Lanzarote Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Pastelería Jonay (San Bartolomé) for traditional Canarian pastries |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
Mercadona, HiperDino, and Lidl for best grocery prices |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Amazon.es (Note: customs delays can occur due to Canary Island tax status) |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Mercadona Online - Delivery fee approx. €7.21 |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Varadero area in Puerto del Carmen or Charco de San Ginés in Arrecife |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Cerveza Nao (Arrecife) - Craft brewery with tasting room near the harbor |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
El Grifo (La Geria) - Oldest winery in Canaries, excellent Malvasía Volcánica |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Teguise Sunday Market - Famous for 'Bocadillo de Carne Fiesta' |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Cantina Teguise (Mexican/Fusion) in Villa de Teguise |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
Glovo and UberEats (Available mostly in Arrecife and tourist hubs) |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Papas Arrugadas con Mojo (Wrinkly potatoes with spicy sauce) |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
The V-Spot (Puerto del Carmen) - Creative 100% vegan menu |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Timanfaya National Park (Volcanic landscapes) - Entry €12 |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
MIAC - Castillo de San José (International Museum of Contemporary Art) |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Castillo de Santa Bárbara (Teguise) and Cueva de los Verdes |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
Church of San Ginés (Arrecife) - 17th-century architecture |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Carnival (February/March) and Arrecife en Vivo (Music festival, Autumn) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
Villa de Teguise (Historic capital) and Haría (The Valley of 1000 Palms) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
Jameos del Agua Auditorium - Unique concert hall inside a volcanic tube |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Mercadillo de Teguise (Sundays) - Largest outdoor market on the island |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Doblón Lanzarote (Arrecife) for live music and DJs |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Murals near the Marina Lanzarote and Arrecife harbor areas |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Finca de Arrieta offers Canarian cooking workshops seasonally |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Fundación César Manrique (Tahiche) - Built into volcanic bubbles |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
Casa Amarilla (Arrecife) - Traditional administrative building turned museum |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
The architectural legacy of César Manrique (Integrating nature and art) |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Arrecife, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain |
| 👥 Population |
156,000 (Island-wide); Arrecife: 64,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
High-speed fiber (FTTH) widely available, average 300 Mbps - 600 Mbps |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: CaixaBank, Santander, BBVA |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Safe for hygiene but heavily desalinated; locals and nomads usually buy bottled water or use filters (e.g., Brita) |
| 🔌 Power |
230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F Europlugs |
| 📶 SIM Card |
Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and Digi. Prepaid 100GB plans from €15/month |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Revolut, N26, and Bunq are highly recommended for avoid Spanish bureaucracy |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Coliving spaces, Airbnb, and local listings on Idealista or Fotocasa |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Yes, cards and Apple/Google Pay accepted in 95% of establishments |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb, Booking.com, and Flatio; average studio €1,100 - €1,500/month |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Kalufa Surf Hostel (La Santa) - approx. €25/night for a dorm bed |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Puerto del Carmen for nightlife/beaches or Playa Blanca for families |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
Arrecife (Charco de San Ginés) for local vibes, or Costa Teguise for community and windsurfing |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
The Office (Arrecife) or Magma Innovation Hub (Arrecife) - Day pass €15-€20 |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Star City Coffee & Deli (Arrecife - 17th floor of Gran Hotel) for views and Wi-Fi |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Lanzarote Digital Nomads Facebook Group meetups at Charco de San Ginés |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
Weekly 'Intercambio' language exchanges at various bars in Costa Teguise |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
Taxi Lanzarote (local app) or PideTaxi. No Uber/Cabify on the island. |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Planet Bikes (Costa Teguise) - Road bikes approx. €25/day |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Playa de Famara (surfing) or Playa Papagayo (scenic/swimming) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Binter Canarias or Canaryfly for inter-island flights |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet (direct from London, Berlin, Madrid) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
LZ-1 (North-South) and LZ-2 (Arrecife to Playa Blanca) are the main arteries |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
Estación de Guaguas (Arrecife Bus Station) - Connection to all major towns |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
Bono Bus Card (Intercity Bus) - 10% to 50% discount on standard fares |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
Fred Olsen or Naviera Armas ferries to Fuerteventura (25-35 mins, approx. €30) |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
Hospital Universitario Dr. José Molina Orosa (Public); Hospiten Lanzarote (Private) |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Lanzarote Yoga (Costa Teguise) - Drop-in classes approx. €15 |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Sports Center Puerto del Carmen - Full gym and pool access approx. €50/month |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Lavanderia Arrecife (Self-service) - €5 per wash |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
La Graciosa Island - Reached by ferry from Orzola (€28 return) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Parque Nacional de Timanfaya and Chinijo Archipelago Marine Reserve |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
Avenue from Arrecife to Puerto del Carmen (12km flat seaside path) |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Mirador del Río - Panoramic views of La Graciosa (Entry €5) |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
El Jable plains for Houbara Bustard sightings |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Strictly prohibited in most areas; permitted only in designated BBQs like Bosquecillo |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
Correos (National Post) and SEUR (Private courier) |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Informática Lanzarote (Arrecife) for laptop/phone repairs |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Ciudad Deportiva Lanzarote (Arrecife) - Public sports facilities |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
LanzaSidiomas (Arrecife) - Spanish intensive courses |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Biblioteca Municipal de Arrecife - Quiet workspace with Wi-Fi |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Centro Cívico Arrecife for local workshops and meetings |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
Limited specialized lounges; mostly local gaming corners in malls like Deiland |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Gran Casino de Lanzarote (Puerto del Carmen) |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €128,000 in Arrecife harbor) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. €2,400 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €96,000 in inland villages) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €180,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €132,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €224,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €160,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
Special Canary Islands Zone (ZEC) rate of 4% (subject to requirements); standard 25% |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
19% - 26% for residents; 19% for EU/EEA residents |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Spanish Worldwide Income basis, but with significant regional deductions (RIC, DIC) |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
47% (National + Regional combined) |
| 🧾 VAT |
7% IGIC (Canary Island General Indirect Tax) instead of 21% VAT |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
Yes, strict Spanish CFC 'Transparencia Fiscal Internacional' rules apply |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) - approx. 0.4% - 1.1% of cadastral value |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
6.5% ITP (Transfer Tax) for resale; 7% IGIC + 1% AJD for new builds |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
Beckham Law (24% flat tax) or ZEC (4% Corporate Tax for registered tech entities) |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING LANZAROTE