Where to stay in Arrecife

Arrecife is the capital city and a municipality of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, Spain. It was made the island's capital in 1852.

"Arrecife" means reef, the line of coastal volcanic rock that acts a breakwater, a barrier to larger ships but one that small craft could shelter behind when pirates hove into view. Those pirates would loot or burn whatever they could and take prisoners to be sold as slaves. There was a small fishing settlement here from the 15th century, and the Castillo de San Gabriel was built on an islet at the end of the 16th century. There was always trade with mainland Spain but more lucrative were the routes to Spanish colonies in the Americas.

Getting around

Walking will get you most places. There isn't a separate city bus system. For the art museum in Castillo de San José, take any bus towards Costa Teguise along C Los Marmoles. In 2023, a single ride within Arrecife costs €1.40. Taxis are plentiful, and greet the cruise ships in hungry swarms, but there's no e-hailing system on Lanzarote. Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen, Playa Honda and Costa Teguise are covered by Superpedestrian Link Scooters, which can be used with their app. You can take and leave an e-scooter at any point shown on the app.

Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.