Last Updated on September 10, 2026 by Henry @ The Getaway Lounge
This post is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure a high level of accuracy, and may include affiliate links.
If you’re thinking about booking Lanzarote, you might be wondering whether to choose between Puerto del Carmen or Playa Blanca – two of the island’s most popular resort areas.
Well, here’s the key differences between them, so you can make an informed decision on which one better suits your next holiday.
| Category | Puerto del Carmen | Playa Blanca |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Lively and energetic | Sophisticated and relaxed |
| Nightlife & dining | The island's liveliest strip, plus authentic restaurants in the old town | Quieter but still a nice vibe, upmarket dining around the marina |
| Beaches | Three sandy beaches, something for everyone | Three Blue Flag beaches (white sand), plus the Papagayo coves nearby |
| Getting around | Very walkable - everything's on the promenade. Better placed for exploring the island | Walkable resort, but tucked away on the southern tip of the island, so not as easy to get around |
| Distance from airport | 8km (10 - 15 minutes drive from the airport) | 33km (30 - 35 minutes drive from the airport) |
| Accommodation mix | Good mix of small, independent apartments and modest hotels | Wide mix too, but leans toward big chains, luxury, and adults-only/family resorts |
| Best overall for | Families and self-caterers, or those who want nightlife and convenience close to the airport | Couples and families looking for a quieter, more polished break, often a bit more high end |
| Price point | Better value overall - cheaper packages and more choice generally speaking | Typically the pricier choice, especially hotels and dining, but still a wide range |
| Browse holiday deals | See deals to Puerto del Carmen | See deals to Playa Blanca |
More detail on each of these is below the table — jump to whichever section interests you most.
Atmosphere and nightlife.
Puerto del Carmen is the livelier of the two by some distance. Its main strip, Avenida de las Playas, runs the length of the resort and is packed with bars, clubs and restaurants that keep going well into the evening, while the old town nearby offers a quieter, more traditional side of the island.
Playa Blanca trades that energy for a calmer, more polished feel – evenings tend to be a bit more low-key, but Marina Rubicón brings a fairly upmarket dining scene, with waterfront restaurants and sunset views.
Beaches.
Both resorts do well here, just in different ways. Puerto del Carmen’s three beaches cover most bases – general sunbathing, a diving-friendly cove, and a surf spot – all within walking distance of each other.
Playa Blanca’s beaches are all Blue Flag rated and sit right along its promenade, and it also has the advantage of being the gateway to the Papagayo beaches, a stretch of protected, natural coves that are among the best on the island.
Getting around and airport distance.
This is one of the clearer differences. Puerto del Carmen is a lot closer to Arrecife Airport, around 10 – 15 minutes away, and its promenade layout makes it easy to explore. It’s also a bit more central if you’re looking to explore other parts of the island.
Playa Blanca sits at the most southern tip of the island, roughly 30 – 35 minutes from the airport, and while the resort itself and its marina are easy to explore on foot, you’re generally more reliant on a car or longer taxis if you want to see more of the island.
Accommodation mix.
We’ve based this section on TUI’s hotel listings for each resort, as one of the biggest UK operators and covering Lanzarote extensively, their range gives a good, representative read of what’s actually available.
Puerto del Carmen’s list is roughly an even split between self-catering apartments and modest hotels, and what stands out once you look at the names is how small and independent-feeling most of them are. It’s mainly a spread of local Spanish chains rather than any big international names, making it more of a small-and-friendly, good-value market rather than a glossy one.
Playa Blanca’s list is a wide mix too, but it skews noticeably towards recognisable big-name chains – Barcelo, Grand Hyatt, H10, Iberostar and Sandos all have a presence – including a cluster of luxury and five-star options.
It’s also the more clearly segmented of the two: there’s an explicit adults-only wing, an explicit family-branded resort, and TUI’s own more adult-leaning TUI BLUE brand shows up twice. Self-catering exists here too, just more concentrated under a couple of larger regional Spanish hotel groups rather than the wider scatter of small independent operators you get in Puerto del Carmen.
Price point.
Puerto del Carmen tends to work out cheaper overall – package prices generally start lower, transfers are shorter, and its self-catering-heavy accommodation mix gives you more control over your food budget.
Playa Blanca is usually the pricier option, particularly around its hotels and the marina’s restaurants, though its stronger all-inclusive selection can still work out great value if that’s the kind of holiday you’re after.
Both resorts are well worth considering, and a lot comes down to what kind of holiday you’re looking for.
If you want a lively, more modest break close to the airport with plenty happening on your doorstep, you can browse Puerto del Carmen deals here.
If you’d rather have a quieter, more polished stay with luxury hotels and a smart marina to explore, you can browse Playa Blanca holidays here.
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