Every Canary Island is different. Some are made for beach holidays, some for hiking, some for doing very little at all. I was born in Tenerife and I have been to all of them, so here is the honest version: which island suits which kind of trip.
Quick answer: for a first visit with a bit of everything, choose Tenerife or Gran Canaria. For beaches and surf, Fuerteventura. For volcanic landscapes and design, Lanzarote. For hiking and nature with few crowds, La Palma, La Gomera or El Hierro.
The eight islands compared
| Island | Best for | Beaches | Nightlife | Feels like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenerife | Variety, first visits, Mount Teide | Good | Lively in the south | A small continent in one island |
| Gran Canaria | Variety, dunes, a real city | Very good | Lively | Mountains, dunes and city life |
| Lanzarote | Volcanoes, design, couples | Good | Moderate | A calm lunar landscape |
| Fuerteventura | Beaches, surf, kitesurf | Excellent | Quiet | Endless sand and wind |
| La Palma | Hiking, stargazing | Few | Very quiet | Green, steep and unspoilt |
| La Gomera | Hiking, slow travel | Few | Very quiet | Ancient forest and deep valleys |
| El Hierro | Diving, total peace | Very few | None to speak of | The end of the world, in a good way |
| La Graciosa | A day trip, empty beaches | Beautiful | None | Sand streets and no paved roads |
Tenerife: the island with everything
The largest island has the most variety: sunny resorts in the south, a green and traditional north, the old university city of La Laguna, the cliffs of Los Gigantes, the forests of Anaga and Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain. If you only visit one island, this is a very safe choice.
Choose it if: you want beaches, day trips and nature in one holiday. Skip it if: you want somewhere small and quiet everywhere.
Gran Canaria: dunes, mountains and a real city
Gran Canaria is often called a continent in miniature. The south has the dunes of Maspalomas and reliable sun, the centre has dramatic mountain roads and villages, and Las Palmas is a proper city with a long urban beach, Las Canteras.
Choose it if: you want variety plus city life. Skip it if: you only want to see small villages.
Lanzarote: volcanoes and César Manrique
Black lava fields, red volcanoes and low white houses. Lanzarote was shaped by eruptions in the 18th and 19th centuries and by the artist César Manrique, who helped protect it from high-rise building. Timanfaya National Park and the vineyards of La Geria are unlike anything else in Europe.
Choose it if: you love landscapes, design and calm. Skip it if: you want green forests.
Fuerteventura: the beach island
Fuerteventura has the longest and emptiest beaches in the Canary Islands, from the dunes of Corralejo in the north to the endless sands of Jandía in the south. It is also the surf and kitesurf capital of the islands. Inland it is dry and quiet.
Choose it if: your holiday is about the beach and the sea. Skip it if: you dislike wind.
La Palma: the green island
Steep, green and wonderfully unspoilt, La Palma is one of the best islands for hiking, with the huge Caldera de Taburiente at its heart. Its skies are protected for astronomy, which makes it one of the best places in Europe for stargazing.
La Gomera: forests and valleys
La Gomera is a short ferry ride from Tenerife and feels a world away. Deep ravines, terraced valleys and the misty laurel forest of Garajonay National Park make it a paradise for walkers. It is also home to the Silbo Gomero, a whistled language still taught in schools.
El Hierro: peace and diving
The smallest of the main islands and the least visited. El Hierro is about nature, silence and the sea, and the marine reserve around La Restinga is one of the best diving areas in Spain. Come here to switch off completely.
La Graciosa: the tiny island
Just off the north of Lanzarote, La Graciosa has sand streets, no paved roads and some of the most beautiful beaches in the Canaries. Most people visit on a day trip by ferry from Órzola in Lanzarote.
Which island for which kind of trip?
- Families: Tenerife, Gran Canaria or Fuerteventura, for easy beaches and plenty to do.
- Couples: Lanzarote, or the quieter parts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
- Hikers: La Palma, La Gomera and the north of Tenerife.
- Surfers and kitesurfers: Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
- Nightlife: the south of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
- Total peace: El Hierro, La Gomera or La Graciosa.
Can you visit more than one island?
Yes, and it is a great idea. Ferries connect most islands, and there are short inter-island flights. Easy combinations are Tenerife with La Gomera, Lanzarote with Fuerteventura or La Graciosa, and Gran Canaria with Tenerife.
Frequently asked questions
Which Canary Island has the best weather?
All of them are mild all year. For the most sunshine, stay in the south of Tenerife or Gran Canaria, or anywhere on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The north of the western islands is greener because it gets more cloud.
Which Canary Island is the most beautiful?
It depends on what you find beautiful. For green mountains, La Palma and La Gomera. For volcanic landscapes, Lanzarote. For beaches, Fuerteventura. Tenerife has a bit of all of them.
Which island is best for a first visit?
Tenerife or Gran Canaria. They have the most flights, the most choice of places to stay and the widest range of things to do.
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