Beach, gastronomy, museums, the old town and a wide range of shops. These are some of the attractions that Arrecife offers, which more than justify a visit to the capital of Lanzarote.
Strategically located in the centre of the island, the city lends itself to strolling along its maritime avenue, enjoying an afternoon of shopping or spending a few hours exploring its castles.
The maritime avenue
It goes through the entire centre of Arrecife, changing its name depending on the section. One of the options is to start the walk from El Reducto beach, which has a blue flag, as well as a range of bars and restaurants in front of it.
Right where the beach ends, the Arrecife Gran Hotel rises, the only high-rise building on the island, which allows you to enjoy the views from a 17th floor, where you can eat or have a drink.
The walk continues through two of the city's parks, Islas Canarias and Ramírez Cerdá, until reaching one of the most emblematic places of Arrecife, where the Castillo de San Gabriel, the Las Bolas bridge -which gives access to the fortress- and the beginning of the old Calle Real, today called León y Castillo, meet.
Afterwards, the avenue continues towards another mandatory stop, El Charco de San Ginés, and also towards Marina Lanzarote.
El Charco of San Ginés
The capital's fishing origins can still be felt in one of the most special places in Arrecife: El Charco of San Ginés. Here, the sea enters the city, leaving a bay where small anchored boats coexist, with a wide range of bars and restaurants.
It is also one of the most spectacular corners of the capital to take photos, especially when the sun begins to fall on the buildings of the historic centre.
The Church of San Ginés and the historic centre
Next to El Charco is the Church of San Ginés, in the picturesque Plaza de Las Palmas.
Around it we can find some of the oldest streets in the city. It is worth taking a walk through them, with a mandatory stop at the alley of El Aguaresío.
Just a few steps away, you can find the main pedestrian street, Calle Real, where the old seat of the island's Cabildo stands. Both on that street and within its surroundings, you will find a wide range of shops.
On Saturdays there is also a traditional market in the area, with stalls from Lanzarote artisans and farmers.
Marina Lanzarote
It is one of the three marinas on the island, the only one in the capital and the most recently built.
Marina Lanzarote offers shops where you can do your shopping surrounded by yachts, as well as bars and restaurants to enjoy the local gastronomy or a snack by the sea.
It is also one of the trendy nightlife areas in Arrecife, with cocktail bars.
Castles and museums
Next to San Gabriel Castle, located by the sea in the heart of Arrecife, the capital has a second fortress on the way to Costa Teguise: San José Castle.
Both now house museums that can be visited. In the case of San Gabriel Castle, it is a museum on the History of Arrecife, where you can see pieces from the ancient culture of the majos, the aborigines of Lanzarote, as well as documents and scale models on the evolution of the capital.
San José Castle is located in Puerto Naos and houses the International Museum of Contemporary Art, which offers an outstanding collection of international, national and Canarian artists, a program of temporary exhibitions and cultural activities. In addition, it houses a spectacular glass-enclosed restaurant with views of the bay.
Along with these two museums, the capital offers other exhibition halls and cultural spaces, such as the Agustín de la Hoz House of Culture, and also a calendar of events that should be consulted, particularly at El Salinero Theatre.
