Essentials
- City
- Arrecife, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Spain
- Population
- Approximately 65,000
- Internet Speed
- High-quality fiber optic available; average speeds 300 Mbps - 1 Gbps via Movistar or Digi
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: CaixaBank, BBVA, Santander
- Tap Water
- Technically safe but desalinated and tastes poor; most residents buy 5L or 8L jugs of bottled water (€1.20 - €2.00)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Orange, Vodafone, or Movistar. Pre-paid plans (e.g., Orange Go Fly) offer 100GB for ~€20/month
- Banking for Expats
- Widely cashless; Revolut and N26 are highly recommended for avoiding local fees
- Accommodation
- Mix of modern apartments near El Charco and older Canary-style homes. Expect €800-€1,200 for long-term 1-bed rentals
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and contactless mobile payments accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com are dominant; prices average €60-€100 per night
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel Arrecife (Calle de la Coruña) - approx €25-€35 per night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- El Charco de San Ginés (scenic lagoon area with bars and restaurants)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- La Marina or the city center near Calle Real for proximity to amenities and coworking
Working and Networking
- Networking Events
- Lanzarote Digital Nomads Meetup (organized via Facebook/Meetup.com); events often held at Marina Lanzarote
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Lanzarote and 'Expats in Lanzarote' Facebook community gatherings
- Best Coworking Space
- The Square Coworking (Calle San Roque) - Day pass approx €20, Monthly €180
- Best Cafe for Work
- Starbucks (near Gran Hotel) or Tabla Arrecife (El Charco) - good Wi-Fi and laptop-friendly atmosphere
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Taxi Arrecife (no Uber/Cabify; use local taxi ranks or '1-Taxi' app). Airport to city center is approx €12-€15
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Lanzarote Bike (Marina Lanzarote) - Electric bikes approx €30 per day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Playa del Reducto (city beach) with golden sand and calm waters
- Top Regional Airline
- Binter Canarias (inter-island flights to Gran Canaria/Tenerife starting at €30 for residents)
- Top International Airline
- Iberia, Ryanair, and EasyJet (direct routes to London, Berlin, Madrid)
- Highway Access
- LZ-2 (connects to Playa Blanca) and LZ-1 (connects to the North)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Estación de Guaguas de Arrecife (Main Bus Station on Vía Medular)
- Public Transport Passes
- IntercityBus Lanzarote 'Bono Bus' card provides 10-20% discounts on fares
- Regional Travel
- Guaguas (Buses) connect to Costa Teguise (€1.40) and Puerto del Carmen (€1.70)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Doctor José Molina Orosa (Public) and Hospiten Lanzarote (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Lanzarote Yoga (various locations) and Yoga con Amba near El Charco
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Macrofit Arrecife (Marina Lanzarote) - Monthly membership approx €45
- Laundry Services
- Lavanderia Autoservicio Speed Queen (Calle Triana) - Wash & dry for approx €8
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo and Just Eat are the primary providers in Arrecife
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Papas Arrugadas con Mojo (Wrinkled potatoes with spicy sauce) - approx €6 at local 'Teleclubs'
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The V-Factor (Calle Ginés de Castro y Álvarez) - excellent plant-based burgers
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pastelería San Antonio (Calle Real) - famous for traditional Bienmesabe
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercadona or HiperDino (Vía Medular) for best grocery prices
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.es (note: shipping to Canaries can take 5-10 days due to customs)
- Grocery Delivery
- Mercadona Online (delivery fee approx €7.21)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- El Charco de San Ginés (Calle Virgen de la Caridad) for tapas and cocktails
- Local Brewery
- Cerveza Nao (Calle Libertad) - Craft brewery in an old boat repair shop
- Wine Bars
- La Raspa (El Charco) - specialized in local Malvasía Volcanic wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Arrecife Saturday Market (Plaza de San Ginés) for local cheese and pastries
- Popular International Cuisine
- Naia - Modern creative cuisine with local ingredients near the lagoon
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Castillo de San Gabriel and the Puente de las Bolas bridge
- Museums & Art Venues
- MIAC - Castillo de San José (International Museum of Contemporary Art)
- Historical Sites
- Casa Amarilla (The Yellow House) - former seat of the island government
- Religious Sites
- Iglesia de San Ginés (17th-century church with a beautiful mudéjar ceiling)
- Annual Events
- Arrecife Carnival (February/March) and Fiesta de San Ginés (August)
- Cultural Districts
- El Charco district for traditional maritime atmosphere
- Theater Venues
- Teatro Víctor Fernández Gopar 'El Salinero'
- Local Markets
- Saturday Morning Market in Arrecife (Mercadillo Turístico) for crafts
- Music Scene
- Live jazz and folk at La Bulla or Marina Lanzarote stages
- Street Art
- Murals by local artists near the old fishing school and the MIAC surroundings
- Cooking Classes
- Wine & Food Tours Lanzarote (offering volcano-soil cooking workshops)
- Art Galleries
- Fundación César Manrique (located 10 mins away in Tahiche)
- Historic Buildings
- Grand Hotel Arrecife (tallest building on the island, landmark of 1970s architecture)
- Local Heritage
- The 'Novia del Viento' sculpture by César Manrique on the seafront
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Timanfaya National Park (25 mins drive) - Martian volcanic landscape
- National Parks Nearby
- Timanfaya National Park - Entry approx €12
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 26km promenade that connects Arrecife to Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Star City Coffee & Blue Bar (17th floor of Gran Hotel) for city panoramas
- Birdwatching Locations
- Salinas de Janubio (30 mins drive) for flamingos and aquatic birds
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited on beaches; permitted only during Noche de San Juan (June 23) in designated zones
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correos (Calle Libertad) and DHL Lanzarote
- Tech Repair Services
- Applemotion (Calle Paraguay) for electronics and laptop repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Centro Sociocultural de Argana Baja
- Language Classes
- Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (EOI) Arrecife for affordable Spanish courses
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Municipal de Arrecife (Calle Mayor)
- Community Centers
- Casa de la Juventud (Vía Medular) for workshops and youth events
- Gaming Lounges
- The 'Cyber' spots are rare, but 'Level Up' in nearby Playa Honda has gaming PC setups
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gran Casino Lanzarote (located in Puerto del Carmen, 15 mins away)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €105,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €77,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = €154,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = €110,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,500 per m² (e.g., 85 m² = €212,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,800 per m² (e.g., 85 m² = €153,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Spain standard is 25%, but Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC) offers 4% for eligible companies
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 19% - 26% for residents; 19% for EU residents
- Tax System
- Spanish residents taxed on worldwide income; Beckham Law may apply for high-earning expats
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx 47% (varies slightly by autonomous community)
- VAT
- IGIC (Canary Islands Indirect General Tax) - 7% (Lower than mainland Spain's 21% VAT)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strict Spanish tax compliance rules apply
- Property Tax
- IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) - Annual local tax approx 0.4% - 1.1% of rateable value
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6.5% ITP (Transfer Tax) for resale properties in the Canaries
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Spain's Digital Nomad Visa offers a flat 15% tax rate for up to 4 years for non-EU residents