Canary Islands holidays
A holiday to the Canary Islands is ideal for those who want to choose the perfect backdrop against which to unwind. Whether you want water sports, historic sites, stunning scenery, vibrant nightlife or to laze on a beach and soak up some sun, each Canary Island has its own personality, allowing you to pick the one that’s best for you.
There are seven Canary Islands, each with breath-taking countryside, sun-bleached beaches and sunshine all year round. Explore the lunar landscapes of Lanzarote or join the fun in Tenerife’s lively resorts. Get some serious bronzing under your belt on Gran Canaria’s beautiful, golden beaches or kick back and relax on the charming island of Fuerteventura. With so much potential, you can make your Canary Island holiday exactly what you want it to be!
Things to do
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, home to Spain’s highest mountain, fine sandy beaches and some of the archipelago’s most vibrant nightlife. Often referred to as a ‘mini continent’, Gran Canaria is famous for its rocky beaches, sandy dunes and a cosmopolitan capital city; Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Lanzarote’s lunar landscape of dark volcanic sand contrasts with the golden beaches of the coast. Fuerteventura has the most beaches of the Canary Islands, with vast dunes stretching for miles. La Palma is the greenest; its incredible clear skies drawing stargazers from around the world. Nature lovers head to La Gomera and El Hierro for their forest trails.
22–28°C
The islands in the Canaries’ archipelago are known as the ‘Islands of Eternal Spring’: the average temperature hovers at around 22°C throughout the year, peaking in the low thirties during the summer months.
Between 4 and 5 hours
There’s an airport on all seven of the Canary Islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. Two airports serve northern and southern Tenerife.
Travel guide
Things to do
Currency
Travel guide
Travel guide
Weather & Climate
There’s no such things as a bad time to take a holiday to the Canary Islands. Dubbed the ‘Islands of Eternal Spring’, the archipelago enjoys an average temperature of 22°C throughout the year. If you’re looking for some serious suntan weather, book your Canary Island holiday between July and September, when there’s around ten hours of sunshine a day and highs of around 28°C.
Canary Islands are best for…
Beach lovers: You’ll find beautiful beaches on each of the Canary Islands offering something for everyone, from the pristine sands of Fuerteventura to the hidden coves of Lanzarote.
Families: If your little ones need to cool down and burn up some energy, it’s easy to spend a day at Gran Canaria’s best waterpark, Aqualand Maspalomas.
Night owls: Tenerife is the best of the party islands in Canaries, with pubs, clubs and bars opening as the sun goes down and keeping the good times rolling until it comes back up!
Fast facts:
Language: The language spoken in the Canary Islands is Spanish. While the locals have a good understanding of English, it’s worth packing a phrasebook or downloading our handy language app, and give those Spanish basics a go.
Currency: You’ll need to exchange your Sterling for Euros, before you jet off on your Canary Island holiday.
Local time: The Canary Islands are the same time as GMT/UK time.
Fly to: Fuerteventura Airport, Gran Canaria Airport, Lanzarote Airport and Tenerife South Airport. Transfers to the main resorts take 20–90 minutes.
Flight time from UK: The flight time for the Canary Islands is 4–4.5 hours.
Tourist Information: Further Canary Islands tourist information can be found at https://www.hellocanaryislands.com/
Visa / Health:
Before you travel, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain for recommendations and advice on visas and health for your holiday to the Canary Islands.
Events
carnival time: Take your holiday to the Canary Islands in February and you’ll experience the chaotic kaleidoscope that is the Carnival! Across the archipelago, you’ll see parades, colourful costumes, flamboyant floats, hear live music, eat sizzling street food, drink plenty of sangria, and watch fantastic firework displays. To really immerse yourself in the event, head to Tenerife’s capital city, Santa Cruz, where the festivities carry on for two weeks! It’s also worth looking out for the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. One of the biggest carnivals in all of Spain, it sees people travelling from all over to join in the non-stop party.
Semana Santa: Celebrate Easter in lively Canarian style during the festivities of “Semana Santa”, or Holy Week. Expect to see parades of nazarenos, carrying flickering candles, wooden crosses and, sometimes wearing heavy chains. While it’s a religious holiday, the Canarians seem to be able to turn any event into an all-night party!
Getting around
By bus: Bright green buses nicknamed “guaguas” make getting around the Canary Islands quick and cost-effective.
By taxi: Taxis in the resorts and cities of the Canary Islands are easy to spot and all have meters.
By hire car: Hiring a car is a good option for exploring some of the more remote places in the islands.
Safety and Security:
For up to date advice on travelling to the Canary Islands, please visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/safety-and-securityThings to do
With seven islands in the archipelago, each with their own, distinct personality, you won’t be stuck for things to do in the Canary Islands. Aside from the sugar-white, powder-soft sands on the beaches and bays, the islands are littered with attractions, making them the ideal destination for those taking a break with the family or holidaying couples who want to spend some quality downtime together. From exploring the beautiful fishing village of Puerto de Morgán to marvelling at the lava-pocked landscape at Timanfaya National Park, you’ll find that you can make your holidays to the Canary Islands exactly what you want them to be!
Oceanarium Explorer Spain
Things to do
Cala Des Moro Beach Spain
For some of the best shopping and entertainment in Gran Canaria, don’t miss out on a visit to Yumbo Centrum. With more than 200 shops, bars …Our guide to Jungle
Close to many popular resorts, the Jungle Park in Costa Adeje is a great day out for all the family.Playa Bollullo Spain
For a relaxing day at the beach, surrounded by huge rocky cliffs on soft black volcanic sand, pay a visit to Playa Bollullo.Set sail on a catamaran cruise
Jump on board a luxury catamaran and see this beautiful island from a completely different perspective. Prepare to lay back, relax and be pampered …Playa De Las Americas Nightlife: Bars & Clubs
The first thing that comes to mind when someone says nightlife are hard-core dance clubs that are bursting at the seams. That isn’t always the …Oceanarium Explorer Spain
Los Hervideros Spain
If you enjoy looking at natural wonders then Los Hervideros, located slightly north of Playa Blanca, won’t disappoint. While you’re …
Oasis Park Zoo Fuerteventura
Located just 45 minutes from Caleta de Fuste, the Oasis Park Zoo gives you a real opportunity to get up close and personal with an amazing …
Make a splash at the beach
If you looking for adventure, try out one of the many water sports available. Canary Water Sports have 25 years of experience and a team of highly …
Roque Nublo Spain
Standing proud at 80 metres tall, Roque Nublo is an icon of Gran Canaria and actually marks the centre of the island. Looking at photos, you’d …
Botanical Gardens Tenerife
While in Puerto de la Cruz, make sure you pay a visit to the beautiful Botanical Gardens, otherwise known as the Jardn de Aclimatación de …
Top Things For Families In Spain
There are many family attractions to choose from in Tenerife, from various theme parks, bike rides, private tours and exploring by walking.
Currency
Canary Islands travel money
Travelling abroad can be daunting, particularly if you’ve never done it before. Exchanging your Sterling for the local currency is essential, but learning how and where to use it on your holidays can be just as important! If you aren’t familiar with things like exchange rates or where to get hold of cash while you’re on holiday, here’s everything you need to know about the Canary Islands currency.What is the Official Canary Islands Currency?
As part of an agreement with the EU, the Euro is the only form of Canaries currency that’s accepted as legal tender. You’ll see it represented as either ‘EUR’ or €. Before the Euro, the Canary Islands currency was the Spanish Peseta. This was taken out of circulation on January 1st, 2002. Pesetas are now worthless and cannot be changed up in banks or used in any financial transactions.Using Euro Coins
Much like the British Pound and Pennies, one Euro equals 100 cents. These are available as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50, before you get up to the Canary Island currency equivalent of the one and two-pound coins, the one and two Euro coins. Much like the notes, the Canaries currency carries pictures of Spanish culture, such as famous sculptures, buildings or pieces of art. While the currency the Canary Islands uses might be unfamiliar at first, paying for items with the right change can help you avoid coming home with a load of useless tender. Euro coins are too small in worth for banks to convert them back into Sterling.Cards and Bank Charges
Traveller’s cheques were once an easy way to get Canary Islands currency, but they’re becoming less common. Credit and debit cards are a much better bet. There are plenty of ATMs in the larger towns and cities. Some British banks charge commission on cash withdrawals in other countries, so it’s worth checking with yours what they charge on Canary Island currency, before you go.Top destinations in Canary Islands
Featured accommodation
Popular holiday resorts
