What will Lanzarote be like this Christmas?

There are a few things we can be reasonably certain of as Christmas 2024 approaches.

First, the island will be full: Last December was by far the busiest month of 2023 with over 300,000 visitors to Lanzarote. This year, advance bookings suggest even higher amounts of arrivals.

Secondly, there’ll be plenty going on. This month brings the island’s biggest food fair, which will shortly be followed by the Lanzarote Marathon – the oldest endurance event on the island.

Christmas decorations, lights and the island’s charming nativity scenes will all be in place by early December, and by 10th of the month the island will be all dressed up for the festive season.

Finally, despite all the activity, there’ll be very little of the frantic, hectic hustle and bustle that can make Christmas such a stressful time. On Lanzarote, no one ever forgets that the season is a holiday – not a mad rush that’s suddenly done and dusted on Christmas Day.

Christmas is different on Lanzarote. It’s not just that the Three Kings take the place of Santa Claus and presents are received on Twelfth Night, or that the main meal is enjoyed on Christmas Eve: it’s a whole different attitude to the season – easy-going, celebratory and charming.

The weeks leading up to Christmas have a special atmosphere all of their own. The weather is usually warm and sunny, although not scorching hot, and the streets are filled with people enjoying themselves. And that enjoyment is important, because street life on Lanzarote is very much about taking your time, enjoying the atmosphere, pausing for a break and watching the people go by

It’s a great time to just get out and about and explore corners of the island you might not have discovered before. Take a trip to Arrecife, for example: either its new shopping centre or the little maze of streets in the centre where there’s usually something going on and dozens of fascinating shops to discover.

Head to the Marinas in Playa Blanca or Puerto Calero for some upmarket retail therapy and a meal or a cup of coffee in sleek, attractive surroundings. Take a trip to charming little towns like San Bartolomé or the old town of Teguise to find out what they have to offer or make an effort to attend the craft markets at Haría, Costa Teguise or Playa Blanca.

If market shopping is your thing, Teguise on a Sunday is, of course, unmissable, but don’t stick to the main marketplace – instead wander the pretty back streets, where you’ll find places, you never dreamed existed.

GIFT SHOPPING

The first thing that comes to mind when people think about gifts on Lanzarote is usually souvenirs. That’s fine – there are some incredibly attractive items on sale all around the island, and a gift such as a UD Lanzarote shirt or a Manrique poster is sure to be welcome.

Food and drink are also hugely popular gifts, and Lanzarote has more than enough wine, cheese and fine foods to satisfy the most demanding gourmet.

But research has also shown that the most memorable gifts are not things, but experiences. That could be anything from a spa session to surfing lessons, from a fantastic meal in a delightful restaurant to a ferry trip to La Graciosa or Fuerteventura.

And, of course, on Lanzarote at Christmas the island is full of people enjoying an unforgettable experience – the delightful charm of a Canarian Christmas.