Lanzarote Holiday Emergency Guide

While we all hope our time in Lanzarote will be smooth and carefree, it’s reassuring to know where to turn if you need a little help. Here, I’ve gathered the essential numbers and practical details that visitors often find useful, so you can feel prepared and relaxed during your stay. It’s worth saving this page or keeping it handy on your phone, just in case you ever need it.

If you ever find yourself in real difficulty here on Lanzarote, 112 is the number you’ll want to keep in mind. This emergency line works right across Europe, and you can call it free of charge from any phone, even if you don’t have a SIM card. 

The operators speak English and will quickly put you in touch with the police, fire service or ambulance, depending on what you need. There are also some local numbers that can be helpful in certain situations, but 112 is always a safe bet.

If you are new to Lanzarote, you might notice that Spain has several police forces, which can seem a little confusing at first. Over the years, I have found it helpful to know who does what, so here is a simple guide to help you find the right people if you ever need a hand.

The Policía Local are the familiar faces you will spot most often around the resorts here. Dressed in blue uniforms, they look after the everyday things like parking, noise, minor disagreements and local traffic. If you ever find your towel has wandered off from your sunbed, these are the people to chat to. In my experience, they are friendly, approachable, and quite a few of them speak English.

The Policía Nacional operate from fixed stations (comisarías) and deals with more serious matters. If your wallet gets stolen, your passport goes missing, or you need an official police report (a denuncia) for an insurance claim, this is who you need. The main station is in Arrecife, but they also have a presence in the larger resorts during peak season.

The Guardia Civil are easy to spot in their green uniforms. They look after the roads, highways, rural areas and the coastline. If you ever have a bump or accident outside of town, it will usually be the Guardia Civil who come to help. They also keep an eye on the smaller villages and the stretches between resorts. You will often see them on the motorway or at roundabouts, making sure everyone is driving safely.
If you ever need help in an emergency, just call 112 and the right people will be sent to you. If you need to visit a police station to make a report, it is best to go to the Policía Nacional.

Medical care here on Lanzarote is reassuringly good. The main public hospital, Hospital Dr. José Molina Orosa in Arrecife, is well-equipped and has a proper A&E department (Urgencias). If you ever find yourself in a real emergency, just call 112 and help will come to you. For everything else, here’s what you need to know.

For those minor mishaps that can happen on holiday; for example, an upset stomach, a small cut, or an ear infection you won’t need the hospital. Instead, pop along to Centro Salud or Farmacia. If you’re not sure where to find one, just ask at your hotel or apartment reception and they’ll point you in the right direction. And if you have a valid EHIC or UK GHIC card, you won’t pay a thing for treatment.  There are also private clinics in the resorts.  Please note that you will need to pay for these and claim the fees back on your travel insurance.

If you need something for sunburn, insect bites, a dodgy tummy or just a bit of pain relief, your best bet is the local pharmacy (farmacia). Just look out for the green cross sign. Spanish pharmacists are wonderfully helpful and can often provide medicines over the counter that would need a prescription back home. There’s always a pharmacy open somewhere on the island, thanks to the rota system (farmacia de guardia). If you find one closed, simply check the notice in the window for details of the nearest open pharmacy.

If you do find yourself needing to visit a hospital or clinic, remember to take your passport, EHIC or GHIC card, and your travel insurance details with you. Hold on to every receipt and ask for a written report (factura) – these will be important if you need to make an insurance claim later. And if it’s not an emergency, it’s always a good idea to call your insurer first so they can guide you through the process.

If you are visiting from the UK, it is a good idea to bring your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) with you. This card allows you to access state medical care here in Lanzarote, just as a Spanish resident would, so you can receive free or reduced-cost treatment at public hospitals and local clinics. If you have not applied for one yet, it is simple to do and there is no charge. Most people receive their card within a week.

It is important to remember that the GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. It will not cover private hospitals, flights home, or things like lost luggage and cancellations. For peace of mind, we always recommend having both your GHIC and a good travel insurance policy before you set off.

If you find yourself without your bank card while here on Lanzarote, the first thing to do is to let your bank know as soon as you can. Most UK banks have 24-hour international numbers you can call collect, so you will not need to worry about phone credit. It is a good idea to save your bank’s international number in your phone before you travel. That way, if you ever need it, you will not be searching online in the middle of the night when you would rather be relaxing.

It is also important to report the loss or theft to the local police and ask for a denuncia, just as you would if you lost your passport. Both your bank and your travel insurer will usually need this as proof.

If you do find yourself short of cash, there are Western Union and MoneyGram agents in Arrecife and in the main resorts. This means that friends or family back home can send you emergency funds quickly if you need them.

Hiring a car really is the best way to discover Lanzarote at your own pace. Our roads are usually quiet and straightforward, making driving here a pleasure. Still, if you do run into any problems along the way, here are a few things that will help.

If anyone is injured, the first thing to do is call 112 for help. For minor bumps, if it is safe, gently move the cars out of the way and take a moment to exchange details with the other driver, including names, addresses, insurance companies and policy numbers. Most hire cars here come with a European Accident Statement form in the glove box, which you can fill in together if you both agree on what happened. Before moving anything, it is always a good idea to take a few photos of the scene, the damage, the road and any markings, just to be on the safe side.

A couple of things to keep in mind: avoid admitting fault, and only sign documents in Spanish if you are completely sure of their meaning. It is also wise to contact your hire company’s emergency line and your travel insurer as soon as possible, so they can guide you through the next steps.

Most car hire companies here in Lanzarote will have provided you with a breakdown number, usually tucked into your hire agreement or in the folder you’ll find in the glove box. If it’s not immediately to hand, a quick call to their main office will point you in the right direction. For extra peace of mind, the RACE, which is Spain’s version of the AA, offers roadside assistance too. Their freephone number is 900 112 222.

If you ever find yourself breaking down on one of Lanzarote’s faster roads or the motorway, the most important thing is to make sure everyone gets safely out of the car and well away from the traffic, ideally behind a barrier if there is one. If you have a high-visibility vest in the car, it’s a good idea to put it on so you’re easily seen.

There are a few things about driving here that often surprise visitors from the UK, so it’s worth knowing what to expect before you set off.

• We drive on the right here, which can take a little getting used to if you’re more familiar with UK roads. The times people tend to forget are when leaving a car park or turning out of a quiet side street, so just take a moment to double-check before you set off.
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• Speed limits are clearly marked: 120 km/h on the motorways, 90 km/h on open roads, and 50 km/h in towns. The Guardia Civil do keep an eye out for speeding, and fines are usually given on the spot, so it’s best to take it easy and enjoy the drive.
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• The drink-drive limit here is lower than in the UK, so even a couple of beers could put you over. I always recommend treating it as zero tolerance if you’re planning to drive – it’s just not worth the risk.
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• Roundabouts work just as you’d expect: always give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
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• You must carry two warning triangles and a high-vis vest in the car. Hire cars should have these already, but check.
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• Using a mobile phone while driving is only allowed if it’s completely hands-free, and the fines for breaking this rule are quite steep. Best to keep your phone tucked away and focus on the road.

For more information check out our Driving in Lanzarote page.

César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport (ACE) sits just outside Arrecife and is the welcoming gateway for most visitors to the island. It is a small, friendly airport that is easy to find your way around, even after a long journey. 

The information desk in the arrivals hall is open every day, and the staff are always happy to help with directions or advice on reaching your resort, making those first moments on Lanzarote feel relaxed and straightforward.

Although Lanzarote does not have its own British Consulate, the nearest one is just across the water in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. 

The team there is always ready to assist residents and visitors from all the Canary Islands with things like passport emergencies, hospital stays, arrests and other consular matters. If you ever need urgent help outside normal office hours, they also have an emergency line you can call.

Losing your passport while you’re away can feel overwhelming in the moment, but here on Lanzarote, it’s usually much simpler to resolve than you might think.

The first thing to do is visit the nearest Policía Nacional station to report your lost passport. You’ll be given an official police report, known as a denuncia, which comes with a reference number. This document is important, as you’ll need it for the consulate, your airline, and your insurance company. The main station in Arrecife is usually the most straightforward place to get this sorted.

Once you have your police report, give the British Consulate in Las Palmas a call on +34 928 262 508. They’re very helpful and can arrange an Emergency Travel Document to get you home safely. There’s also an out-of-hours number if you need help urgently. It’s a good idea to let your airline and travel insurer know as well, as many policies will cover the cost of your replacement document.

A handy tip before you travel is to take a photo of your passport and email it to yourself. If you ever misplace it, having a copy to hand really speeds things up. It’s also worth keeping a printed copy tucked away in your suitcase, just in case.

Here on Lanzarote, we use the Euro, and you will find ATMs (or cajeros, as we call them) dotted all around the resorts and in Arrecife. Most restaurants, shops and supermarkets are happy to take cards, but I always recommend carrying a little cash, just in case you fancy a drink at a small bar or want to pick up something from a local market stall. Banks usually open from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 2pm.

Check out or Money in Lanzarote page for more information.

Electricity here is 230V/50Hz, just like back in the UK, but you will find the familiar European two-pin round sockets instead of the UK style. It is a good idea to bring a travel adaptor with you, though you can easily find one at the airport or in any local supermarket once you arrive. 

Before you travel, it is worth checking with your mobile provider about roaming charges, as some UK networks now offer free roaming again, while others may charge a daily fee.
It is also reassuring to know that you can always dial 112 for emergency help, even if your phone has no credit or no SIM card. This is a little detail that can bring peace of mind while you are exploring the island.

Getting around Lanzarote is straightforward, with regular buses linking the main resorts to Arrecife. While the buses are reliable, they can be a little limiting if you are hoping to explore more of the island in a single day. 

Lanzarote Taxis are a safe and easy option, and you will find them at the ranks in each resort or you can simply flag one down. For longer journeys, I always recommend checking the fixed-fare boards or agreeing a price before you set off. If you fancy a trip to La Graciosa, ferries leave from Orzola several times a day, making it easy to enjoy a day on our neighbouring island.

Here on Lanzarote, our tap water comes from desalination and is considered safe to drink, but you will find that most of us who live here, as well as visitors, tend to choose bottled water instead. The taste is simply more pleasant, and you can pick up a large bottle for just a few cents at any local supermarket.

This is something that surprises many visitors. Even when the sky is overcast, the sun here in Lanzarote is much stronger than you might expect if you are used to northern Europe. The gentle trade winds can lull you into thinking you are safe, but the UV levels remain high. I always recommend using at least SPF 30, topping it up every couple of hours, and taking a break from the sun during the hottest part of the day, especially if you have little ones with you.

It is always wise to drink more water than you think you need, as the Lanzarote sun can be deceptively strong and dehydration can catch you out before you realise it. If someone starts to feel unwell, with hot, dry skin or confusion, it could be a sign of heatstroke. Move them into the shade, cool them down with water, and call 112 for help if needed.

When you arrive, it’s a good idea to make a note of a few important details and keep them somewhere handy, perhaps on your phone or tucked into your wallet. Should you ever need them, having these bits of information close by can make things much easier and give you real peace of mind.

• - Your accommodation name, address and phone number
• - The name of the nearest resort or town
• - Your car hire company, the registration plate, and their emergency number
• - Your travel insurance company, policy number and claims line
• - Your return flight number and date
• - An emergency contact back home including name and phone number
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Hopefully, your time here in Lanzarote will be smooth and carefree, and you’ll never need to use any of these details. But just in case, the most important number to keep in mind is 112.