Highlights
Teide National Park, Tenerife
Mount Teide, at around 3,715 metres, is the highest point in Spain. A cable car climbs most of the way up from a crater floor of lava flows and coloured rock; reaching the summit itself needs a free permit booked in advance, and the views stretch to the neighbouring islands on clear days.
Timanfaya and César Manrique's Lanzarote
Timanfaya National Park covers fields of lava and craters left by eruptions in the 1730s, where the ground is still hot enough to cook on. The local artist César Manrique shaped the rest of the island, insisting on low white buildings and creating sites such as Jameos del Agua, a concert hall and pool built into a lava tube.
Maspalomas and Roque Nublo, Gran Canaria
The south coast has the Maspalomas dunes, a protected stretch of sand beside the sea and a lighthouse. Inland, the mountainous centre rises to Roque Nublo, a basalt monolith reached on a short hike, with pine forests and whitewashed villages such as Tejeda nearby.
Garajonay and the whistled language of La Gomera
Garajonay National Park protects a laurel forest, an ancient type of humid woodland that once covered much of southern Europe. La Gomera is also home to Silbo Gomero, a whistled form of Spanish once used to talk across deep ravines and still taught in island schools.
Stargazing on La Palma
Clear, dark skies brought the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory to La Palma's highest ridge, and the island has strict rules on light pollution. The steep, green island also has the vast Caldera de Taburiente and fresh lava landscapes from the 2021 eruption on its western side.
Fuerteventura's beaches and dunes
The closest island to Africa has long beaches and steady winds that draw windsurfers and kitesurfers. The dunes of Corralejo Natural Park in the north and the wide lagoons of Sotavento in the south are the best-known stretches.
El Hierro
The smallest and westernmost of the main islands is quiet and rugged, with lava coastlines, natural rock pools and the protected waters of the Mar de las Calmas, a popular area for scuba diving.
Interesting facts about Canary Islands
- The islands are thought to take their name from the Latin 'Canariae Insulae', the islands of dogs, rather than from the canary bird, which was named after the islands.
- Silbo Gomero, La Gomera's whistled language, is listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- The Canary Islands keep the same time as the UK and Portugal, one hour behind mainland Spain.
- Although they are part of Spain and the EU, the islands have their own lower sales tax (IGIC) instead of standard Spanish VAT, which affects customs rules when you travel on to mainland Europe.
- Mount Teide, measured from the ocean floor, is one of the tallest volcanoes in the world.
Best time to visit
The islands are a year-round destination thanks to mild temperatures, which is why they are so popular for winter sun from October to April. Summer is warm and dry on the coasts, with the trade winds keeping the heat in check. Northern coasts are greener and cloudier, southern coasts sunnier and drier. Mountain areas such as Teide can be cold and even snowy in winter, so pack layers. School holidays, Christmas and Easter are the busiest periods, and the carnivals of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas in February or March draw big crowds.
Practical information
| Capital | Shared between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Languages | Spanish |
| Plugs | Type C, F |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 112 for all emergencies |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Not obligatory. Rounding up or leaving small change for good service in restaurants and bars is common and appreciated. |
Getting around
Each island has its own public bus network, known locally as 'guaguas', which links the main towns and resorts, though services thin out in rural areas. Renting a car is the easiest way to explore mountain roads and smaller villages; roads are good but often steep and winding. Ferries connect most of the islands, and short inter-island flights link all seven main islands. Tenerife and Gran Canaria each have two airports, so check which one your flight uses.
Staying connected in Canary Islands
Mobile coverage is good in towns, resorts and along main roads on all the islands, and most hotels, cafés and apartments offer Wi-Fi. Coverage can drop in deep ravines, in the high mountains, inside national parks and along remote stretches of coast, especially on La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro, so download offline maps before hiking. The islands are part of the EU, but if your home plan is from outside Europe roaming can be costly. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, so maps, bus times and ferry tickets work from the airport.
See Canary Islands eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Canary Islands
- Google Maps: Driving and walking directions on winding island roads; download offline maps for the mountains and national parks.
- Binter: Book and manage the short inter-island flights operated by the Canary Islands' regional airline.
- Google Translate: Translate menus and signs; Spanish is the everyday language outside the main resorts.
- XE Currency: Quick conversions to and from euros if you are visiting from outside the eurozone.