Taxi or Intercity bus in Lanzarote
The Intercity bus connects the airport, the villages and the main beaches, and it is a good deal cheaper than a taxi journey. It does not go everywhere or at every hour, so the question is not which is better but which fits the journey in front of you.
How the lines work
Intercity lines follow fixed itineraries, with signposted stops and timetables published by the operator. There is a service between the airport and the main centres, and between one village and the next. You pay as you get on, no seat is reserved and the journey depends on the timetable, not on you.
Where the bus wins
If your accommodation is on a stop of the line, you are travelling by day with light luggage and you are going somewhere the line serves, the bus is the sensible option and the cheapest. It also wins on long, direct journeys where the timetable suits, and for getting around without worrying about where to park or about the way back.
Where the taxi wins
Door to door, without changes, at any hour and with the luggage in the boot. For a late-night arrival, an early departure, when the accommodation is down a lane with no stop, or when you are a group with cases, the taxi covers what the line cannot: limited frequency outside working days and early last departures.
The commonest option: both
Many people come by bus as far as the accommodation and order a taxi for the night they arrive, or go by bus to a village and hire a taxi for the final stretch. Before you set off, check the last departure of the day and plan how you are getting back if the plan runs late: deciding about the specific journey beats deciding about the whole trip.
Frequently asked questions
Does the bus go to the airport? ＋
Yes: interurban lines link the terminal with Arrecife and with the southern centres, with timetables published on the operator's website. It is the cheapest option if the times suit you; if you land at night, the frequency no longer helps.
How does the taxi compare with the bus on price? ＋
Always dearer: the bus is a shared service with a fixed fare by zone and the taxi is a private vehicle on a meter. The honest comparison is journey by journey: for one person with a rucksack and a good connection, the bus; for several passengers with cases, the difference per head narrows.
Is there a bus at night in Lanzarote? ＋
The interurban service is much reduced outside working days and high season, and the last departures are early. For night flights and dinners that run late, always check the last departure before relying on the line.