San Bartolomé, Lanzarote: Holiday Guide for UK Travellers
Provincia de Las Palmas · Canary Islands · Spain · 18,517 residents
San Bartolomé sits inland on Lanzarote, at about 275 metres above sea level. It is a working town of roughly 18,500 people rather than a beach resort. Its great practical advantage is position. Lanzarote Airport, which has direct flights from the United Kingdom, is about 4 miles away, a five-minute drive. Arrecife's ferry port is 5 miles off. Close to town you will find Bodega El Grifo, a winery about 2 miles away, and the volcanic Cueva de los Naturalistas, around 3 miles out. The climate is mild all year, with daytime highs from 20°C in February to 28°C in August and very little rain.
Why go
- Lanzarote Airport is just 4 miles away, roughly five minutes by road, with direct UK flights.
- Bodega El Grifo, a winery about 2 miles from town, makes an easy food-focused outing.
- Cueva de los Naturalistas, a volcanic cave around 3 miles away, suits families and nature lovers.
Top sights in San Bartolomé
Caves, Wine and Volcanic Landscapes
The best-known sight near San Bartolomé is the Cueva de los Naturalistas, a volcanic cave about 3 miles from town. It also appears under the name Cueva de Las Palomas. It is a natural attraction that works well for families, and it shows the volcanic ground that shapes this part of Lanzarote.
Closer still, about 2 miles away, is Bodega El Grifo, a winery and the obvious stop for anyone interested in local food and drink.
Tours, tickets and activities in the area can be booked directly on this page through the booking cards below.
Tours & tickets in San Bartolomé
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around San Bartolomé can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in San Bartolomé
Inland Base or Coastal Neighbour
San Bartolomé is not on the coast, so staying in town means an inland base at modest altitude. It is a sizeable but unshowy community of around 18,500 residents, and it suits travellers who want quiet evenings and quick access to the airport.
If you would rather wake up by the sea, Puerto del Carmen is about 6 miles away and Costa Teguise around 7 miles. Arrecife, the island's largest town nearby, is 5 miles off and offers a busier, more urban option. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare the town with its neighbours.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach San Bartolomé and the villages around it is a hire car from Lanzarote (ACE), about 5 min away.
Best time to visit San Bartolomé
Mild Weather Almost All Year
- 21°CJan4 mm
- 20°CFeb17 mm
- 23°CMar12 mm
- 24°CApr4 mm
- 23°CMay10 mm
- 25°CJun7 mm
- 26°CJul1 mm
- 28°CAug3 mm
- 26°CSept3 mm
- 27°COct14 mm
- 25°CNov11 mm
- 21°CDec7 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
San Bartolomé has an unusually long good-weather season. Every month except February counts among the most pleasant, from January right through to December. Winter highs sit around 20 to 21°C, with nights near 14 to 15°C, which makes a winter holiday here an easy escape from the British cold.
The warmest stretch runs from July to October. August peaks at about 28°C and October still reaches 27°C. Rain is scarce at any time of year. February is the wettest month at around 17mm over four days, and March has the most rain days, at five. July is essentially dry. Sea temperature figures are not available for this inland town.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°C | 14°C | 4 mm | 10 h |
| Feb | 20°C | 14°C | 17 mm | 10 h |
| Mar | 23°C | 15°C | 12 mm | 11 h |
| Apr | 24°C | 16°C | 4 mm | 12 h |
| May | 23°C | 16°C | 10 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 25°C | 18°C | 7 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 26°C | 20°C | 1 mm | 12 h |
| Aug | 28°C | 21°C | 3 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 26°C | 19°C | 3 mm | 12 h |
| Oct | 27°C | 19°C | 14 mm | 10 h |
| Nov | 25°C | 17°C | 11 mm | 10 h |
| Dec | 21°C | 15°C | 7 mm | 9 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and Short Transfers
The nearest airport is Lanzarote (ACE), about 4 miles from San Bartolomé, and it has direct flights from the United Kingdom. The drive into town takes roughly five minutes, which is one of the shortest airport transfers you will find anywhere in the Canaries.
For island-hopping, Arrecife's port is about 5 miles away, with ferries to Las Palmas and to Corralejo via Playa Blanca. Playa Blanca itself is around 16 miles away and runs a 30-minute crossing to Corralejo on Fuerteventura. Corralejo is about 24 miles away including the sea crossing, with a return 30-minute crossing to Playa Blanca.
By air
- Lanzarote (ACE)4 miles, about 5 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Nearest ferry ports: Arrecife (5 miles), Playa Blanca (16 miles), Corralejo (24 miles).
San Bartolomé is good for
Around San Bartolomé
Easy Outings Across Lanzarote
Everything nearby is close. Tías is about 3 miles away and Nazaret about 4 miles. Arrecife, with over 61,000 residents, and the historic town of Teguise are both around 5 miles off. Tinajo lies about 6 miles to the north-west.
For the coast, Puerto del Carmen, a town of around 30,000, is about 6 miles away, and Costa Teguise is about 7 miles. The small village of Guatiza, with fewer than 1,000 people, is the furthest of the nearby list at around 9 miles.
Tips from Robin
Practical Notes Before You Go
San Bartolomé is inland, at around 275 metres, so there is no beach in town. Evenings can feel a touch cooler than on the shore, and winter lows sit around 14°C, so pack a light layer. The nearest seaside towns, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise, are each roughly 6 to 7 miles away.
With the airport only five minutes away, early departures and late arrivals are painless. With the cave, the winery and the coast all spread around the town, car hire makes exploring much simpler.
Questions people ask
How far is San Bartolomé from Lanzarote Airport?
Lanzarote Airport (ACE) is about 4 miles from San Bartolomé, roughly a five-minute drive. The airport has direct flights from the United Kingdom, so this is one of the quickest transfers on the island.
Is San Bartolomé on the beach?
No. San Bartolomé is an inland town at about 275 metres above sea level. The nearest resort towns on the coast are Puerto del Carmen, around 6 miles away, and Costa Teguise, around 7 miles away.
What is the weather like in San Bartolomé in winter?
Winter is mild. Daytime highs reach about 21°C in December and January and 20°C in February, with nights around 14 to 15°C. February is the wettest month, but even then rainfall is only about 17mm over four days.
What is there to see near San Bartolomé?
The main sights are the Cueva de los Naturalistas, a volcanic cave about 3 miles away that suits families, and Bodega El Grifo, a winery about 2 miles from town. Tours and tickets can be booked on this page.
Can I reach Fuerteventura from San Bartolomé?
Yes. Playa Blanca, about 16 miles away, runs a 30-minute ferry to Corralejo on Fuerteventura. Arrecife's port, 5 miles from town, also has sailings to Corralejo via Playa Blanca, as well as ferries to Las Palmas.
When is the hottest time to visit San Bartolomé?
August is the hottest month, with highs around 28°C and lows near 21°C. July, September and October are also warm, at 26 to 27°C, and July is virtually rain-free.