Once you have checked in and dropped your bags, head to Playa Grande for an easy first taste of Lanzarote. The wide golden beach is ideal after travelling: choose a spot near the central promenade, take a gentle swim, and let yourself slow down rather than trying to fit in too much. The water can feel cool even in May, while the trade wind is often noticeable, so bring your light jacket or windbreaker for afterwards and keep valuables in your daypack or dry bag. Sun loungers and parasols are usually available for roughly €10–15 per set, depending on the season.
From Playa Grande, join Avenida de las Playas and stroll south toward the Old Town. This is an easy, mostly level walk of around 3 km, with cafés, small shops and plenty of places to pause; allow about an hour at a relaxed pace. The promenade is liveliest around sunset, but it is broad enough to avoid the busiest sections. Wear trainers or comfortable sandals rather than anything delicate, and keep your hat secured—the breeze can pick up quickly along the water.
Continue to Puerto del Carmen Old Harbour, known locally as El Muelle Chico, where the fishing boats and small waterfront lanes give the resort a more traditional feel. Spend around 45 minutes wandering the quay and watching the light change over the harbour before dinner. For a relaxed first-night meal, settle in at La Casa del Parmigiano, a dependable Italian option in Puerto del Carmen; expect approximately €20–35 per person before drinks. Reservations are sensible in May, particularly if you want an outdoor table. After dinner, taxis are easy to arrange, while most accommodation around the resort is within a manageable walk—though the uphill return from the harbour is worth avoiding if you are tired.
Pick up your rental car after breakfast and take the LZ-2 south from Puerto del Carmen, then follow the signs towards Montañas del Fuego in Timanfaya National Park—roughly 25–35 minutes, depending on traffic. Arrive around opening time, usually 9:30, before the coach queue builds; the park entrance is around €12 per adult, and payment is easiest by card. The official Volcano Route is the only practical way to see the central lava fields, with a guided coach ride of about 35 minutes, though you should allow close to two hours for entry and waiting. Stay on the marked paths and bring your windbreaker, water, sturdy shoes and hat: the exposed volcanic slopes can feel surprisingly cool and gusty.
After the route, spend around 30 minutes at Islote de Hilario, where staff demonstrate the extraordinary heat just below the surface—dry brush catches fire almost instantly and water erupts into steam. The demonstrations are included with the park ticket. Walk carefully, keep behind the barriers and resist the temptation to touch the ground; the surface can remain dangerously hot.
Have lunch at El Diablo Restaurant, beside the park viewpoint, where meat and vegetables are cooked on a natural volcanic grill. Allow about an hour and expect roughly €20–35 per person for a main meal; the large windows make the setting as memorable as the food. It is a popular stop, so an early lunch around noon is sensible. Afterwards, drive about 15 minutes north towards Tinajo for the Centro de Visitantes e Interpretación de Mancha Blanca. The centre is generally open from late morning into the afternoon, admission is free, and its exhibits and short films provide useful context for the eruptions and the communities that lived through them. Allow around an hour, and check the day’s final entry time before setting off, as hours can vary seasonally.
From Mancha Blanca, follow the roads west and south towards Los Hervideros, allowing roughly 25–30 minutes by car. The rugged coastal paths take about an hour to explore, leading to blowholes and sea caves where Atlantic waves thunder through the black lava. Come late enough for softer light but leave time before sunset, and wear the sturdy walking shoes from your packing list—the paths are uneven and slippery when spray reaches them. Keep well back from the cliff edge, particularly in windy weather or heavy swell. This is a good place to end the day quietly: there is little shelter, so take your water, sunglasses and windbreaker, and check your fuel before driving back towards Puerto del Carmen.
Start at Mirador del Risco de Famara, reached by the narrow mountain road above Haría. Allow about 45 minutes for the viewpoint and drive carefully around bends; the pull-in areas are limited, so arrive early and keep valuables out of sight. The panorama over the sheer Famara Cliffs, Playa de Famara, and La Graciosa is best before the trade winds strengthen. Wear your sturdy walking shoes, bring a windbreaker, and take water—the exposed viewpoint can feel surprisingly cool despite the sunshine.
Drive down towards Caleta de Famara and spend the late morning at Playa de Famara, where the enormous beach gives you plenty of room to wander beneath the cliffs. A beginner surf lesson typically costs around €40–60, including board and wetsuit, and local schools usually meet near the village; otherwise, a barefoot shoreline walk is just as enjoyable. Swim only where conditions are calm and stay clear of the main surf zones, as currents can be strong. Leave your car in the village parking areas rather than on the sandy tracks, which become awkward for ordinary rental cars.
For lunch, walk into El Risco, one of the casual seafood spots near the beach, and allow roughly 1½ hours. Expect about €20–35 per person for grilled fish, seafood, salads, and drinks; service is relaxed, so this is a good point to slow the day down. It is sensible to carry some cash, as smaller restaurants can occasionally have card-terminal or connection issues. Afterward, take a short stroll to the Famara cliffs beach viewpoint for photographs: the afternoon light brings out the orange and ochre layers in the cliffs, while the shoreline is usually quieter than in the morning. Keep hats and phones secure—the wind is persistent here.
Finish by wandering the low-rise lanes of Caleta de Famara. The village is best enjoyed without a strict route: look for painted doors, surf vans, and sandy paths leading back towards the water, then settle at a sea-view café for a drink as the cliffs fall into shadow. Most cafés close or quieten between approximately 18:00 and 20:00 outside peak summer, so aim to arrive around 17:00–18:00. Bring your light jacket, sunglasses, and sunscreen even for this final hour; the Atlantic breeze can disguise how strong the evening sun remains.
Leave Caleta de Famara around 8:00 by rental car, following the LZ-402 east and then the LZ-1 towards Guatiza; the drive takes roughly 35–45 minutes. Start at Jardín de Cactus, which usually opens at 10:00, allowing about 1½ hours among César Manrique’s terraced volcanic garden, stone walls and hundreds of cactus varieties. Wear sturdy trainers and bring water—the paths are easy but exposed, and the trade wind can feel surprisingly cool. From Guatiza, continue north on the LZ-1 to Cueva de los Verdes, allowing around 20 minutes for the drive. Timed guided visits through the lava tube generally take about an hour, so check the current entry slot before setting off; admission is commonly around €10–12. The route includes uneven ground, steps and low sections, making closed walking shoes essential.
After the cave, drive around 15 minutes north towards Mirador del Río in Ye, aiming for an early-afternoon visit before the busiest period. The César Manrique-designed lookout offers the classic view across the strait to La Graciosa; allow an hour, and keep your windbreaker handy because the cliff-top gusts are often strong. Entry is usually around €9–10, with parking near the entrance. Continue south to Casa-Museo César Manrique in Haría, roughly 25 minutes away, where the artist’s former home is built into a series of volcanic chambers. The visit takes about an hour and is quieter and more intimate than the major viewpoints; opening hours can vary by season, so verify the final admission time before leaving Mirador del Río. Park on the surrounding village streets and walk the last few minutes if the small visitor parking area is full.
Stay in Haría for dinner at Restaurante Tacande, a relaxed choice for Canarian cooking in the village. Expect roughly €20–35 per person for a meal featuring dishes such as local cheeses, grilled fish or slow-cooked meat, and reserve ahead if visiting on a Monday or during a busy holiday week. After dinner, take a gentle walk around Haría’s palm-lined lanes rather than adding another attraction—the village is particularly pleasant as the light fades.
Leave Haría early enough to reach the port of Órzola about 30 minutes before your booked Líneas Romero sailing. The drive takes roughly 30–35 minutes; leave the rental car in the port car park or a signed nearby space, as rental cars cannot be taken to La Graciosa. The ferry crossing to Caleta de Sebo takes around 25–30 minutes and can be breezy, so keep your windbreaker handy. Fares are usually about €15–16 each way; check the May timetable and reserve at least a day ahead. On arrival, spend an unhurried hour wandering Caleta de Sebo: its sandy lanes, whitewashed houses and fishing harbor are deliberately low-key, and sturdy trainers are more useful than sandals.
Hire bicycles in Caleta de Sebo if available, or walk with plenty of water; there is little shade and the island’s loose sand makes progress slower than the distances suggest. Head first to Playa Francesa, roughly 30–45 minutes by bike or around an hour on foot depending on conditions. The sheltered bay is the best place today for a swim and snorkel, so bring your rash guard, reef-safe sunscreen, dry bag and microfiber towel. After about two hours, continue toward Pedro Barba, a tiny, exceptionally quiet settlement on the northeastern coast. Allow roughly two hours for the ride or walk, including pauses for the stark volcanic shoreline and views back across the water; avoid straying off marked paths, and carry all food and water with you.
Make your way back to Caleta de Sebo and settle at a seafood restaurant around the harbor for a late lunch or early dinner—expect approximately €20–35 per person for fresh fish, local potatoes and a drink. Restaurants can fill quickly when the island is busy, so ask about a table when you arrive in the morning or return before the main evening rush. Keep an eye on the return timetable and be at the ferry terminal at least 20–30 minutes before departure; the crossing back to Órzola again takes about half an hour. Collect the car and drive back toward Haría, allowing extra time for the winding road after dark.
After arriving in Playa Blanca, make Playa Dorada your first stop. Its sheltered, gently shelving water is one of the easiest places in town for a calm swim, especially if the trade wind is blowing. Give yourself around two hours to swim and relax rather than rushing straight into sightseeing; bring your own water, sunscreen, hat and a light windbreaker, as shade is limited. From the beach, it is a short walk east along the waterfront to Marina Rubicón, where you can browse the small boutiques, cafés and yacht pontoons. The marina is most pleasant before the midday heat, and shops generally open from mid-morning, though exact hours vary by business.
For lunch, settle at La Chalanita near the marina for seafood and a leisurely meal; allow roughly €25–40 per person, depending on the catch, drinks and whether you share starters. Afterward, follow the Paseo Marítimo de Playa Blanca westward along the coast toward the lighthouse. The promenade is easy underfoot, but wear trainers rather than sandals for the longer stretches and carry water—there is little shade. You can pause at one of the waterfront seating areas or turn back whenever the walk feels enough; the full outing is best treated as an unhurried hour rather than a hike.
Take a taxi or drive the final stretch to Faro de Pechiguera, around 15–20 minutes from central Playa Blanca. The lighthouse area is open and exposed, with broad views across the Atlantic and toward Fuerteventura, but there are no reliable services beside it, so bring water and a layer. Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunset for the best light and stay on the marked ground around the lighthouse rather than approaching the cliff edges. Check the sunset time locally—early May is usually around 20:30—and arrange a return taxi in advance if you are not driving, as buses do not serve the viewpoint conveniently in the evening.
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