Lanzarote or Cyprus?

[TootyPahooty]

We are thinking of booking a villa next August, somewhere a bit central so there is a beach/restaurants within walking distance.

Which is nicer? And will there be some interesting days out in either of these places where we can get a bit of sightseeing/culture?

I've never been to Cyprus, but have been to Lanzarote many times and love it.

Playa Blanca is the nicest resort area. There's lots of self catering accommodation, two marinas with loads of restaurants, nice beaches, good watersports.

For cultural days out you can visit the volcano park. Also lots of Cesar Manrique (local artist who had a lot of influence in the island not being too built up) legacy sites - houses, cactus garden, caves, viewpoints. I went on a coach tour of all the major sites across the north of the island, which was a good way of seeing them without hiring a car.

You can also visit inland villages, go hiking or cycling, see the vineyards, big Sunday market if that's your thing, get the ferry to neighboroughing Fuerteventura or a little island off the north coast.

Lanzarote

Two very different places. One if the biggest being the weather. August in Cyprus is staggeringly hot. In Lanzarote it's always breezy and never reaches the same temperature as Cyprus.
Way too hot for sightseeing in Cyprus although possibly more interesting.
Lanzarote has enough to see and spectacular landscape.
Better beaches in Cyprus and the sea will be warm.
Beaches in Lanzarote are smaller and the sea is the Atlantic so cool even in August (although I've swim there in January).

After struggling with heat in Rhodes in August I wouldn't go to Cyprus. We went in October and had an amazing time, so much to see and do.

Lanzarote is more breezy due to being in the Atlantic. But I found the island a lot more boring personally.
Playa Blanca is a nice resort but I wouldn't go again but we aren't people who like being at the pool all day.

I think Cyprus is more interesting and has nicer beaches but the heat in August will be absolutely brutal.

Lots of exciting air traffic visible from Cyprus! It's a bit close to Israel for a guaranteed quiet holiday!

Cyprus is a lot bigger than Lanzarote so more to do (no active volcano though!)

The volcano on Lanzarote is dormant, not active, although there is geothermal activity at the summit.

In August, I would choose Lanzarote, because Cyprus would be too hot for me. You can expect 40 degrees there in the summer, or at least upper 30s, which even with aircon is very limiting on holiday, because it's too hot to do anything or go anywhere, other than other air conditioned places.

We went to Cyprus in July and it was staggeringly hot! Lots of cultural things there, had some good days out!
lanzarote is breezy and weather temperate considering the latitude.
I like both, but am avoiding Cyprus at the moment due to the unrest in the Middle East