BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO VISIT LANZAROTE
When to Go to Lanzarote?
Are you wondering what is the best time of the year to visit Lanzarote? Well the good news, is that Lanzarote is an all-year-round destination.
The island of the Thousand Volcano offers a dry, sunny, and mild climate every month of the year. Temperatures fluctuate around 20°C in January and rise to 28°C during the summer months.
With very favorable weather conditions, the island is a fantastic holiday destination in Europe. If you want to escape the cold weather in the rest of Europe, then Lanzarote is the place to be!
With mild temperatures all year round and good sunshine, Lanzarote is an island that can be discovered all year round. Spring and Autumn would be the best time to visit in order to avoid the higher temperatures in summer and the little chance of rain in winter.
Lanzarote enjoys a pleasant climate, rainy episodes are rare and short-lived. Depending on what you like and what you want to do, this post will help you make a decision on what would be the best time to travel to Lanzarote for you.
If you are still wondering why you should visit Lanzarote, we listed here the top 10 reasons why you should visit this island.
When is the Best Time to Visit Lanzarote?
WINTER TO SURF AND ESCAPE THE COLD WEATHER IN THE REST OF EUROPE
Winter, including January, is the coolest period. However temperatures are still around 20° most of the time.
We stayed in Lanzarote for a month in January, and went to the beach pretty much every day. As in Tenerife and Fuerteventura, there are many activities on the island, even in winter. If you are a surfer then winter is the best time to travel to Lanzarote due to strong waves. Winter is a really pleasant time to enjoy outdoor activities in Lanzarote such as cycling, running, diving or hiking.
There is one downside though which we also experienced during our trip to Lanzarote in Winter. It is called “the calima”. It is a wind coming from the Sahara, strong, hot and loaded with sand. In the event of a calima, temperatures can rise to 30°, but visibity and air quality become terrrible. Thankfully it only last for 2-3 days at a time. Calima only happens 2 – 3 times a year usually.
IN SPRING TO AVOID THE CROWD AND FOR THE PERFECT CONDITIONS
In terms of weather, spring looks like… spring! Mild temperatures (20° on average) and sunshine are on the agenda. Actually Lanzarote feels like spring all the time 🙂
Rain will be very rare during that time. March is a very touristy month in Lanzarote, however May and June are much quieter before the school summer holidays. Late spring and early summer are therefore ideal if you want to visit the island to enjoy its beaches and the sea in peace, away from the crowds.
You will be able to easily access most of the main sights in Lanzarote without too much crowd. Timanfaya National Park, Papagayo Beaches, The Mirador del Rio, the Jardin de Cactus, Jameos del Agua etc. all these gorgeous await you. If you want to know more about the best things to do in Lanzarote, check out this post.
Spring is also the ideal season to discover the local culture, the traditions of the island, with, for example, the famous Dia de Canarias, a popular festival. It is the national holiday which takes place on May 30.
IN SUMMER FOR BEACHES AND PARTIES
If you like hot summer days and blue skies, then head to Lanzarote during that time. Temperatures are higher than the usual 20° on average, reaching more towards 30° in August. Rain is rare in summer. It is therefore the ideal time to enjoy the beaches, work on your tan, and enjoy swimming. Lanzarote is not the most famous island for its beaches, however, we listed here 10 awesome beaches on the island. Lanzarote also features one of the most famous beaches in the Canary Islands: Papagayo. More info here on Papagayo beach.
Wondering when to go to Lanzarote to party? Summer is definitely the ideal time. To go out, Puerto del Carmen is the place to be. Nightclubs, bars and casinos attracts the younger crowds. Of course, these places are also open and lively the rest of the year.
If you are wondering where to stay in Lanzarote, check out this post. We listed the 5 best areas to stay on the island.
IN AUTUMN FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Autumn is another perfect time to enjoy Lanzarote. The temperatures are back to 20° which is perfect for outdoor sports. Cycling, hiking, running, everything is possible on the island. It is also when the surf season starts. The waves are getting stronger throughout autumn and winter.
October is also a great month to check out the starts in Lanzarote. The very clear sky is perfect for astronomy lovers.
Of course, going to the beach and getting a sun tan is absolutely possible.
IS IT WINDY IN LANZAROTE?
To know when to go to Lanzarote, it is certainly essential to take the temperature into account, but when you go to an island, it is also better to find out about the weather forecast for the wind! There are generally always a lot of squalls by the sea… Inevitably, this phenomenon gains in amplitude when you are on an island!
If the climate in Lanzarote is so mild, despite its geographical position, it is thanks to the trade winds and the cold current of the Canary Islands, which blow all year round on the island. Most of the time, there is a little bit of wind in Lanzarote but it is not disturbing. However, some places, like Famara a famous surf and kitesurf spot, will be much windier.
On the other hand, as mentioned earlier in this post, you may encounter a phenomenon called calima in the Canary Islands. During that time there is a very strong wind coming from the Sahara. It very dry and hot, therefore considerably increasing the temperature on the island. It is also heavily loaded with sand, which decreases visibility and can lead to respiratory problems.
WHAT IS THE WATER TEMPERATURE IN LANZAROTE?
You may want to know when to go to Lanzarote if you would be able to swim in the sea? It would be a shame to take a trip to an island without taking out your swimsuit and enjoy the beach.
Lanzarote is a all year round destination, but can we really swim in winter? The clear answer is… YES ! We did swim almost every day in January. Now, it’s not the Caribbean water, so it will be a little chill, but many people swim in winter.
In general, the sea temperature in Lanzarote varies between 18 and 19° C from December to May and goes from 20° to 23° C between June and November. Happy? 🙂
ARE THERE ANY FESTIVALS IN LANZAROTE?
Choosing the date of your vacation according to the climate is one thing, but why not take the opportunity to make your stay coincide with the period of a local festival? More than the weather in Lanzarote, it is also its cultural richness that will undoubtedly seduce you. Many events are taking place on the island throughout the year.
Cabalgata de Reyes magos (Ride of the Three Kings)
Every year, on January 5, a festival is celebrated in honor of the Three Kings: we can therefore see three “kings” strolling on the island on camels. They distribute sweets to the children, who impatiently await their arrival at the corner of the streets.
The Carnival
This party is hugely successful in the Canary Islands and Lanzarote is no exception! Every year, in February or March, the island is animated for a week by parades of all kinds, where music and dance are given pride of place. This is an opportunity to admire costumes, each one more magnificent than the next, and to party until the end of the night!
It is obviously a very popular holiday for tourists, so it is important to book your flight and hotel well in advance. To book your flights at the cheapest rate, click here.
Dia de Canarias
This is the day when the autonomy of the Canary Islands is celebrated. Every May 30, fireworks are set off, and folkloric dance and song festivals are happening all over the island.
The Pilgrimage of Los Dolores de Lanzarote
This feast day, celebrated in August or September – the date varies each year – honors the Virgin of Los Dolores, the patron saint of the island, also called Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores. It would be at the origin of the stop of the lava flows, devastating for the island. The inhabitants therefore dress in traditional outfits and travel the island in her honor, finally going to the hermitage of the Virgin of Sorrows, in Tinajo.
RECAP FOR THE BEST TIME TO VISIT LANZAROTE
Average rainy days:
- In Winter: 1 to 2 days per month
- In Summer: on average less than. 1 day per month
- In Autumn and Spring: 1 day per month
Average temperatures:
- Winter: 18°
- Summer: 24°
- Autumn and Spring: 22°
There are some months which are a little bit better to travel to Lanzarote, but overall as you can see, you will enjoy sunshine and beach days all year round. Enjoy this beautiful island. We absolutely fell in love with Lanzarote on our first trip. If you want to find out about the best things do in Lanzarote check out this post.
We wrote many other posts about Lanzarote see below:
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