One of Portugal's most famous writers and Nobel Prize winner, José Saramago spent the last 18 years of his life in Tias, Lanzarote in Spain's Canary Islands. The Jose Saramago House Museum (A Casa José Saramago) preserves his modernist home, including a study, library, kitchen, sea-view garden, and the bedroom where he died.
Admire hundreds of marine species, including clown fish, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, and more at Lanzarote Aquarium, the largest in the Canary Islands. With more than 30 fish tanks, several interactive pools, and a dedicated underwater shark viewing tunnel, there’s plenty for animal lovers to enjoy.
Back in the 1400s, La Villa de Teguise (also known as “Teguise” or “La Villa”) was the buzzing epicenter of Lanzarote life, serving as the island’s capital until the 19th century. Today, Teguise remains one of the best-preserved historic villages in the Canary Islands, affording magnificent views from the top of Mount Guanapay.
If white-sand beaches are your thing, look no further than Playa Blanca (White Beach) on the island of Lanzarote. This former fishing village offers several small sandy coves and white beaches on Punta del Papagayo, as well as harbor-front restaurants, a buzzing nightlife scene, and a twice-weekly arts and crafts market at Marina Rubicón.
The last trace of Lanzarote’s once-booming salt industry, the Janubio Salt Pans are still the largest in the Canary Islands. The patchwork of salt pools makes for a mesmerizing sight, stretching along the banks of the Janubio Lagoon, and summer visitors can witness the salt being harvested by hand.
Located in Timanfaya National Park (Parque Nacional de Timanfaya), the Fire Mountains (Montañas del Fuego) are one of the most vivid, untamed areas of the Canary Islands. Formed in part during a series of violent 18th-century eruptions, the park’s Mars-like topography has captivated generations of visitors.
