Lanzarote is not the cheapest place in Spain for a beach holiday, but it does not have to be an expensive one either. Costs are generally higher than on mainland Spain, particularly for accommodation, imported goods and eating directly on resort promenades. However, the island can still offer very good value when compared with many Mediterranean or northern European beach destinations.
Your final spend depends largely on when you travel, where you stay and whether you hire a car. Visit outside school holidays, book transport early and eat beyond the main resort strips, and Lanzarote can be surprisingly manageable.
Check Lanzarote Hotel Availability
Table of Contents
Is Lanzarote expensive compared with other Canary Islands?
Lanzarote is broadly mid-range by Canary Islands standards. It is usually more expensive than a low-season break on parts of mainland Spain, but it can be comparable with Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura when like-for-like accommodation is considered.
The island’s popularity, limited size and year-round sunshine all influence prices. Flights and hotels climb most sharply in July and August, at Christmas and New Year, and during UK school holidays. In contrast, April to June and September to October often bring a far better balance of sunshine, availability and prices.
Lanzarote also rewards travellers who explore. A large part of its appeal is free: volcanic landscapes, coastal walks, whitewashed villages, viewpoints and beaches. For a broader overview of where to stay, what to see and how to structure a trip, read our post – Lanzarote – An Ultimate Travel Guide.
Accommodation costs in Lanzarote
Accommodation is usually the largest part of a Lanzarote holiday budget.
A simple self-catering apartment can be a cost-effective option, especially for couples staying a week or families who want to make breakfasts and some evening meals at home. Hotels are plentiful in Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise, with prices varying significantly by location, facilities and season.
Typical nightly price ranges for two people might look like this:
| Type of stay | Typical price range |
|---|---|
| Basic apartment or guesthouse | €70–€120 |
| Mid-range hotel or well-rated apartment | €120–€220 |
| Four-star resort hotel | €180–€350+ |
| Private villa | €200–€500+ |
These are broad indications rather than fixed prices. A property that is good value in May can cost double in August or over Christmas.
Puerto del Carmen often has the widest selection and some competitive apartment deals. Playa Blanca can be pricier, especially near the seafront and Papagayo-facing side of the resort. Rural stays around Haría, Yaiza or La Geria can offer atmosphere and space, although a hire car is essential.
Is food and drink expensive in Lanzarote?
Food in Lanzarote can be either excellent value or noticeably overpriced, depending on where you eat.
Restaurants on the busiest stretches of Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise understandably charge more for their location. They are convenient, but a meal there can quickly make the island feel expensive. Venture into old towns, fishing villages and inland villages, and prices are usually lower while quality often improves.
Rough food and drink prices
- Coffee: around €1.50–€3
- Beer or glass of wine: around €2.50–€5
- Casual lunch: around €10–€18 per person
- Menú del día: often €10–€16, usually including several courses and a drink
- Mid-range dinner: around €20–€35 per person before drinks
- Fresh seafood meal in a coastal village: around €25–€45 per person
For better value, look for a local menú del día at lunchtime. These fixed-price menus are one of the best ways to eat well without overspending. Villages including Yaiza, Haría, Arrieta and Tinajo are particularly good choices.
Supermarkets are reasonably priced for essentials, though imported British products and some branded items cost more than visitors may expect. Self-catering can make a major difference for families and longer stays.
Car hire, fuel and getting around
Hiring a car is an added cost, but for many visitors it is also where Lanzarote delivers its best value. The island is compact, and having your own transport makes it easy to combine beaches, volcanoes, wine country and villages in one trip.
A small hire car may cost roughly €20–€45 per day when booked early in quieter months. At peak periods, prices can rise substantially. Check insurance excesses, fuel policies and whether your agreement covers unpaved roads before booking; the track to the Papagayo beaches is famously rough.
Fuel prices are generally lower than in much of mainland Europe, but do not leave refuelling until the last minute in remote parts of the island. Buses — known locally as guaguas — are cheaper, but less convenient for reaching Timanfaya, La Geria, Haría or more isolated beaches. Taxis are useful for short journeys but become costly if used repeatedly for day trips.
For routes, tickets and current bus information, consult the official Intercitybus Lanzarote service. This is the only external resource linked in this article.
If you plan to explore widely, a car is usually better value than relying on taxis. For travellers based in one resort who mainly want beach time, buses and occasional taxi rides may be enough.
Attraction and activity costs
Lanzarote has plenty of free scenery, but several of its signature attractions charge admission. This is worth factoring into your Lanzarote holiday costs, particularly if you want to visit several César Manrique sites.
Typical costs include:
| Experience | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Timanfaya National Park visit | €20–€25 per adult |
| César Manrique attraction | €8–€12 per adult |
| Combined attraction tickets | Often cheaper than individual entry |
| Boat trip or dolphin-watching trip | €30–€70+ |
| Surf lesson or watersport session | €35–€70+ |
| Beach day | Free, aside from parking, food or sunbeds |
Timanfaya National Park is one of the island’s essential experiences, and it is worth allocating money for. Other paid attractions, such as Jameos del Agua, Cueva de los Verdes and the Jardín de Cactus, are also memorable but not compulsory for every itinerary.
The good news is that many of Lanzarote’s best experiences cost nothing. You can swim at Playa de Papagayo, walk the Famara coastline, admire the vineyards of La Geria, watch the sunset at El Golfo or explore the harbour at Arrieta without paying an entry fee.
Realistic daily budgets for Lanzarote
A realistic daily budget depends on whether accommodation is included and how actively you plan to explore. The following estimates are per person, based on two adults sharing a room or apartment.
| Travel style | Daily spending estimate | What it may include |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €55–€95 | Self-catering, simple meals, public transport or shared car costs, free beaches and walks |
| Mid-range | €110–€190 | Comfortable accommodation, restaurant meals, car hire share and selected paid attractions |
| Higher-end | €230+ | Quality hotel, frequent dining out, private tours, watersports and premium accommodation |
For a one-week holiday, a couple travelling outside peak season could potentially enjoy Lanzarote on a moderate budget by choosing an apartment, hiring a small car for part or all of the stay and mixing restaurant meals with self-catering.
Families should allow more for accommodation and car hire, but apartments and villas can make the daily cost per person much more attractive than booking several hotel rooms.
How to save money in Lanzarote
Lanzarote on a budget does not mean missing out. A few simple decisions can reduce costs considerably.
Travel in the shoulder season
April, May, June, September and October are often excellent months for weather while avoiding the highest accommodation and flight prices. Winter remains popular because of the island’s mild climate, so Christmas, New Year and half-term weeks should be booked early.
Book car hire early
Car availability can become limited during busy weeks, and last-minute rentals are often expensive. Compare the total price rather than just the headline daily rate, including insurance and fuel terms.
Stay self-catered for at least part of the trip
An apartment with a kitchen gives you flexibility. Even making breakfast, picnic lunches and a few relaxed dinners at home can noticeably lower the cost of food in Lanzarote.
Eat away from the busiest resort fronts
Restaurants in old towns and inland villages often offer better local food and more reasonable prices than the most tourist-focused promenade locations. Try lunch menus, grilled fish and Canarian dishes rather than relying on familiar imported brands.
Prioritise free natural attractions
Beaches, volcanic viewpoints, coastal walks and villages are central to the Lanzarote experience. Build these into your plans alongside one or two paid headline attractions rather than trying to visit every ticketed site.
Choose your base carefully
Staying in a popular resort is convenient, but it can increase your restaurant and accommodation spend. A quieter apartment in Puerto del Carmen’s old town, a village stay near Yaiza or a base in northern Lanzarote may offer better value if you have a car.
For more practical advice on planning, transport, packing and choosing the right area, see these practical Lanzarote travel tips.
Is Lanzarote expensive for families?
Lanzarote can be expensive for a family holiday during school holidays, when flights and larger rooms or villas are in high demand. However, it is also well suited to families because beach days are free, driving distances are short and self-catering accommodation is widely available.
The most effective ways for families to reduce spending are booking well ahead, travelling outside peak school-holiday dates where possible, choosing an apartment or villa and preparing some meals. A hire car can also represent better value than paying for several bus tickets or taxis each day.
Is Lanzarote expensive for food and drinks?
Not necessarily. Eating and drinking can be one of the more affordable parts of a Lanzarote trip if you avoid the most tourist-heavy spots, use supermarkets and take advantage of lunch menus.
A simple local lunch can cost around €10–€16, while an evening meal with drinks in a resort restaurant can easily cost €30–€50 per person. The difference is less about the island as a whole and more about the choices you make each day.
What is the cheapest time to visit Lanzarote?
The cheapest periods are often late spring and autumn, outside school holidays. May, early June, late September and October frequently offer a strong combination of warm weather and more competitive prices.
Avoiding Christmas, New Year, Easter, summer school holidays and UK half-term dates will usually help. That said, Lanzarote is a year-round destination, so booking early matters in every season.
Final verdict: is Lanzarote expensive?
Lanzarote can feel expensive if you travel at peak times, stay in a high-end beachfront resort, eat every meal in tourist areas and book activities at the last minute. But it can also be an excellent-value island break for travellers who plan ahead.
The island’s free beaches, extraordinary volcanic landscapes, short driving distances and broad range of apartments make it easier to control spending than many other warm-weather destinations. For most visitors, Lanzarote is best described as moderately priced: not a bargain-basement holiday, but comfortably affordable with sensible planning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lanzarote Prices
Is Lanzarote expensive for a holiday?
Lanzarote is moderately priced rather than especially cheap or prohibitively expensive. It can cost more than many mainland Spanish destinations, especially for flights and peak-season accommodation, but it offers good value compared with many European beach holidays. Travelling outside school holidays, booking early and using self-catering accommodation can lower costs significantly.
How much money do you need per day in Lanzarote?
A budget traveller may spend around €55–€95 per person per day when sharing accommodation, preparing some meals and focusing on free activities. A mid-range holiday typically costs around €110–€190 per person daily, while higher-end stays, frequent dining out and organised activities can take spending beyond €230 per day.
Is Lanzarote expensive for food and drinks?
Food and drink prices depend strongly on location. A simple lunch or menú del día can cost around €10–€16 per person, while dinner in a popular seafront resort restaurant may cost €30–€50 per person with drinks. Supermarkets are fairly reasonable for everyday essentials, although imported products can be more expensive.
Is Lanzarote expensive for families?
Lanzarote can be more expensive for families during UK school holidays, when flights, larger rooms and villas are in high demand. However, it can still be good value because beaches, walks and many outdoor experiences are free. An apartment or villa with a kitchen can make a family trip far more affordable.
What is the cheapest month to visit Lanzarote?
May, early June, late September and October are often among the best-value times to visit. These months usually avoid the highest summer, Christmas and school-holiday prices while still offering warm, sunny conditions. Prices vary from year to year, so booking early is still recommended.
Is it cheaper to eat out or self-cater in Lanzarote?
Self-catering is usually cheaper, especially for breakfasts, lunches and family meals. However, eating out does not need to be costly if you choose local cafés, village restaurants and lunchtime menus. A balanced approach — self-catering some meals and enjoying selected local restaurants — is often the best-value option.
Is car hire in Lanzarote worth the cost?
For travellers who want to see Timanfaya, La Geria, Haría, Famara and quieter beaches, car hire is usually worth it. Lanzarote is compact, so a car makes exploring easy and can cost less than multiple taxis or organised tours. Visitors staying mainly within one resort may find buses and occasional taxis sufficient.
Are Lanzarote’s beaches free?
Yes. Public beaches in Lanzarote are generally free to access. You may need to pay for optional extras such as sunbeds, umbrellas, parking near certain areas, food and drinks, or watersports. Many of the island’s best beach experiences cost nothing beyond getting there.
