Hotels in Arrecife

Arrecife

Arrecife is the capital of Lanzarote and its largest town, a lively harbour city on the east coast just a few minutes from César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport. Its centrepiece is the Charco de San Ginés, a saltwater lagoon lined with whitewashed fishermen's houses, small boats and waterfront restaurants. The palm-lined seafront promenade leads to Playa del Reducto, a sheltered city beach of golden sand that is popular for swimming and paddleboarding. The 16th-century Castillo de San Gabriel stands on an islet linked to the shore by the Puente de las Bolas and houses the town's history museum. North of the centre, the 18th-century Castillo de San José overlooks the harbour and houses the International Museum of Contemporary Art, with a restaurant designed by César Manrique. Marina Lanzarote, next to the old town, adds a modern waterfront of shops, cafés and restaurants. Calle Real is the main shopping street, and the town keeps a genuine local atmosphere, with tapas bars and fish restaurants used by residents as much as by visitors. Arrecife is also the island's transport hub, with buses to all the resorts and the main port for cruise ships and ferries to the other Canary Islands. Hotels in Arrecife range from modern seafront hotels to business hotels and apartments, often at lower prices than in the resorts. Its central position makes Arrecife a practical base for exploring the whole island, from the Manrique sites in the north to Timanfaya and the beaches of the south.