Canary Islands
Volcanic Spanish islands in the Atlantic, known for Mount Teide, the Maspalomas Dunes and national parks, with mild weather for most of the year.
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The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago of volcanic origin in the Atlantic, about 100 km off northwest Africa, and one of Spain's autonomous communities. Seven main islands have their own administration, and La Graciosa is an eighth inhabited island. Tenerife is the largest and draws the most visitors, with Gran Canaria the most populous after it. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the closest islands to Africa, with arid, semi-desert terrain. La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro are wetter and greener and get far fewer visitors.
Mount Teide, on Tenerife, is the highest peak in Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gran Canaria has the Maspalomas Dunes on its south coast and the Roque Nublo rock formation in its center. La Palma has the Caldera de Taburiente National Park and the Roque de los Muchachos observatory. Winter is the main tourist season, when northern Europeans arrive to escape cold weather. Between islands you travel by ferry or inter-island flight, and fast ferries link Tenerife and Gran Canaria in about one hour.
Canary Islands in five
- Set your watch back an hourThe Canaries run one hour behind mainland Spain, on UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer.
- Book a permit for the Teide summitThe cable car needs only a ticket, but the final path to the summit of Mount Teide needs a personal permit booked online. Slots go weeks ahead, and the fee has changed, so check the current rules.Teide cable car and permit
- Choose your island by what you wantTenerife and Gran Canaria for variety, Lanzarote for volcanic landscapes, Fuerteventura for beaches, La Palma and La Gomera for hiking.Lanzarote or Tenerife
- Pack a layer for the mountainsThe coast can be 24°C while the high volcanic peaks are near freezing, with snow on Teide some winters.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Canary Islands, the full guide
Puerto de la Cruz
- Price band: $$
Maspalomas
- Price band: $$$
Puerto del Carmen
- Price band: $$
Tenerife
Tenerife is a Canary Islands island where Mount Teide rises above sunny beaches, with a dry south and a greener north to choose between.
Things to do in Canary Islands
See all attractions in Canary Islands
Need to know
- Airport
- Tenerife (TFS, TFN), Gran Canaria (LPA), Lanzarote (ACE), Fuerteventura (FUE)
- Getting there
- Direct flights from most of Europe, about 4 hours from London
- Getting around
- Car or bus on each island; ferries and flights between them
- Best base
- Depends on the island; the north coasts are greener and cooler
- Time needed
- 5–7 days per island
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- JanuaryClear9 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Winter sunJanuaryClear
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Winter sun
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Mild, sunnyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, sunny
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Warm, clearMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- AprilClear8 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°MildAprilClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh22°Low17°Mild, calmMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calm
- JuneClear6 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Cloudy morningsJuneClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cloudy mornings
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh25°Low20°Warm, trade windsJulyClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, trade winds
- AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°WarmestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest
- SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh25°Low20°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°WarmOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low18°Winter sunNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Winter sun
- DecemberClear8 rainy daysHigh20°Low17°Winter sunDecemberClear
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Winter sun
Average daily high and low in Las Palmas, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Canary Islands
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 24°
- Humidity
- 53%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 18%
Canary Islands
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today26°18°18%Monday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Tue23°17°98%Tuesday: Rain. High 23°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Wed23°16°11%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Thu23°16°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri24°17°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat28°18°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 28°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun28°21°23%Sunday: Cloudy. High 28°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 23%.
Updated 05:07 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Feb–MarCarnival of Santa Cruz de TenerifeSanta Cruz de Tenerife, a day trip
- Feb–MarCarnival of Las PalmasLas Palmas de Gran Canaria, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Las Palmas de Gran Canariaabout 1 hour by fast ferry from TenerifeOne of the two capitals of the Canaries, with the Carnival and the Museo Canario.Read the guide
- Santa Cruz de la Palmaabout 2.5 hours by fast ferry from TenerifeA small port town on La Palma, the island with the Caldera de Taburiente National Park.Read the guide
- La Lagunaby tram from Santa Cruz de Tenerife; check the tram timetableA UNESCO World Heritage old town and home to the oldest university in the Canaries.Read the guide
Before you go to Canary Islands
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All Canary Islands guides
Where to stayWhere to stay in Lanzarote: four bases, Puerto del Carmen to Famara
Head to headNorth or south Tenerife: which side should you base on?Where to stayWhere to stay in Tenerife: 5 bases, Costa Adeje to Puerto de la CruzHow toLanzarote in 5 days: Timanfaya, vineyards, Manrique sites and beachesHow toTeide cable car and summit permit: what needs a booking and a feeHead to headLanzarote or Tenerife: which Canary island suits your trip?Canary Islands FAQ
Which Canary Island is best for a first visit?
Tenerife, for its mix of Mount Teide, beaches, old towns and hiking. Gran Canaria is a close second with dunes and mountain villages.
Do I need a permit to climb Mount Teide?
Only for the last stretch to the summit crater. It is a personal permit booked online, and slots fill weeks ahead. The cable car to the upper station needs only a ticket.
Are the Canary Islands warm in winter?
Yes. Coastal highs stay around 21°C to 22°C in winter, which makes them Europe's main winter-sun destination.
What time zone are the Canary Islands in?
UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer, one hour behind Madrid and the same as the UK.
How do you travel between the Canary Islands?
By short flights or ferries. Neighbors such as Tenerife and La Gomera have ferries, while other pairs are far quicker by plane. Check schedules early, since smaller routes sail less often.