Winter Sun Season Starts, Prices Drop and the Island Empties Out
November marks the transition into Lanzarote’s winter sun season. The peak summer weather has gone, the shoulder season is properly winding down, and the pattern that defines the island through to March begins to take hold. Daytime temperatures still push into the mid 20s, the sea remains warm at around 21°C, and rainfall stays low despite the increased chance of proper Atlantic weather arriving. Prices drop significantly from the autumn levels, crowds ease across the resort areas, and the island runs at a properly relaxed pace outside of the odd busier weekend.
For northern European visitors escaping the first real chill of winter at home, November is when Lanzarote starts feeling like a genuine winter sun destination rather than an extended summer holiday. Long-stay bookings become more common, restaurants and attractions have space, and the general atmosphere across the island shifts from summer intensity to something considerably calmer.
The Numbers at a Glance
Average daytime temperature 24°C, average overnight low 17°C. Around seven hours of sunshine a day. Average rainfall through the month is 20mm, spread across four or five rainy days. Sea temperature at 21°C.
What the Weather Actually Feels Like in Lanzarote in November
Daytime highs sit between 21 and 25°C on most days, warmer on the sheltered south coast at Playa Blanca and slightly cooler on the exposed north. The sun still feels genuinely 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 17 or 18°C, cool enough to need a proper layer for outdoor dinner and cool enough that the terraces do start feeling chilly after sunset.
UV levels drop into the moderate to high category through November, typically at 5 to 7 on most days. Sun protection remains sensible but the extreme readings of the summer are behind us. Sea temperatures at 21°C are still warm enough for genuinely enjoyable swimming, particularly if you’re used to Atlantic water. The gap between air and water temperature narrows through the month.
What to Pack if you’re Visiting Lanzarote in November
The layered approach becomes more important through November. T-shirts and shorts for the middle of the day still work most days, but a proper fleece or jumper becomes essential for the evenings and cooler mornings. A light waterproof gets back in the bag as the chance of proper rain increases. Trousers rather than shorts become the sensible option for cooler days and for anyone spending long stretches outside in the shade.
Swimwear still gets used at the pool and on beach days, though brave-only for anyone not used to Atlantic water. Walking shoes for the volcanic interior, which is at its most rewarding through November after the first autumn rains. Something warmer for restaurants and evenings.
Winter Sun Season Properly Begins
November is when the winter sun visitor pattern takes hold. The demographic shifts from summer families to older couples, long-stay retirees and the winter sun regulars who return to Lanzarote every year. Some UK and Irish visitors book three or four week stays through November, taking advantage of the significantly lower prices and the still-warm weather to escape the northern European autumn.
Occupancy at the resort areas remains healthy across the winter sun demographics but the frantic pace of the summer months is completely gone. Beaches feel quiet through the day, restaurants are comfortable to book, and the pool areas at the hotels have space to spread out. This is Lanzarote at its most relaxed.
Angel Shark Sightings at Their Peak
The angel shark breeding season is at full strength through November, and diver sightings of the species at Playa Chica in Puerto del Carmen and the Playa Blanca dive sites reach their most consistent point of the year. For anyone interested in seeing the critically endangered species in the wild, November offers as strong a chance as any month on the calendar. Dive schools across the resort areas run full winter programmes and the water temperature remains warm enough for comfortable dive times.
Walking in Lanzarote in November
November is one of the best months of the year for walking on the island. The temperatures are properly comfortable, the first autumn rains have started to bring out the volcanic hills’ green tinge, and the trails are quiet. Caldera Blanca, the Famara cliffs, the Los Ajaches range and the trails through the northern highlands all reward long walks with dramatic light and manageable conditions.
Cycling picks up significantly through November as European amateur and professional cycling groups arrive for the autumn and winter training season. The roads through La Geria and along the coastal routes see more Lycra than in the summer months, though the volume remains well below the pre-IRONMAN peak in March and April. Anyone considering a cycling holiday should find November genuinely appealing conditions.
Wildflowers and the Green Tinge Return
The first significant autumn rain typically arrives through October and November, which transforms the appearance of the volcanic landscape. The bare black and red volcanic soil that defines the summer months picks up a green tinge as the winter vegetation starts to appear, and by late November the hills have a softer, more textured look than they carry through July and August. Wildflowers begin appearing in sheltered corners along the roadsides and across the volcanic terrain.
Lanzarote Beaches and Water Sports in November
The south coast beaches remain enjoyable through November 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 21°C are still warm enough for swimming, particularly during the middle of the day when the air temperature is at its warmest. Famara remains the surf and windsurf destination, with the winter swell starting to build through the month and the surf schools continuing to run programmes for beginners and intermediates.
Lanzarote Attractions Numbers drop
Timanfaya, Jameos del Agua, Cueva de los Verdes and the Jardín de Cactus all move firmly into their off-season pattern through November. Same-day availability at Timanfaya becomes the norm rather than the exception. The Teguise Sunday market runs at a comfortable winter pace with the summer season stalls reduced but the core market maintaining its atmosphere.
Eating and Drinking in Lanzarote in November
Restaurants are properly easy to book through November. The best places in Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and along the Marina Rubicón are still worth reserving for Friday and Saturday evenings, but weekday tables are straightforward and walk-ins are viable across the good places. The wine country restaurants along the La Geria route are at their most welcoming, with the harvest wines now in bottle and available for tasting.
Longer lunches on sunny terraces become a genuine feature of the November rhythm. The cooler air temperatures make the middle of the day more enjoyable for sitting outside, and the pace of the restaurants matches the slower pace of the visitor demographic. This is one of the strongest months of the year for eating and drinking on the island.
The Wind and Sea in Lanzarote in November
The summer trade wind pattern has largely broken down by November, replaced by more variable conditions with periods of calm interspersed with the first proper Atlantic storm systems. Wind speeds average 15 to 25 km/h on most days but with significantly more variability than through the summer months. Big swell days become common through November, particularly on the north and west coasts, and Famara can look spectacular from a safe vantage point when the winter surf is running.
The south coast resort beaches remain sheltered from most of the Atlantic weather and swimming stays viable throughout the month. Boat trips, ferry crossings and water sports operators plan more carefully around the weather forecasts through November as the settled summer pattern gives way to the more variable winter conditions.
Warm enough for beach days and t-shirt weather through the middle of the day. Cool enough for proper walking and hiking. Quiet enough for the resort areas to feel spacious and relaxed. Cheaper than the summer and autumn peaks. Restaurants and attractions easy to book. The volcanic landscape at its most photogenic with the first autumn green appearing. If you want winter sun with genuine warmth still on offer, November is where the season properly begins.
