Choose Lanzarote for volcanic landscapes (Timanfaya, La Geria, lava caves) and the work of César Manrique, with a few fine coves in the south. Choose Fuerteventura for big beaches, the Corralejo dunes, the El Cotillo lagoons and wind sports. Both very dry islands can be visited all year and are only half an hour apart by ferry, so combining them is simple.
Lanzarote or Fuerteventura? These two neighbours in the east of the Canary Islands have a lot in common: an arid climate (under 100 mm / 3.9 in of rain a year), the euro and an almost identical budget. The difference is in what you come to do: sightsee in Lanzarote, swim and glide in Fuerteventura. This comparison uses only data published in our guides to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
Lanzarote or Fuerteventura: key points
- Volcanoes, caves and art: Lanzarote (Timanfaya, Jameos del Agua, Cueva de los Verdes, Mirador del Río)
- Beaches: Fuerteventura, more than 150 km (93 mi) of coastline, dunes and lagoons
- Windsurfing and kitesurfing: Fuerteventura (Sotavento, northern beaches), from June to September
- Climate: almost identical; Lanzarote slightly hotter in summer (29.5 °C (85 °F) in August against 27.9 °C (82 °F))
- Budget: a tie, about 60 to 115 € a day on a tight budget
- Combination: Playa Blanca – Corralejo ferry, about half an hour
Lanzarote or Fuerteventura: the criterion-by-criterion comparison
| Criterion | Lanzarote | Fuerteventura | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best time | April-May and September-October; all year | April-May and September-October; all year | Tie |
| January climate | 20.9 °C (70 °F) high, 15 mm (0.6 in) | 20.8 °C (69 °F) high, 13 mm (0.5 in) | Tie |
| August climate | 29.5 °C (85 °F) high | 27.9 °C (82 °F) high | Fuerteventura if you dislike heat |
| Annual rain | Barely 100 mm (3.9 in) | Under 100 mm (3.9 in); about 2,990 hours of sunshine a year | Tie |
| Wind | Stronger trade winds in summer, Costa Teguise breezy | Strong, steady trade winds in summer, Jandía beaches very windy | Lanzarote for the beach, Fuerteventura for wind sports |
| Daily budget (tight / comfortable) | About 65 to 115 € / 140 to 300 € | About 60 to 115 € / 140 to 300 € | Tie |
| Beaches | Papagayo coves; Famara for surfing only | Corralejo dunes, El Cotillo and Sotavento lagoons, Cofete | Fuerteventura |
| Sights | Timanfaya, La Geria, Manrique sites, Teguise, La Graciosa | Betancuria, La Oliva, Lobos, Ajuy caves | Lanzarote |
| Size | The island can be crossed in about an hour | About 100 km (62 mi) north to south | Lanzarote |
| Without a car | Buses between resorts; interior and north poorly served | Buses between resorts; interior and remote beaches poorly served | Tie |
| Entry rules | Same (Spain): see below | Same (Spain): see below | Tie |
| Swimming | Dangerous at Famara and on the west coast | Dangerous at Cofete and on the west coast | Tie |
Climate: two of the driest Canary Islands
There is no point separating the two islands on weather: according to the AEMET 1991-2020 normals used in our guides, January highs are identical (about 21 °C (70 °F)) and rain is anecdotal all year. Lanzarote heats up slightly more in summer, by about 1.5 °C (35 °F) in August (a difference, not a reading). Wind is the real criterion: the trade winds blow hardest and most steadily in summer, particularly on Fuerteventura’s beaches (east coast, Jandía), which is what windsurfers and kitesurfers look for. On both islands episodes of calima, hot dust-laden air from the Sahara, are possible.
| Month | Lanzarote: high / rain | Fuerteventura: high / rain |
|---|---|---|
| January | 20.9 °C (70 °F) / 15 mm (0.6 in) | 20.8 °C (69 °F) / 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| March | 22.9 °C (73 °F) / 12 mm (0.5 in) | 22.3 °C (72 °F) / 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 25.2 °C (77 °F) / 1 mm (0.0 in) | 24.7 °C (76 °F) / 1 mm (0.0 in) |
| July | 28.5 °C (83 °F) / 0 mm (0.0 in) | 27.5 °C (82 °F) / 0 mm (0.0 in) |
| August | 29.5 °C (85 °F) / 1 mm (0.0 in) | 27.9 °C (82 °F) / 0 mm (0.0 in) |
| September | 28.6 °C (83 °F) / 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27.5 °C (82 °F) / 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| October | 27 °C (81 °F) / 13 mm (0.5 in) | 26.4 °C (80 °F) / 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| December | 22 °C (72 °F) / 21 mm (0.8 in) | 22.1 °C (72 °F) / 21 mm (0.8 in) |
The Atlantic stays cool compared with the Mediterranean, even in summer; it is at its warmest in September-October. For surfing, autumn and winter bring the strongest swell on Fuerteventura’s north coast, while Famara on Lanzarote is known mainly from autumn to spring. Month-by-month details: when to go to Lanzarote and when to go to the Canary Islands.
Entry requirements and safety
The Canary Islands are part of Spain, so the same rules apply on both islands. Check the official pages before you book, as rules change.
US citizens
According to the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), Spain is part of the Schengen area. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your period of stay (the Department recommends at least six months), and you need proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket. Under the Schengen rules, US citizens can generally visit for short tourist stays without a visa; check the Spanish embassy for the latest details.
UK citizens
According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 12 August 2026), Spain follows Schengen rules: your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and have an expiry date at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. You can travel without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. At the border you may need to show a return or onward ticket, proof of travel insurance, proof of funds and accommodation details. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is being introduced across the Schengen area: you may have to register fingerprints and a photo, at no cost, so allow extra time at the border.
Safety: GOV.UK notes that people drown in the sea and in swimming pools in Spain every year, so supervise children closely. On our two islands, our guides single out Famara (Lanzarote), Cofete (Fuerteventura) and the west coasts as dangerous for swimming.
What to see: the island of volcanoes or the island of beaches
Lanzarote
Lanzarote is the island for sightseeing. Timanfaya National Park protects the craters of the 1730-1736 and 1824 eruptions, seen by coach on the volcano route. La Geria lines up vines planted in ash, with cellars where you can taste malvasia. On the west coast, the green lagoon of El Golfo, Los Hervideros and the Janubio salt pans. César Manrique shaped several sites: Jameos del Agua, Mirador del Río, the Cactus Garden and his house in Tahíche. In the north, the Cueva de los Verdes, Teguise and its Sunday market, Haría and its palm valley, then the island of La Graciosa, with no paved roads, by ferry from Órzola.
Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is the island of beaches: more than 150 km (93 mi) of coastline. In the north, the Corralejo natural park protects a field of blond sand dunes running down to the ocean, facing the islet of Lobos, reached by boat with a free permit to request online. El Cotillo offers calm, turquoise lagoons at low tide. In the south, the Jandía peninsula lines up the Sotavento lagoon, a windsurfing and kitesurfing spot, Costa Calma, Morro Jable and the wild Cofete beach, where swimming is strongly discouraged. For sightseeing: Betancuria, the island’s first capital, La Oliva and the sea caves of Ajuy. Our guide sums it up: the island remains above all a seaside destination.
Budget: identical
| Item (per person per day) | Lanzarote | Fuerteventura |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, tight / comfortable | About 25 to 45 € / 60 to 140 € | About 25 to 45 € / 60 to 130 € |
| Meals | About 20 to 30 € / 40 to 70 € | About 20 to 30 € / 40 to 70 € |
| Transport | About 10 to 20 € / 20 to 40 € | About 10 to 20 € / 20 to 40 € |
| Activities | About 10 to 20 € / 20 to 50 € (Timanfaya, Manrique sites, La Graciosa) | About 5 to 20 € / 20 to 60 € (surfing, Lobos, diving) |
| Total | About 65 to 115 € / 140 to 300 € | About 60 to 115 € / 140 to 300 € |
What makes the bill vary: admission to Lanzarote’s sites, which add up (look at combined tickets), and surf or kitesurf courses on Fuerteventura, to be compared according to what is included. All-inclusive packages in the big resorts (Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise, Caleta de Fuste, Costa Calma, Morro Jable) can be worthwhile outside school holidays.
Lanzarote or Fuerteventura by profile
| Profile | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beach and relaxing | Fuerteventura | Dunes, lagoons, very long sandy beaches |
| Sightseeing and landscapes | Lanzarote | Timanfaya, La Geria, lava caves, Manrique sites |
| Windsurfing and kitesurfing | Fuerteventura | Sotavento and the northern beaches, June to September |
| Surfing | Tie | Famara on Lanzarote; El Cotillo and the north coast of Fuerteventura |
| Families | Fuerteventura | Calm El Cotillo lagoons, family resorts of Caleta de Fuste and Morro Jable |
| Couples | Tie | Vineyards and Manrique sites; or the sunsets at El Cotillo |
| Short stay | Lanzarote | Compact island, crossed in an hour |
| High summer | Fuerteventura | Slightly cooler; but very windy on some beaches |
Families
Fuerteventura has the edge: the El Cotillo lagoons, shallow at low tide, and the sheltered beaches of Caleta de Fuste or Morro Jable suit children. On Lanzarote, the Papagayo coves and quieter Costa Teguise are good bases, and children enjoy the caves (bring closed shoes).
Landscape lovers
Lanzarote is made for you: our guide makes it its main asset. Fuerteventura offers barer landscapes, the bald mountains of the centre, extinct volcanoes around La Oliva and the Corralejo dunes, which can be seen in a few days.
Wind and board sports
Our guide presents Fuerteventura as a major windsurfing and kitesurfing destination, with steady trade winds from June to September, and surfing in autumn-winter on the north coast. Lanzarote answers with Famara for surfing and Costa Teguise for wind sports.
Why not both?
The combination is simple: a ferry links Playa Blanca (Lanzarote) to Corralejo (Fuerteventura) in about half an hour. Both our guides propose the same pattern over 10 to 14 days: a week on the first island, then four to seven days on the second. Start with Lanzarote for sightseeing and finish in Fuerteventura for the beach, or the other way round depending on your flights. To compare with the other islands: our Canary Islands guide and the comparison Tenerife or Lanzarote.
Frequently asked questions
Lanzarote or Fuerteventura for beaches?
Fuerteventura: more than 150 km (93 mi) of coastline, the Corralejo dunes, the El Cotillo and Sotavento lagoons. Lanzarote has fine coves in the south, at Papagayo, but is visited mainly for its volcanoes.
Which island is windier?
Both are exposed to the trade winds, especially in summer. Fuerteventura is known for its very windy beaches, notably on the east coast and at Jandía, hence its place in windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Which is cheaper?
The budgets in our guides are almost identical: about 60 to 115 € per person per day on a tight budget in Fuerteventura, 65 to 115 € in Lanzarote, excluding flights.
How do you get from Lanzarote to Fuerteventura?
By ferry, from Playa Blanca to Corralejo, in about half an hour.
Which island for a family?
Fuerteventura, thanks to the calm El Cotillo lagoons and family resorts. Avoid swimming at Cofete (Fuerteventura) and Famara (Lanzarote), which are dangerous.
Is it warm in winter?
For a winter month, yes: about 21 °C (70 °F) in the afternoon in January on both islands according to AEMET, with very little rain. The sea feels cool to many swimmers.
Our sources
- Our published guides, the source of all data on this page: Lanzarote, when to go to Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, when to go to the Canary Islands
- Sources cited in those guides: 1991-2020 normals from the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET)
- U.S. Department of State, Spain country information (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025)
- UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Spain (GOV.UK, updated 12 August 2026)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
More head-to-heads await in our destination comparisons.