Which Canary Island to Visit? Top Beaches, Activities, and Family-Friendly Destinations Explained

Having trouble choosing which one of the islands you should visit? Let me help you with that. I’ll try my best to explain which one suits best for different preferences.

You might be wondering, what is the warmest Canary Island? What is the nicest Canary Island? What is the best Canary Island for surfing? What is the best pick for cycling? Or perhaps you’re looking for a family friendly choice. I’ll do my best answering these questions – as briefly as possible, to spare your time and keep planning easy.

You’ve found this guide, so I’ll assume you are already familiar with the basics of the Canaries, such as what is the best time to visit the Canary Islands. If not, please read my short guide about the islands, which gives you the basics about these islands.

First things first

First I need to narrow the scope of this guide a bit. The canary islands consist of seven islands, which you might already know. Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La palma, La gomera and El Hierro. (Actually there are some even smaller ones, but..).

For the purpose of this guide I’ll focus only on the main islands: Teneriffe, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. This is because the smaller islands are visited much frequently and there’s not such well established connections to these islands, or the flights from Europe are considerably more expensive compared to the main islands. Also, some of these islands are only reachable from the main islands via ferry or a domestic flight route.

I am by no means saying you should not travel to these, the opposite actually; these islands are guaranteed to give you tranquility and perhaps a destination your friends haven’t visited, but for this guide, let’s focus on the main ones.

And I want to emphasize the fact that even though the main islands are visited by millions every year, that does not mean there’s only mass tourism and you could not find peace or enjoy your vacation. You can actually find many remote places on the most popular islands and escape the crowds.

If you’re visiting these islands for the first time, it’s easier to start with the most popular ones as they have the most to offer and are an easy destination.

So, let’s begin.

What is the weather like on each island?

Is sun guaranteed on all of the islands? Does it rain? Is it windy?

Are questions everyone wants the answers to. Weather is typically pretty similar on each island, and the differences are more noticable between different areas of the islands rather than between whole islands. For example you might choose to stay in Costa Adeje – relatively south of Tenerife and enjoy very warm weather and no rain here, but then drive up north to get soaked by rain and even wanting to put on warmer clothes. Needless to say, if you visit the mountains, it does get colder and usually more wet as you climb altitude.

There are some high mountains in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, which cause the south and south-east parts of these islands to be warmer than northern parts, as the mountains stop wind and affect the generation of rain. Sunniest and warmest places of the islands are southern parts of Gran canaria and Tenerife.

What about rain in canary islands?

You might get unlucky, but I am confident to say that if you stay on any island for one week, you’ll enjoy more sun than rain. The islands do occasionally get their share of rain, but this happens mostly during the winter season from October to April. Summers are very dry. I’ve visited the islands three times, always during the so called winter, and never experienced any rain.

is it windy in canary islands?

This is highly dependent on your location and the island you’re staying. As mentioned earlier the high peaks of Tenerife and Gran Canaria have a big effect on winds on these islands, making some areas less windy than others. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are quite flat, meaning there are no mountains to block wind. This does not mean they are always extremely windy, but noticeably windier than the other islands.

Which canary island has the best beaches?

There is no correct answer to this question.

There is no one correct answer to this question. While all the islands offer plenty of beaches to choose from, there are some differences. As the islands are volcanic, you’ll find both black sanded, and white sand beaches. There is essentially no other difference besides the colour – perhaps the black sand does get a bit hotter in the sun, so please do not forget to wear shoes. I’ve nearly burnt my feet once in very hot black sand.

One of the most famous beaches is Playa de Maspalomas, located south of Gran Canaria. You might have seen the picturesque scenery of these sand dunes.

I have only visited the dunes for a nice hike, and did not have the opportunity to swim at that time, but I’m sure the beach offers a nice refreshment, especially after hiking the dunes. It’s worth knowing that there is also a naturist area somewhere in the middle. Maspalomas beach is a very wide area, meaning you should be able to find enough peace if you wish.

Another place worth considering in Gran Canaria, is Playa de Amadores, which is a beautiful beach with white sand and clear water, making it ideal for families. Amadores is located in Southwestern part of the island close to Puerto Rico. The beach is in a bay, covered by two wavebreakers, making the water very calm.

Fuerteventura is sometimes said to have the best beaches, because you can find the longest beaches of Canaries here. If you’re looking for merely a beach destination, this is one option. However, as mentioned, Fuerteventura tends to be windier than Tenerife and Gran Canaria, and the wind can truly get strong sometimes. This is not always an issue, as some of the places are covered by cliffs, but on very windy days you’ll find the wind too high and it will even start to hurt (the sand grain hits really hard).

Some popular beach areas of Tenerife worth mentioning are Puerto de la Cruz, located north of Tenerife, and the area of Playa de las Americas in the southern coast. Both areas are very popular and offer plenty of services and facilities such as restaurants, shops and bars.

There’s no reason to leave Lanzarote out of this comparison, as this island just like all the others offer plenty of beaches to choose from. Again, it might be windier here, but if you choose the right spot, this might not be an issue. The most popular beach of Lanzarote is probably Playa Papagayo, which is situated on the southern part of the island. Series of beaches with white sand, cliffs and high volcanic rocks form a beautiful scenery and some shelter from the winds.

Best Canary island for families

Perhaps it is not this simple, but I like to think that Tenerife is the best choice for families. It offers a wide range of family-friendly activities, some of the best beaches and attractions for all ages. Some to highlight are:

• Siam Park: top ranked water park, perfect for all ages
• Loro Parque: an interesting zoo with regular shows
• Mount teide: easier routes are available, which suit the younger ones. Even kids will be amazed by the beauty of the mountains
• Beaches and resorts: Tenerife offers a lot of resorts and beaches to choose from for family holidays

Gran Canaria is also a good choice, as it offers many family-friendly resorts and beaches and some attractions. If you’re travelling for the first time I would prefer Tenerife and Gran Canaria over Lanzarote and Fuerteventura for a family holiday.

activites in canary islands

Besides sunbathing and swimming, the islands are the home to a variety of activities such as hiking, cycling and surfing.

Each island offers nearly endless opportunities for adventurers and just exploring in general. The Canary Islands are a top pick for outdoor lovers. Keep reading to learn more about surfing, cycling and hiking on the Canary Islands!

which island is best for surfing?

I am no surfer, but I’ve tried my best to gather together the essentials you need to know if you’re looking for the best island for surfing.

While surfing is possible on each island, the windier ones might provide the best waves for the experienced surfers.

Lanzarote is sometimes referred to as the Hawaii of Europe. It offers waves for both beginners and pros. Head to La Santa to find your preferred waves – for both beginners and professionals. Tenerife is the go-to choice if you’re looking for that after surf-action, because the promenades are full of restaurants and bars calling for you to relax after a long day at the sea. The best array of Canarian surf camps are found on this island.
Northern Fuerteventura offers some great surfing spots. On Fuerteventura you should also find the best surf schools of Canary Islands. You may also choose to go on Gran Canaria, where you can find some surfing spots around Las Palmas, the capital.

As noted, I have no experience from surfing. Hence I recommend you to scroll through a few more sites to gain a comprehensive understanding of what each island has to offer. One great page seems to be the SURFATLAS.

Best Canary Island for cycling

Even though I enjoy biking in my hometown, I am yet to go on longer bike rides abroad. I do have some second hand knowledge about the Canaries in regards to cycling. So again, I’ll briefly summarize what you should know, to help you decide the right island.

In general you should stick to Tenerife, Gran Canaria or Lanzarote for your road cycling adventures. Fuerteventura is very flat and windy, making it less ideal for cycling. It is a viable option if you plan on doing much more besides cycling.

Tenerife: Famous for Mount teide, Spain’s highest peak, the island attracts cyclists with its challenging terrain and near perfect climate. Ascending Mount Teide is a popular choice and it can be reached from multiple sides, offering options for routing. Each route is guaranteed to provide challenge and beautiful scenery.

Gran Canaria: Varied landscape including mountains, valleys, forests and villages, offering challenging climbs, perfect weather all year-round.

Lanzarote: Known for its Ironman Lanzarote -competition, Lanzarote is very flat compared to Gran Canaria and Tenerife. It’s still quite hilly, making it optional for less experiences cyclists. The island is relatively small, decreasing the amount of routes to choose from.

Fuerteventura: Best suited for wind sports such as surfing and sailing. However, some professionals opt to train here to add more resistance to their practice. If you plan on doing more than cycling, this is a viable choice.

If you’re a professional or simply enthusiastic about cycling, you should consider which island you visit. However, if you just want to bike around casually, each island is perfectly fine for that.

which canary island is best for hiking?

This topic deserves a separate post to be covered more in-depth. I will be working on that. However, I’ll give you some examples and insight in this post. All four of the islands offer amazing hikes, from beginner friendly to very advanced ones.

Honestly the islands offer hundreds, even thousands of routes to choose from. Trek through the lush forests, ascend volcanic peaks or explore paths on the coasts, there truly is something for everyone.

A great app I highly recommend for all your hiking experiences is AllTrails. As the name suggests, you can find all the trails you are looking from the app. It boasts a nearly unlimited amount of trails from all around the world, and you can view them on a map to help you narrow down your search.

Let’s go through the main hiking attractions of these four islands to help you choose.

Tenerife: Again, famous for Spain’s highest peak Mount Teide. Teide and the nearby mountains offer hikes of different levels with very rewarding and breathtaking views. Head north to Anaga Rural Park to experience a major contrast from the volcanic and arid landscape of southern Tenerife. Anaga is very lush, green forest, enriched with local birdlife and diverse flora.

Lanzarote: If you’re looking for those stunning black volcanic out-of-this-world landscapes, head to Lanzarote and Timanfaya National Park.From Lanzarote you also have the possibility to visit the island of La Graciosa, which is one of the last places in Europe without asphalted roads, truly a unspoiled natural gem for nature-enthusiasts.

Fuerteventura: offers a variety of scenery, with most routes being relatively easy due to its flat topology. The terrain however can make hiking more difficult despite not having to ascend or descent a lot. Fuerteventura is not the most respected destination in terms of hiking. However you can still find many trails on the island to explore. One of the most popular routes is Pico de la Zarza which ascends up to the highest point of Fuerteventura.


These hikes are just a small portion of what the Canary Islands have to offer. Each island presents a unique landscape and adventure, from volcanic terrains to lush valleys. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or just looking for a casual stroll in the nature, you’ll find plenty of trails to suit your preferences.

wrapping up

Whether you’re looking for the best hikes, the nicest beaches or a family-friendly option, the Canary Islands have something to offer for everyone. Tenerife is the top choice for families, boasting a wide variety of family-friendly activities and attractions such as Siam Park and Loro Parque. For the absolute best beaches, Fuerteventura is a great choice. Windy Lanzarote stands out with its lively surf scene, while Tenerife offers the best after-surf activities. Experienced cyclists should typically opt for Tenerife and Gran Canaria for challenging and scenic routes, while Lanzarote is a good choice for less professional cycling. Hiking enthusiasts will find diverse trails across all islands, with notable spots like Mount Teide in Tenerife, Roque Nublo in Gran Canaria, Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote, and Pico de la Zarza in Fuerteventura. Hopefully this article helps you choose the perfect island for your next trip and makes planning your adventure easy! Happy travels!