Arrecife is located on Lanzarote’s eastern coast, the easternmost of the Canary Islands. It has a population of around 65,000 and is the island’s capital. The city is built around the picturesque seawater lagoon, Charco San Ginés, and features a busy port that welcomes both passengers and cargo. Living in Arrecife gives you both the amenities of city life and the pleasures of being surrounded by the otherworldly volcanic terrain of Lanzarote.
Is Arrecife a good place to live?
Arrecife combines the benefits of a cosmopolitan metropolis with the seafaring charm of a port town. It offers an authentic experience, less touristy than other parts of Lanzarote, like the island's resorts.
With beautiful beaches like El Reducto, Arrecife provides lots of opportunities for kicking back. Water sports are popular in Arrecife, thanks to the breezy weather creating ideal conditions. Windsurfing is a common activity, along with surfing, as Lanzarote is said to have the best quality waves in the Canaries. Thanks to the volcanic rock formations and warm, clear waters, diving is another activity you can enjoy off the shores of Arrecife, where you can admire the famous sea reef that gives the city its name. The island’s extensive network of cycling routes makes it easy to ride out of the city on your mountain bike and into the surroundings.
The city also boasts a rich cultural scene with events like Arrecife en Vivo, a lively music festival with free concerts in September and October. The contemporary art museum housed in San José Castle and El Almacén cultural centre are good spots for regularly getting your fix of culture. Arrecife also has a lot of street art that adds to the city’s colourful character.
Is Arrecife safe?
Arrecife is generally considered safe at night, with a welcoming atmosphere and a low crime rate. While it's always wise to be careful when hitting the town, the city offers a secure environment for enjoying its nightlife, whether dining out or taking a stroll along the pedestrianised seafront.
Pros and cons of living in Arrecife
Understanding the advantages and potential drawbacks of living in this port city in the Canary Islands will help you decide whether it's the right decision.
Living in this subtropical island city certainly comes with perks:
- Pedestrian-friendly areas: a large section of the seafront and main shopping area is pedestrianised, making the city pleasant to navigate on foot.
- Warm weather: enjoy a mild climate all year round, ideal for outdoor activities.
- Water sports haven: surrounded by water, Arrecife offers plenty of opportunities for sailing and water sports enthusiasts.
But there are drawbacks to living in Arrecife:
- Property purchase restrictions: there may be future restrictions on property sales to non-residents and foreign buyers, as proposed by the Canary Islands government.
- Geographic isolation: being so far from mainland Spain can be slightly isolating for some.
Arrecife: cost of living
Dining out is relatively inexpensive compared to bigger Spanish cities on the mainland, however, there is less choice. A three-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant in Arrecife costs between €40 and €70, while a glass of beer is typically no more than €3.50.
In Arrecife, real estate offers various options, with property for sale and long-term rentals available. Neighbourhoods further inland and away from the centre, like Argana and Maneje, have some of the cheapest properties for sale. Unsurprisingly, the centre of the city is the most expensive place to live. As of March 2025, property prices were, on average, €1,921 per m2, more affordable than in places like Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where the average property price was €2,408.
Moving to Arrecife
Life as an expat in Arrecife offers a genuine experience away from the island's resorts, where your neighbours are locals rather than holidaymakers. This can give you a more authentic experience of Spanish life. Because of this, relocating to Arrecife means integrating into a community where speaking Spanish is strongly recommended.
If you’re considering living on Lanzarote but are looking into other areas of the island, perhaps the more touristy resort town of Puerto del Carmen would suit you better. For surfers, living near Famara beach is ideal as it has some of the best waves on the island and plenty of surf facilities.
The Canary Islands are considered one of the best-valued regions in Spain for buying property, partly due to its exceptional climate. However, it's important to note that this has resulted in high demand from foreigners looking to purchase here, prompting the local government to attempt to place restrictions.
Wildfires in Spain: over 1,900 troops deployed
Spain is battling more than 20 major wildfires across the country, with the government deploying hundreds of additional soldiers as a searing, prolonged heatwave continues to fuel the blazes. Defence Minister Margarita Robles described the situation as unlike anything the country's Military Emergencies Unit (UME) has faced since its formation 20 years ago, linking the unusual characteristics of the fires to climate change.
Living in Menorca: life on the quiet Balearic
While Ibiza is famed for its clubs and Mallorca for its resorts, Menorca is a world apart. Known locally as 'the calm island', this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve offers a different pace of life, and this peaceful identity is central to the experience of living in Menorca. Its history is just as rich, with prehistoric Talayotic stone monuments scattered across the landscape and Georgian townhouses in Mahón hinting at a period of British rule. There’s even a strong local claim that salsa mahonesa (m
Holapueblo project: how Spain is repopulating its rural villages
The phenomenon known as 'España vaciada', or 'Empty Spain', refers to the demographic shift leaving many of the country's rural areas sparsely populated. This trend presents a continuing social and economic challenge for the nation. As villages contend with dwindling populations, a range of initiatives has emerged to help revitalise these communities. Among the most prominent of these efforts is the Holapueblo project, a programme designed to tackle the issue of depopulation head-on by attracti
Tennis, sunshine, and style: Davis Cup 2025 arrives in Marbella
Spain will host Denmark in an electrifying Davis Cup Qualifier at Marbella’s prestigious Puente Romano Tennis Club from 13–14 September 2025. This decisive tie will determine which nation earns a coveted place in the Final 8 in Bologna this November — and it’s set to be one of the highlights of Marbella’s late-summer social calendar.
Madrid, the safest city in the world according to Trump
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has described Madrid as the safest city in the world. He made the statement during a press briefing in which he announced that the federal government would take control of the Washington DC police, with the aim of reducing crime rates.
Discover the most beautiful white villages in Andalusia and Southern Spain
Southern Spain is famous for its sunshine, beaches, rich culture and historic towns – but nothing quite compares to its pueblos blancos, or white villages. These charming whitewashed towns are found throughout Andalusia, Murcia, and Extremadura, offering stunning views, fascinating architecture, and a peaceful escape from the modern world.
Living in Coripe: houses from €20K in rural Seville
Tucked away in the province of Seville, Coripe is the kind of place that barely registers on the usual tourist map. This is precisely why its property market is so remarkable, with traditional village houses starting from around €20,000. It’s an ideal spot for anyone seeking an authentic, rural Andalusian life without the hefty price tag.