strip' in the new town and there really is plenty of room for everyone. The beach slopes gently into the crystal clear waters that surround the Lanzarote coastline and you can often find water sports and activities at various points across the shore line.

As the beach runs parallel to the Avenida de las Playas you're never far away from a shop, bar or restaurant, should you wish to leave the beach for a couple of hours to escape the sun or simply satisfy your hunger.

For water-sports in Puerto del Carmen head over to the old Town and Playa Chica. This is where you will find some great activities such as Scuba Diving, Stand Up Paddle, Snorkelling and more.

Playa Blanca Beaches

Playa Blanca is blessed with some outstanding beaches, many of which are technically outside of the town and part of a national park.

In the resort itself there are four main beach areas. The Town Beach goes by the name of the resort itself and is popular with the locals. To the west of this you will find the soft sands and calm, clear waters of Playa Dorada. This is an excellent beach for people who are looking for activities such as inflatable rides, pedalos and more. On the other side of the town you'll find Playa Flamingo which is popular with families, and a bit further round is Natura Beach which is a great spot for diving.

As previously mentioned, beyond the town you can find a stunning collection of beaches known as Papagayo. These beaches are protected and unspoilt by developments, and you'll often find in excess of 20 boats on anchor enjoying the magnificent views across to Fuerteventura.

Costa Teguise Beaches

Costa Teguise is home to four sandy beaches, the largest of which is Playa de las Cucharas. It's a good spot for windsurfing and you will find a number of schools in the area. The other significant beaches in Costa Teguise are Playa Bastian, Playa Del Jablillo, Playa El Ancla and Playa De Los Charcos

Things to do in the Lanzarote Resorts

Puerto del Carmen

You don't have to go far to find plenty of things to do in Puerto del Carmen. From Live Music, Open Air Cinemas, Mini Golf and Water-Sports there isn't much missing. There is a great little shopping centre in the Old Town and Rancho Texas Park and Zoo is just a short taxi ride away from most accommodation.

Of course, if you just want to relax in the warm Lanzarote sunshine, then you'll find plenty of space on the large beach to do just that!

There are a number of boat trips that leave the Puerto del Carmen Harbour in the old town, and you can catch a Water Taxi over to the smaller neighbouring resort of Puerto Calero where they have a fantastic artisan market on a Tuesday and Friday Morning.

Playa Blanca

With its more relaxed approach to life, Playa Blanca is a great base for those wanting to get out and explore the island. There is also a promenade that runs all the way from the edge of the Papagayo beaches, all the way down to the lighthouse on the western point. It's a fair trek, but a great walk if you have the time and inclination to do it. There is no shortage of cafes, bars, and restaurants so if you're idea of a holiday is sitting people watching over a few drinks and tapas, then it's a great spot for you.

There are a number of boat trips that depart from Playa Blanca, and on an artisan market comes to town on a Saturday and Wednesday morning.

For anyone entertaining young families, the Aqua Lava Water Park in Playa Blanca is a great way to spend the day or afternoon.

Costa Teguise

Costa Teguise is home to the largest Water Park in Lanzarote which is a great day out for the family. The park is geared towards families with older children, although there are a few attractions that are suitable for the youngsters.

What feels like one of Lanzarote's best kept secrets is the Lanzarote Aquarium, which you can also find in Costa Teguise. It's also possible to book an experience swimming with sharks here, if you're feeling brave enough!.

There is no harbour in Costa Teguise, so no boat trips are available here, but you can book boat trips from the other resorts and transport from and to your accommodation is included in the cost of the ticket.

Shopping in the Lanzarote Resorts

If you're looking for the best resort for shopping, Puerto del Carmen would top of the list. The Biosfera shopping centre in the old town is home to some big brands, and smaller more independent outlets and the Avenida de las Playas has a number of shops selling anything from jewellery and hand bags to Lanzarote souvenirs. Not far from Puerto del Carmen is the Deiland shopping centre in Playa Honda, and a little bit further beyond that you will find Open Mall, the largest and newest shopping centre on the island in Arrecife.

Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise shouldn't be dismissed just because you want somewhere to shop. There are some wonderful smaller shops in these resorts, and Playa Blanca has its own small shopping centre at the Marina Rubicon. And ultimately they are only a relatively short bus journey or shopping excursion away from the Open Mall in Arrecife.

Types of Accommodation in the different Lanzarote Resorts

Puerto del Carmen

Puerto del Carmen accommodation tends to be either private houses / villas or apartment complexes. As the resort is basically built across the sea front, there can be a bit of a hill climb to some of them so may not be suitable to less abled people. The old town is also particularly hilly whilst the other end of the strip, towards Matagorda tends to be flatter. For those who prefer to stay in a hotel you have a good, but not overwhelming, choice of All Inclusive hotels in Puerto del Carmen.

Playa Blanca

Whilst large hotels dominate the Playa Blanca coast line, it's also really popular with people looking to rent private villas for their stay on the island. So if you prefer an all-inclusive holiday where you don't need to leave the hotel, or if you long for your own space and BBQs outside around your very own private pool, then Playa Blanca could be the right choice for you.

Costa Teguise

In Similar fashion to Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise has a number of large hotels that dominate its skyline. There are also a number of private let villas available, although as Costa Teguise isn't as large as Playa Blanca you might find the availability of these a little more scarce.

Distances from the Airport

If transfer time is important to you then it's vital that you know that Playa Blanca is the furthest resort away from the airport, which in turn makes transfers more expensive. It's around a 40 minute transfer time to Playa Blanca where as Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise are much shorter trips - around 10-15 minutes.

Mobility

If you suffer from mobility issues then Costa Teguise or Playa Blanca might be the better choice of resorts for you due to them being much flatter terrain. Puerto del Carmen, especially to the west end of the strip and the old town is quite hilly in places, so take this into account when booking your holiday. If you decide that Puerto del Carmen is the right resort for you then consider the East end of the Strip and Matagorda, which is much flatter and easier for mobility.

Lanzarote Trips and Excursions

If you plan on taking a few trips and excursions in Lanzarote during your stay, then the choice of resort isn't so much of a factor as most come with accommodation collection and drop off included in the price. To find out more, and reserve your places today, click here for more information.