Beach, gastronomy, museums, historic center, and a wide range of shops. These are some of the attractions offered by Arrecife, which more than justify a visit to the capital of Lanzarote.
Strategically located in the center of the island, the city is ideal for a stroll along its maritime avenue, enjoying an afternoon of shopping, or dedicating a few hours to visiting its castles.
The maritime avenue
It runs through the entire center of Arrecife, changing its name depending on the section. One option 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 sandy area ends stands the Arrecife Gran Hotel, the island's only tall building, which allows you to enjoy the views from the 17th floor, where you can eat or have a drink.
The promenade continues through two of the city's parks, Islas Canarias and Ramírez Cerdá, until reaching one of Arrecife's most characteristic points, where the San Gabriel Castle, the Las Bolas bridge – which provides access to the fortress – and the beginning of the old Real street, now called León y Castillo, converge.
Afterwards, the avenue continues towards another must-see spot, El Charco de San Ginés, and also towards the Marina Lanzarote sports harbor.
El Charco de San Ginés
The capital's fishing origins can still be felt in one of Arrecife's most special places: El Charco de San Ginés. Here, the sea enters the city, forming 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 for taking photos, especially when the sun begins to set over the buildings of the historic center.
The Church of San Ginés and the historic center
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 alleys in the city. It is worth taking a walk through them, with a mandatory stop at El Aguaresío alley.
Just a few steps away is the main pedestrian street, Calle Real, where the old headquarters of the island's Cabildo stands. Both on this street and in its vicinity, there is a wide range of shops of all kinds for shopping.
On Saturdays, there is also a traditional market in the area, with stalls from Lanzarote artisans and farmers.
Marina Lanzarote marina
It is one of the three marinas on the island, and also the only one that houses 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 gastronomy or a refreshment by the sea.
It is also one of the trendy nightlife areas in Arrecife, with cocktail bars.
Castles and museums
Next to the Castillo de San Gabriel, located by the sea in the very center of Arrecife, the capital has a second fortress on the way out towards Costa Teguise: the Castillo de San José.
Both currently house museums that can be visited. In the case of the Castillo de San Gabriel, it hosts a Museum of the History of Arrecife, where pieces of the ancient culture of the majos, the aborigines of Lanzarote, as well as documents and models about the evolution of the capital are preserved.
The Castillo de San José 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-walled restaurant with views of the bay.
Along with these two museums, the capital offers other exhibition halls and cultural spaces, such as the Casa de la Cultura Agustín de la Hoz, and also an events calendar that is worth checking, particularly at the Teatro Insular El Salinero.
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