Winter Sun, Christmas on the Island and the Three Kings Parade
December wraps up the year on Lanzarote with a mix of proper winter sun weather, the wettest month of the calendar (which still isn’t very wet by any reasonable standard), and a strong run of Christmas and New Year celebrations across the island. Daytime temperatures still push into the low 20s, the sea remains at a swimmable 20°C, and rainfall averages around 25mm across the month. Prices sit at winter sun levels for the first three weeks then spike sharply through the Christmas and New Year window before easing again in the first week of January.
For anyone escaping northern European winter, December delivers the classic winter sun proposition. Warm days, cool evenings, quiet resorts through most of the month, and enough proper festive events across the island to make Christmas away from home feel like a genuine celebration rather than a compromise. The Three Kings parade on 5 January (just after the month closes) is the biggest annual event for local families and one of the more memorable evenings of the calendar.
The Numbers at a Glance
Average daytime temperature 22°C, average overnight low 15°C. Around six hours of sunshine a day. Average rainfall through the month is 25mm, the wettest of the year but still limited to maybe five or six rainy days across the whole month. Sea temperature at 20°C.
What the Weather Actually Feels Like in Lanzarote in December
Daytime highs sit between 19 and 23°C on most days, warmer on the sheltered south coast and slightly cooler on the exposed north. The sun still feels warm through the middle of the day and t-shirt weather remains the norm for anyone comfortable in the low 20s. Evenings drop to around 15 or 16°C, cool enough to want a proper layer for outdoor dinner. The terraces feel chilly after sunset in a way they don’t in November.
UV levels drop into the moderate category through December, typically at 4 to 5 on most days. Sun protection still matters through the middle of the day but the extreme summer readings are a long way behind. Sea temperatures at 20°C are still comfortable for a proper swim if you’re used to Atlantic water, though the first-time visitor from the Mediterranean will find them cooler than expected. The sea is at its warmest in the middle of the day when the sun has been on it for a few hours.
What to Pack if you’re Visiting Lanzarote in December
The layered approach becomes essential through December. T-shirts and shorts for the middle of the day still work most days, but a proper fleece or jumper is a genuine need for the evenings and cooler mornings. Trousers rather than shorts become the sensible option for anyone spending long stretches outside. A light waterproof matters more this month than any other, and you may well use it. Some warmer options for the evenings, especially if you’re planning to eat outdoors, are a good idea.
Swimwear still gets used, though the pool is a warmer option than the sea for anyone not brave. Walking shoes for the volcanic interior. Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses for the middle of the day. Something dressier for restaurants and evenings, particularly if you’re eating out around Christmas or New Year when the atmosphere becomes properly celebratory.
Spending in Christmas in Lanzarote
Lanzarote celebrates Christmas as a proper family and cultural event, with Spanish traditions taking precedence over the northern European commercial version. The build-up starts in early December with the arrival of the belén (nativity scenes) in town squares and churches across every municipality. Arrecife’s belén at the Iglesia de San Ginés is particularly worth a visit, and the smaller villages of Haría, Femés and Yaiza all set up their own displays.
The main family day is Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) on 24 December, when families gather for the biggest meal of the year and midnight mass is celebrated at churches across the island. Christmas Day is quieter than in northern European tradition, more of a rest day than a gift day. New Year’s Eve (Nochevieja) brings the twelve grapes tradition, with locals eating a grape at each stroke of midnight for good luck in the new year. The plazas of Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca all run public New Year’s Eve celebrations with live music, fireworks and community atmosphere.
The Three Kings Parade (January)
The genuine gift-giving day in Spain is 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany, and the arrival of the Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos) on the evening of 5 January is the biggest annual event for local children. The Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos processions run through every municipality on the island, with the Three Kings arriving on decorated floats to throw sweets to children lining the streets. Arrecife’s parade is the largest and most elaborate, though the smaller village processions in Haría, San Bartolomé and Yaiza have a more intimate atmosphere.
If you’re on the island through the New Year window, staying long enough to catch the Three Kings on 5 January is one of the more memorable evenings the calendar delivers. The whole community turns out, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming to visitors, and the sweets rain down on the streets in a way that essentially never happens outside of Spain.
Christmas and New Year Prices in Lanzarote
The Christmas and New Year window is the most expensive period on Lanzarote after the peak summer weeks. Prices for accommodation, flights, car hire and restaurants all spike from around 22 December through to about 3 January, with the peak falling on New Year’s Eve and Day. Restaurant booking becomes essential for any of the better places, particularly for Nochebuena, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, when many hotels and restaurants run special festive menus that book up weeks in advance.
The rest of December runs at winter sun prices, similar to November. If you can travel outside the festive weeks, the first three weeks of December offer the same weather and infrastructure at much better rates.
Beaches and Water in Lanzarote in December
The south coast beaches remain enjoyable through December on the calmer days. Papagayo, Playa Blanca and Playa Grande in Puerto del Carmen all work for beach days when the wind is manageable. Sea temperatures at 20°C are on the cool side but still swimmable, particularly during the middle of the day when the air is at its warmest. Heated hotel pools become a genuinely popular option and the hotels that heat their pools tend to be booked earlier by regular winter sun visitors.
Famara remains the winter surf destination. The Atlantic storm systems reaching the region through December often produce spectacular swells and the surf schools continue running programmes for anyone with the experience to handle the conditions. Watching the surf at Famara from the safety of the beach or the Mirador viewpoints is properly dramatic through the winter months.
Walking in Lanzarote in December
December is one of the better months of the year for walking, particularly through the first three weeks. The temperatures are comfortable, the light is warm rather than harsh, and the volcanic hills are showing more green than at any other time of the year after the autumn rains. Caldera Blanca, the Famara cliffs, the Los Ajaches range and the trails through the northern highlands all reward a December visit. Wildflowers appear in sheltered corners across the terrain.
A great time to Visit Lanzarote Attractions
Timanfaya, Jameos del Agua, Cueva de los Verdes and the Jardín de Cactus all run at their off-season pattern through most of December. Same-day availability at Timanfaya is the norm rather than the exception, except during the Christmas and New Year weeks when family visitor numbers push demand back towards peak levels. The Teguise Sunday market runs at a comfortable winter pace, with the Christmas edition (usually the Sunday before Christmas) taking on a more festive atmosphere with mulled wine and seasonal stalls.
Eating and Drinking in Lanzarote in December
The first three weeks of December are easy for restaurants. The better places in Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and along the Marina Rubicón are worth reserving for Friday and Saturday evenings but weekday tables are straightforward. The Christmas and New Year window is a different picture. Nochebuena on 24 December, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve all book up weeks in advance at any of the better places, and walk-ins are unrealistic during these dates. Many restaurants run special festive menus at premium prices for the Nochebuena and New Year’s Eve dinners.
The wine country restaurants along the La Geria route are open through December and remain slightly easier to book than the coastal options. The winery bodegas run tastings through the winter with the harvest wines now bottled and available. Long lunches on sunny terraces remain a genuine feature of the December rhythm.
The Wettest Month on record (but Not Very Wet)
December is officially the wettest month on the Lanzarote calendar, but the 25mm average rainfall arrives across just five or six rainy days across the whole month. Most days remain sunny, and rain when it comes tends to arrive as passing systems rather than sustained periods. A wet week is possible but unusual. The Atlantic storm systems that reach the region can produce dramatic conditions on the north and west coasts, with big swells at Famara and El Golfo, but the south coast resorts remain sheltered from most of the weather.
The Wind and Sea in Lanzarote in December
Wind conditions through December are variable, with periods of calm alternating with proper Atlantic weather. Wind speeds average 15 to 25 km/h on most days but individual storm events can push much higher. The winter swell reaches its most impressive point through December and January, and Famara sees serious surf on the bigger swell days. Boat trips, ferry crossings to La Graciosa and water sports operators plan around the weather forecasts more carefully than in summer.
Winter sun with genuine warmth still on offer. Christmas and New Year celebrated in proper Spanish style with festive atmosphere across the island. Cheaper than summer through most of the month, though the festive weeks are the exception. Quiet resorts, easy restaurants and attractions through the first three weeks. Warm enough for beach days and t-shirt weather through the middle of the day. Cool enough for proper walking. If you want to escape a northern European December while still getting a genuine festive experience, Lanzarote delivers the best of both.
