Best Viewpoints in Lanzarote is not just a list of photo stops. Lanzarote’s viewpoints are not about height alone. The island’s beauty comes from the graphic contrast between black lava, pale villages, ochre volcanoes, Atlantic blue and the carefully shaped architecture associated with César Manrique. A good viewpoint day therefore feels almost like moving through a sequence of designed landscape compositions.
If you are planning a wider trip, start with our Lanzarote travel guide and then use this page to build one or two scenic days rather than trying to collect every viewpoint in a single drive.
Quick advice: the best viewpoint is the one you can reach safely in good visibility. Mountain cloud, strong wind, road closures and limited parking can change the plan, so keep the route flexible.
Best viewpoints in Lanzarote: quick comparison
| Viewpoint or area | Best for | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Mirador del Río | North Lanzarote | Easy to combine with a wider route; allow extra time for weather and parking. |
| Mirador de Haría | Haría valley | Best treated as a scenic stop rather than a rushed photo break. |
| Risco de Famara viewpoints | North-west | Easy to combine with a wider route; allow extra time for weather and parking. |
| Timanfaya and volcanic route viewpoints | South-west interior | Best treated as a scenic stop rather than a rushed photo break. |
| Los Hervideros coast | West coast | Easy to combine with a wider route; allow extra time for weather and parking. |
| El Golfo viewpoint | Green Lagoon area | Best treated as a scenic stop rather than a rushed photo break. |
| Femés | South Lanzarote | Easy to combine with a wider route; allow extra time for weather and parking. |
| Teguise approaches and central volcanoes | Central Lanzarote | Best treated as a scenic stop rather than a rushed photo break. |
The viewpoints worth planning around
Mirador del Río
Best for: North Lanzarote. The island’s best-known formal viewpoint, designed by César Manrique and built into the cliff. The main reward is the broad view over the strait toward La Graciosa and the Chinijo Archipelago.
Give yourself enough time to look in more than one direction. The most rewarding stops are often not about a single postcard angle but about seeing how coast, ravines, villages and volcanic terrain connect. If the car park is full, continue to the next legal stopping point rather than improvising on a bend or blocking access.
Mirador de Haría
Best for: Haría valley. A renovated viewpoint above the Valley of a Thousand Palms, with a gentler rural panorama than the exposed northern cliffs. It fits naturally into a day linking Haría, northern attractions and local villages.
Give yourself enough time to look in more than one direction. The most rewarding stops are often not about a single postcard angle but about seeing how coast, ravines, villages and volcanic terrain connect. If the car park is full, continue to the next legal stopping point rather than improvising on a bend or blocking access.
Risco de Famara viewpoints
Best for: North-west. Several safe stopping areas and elevated approaches reveal the vast Famara cliff and beach landscape. Wind can be strong, so take extra care near exposed edges.
Give yourself enough time to look in more than one direction. The most rewarding stops are often not about a single postcard angle but about seeing how coast, ravines, villages and volcanic terrain connect. If the car park is full, continue to the next legal stopping point rather than improvising on a bend or blocking access.
Timanfaya and volcanic route viewpoints
Best for: South-west interior. The protected volcanic landscape is experienced through controlled access and designated routes rather than informal roadside wandering. Follow official access rules and never leave authorised areas to chase a photograph.
Give yourself enough time to look in more than one direction. The most rewarding stops are often not about a single postcard angle but about seeing how coast, ravines, villages and volcanic terrain connect. If the car park is full, continue to the next legal stopping point rather than improvising on a bend or blocking access.
Los Hervideros coast
Best for: West coast. Not a high viewpoint, but one of the best places to observe the meeting of lava cliffs and Atlantic swell from prepared paths and balconies. It is especially impressive when the sea has energy, although safety barriers should always be respected.
Give yourself enough time to look in more than one direction. The most rewarding stops are often not about a single postcard angle but about seeing how coast, ravines, villages and volcanic terrain connect. If the car park is full, continue to the next legal stopping point rather than improvising on a bend or blocking access.
El Golfo viewpoint
Best for: Green Lagoon area. A short, easy stop above the crater coast and lagoon landscape. It combines naturally with Los Hervideros and the salt pans for a half-day western circuit.
Give yourself enough time to look in more than one direction. The most rewarding stops are often not about a single postcard angle but about seeing how coast, ravines, villages and volcanic terrain connect. If the car park is full, continue to the next legal stopping point rather than improvising on a bend or blocking access.
Femés
Best for: South Lanzarote. The road around Femés opens broad views across the southern landscape toward Playa Blanca and the coast. It is a quieter contrast to the island’s headline attractions.
Give yourself enough time to look in more than one direction. The most rewarding stops are often not about a single postcard angle but about seeing how coast, ravines, villages and volcanic terrain connect. If the car park is full, continue to the next legal stopping point rather than improvising on a bend or blocking access.
Teguise approaches and central volcanoes
Best for: Central Lanzarote. Low hills and roadside perspectives around the old capital reveal the rhythm of cones, fields and whitewashed settlement that defines inland Lanzarote.
Give yourself enough time to look in more than one direction. The most rewarding stops are often not about a single postcard angle but about seeing how coast, ravines, villages and volcanic terrain connect. If the car park is full, continue to the next legal stopping point rather than improvising on a bend or blocking access.
How to plan a scenic driving day
The most efficient scenic loop is north Lanzarote: Teguise → Haría → Mirador del Río → return via the east or Famara side. A separate western loop can combine Timanfaya, El Golfo, Los Hervideros and the salt pans without rushing.
Do not judge driving time from distance alone. Island roads can include hairpins, steep gradients, cyclists, fog and slow local traffic. Add generous margins, especially if you want to stop for lunch or walk short trails. A route with four well-chosen viewpoints is usually better than one with ten rushed stops.
Best time of day for viewpoints
Morning often gives cleaner visibility, lighter traffic and more comfortable temperatures. Late afternoon can produce warmer light and stronger texture on cliffs and volcanic slopes. Midday is not automatically bad: high sun can make the sea intensely blue and is useful when valleys are still in shadow earlier in the day.
For sunset, choose a viewpoint where you already understand the parking and return route. Do not arrive at an unfamiliar mountain road at the last minute, and carry a light layer because high elevations can feel much cooler than the resort coast.
Weather and visibility
The Canary Islands have strong local microclimates. A cloudy coast does not always mean a cloudy summit, and a clear resort morning does not guarantee visibility in the mountains. Wind can also be the decisive factor at exposed balconies. Check official weather information and road conditions before leaving, then be willing to swap days.
Photography without turning the day into a photo hunt
- Clean the phone or camera lens before high-contrast landscape shots.
- Use people, walls or vegetation for scale instead of photographing only empty horizons.
- Avoid climbing barriers or stepping onto unstable volcanic ground for a different angle.
- Take one wide image, one medium composition and one detail at each major stop.
- Respect other visitors: do not occupy the main railing for long periods.
- If using a drone, check current Spanish aviation and protected-area rules rather than assuming scenic open space means flying is permitted.
Viewpoint safety
Railings, barriers and marked paths are there for a reason. Atlantic wind can arrive in strong gusts, cliff edges can be unstable and volcanic surfaces can be sharp. Children need close supervision, and loose hats or lightweight objects can disappear quickly at exposed stops.
For mountain routes, carry water, a warm layer, sun protection and footwear with grip even if you do not plan a real hike. If a road or trail is closed, treat the closure as part of the day’s conditions rather than something to work around.
Where to stay for a scenic-road trip
A resort can be perfect for beach days but inefficient for repeated mountain drives. If landscapes are a priority, compare the location of your accommodation with the roads you actually plan to use. Staying centrally for part of the trip can reduce backtracking, while a coastal base is usually better if viewpoints are only one or two days of a longer holiday.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car to see the best viewpoints in Lanzarote?
A car gives the most flexibility, but some viewpoints are reachable by public transport, organised tours or walks. The practical choice depends on your base and whether you are comfortable with mountain roads.
Are viewpoints free?
Many public viewpoints are free, while some formal attractions or visitor centres may charge admission. Facilities and access arrangements can change, so check official information for any stop that is central to your day.
Can I visit viewpoints with children?
Yes, but choose stops with secure parking, clear barriers and short walking distances. Avoid exposed cliff locations in strong wind and keep children close around roads and edges.
What if the mountains are cloudy?
Move the scenic day if you can. If not, choose lower coastal viewpoints, historic towns or another part of the island where conditions are clearer. Cloud can sometimes create excellent atmosphere, but dense fog is not worth forcing.
Final advice
The best viewpoints in Lanzarote work when they are part of the journey rather than boxes to tick. Choose a coherent route, stop legally, respect the landscape and leave enough time for the unplanned places that catch your eye.
Best rule: build a scenic day around three or four major stops and let the island fill in the spaces between them.