Eight inhabited islands, mild weather all year round and short flights from most of Europe: the Canary Islands may be the easiest family destination on the continent in any season. Golden, white and black sand beaches, volcanoes, laurel forests, four national parks and some of the clearest skies on Earth all fit into one archipelago.
Each island has its own personality. Gran Canaria and Tenerife have the widest choice of family hotels, parks and activities; Lanzarote and Fuerteventura mean wide beaches and volcanic landscapes; La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro invite you to slow down in nature; and La Graciosa, the eighth island, has no tarmac roads at all.
Which island is right for your family?
- Gran Canaria: lots of variety in a small space — the Maspalomas dunes, calm beaches in Mogán and the city of Las Palmas.
- Tenerife: Mount Teide, whale and dolphin watching, and big parks such as Loro Parque and Siam Park.
- Lanzarote: the volcanoes of Timanfaya and César Manrique’s caves and gardens, all within an hour’s drive.
- Fuerteventura: endless beaches, the Corralejo dunes and a boat trip to the islet of Lobos.
- La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa: stargazing, laurel forests, natural pools and car-free sandy streets.
When to go
All year. In winter the south of the islands still has beach weather, and in summer the trade winds keep the heat in check. On the coast, average temperatures range from around 18 °C in winter to 25 °C in summer, and the sea is roughly 19–23 °C depending on the season. The north of the higher islands is greener and cloudier; the south is drier and sunnier.
Good to know
- The Canary Islands are one hour behind mainland Spain (the same time as the UK).
- The emergency number is 112.
- The sun is strong even in winter: pack high-factor sun cream, hats and shade for the beach.
- Always respect the beach flags: some spectacular beaches have strong currents.
- Our selection of family-friendly hotels on every island is in Family hotels in the Canary Islands.