Arrecife – the busy capital

Arrecife is the smallest, but the most densely populated municipality on Lanzarote. Around 60,000 people live on a good 22.7 km2. Arrecife has been the capital of the island since 1852 and on the outskirts of the city is the seat of the island’s administration, the Cabildo de Lanzarote. At first glance, Arrecife doesn’t have much to offer from a tourist point of view, but the strong influx of new fellow citizens from very different countries ensures an international flair.

There are still some historical buildings in the city, but Arrecife primarily serves as a shopping center by day and a place where the locals go out at night. If you want to experience real Canarian life and do without aesthetic values, you can definitely have a nice time in Arrecife.

The main artery of the capital is Calle León y Castillo, which runs dead straight into the city from the sea. Here you will find the largest shops in Arrecife as well as numerous cafes and restaurants. The Charco de San Ginés is particularly cozy, a small inland lake within the city where small fishing boats float and children play. On Wednesday mornings there is a market around the Charco. Especially for the numerous cruise tourists visiting Lanzarote, Arrecife is a must during their stay. Explore the capital from the port of Los Marmoles or the new marina.

There are two important historical buildings in Arrecife, two small forts on the coast. The Castillo de San Gabriel was built in 1590 and today serves as an exhibition hall, the Castillo de San José (1776) is home to the International Art Museum founded by César Manrique. On the ground floor you can see a collection of international works as well as paintings and sculptures by local artists. In the basement, Manrique has set up a remarkable restaurant with a panoramic view of the harbour.

However, if you really want to get to know Arrecife and its multinational residents, you should visit the city in the evening and preferably spend the night there. In the Calle José Antonio, the discotheques are lined up and between live music and Spanish hits you can experience pure local life.

Arrecife comes up with a colorful carnival procession for the carnival and it is not for nothing that the carnival in the Canary Islands is one of the liveliest in the world.

If you want to relax after a city walk in Arrecife, Playa de Reducto is the place to be. And right next door, the Gran Hotel, which opened in 2004, offers a first-class panoramic view of Arrecife from its bar/restaurant on the 17th floor. There is something going on almost every evening in the pool bar of the Gran Hotel. Or you can relax in the hotel’s spa.

Here you can download the free “Gastronomic Guide to Arrecife“.