How to Spend a Rainy Day in Lanzarote (and still have fun!)

Last Updated on 27th June 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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If there’s one unique experience that most visitors will not experience during their time on the Canary Island of Lanzarote, it’s rain. However, it sometimes does rain in Lanzarote and so you’ll want to be prepared if it does happen to rain during your stay. Here’s how to spend a rainy day in Lanzarote (and still have fun!)

Local legend says that after every Calima (a weather phenomenon where dust from the Sahara smothers the island in a blanket of orange dust for several days) there will be rain. And in our experience, that’s exactly what happened during our stay in Lanzarote!

After an intense hot period where everything outside was covered in a fine layer of orange dust (our car, our clothes, our hands- you name it, it was dusty) and the landscapes were hazy from the sand filling the air, there was an entire day of on-off thunder storms.

How often does it rain in Lanzarote?

The first thing to note before delving into this article is that rain is a rather rare occurrence on the island. It is even rarer that the entire island will be rainy at the same time (although this is what happened to us for a day of our Lanzarote trip!)

Typically, the verdant north is rainier than the dry south and so even if it’s raining by the Mirador del Río, it may well be clear in Southern port towns such as Costa de Teguise (close to Teguise) or Puerto del Carmen.

The most likely time of the year for there to be rain in Lanzarote is in February and March. Even when it does rain, the rain typically arrives in short and sharp bursts so it is unlikely to drizzle for an entire day.

For more inspiration on visiting the island, check out our suggested Lanzarote itinerary.

Things to do during a rainy day in Lanzarote

Castillo de San José

One of the top indoor attractions in Lanzarote is located in the city of Arrecife, which is where the airport is located. Castillo de San José is a former defensive castle turned art museum and is popular among visitors to the island today.

The Castillo de San José is now known as the MIAC (Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo) and is open from 11 AM – 6 PM on a daily basis. Set against the backdrop of an 18th-century fortress, the museum is quite small and will not take long to visit- though is almost entirely indoors!

Cueva de los Verdes

Yet another top attraction in Lanzarote that is largely indoors is Cueva de los Verdes. This top location on the island is completely underground and so there is no chance of getting wet.

With this being said, I would recommend bringing waterproofs as there is generally a fairly long wait to get into the volcanic lava tubes themselves.

El Mirador del Río

Another top attraction that is mostly indoors (though you’ll likely profit from a better view directly after the rain stops when the sky is cleared of the calima) is the El Mirdaro del Río, which is just a short drive away from Cueva de los Verdes.

Unfortunately for my partner and I, the lookout point was actually closed for filming during our visit and so we weren’t able to go during our Lanzarote trip. The ex military lookout was been transformed into a cultural space by the late artist César Manrique from 1971 to 1973.

Perfectly integrated with the volcanic rock, the complex comprises of an outdoor terrace, a café, and a souvenir shop. If it’s raining outside, then you can enjoy the view from the indoor café with a warm beverage.

César Manrique Foundation (Fundación César Manrique)

Located in Tahiche, one of the top museums to visit in Lanzarote is the César Manrique Foundation, which is known as the Fundación César Manrique in Spanish. Set against the backdrop of Manrique’s studio-home and garden, the now museum features artworks by Spanish artists.

Timanfaya National Park

One activity which might be less photogenic than if it were a sunny day but can be enjoyed nonetheless is a visit to Timanfaya National Park. Due to ecological conservation reasons, visitors can’t just wander around the park.

Instead, visit is by coach tour only, which is actually much more interesting than it sounds! The National Park is otherworldly in its appearance and is the result of the eruptions which Lanzarote suffered in the first half of the 18th-century.

Entrance is paid (this includes entry to the National Park and the coach tour), though it’s highly recommended that you book well in advance of your trip. There is also El Diablo restaurant in the park, where you can eat and drink.

Sample local wine

Lanzarote boasts unique volcanic wines which are created from lunar-like vineyards in an area known as La Geria. These vineyards don’t appear to be such at a cursory glance and are instead shallow craters dug out of the volcanic soil with a short dry stone wall semi-encircling them.

In the middle, there are grape vines which have been trained into small baskets. The intense difference in temperature between day and night in Lanzarote means that condensation forms at night on the walls of the craters and drips down to water the vineyard.

The vineyard area of the island is an absolute must when visiting Lanzarote and there are a number of vineyards that you can visit to go for a wine tasting. The oldest vineyard on the island is El Grifo (which is one of the top ten oldest vineyards in Spain). Book your Wine Tour and Tasting under the Volcano here in advance.