Cesar Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, known locally as ACE, is the island’s only airport and sits just outside Arrecife on the sunny east coast. 

It’s the welcoming gateway for around 8 million travellers each year, with regular flights arriving from the UK, Germany, Ireland, Scandinavia and mainland Spain. For many of us who call Lanzarote home, it’s always a pleasure to see new visitors stepping out into the island sunshine for the first time.

Arriving at Terminal 1 is generally a smooth and straightforward experience. Once you step off the plane, baggage reclaim is just downstairs, and before you know it, you are almost at the exit and ready to start your holiday. If you have arranged a hire car, the desks are conveniently located right in the reclaim area, making it easy for one person to sort the paperwork while the rest of your group collects the bags. You will also find a helpful tourist information desk in the arrivals hall, along with a currency exchange counter and the familiar sight of tour operator reps waiting to greet their guests. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal, so you can easily let friends and family know you have arrived safely.

Taxi Availability

You will find a taxi rank just outside arrivals at Terminal 1, and another at Terminal 2. Taxis are available at any hour, and all are metered, with a small airport surcharge added to the fare. Night rates apply from 10pm until 6am, and fares are a little higher on weekends and public holidays. Most taxis take up to four passengers, but if you are travelling as a group, there are larger minibus taxis available too.

As a rough guide, you can expect to pay about 12 euros for a taxi to Puerto del Carmen, 25 to 30 euros to Costa Teguise, and 50 euros or more if you are heading down to Playa Blanca. It is also worth knowing that Uber does not operate here on Lanzarote. If you would rather not wait in the taxi queue, especially during the busy changeover days on Thursdays, it is a good idea to pre-book a private transfer before you travel.

Car Hire

Hiring a car on Lanzarote is genuinely worth considering. The island is compact, the roads are well maintained, and having your own car lets you discover places that coaches and taxis simply do not reach. You will find the car hire desks in the baggage reclaim area at Terminal 1 and in the arrivals hall at Terminal 2.

All the big international companies are represented, but many regular visitors prefer the local firms, which tend to get better reviews. Cicar and Autoreisen are both popular choices for their straightforward pricing and good insurance cover. It is best to book online before you travel, rather than waiting until you arrive, especially in February, March and August when demand and prices are higher. Petrol is also noticeably cheaper here than in the UK, which is a bonus if you are planning to get out and explore.

Local Bus Service to the Resorts

There is a Lanzarote bus service from the airport, although we usually only recommend it for seasoned travellers. Lines 22 and 23 will take you to Arrecife in about 20 minutes for just over a euro, and from the main bus station there you can connect to other parts of the island.

Routes 161 and 261 serve Puerto del Carmen and continue on to Playa Blanca. The buses are clean, air conditioned, and usually run on time. The main thing to bear in mind is that the network does not cover the whole island, and the bus will drop you at a stop rather than at your hotel, so if you are staying off the main routes you may still need a taxi for the last part of your journey. For anyone travelling on a tight budget, the bus is a perfectly workable option. For most families or those with a fair bit of luggage, a transfer or hire car will be much easier.

If you are flying from Lanzarote, you will find check-in for most international flights in Terminal 1, up on the first floor. Terminal 2, which handles inter-island and domestic flights, has its check-in desks on the ground floor. The screens in the terminal will point you to the right desk for your flight. It is always wise to arrive a couple of hours before departure, especially during the busier months. Many airlines now offer online check-in, so if you are travelling with just hand luggage you can head straight to security. I always recommend having your boarding pass ready on your phone or printed out before you arrive, as some airlines will charge to print one at the airport, which is easily avoided.

Security Control

Security in Terminal 1 is on the departures floor and, in my experience, usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes. During the height of summer it can be a little slower, so it is worth allowing yourself some extra time. The usual security rules apply, and there is a fast track option in Terminal 1 if you prefer to move through more quickly. Terminal 2 is much smaller and security there is generally quick and straightforward.

Duty Free and Refreshments

Once you are through security in Terminal 1, you will find a decent selection of shops and places to eat. Duty free offers the usual perfumes, spirits and tobacco, along with a few clothing and accessory shops, plus some cafes and bars. If you have a long wait, the VIP lounge near Gates 1 and 2 is a quieter spot to relax with drinks and snacks, and you can access it with a Priority Pass or pay on the day. One thing to keep in mind is that some of the food outlets close fairly early in the evening. If your flight is later, it is a good idea to eat before 8pm, otherwise you might find yourself relying on a vending machine for a snack.

Non EU (including UK) departures

If you are travelling home to a non-EU country, including the UK, you will go through a passport check at the departure gate rather than just boarding. Your passport will be stamped as part of the Schengen exit process, which keeps track of your time in the EU. There are new digital kiosks in the departure hall for the EU's Entry/Exit System, but they are not fully up and running yet. When they are, the process should be quicker and more straightforward. For now, it is best to allow a little extra time at the gate and have your passport ready.

Terminal 1 is where you will find almost all international flights arriving and departing, including those from the UK and the rest of Europe. Airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and British Airways all use this terminal. Arrivals are on the ground floor, while departures and check-in are just upstairs. It is all very straightforward and easy to navigate, even if it is your first time here.

Terminal 2 is a smaller, quieter building just a short stroll from Terminal 1. This is where you will go if you are flying between the Canary Islands, for example to Tenerife, Gran Canaria or Fuerteventura with Binter or Canaryfly. It has its own check-in, security and a little café for a quick coffee, but you will not find the same range of shops or facilities as in the main terminal. There is a separate parking area and taxi rank right outside, making it easy to come and go.

Once you have gone through security, the two terminals are completely separate, so it is important to double-check which one you need before you leave your hotel. It will save you time and make your journey much smoother.

Many visitors arriving on Lanzarote are unaware that our airport quietly serves a dual purpose. Tucked beside the familiar civilian terminal is the Aeródromo Militar de Lanzarote, a military airfield that has been part of the landscape since the airport was first built. It acts as a forward base for the Spanish Air and Space Force, with close ties to the main Gando Air Base over on Gran Canaria.

You won’t usually see military aircraft based here, but the site does have its own ground personnel and, perhaps most notably, a radar installation known as EVA 22. This quietly keeps watch over the eastern Canary Islands and the busy sea routes leading out towards West Africa.

With Lanzarote just 140 kilometres from the Moroccan coast, the reasons for this military presence have remained much the same since the 1940s. Every now and then, you might notice a military plane parked on the apron, or spot the fenced-off area along the southern edge of the runway. The military side goes about its business quietly and never interferes with the usual flow of holidaymakers, but it does serve as a gentle reminder that our little island airport has always played a bigger role than most people realise.