Which of the Canary Islands is best?

Robin McKelvie

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It often surprises people when I tell them I have chosen to visit the Canary Islands more than 40 times. There can be a snootiness about the Canaries, so let's approach them instead as an archipelago in Macaronesia.

If that conjures up a distant paradise of swaying palms, exotic food and spirit-soaring scenery, you're on the right track, except for the distant bit.

The eight Canary Islands^* in Macaronesia are handily close to mainland Europe, an escape hidden in plain sight with something to suit all tastes. Read on for your guide to each island to find the best one for you.

Getting to the Canaries: browse the latest offers on breaks to multiple islands with Jet2holidays^*, which departs from airports across the UK.

Tenerife

• Best for: serious foodies

Forget anachronistic images of British fry-ups. These days, Madrileños flock south to dine in one of the whopping eight Michelin-starred restaurants in Tenerife^*, an island where the only Michelin you'll have found as recently as 2009 was on a car.

The first Michelin eatery, the glorious M.B at The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama, today boasts two stars, under Erlantz Gorostiza, as does the Royal Hideaway Corales Beach^* with El Rincon de Juan Carlos.

On an island that a decade ago only had three Michelin-starred restaurants, the Royal Hideaway sports a trio of its own thanks to Niki Pavanelli's brilliant Il Bocconcino joining one-star San Ho in 2025's awards.

It doesn't stop there with other remarkable restaurants waiting in the wings for a star like Akiri Back at the Abama. The island wines have stepped up several notches, too.

What else: hiking up Spain's highest mountain, the world's second biggest carnival after Rio in the island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and UNESCO World Heritage-listed La Laguna.

Where to stay: The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama^* is still the best place to stay despite some impressive recent rival openings. Brilliant spa, as well as those epic restaurants.

Climate in Tenerife

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	64	66	68	68	70	73	79	81	79	75	70	66
Hours of sunshine (daily)	6	7	7	8	9	10	10	10	8	7	6	6
Days with some rainfall	6	6	6	5	3	2	1	1	3	5	7	7
Sea temperature °F	66	66	66	66	68	70	72	73	75	73	72	70

The above guide shows the climate in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Gran Canaria

• Best for: spa fans

Health and beauty tourism is seriously on the rise, and Gran Canaria^* has emerged over the last few years as a spa oasis.

The spas here weave together Macaronesia's space and escape, with local products derived from the likes of the ubiquitous aloe vera and volcanic stones to create fresh, innovative treatments.

In the island capital of Las Palmas, the Santa Catalina^*, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, offers a great spa and outdoor infinity pool.

The Gloria Palace Royal Hotel & Spa boasts an impressive spa circuit, a sweep of impressive treatments and is close to sandy Playa de Amadores.

What else: this 'Continent in Miniature' is a great all-rounder with superb beaches, hiking, seafood and the only real city in the Canaries, glorious Las Palmas.

Where to stay: The Gloria Palace Royal Hotel & Spa in Gran Canaria's south is more than just a spa hotel, with swish bars and restaurants, plus epic Atlantic views.

Climate in Gran Canaria

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	66	68	70	70	72	75	79	81	79	77	72	68
Hours of sunshine (daily)	6	7	7	8	8	9	10	9	8	7	6	6
Days with some rainfall	4	3	3	2	1	1	0	0	1	3	4	5
Sea temperature °F	66	66	66	66	68	70	72	73	73	73	72	68

The above guide shows the climate in Las Palmas.

Fuerteventura

• Best for: beach lovers

Strips of sand just don't get better on an island fringed by sandy wonders. Sinewy Fuerteventura^*'s coast is necklaced with beaches.

In the north, the Parque Natural de Corralejo is home to sweeping sand dunes where you can walk for miles, living out your Arabian Knights fantasies.

Corralejo^* is a resort blessed with white sand beaches, as is Morro Jable down in the south. Here, the beaches are wide and go on forever again.

What else: Corralejo is my favourite resort in the Canaries and a real Spanish town. Then there is great seafood, an empty hill-lashed hinterland and arguably the world's best goat's cheese.

Where to stay: Barceló offers two great Corralejo four-star hotels. Snare a room with a hot tub on your terrace at Barceló Corralejo Bay^*, or take the kids to Barceló Corralejo Sands^*.

Climate in Fuerteventura

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	66	68	70	72	73	75	79	81	81	77	73	68
Hours of sunshine (daily)	7	7	7	8	9	9	9	9	7	7	7	6
Days with some rainfall	4	3	3	2	1	0	0	0	1	2	3	4
Sea temperature °F	66	64	64	64	66	68	70	72	73	72	70	68

The above guide shows the climate in Corralejo.

Lanzarote

• Best for: the stylish set

Lanzarote^* is the most stylish, architecturally homogenous and eye-catching of all eight Canaries thanks to one man: visionary artist and big thinker Cesar Manrique.

Remarkably, politicians listened to him in the 1960s when he warned against uncontrolled tourist development and instead let him conjure up a series of gorgeous, playful attractions dotted around the island and limit the height of hotels and their colour to starched white. The result is a combination of white buildings, black lava and cobalt ocean. Gorgeous.

What else: the best wine in the Canaries, the white sand beaches of Papagayo and the volcanoes of the Timanfaya National Park.

Where to stay: the Finca de Arrieta was a real eco-friendly pioneer. Today, luxury villas with pools sit alongside the yurts at an oasis that still takes sustainability seriously.

Climate in Lanzarote

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	68	68	70	72	73	77	81	82	82	77	73	70
Hours of sunshine (daily)	7	7	7	8	9	9	9	9	7	7	7	6
Days with some rainfall	4	3	3	2	1	0	0	0	1	2	3	4
Sea temperature °F	66	64	64	64	66	68	70	72	73	72	70	68

The above guide shows the climate in Arrecife.

La Palma

• Best for: avid hikers

No wonder the Canarios hail it 'La Isla Bonita'. This seriously pretty wonderland is a protected UNESCO Biosphere alive with volcanoes (the most recent one erupted to life in 2021), the world's first designated caldera, thick ancient Laurisilva forests and coastal hikes.

Ramble Worldwide run week-long hiking adventures that open up all the best bits with expert guides and all the logistics sorted out for you.

What else: the grandeur 16th-century buildings of capital Santa Cruz de La Palma, seriously underrated wines and seriously underrated goat's cheese.

Where to stay: the Parador de La Palma reclines up the hillside a few kilometres from Santa Cruz, with great views, lush gardens and an outdoor pool.

Climate in La Palma

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	61	61	61	63	66	70	73	75	73	70	66	63
Hours of sunshine (daily)	6	6	6	7	8	8	9	9	8	7	6	5
Days with some rainfall	8	6	7	6	3	2	1	1	4	7	8	8
Sea temperature °F	68	66	66	66	68	72	72	73	75	75	72	70

The above guide shows the climate in Santa Cruz de La Palma.

La Gomera

• Best for: mountain fanatics

The capital of San Sebastian de La Gomera feels like the only flat place on an island where you spend most of the time going up and down.

And then up and down again. Unspoilt La Gomera hasn't changed that much since Columbus made it his last stop in 1492 en route to the Americas. Explore the winding roads in a car or burst your lungs cycling. Hiking from village to village, self-guided, is a joy.

What else: chilling in sleepy San Sebastián de La Gomera, the low-key resorts at the foot of the Valle Gran Rey and almagrote, the delicious spicy cheese paste.

Where to stay: the Parador de la Gomera hangs high above San Sebastián with views over the town, the Atlantic and across to Tenerife. Excellent restaurant too.

Climate in La Gomera

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	66	66	68	68	70	73	77	79	79	75	72	68
Hours of sunshine (daily)	6	7	7	8	9	9	10	9	8	7	6	6
Days with some rainfall	4	4	4	4	2	1	1	1	2	5	5	6
Sea temperature °F	68	66	66	66	68	70	72	73	75	73	72	70

The above guide shows the climate in San Sebastián de La Gomera.

El Hierro

• Best for: end-of-the-world enthusiasts

Remote, rugged El Hierro is the one even most Canarios have never been to. It really does feel like the end of the world, especially down in the southwest where the juniper trees are bent over by the incessant attentions of the Trade Winds.

There is far less to do on El Hierro than the likes of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, bar savour the fact you're out here gazing at the ocean blue where Columbus sailed off the map.

What else: the only inland capital in the Canaries, Valverde promises decent seafood overlooking the fishing boats in La Restinga and increasingly good wine.

Where to stay: the Parador de El Hierro has a suitably isolated vibe, set down its own road, flanked on one side by the ocean and on the other by towering cliffs.

Climate in El Hierro

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	63	63	64	64	66	70	73	75	75	72	68	64
Hours of sunshine (daily)	6	7	7	7	8	9	9	9	8	7	6	6
Days with some rainfall	4	4	4	4	2	1	1	1	2	4	5	5
Sea temperature °F	68	66	66	68	68	72	72	73	75	75	72	70

The above guide shows the climate in Valverde.

La Graciosa

• Best for: for that castaway feeling

Soporifically sleepy La Graciosa only became the eighth Canary isle in 2018. Don't expect tarmac roads, let alone fancy hotels. Do expect to feel like Robinson Crusoe as you eke out from the low-slung buildings and sandy streets of the tiny capital of Caleta del Sebo.

Go in search of empty beaches and volcanoes on two feet or two wheels, cycling. Stay the night when the day trippers are gone for the full Crusoe experience.

What else: some brilliant beaches in the southeast, great views to the rest of the isles in the UNESCO-protected Chinijo Archipelago and what claims to be the world's smallest museum, Museo Chinijo.

Where to stay: forget five-star hotels; it's pension and private rentals on La Graciosa.

Find out more about the weather across the islands in our complete guide to the climate in the Canary Islands.

Ready to explore the Canaries? Find great value offers on escapes all year round with Jet2holidays.

More about the Canary Islands

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  Overview
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Canary Islands by month

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Robin McKelvie

Robin McKelvie is a Scottish travel writer, author and broadcaster. He has visited over 100 countries and regularly writes about Scotland and the Canary Islands. As well as frequently contributing to Weather2Travel.com, Robin writes for publications including The Telegraph, The Independent, The Guardian, The Times and Wanderlust, and has authored more than 30 guidebooks.

Article updated on Monday 28th April 2025 in: Compare Europe Travel tips

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