What are the Canary Islands?
The Canaries are a Spanish island group of volcanic origin in the Atlantic, around 100 km off the coast of Morocco and Western Sahara and thus closer to Africa than to Europe. Seven main islands plus the smaller La Graciosa together form around 7,493 km² with a good 2.27 million inhabitants (as of October 2025).
This page mainly covers the three largest arrival islands, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, with shorter sections on Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. Anyone who has already chosen an island will find the respective arrival points and regions under «Places».
General entry and country information for Spain is on the Spain page; this page describes only what sets the Canaries apart, in particular the separate time zone and the special status outside the EU tax union.
Sources: Wikipedia
How are the Canaries connected to Spain?
The Canaries are an autonomous community of Spain and an EU outermost region: the same as the mainland politically and for entry, but with their own time zone and outside the EU VAT union. Instead of VAT, the lower consumption tax IGIC applies.
The Canaries belong to the EU, but not to the tax scope of the EU VAT directive; purchases and imports of goods are therefore subject to rules more similar to those of non-EU states, with their own consumption tax (IGIC) instead of VAT. For tourists, this mainly means: purchases are often cheaper than on the mainland, and duty-free limits on the return trip to continental Europe apply as for a trip from a non-EU country.
In terms of time, the Canaries follow Western European Time (UTC+0, UTC+1 in summer) and thus run one hour behind mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, which observe Central European Time (UTC+1/+2). Politically, and for entry, the health system and the emergency number, the same rules apply as for all of Spain.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Wikipedia
What distinguishes the Canary Islands from each other?
Tenerife combines a volcano, rainforest and large resort towns on a single island. Gran Canaria is considered a «miniature continent» with dunes in the south and a green north. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are drier and specialize in beach or volcanic landscapes respectively, while La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro are quieter and greener.
Tenerife: the largest and most varied island
At 3,715 m, Tenerife's Teide is the highest peak in Spain, and Teide National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. The north around La Orotava is green and often cloud-covered, while the south around Playa de las Américas is dry, sunny and the most densely developed for tourism.
Gran Canaria: a small continent-island
Because of its climatic and landscape diversity, Gran Canaria is often described as a «miniature continent»: the dunes of Maspalomas in the south, mountain villages in the center around the Roque Nublo, and a green north around the capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Fuerteventura and Lanzarote: dry and volcanic
Fuerteventura is the oldest and driest main island, with the archipelago's longest, brightest sandy beaches, strongly geared toward water sports. Lanzarote is shaped by the 18th-century volcanic eruptions; Timanfaya National Park shows an almost vegetation-free lava landscape.
La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro: the green, quiet islands
These three smaller western islands are less developed for tourism, greener, and known for hiking and stargazing. On La Palma, the Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted in 2021 over around 85 days, destroying more than 1,000 hectares of land and forcing around 7,000 people to evacuate; the island has since been fully open to travel again.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Wikipedia · Wikipedia
Which places are worthwhile on Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura?
Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Maspalomas on Gran Canaria, and Corralejo and Puerto del Rosario on Fuerteventura are the tourist anchor points of the three largest islands.
Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital, ferry port and home to the striking concert hall Auditorio de Tenerife; from there, Teide National Park is reachable by cable car up to around 3,555 m within one and a half to two hours by car. In the north lies Puerto de la Cruz with a historic center and a subtropical botanical garden, while most of the hotel industry is concentrated in the drier south around Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas.
Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the north, with around 379,000 inhabitants, is the archipelago's largest city, with the long city beach Las Canteras and the old town Vegueta. In the south lie the dunes of Maspalomas and the resort town Playa del Inglés; in the mountainous center around the landmark rock Roque Nublo, there are viewpoints above 1,800 m.
Fuerteventura
Puerto del Rosario is the capital and home to the international airport, though unremarkable for tourism. The large resort towns lie in the north around Corralejo, with an adjacent dune nature park and a ferry connection to Lanzarote, and in the south around Jandía/Morro Jable, with the island's longest sandy beaches.
Starting points on the smaller islands
Anyone traveling to one of the other Canary Islands usually arrives in Arrecife (Lanzarote), Santa Cruz de La Palma, San Sebastián de La Gomera or Valverde (El Hierro). All four are small port towns with their own airport or ferry connection and serve mainly as a starting point for the surrounding national parks, not as a destination city in their own right.
Ferries also depart several times a day from Corralejo to Playa Blanca on Lanzarote; the roughly 25-minute crossing makes it easy to combine the two neighboring islands without a flight. On all three large islands, the airport, ferry port and tourist resort towns are usually a half hour to an hour's drive apart, so a rental car makes getting around considerably easier.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Wikipedia
When is the best time to visit the Canaries?
The Canaries are considered a year-round destination, with winter temperatures around 18–19 °C and summer values around 28 °C, sustained by the steady northeasterly trade winds. October to February is rainier but still mild.
The Canaries' subtropical climate is balanced by the Atlantic, the trade winds and the cold Canary Current; this results in low rainfall, moderate humidity and the reputation as the «islands of eternal spring». The eastern islands Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are drier and windier, the western islands La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro greener and more humid.
| Place | Best time to visit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz de Tenerife | year-round, high season Feb.–Apr. and Jul./Aug. | the north of the island is cloudier than the south |
| Las Palmas de Gran Canaria | year-round | the archipelago's most balanced climate |
| Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura) | March–Nov. | the driest and windiest main island, strong for water sports |
Monthly figures for Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Puerto del Rosario
| Santa Cruz de Tenerife | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 21 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 23 |
| Low °C | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 17 |
| Rainfall mm | 25 | 32 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 39 |
| Las Palmas de Gran Canaria | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 23 |
| Low °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 17 |
| Rainfall mm | 18 | 22 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 24 | 28 |
| Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura) | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 21 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 22 |
| Low °C | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 17 |
| Rainfall mm | 12 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 17 | 14 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station STA. CRUZ DE TENERIFE (2 km, 36 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station GRAN CANARIA (19 km, 24 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station FUERTEVENTURA (5 km, 25 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
Occasional Saharan dust events («Calima») bring hazy air and higher temperatures in spring and fall; travelers with respiratory issues should keep this in mind before their trip. Fall and winter also bring the year's strongest storms.
Sources: Wikipedia
What applies for entry to the Canaries?
For Swiss, German and Austrian nationals, the same entry rules apply as for all of Spain: a valid passport or national ID card, no visa for tourist stays. The full rules are on the Spain page; here only the Canary-specific additions.
The Canaries belong to the Spanish customs territory but not to the EU VAT union. Anyone coming from continental Europe and traveling to the Canaries is subject, for purchases and their re-import, to customs rules similar to those for a trip to a non-EU country, with corresponding duty-free allowances for tobacco, alcohol and other goods (as of September 2026).
Another practical difference: the Canaries observe Western European Time, one hour behind mainland Spain — a second look at local time is worthwhile for flight or ferry connections with the mainland.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany
What health advice applies to the Canaries?
The Canaries are considered unremarkable in terms of health; the same recommendations apply as for all of Spain. Current routine vaccinations (measles-mumps-rubella, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, polio) are sufficient, and no special travel vaccination is needed.
The CDC and healthytravel.ch list no mandatory vaccination for Spain, including the Canaries. Hepatitis A/B vaccinations may be considered for risk groups; mosquito protection is also recommended, as West Nile virus is occasionally recorded in Spain.
Medical care is good on Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with large hospitals in Santa Cruz and Las Palmas; on the smaller islands Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro it is more basic, with transfer to the larger islands in more serious cases. Travel health insurance with medical repatriation is recommended.
Sources: CDC Travelers' Health · healthytravel.ch
How safe are the Canaries?
The Federal Foreign Office and the FDFA rate Spain, including the Canaries, as a safe travel destination. Natural risks include volcanic activity, occasional earthquakes, Saharan dust storms («Calima») and strong fall/winter storms.
The Canaries are volcanically active; the 2021 eruption of Cumbre Vieja on La Palma showed that evacuations are possible in an emergency. Current warnings from the Spanish authorities and the Federal Foreign Office should be observed before and during the trip. In everyday life, the same caution against pickpocketing applies as in any tourist resort town.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany
How do you get to the Canaries and between the islands?
Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura have large international airports with direct flights from many European countries. Frequent short-haul flights (Binter Canarias, Canaryfly) and ferries from several shipping companies connect the islands.
Arrival from Europe
Tenerife South (TFS) is the Canaries' largest international airport, with around 92 nonstop destinations, the busiest being Manchester and London Gatwick; Gran Canaria (LPA) is the archipelago's busiest airport overall, connecting to, among others, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam and Dublin. Fuerteventura (FUE) counts around 72 destinations with 41 airlines, with Germany and the United Kingdom as the largest source markets.
Further international airports exist on Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, usually with fewer nonstop connections than the three large islands.
Between the islands
The regional airline Binter Canarias serves almost exclusively routes within the Canaries with ATR-72 turboprops and Embraer E195 jets; Canaryfly rounds out the offering. A flight between Gran Canaria and Tenerife takes around 35 minutes, between Lanzarote and El Hierro up to 50 minutes, with several departures daily.
Four shipping companies — Naviera Armas, Fred Olsen, Líneas Romero and Biosfera Express — additionally connect the islands by ferry; crossings take one to several hours depending on the route and are usually cheaper than flying.
Sources: AeroCorner · Wikipedia · Hello Canary Islands
What does traveling in the Canaries cost?
Payment is in euros, and cards are accepted practically everywhere. Because of the lower consumption tax IGIC instead of VAT, many purchases, electronics and tobacco products are cheaper than on the Spanish mainland.
Accommodation and rental cars on Tenerife and Gran Canaria are noticeably more expensive in high season (February–April, July/August) than on Fuerteventura or the smaller western islands. Restaurants and everyday purchases overall are close to Spanish mainland levels, while individual goods such as tobacco and spirits are cheaper because of the IGIC.
ATMs are available in all larger towns on the three main islands; they are more sparsely spread on the smaller western islands and outside the resort towns on Fuerteventura.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany
What accommodation is there in the Canaries?
From large resorts in Costa Adeje and Maspalomas to country houses in the island interiors to simple guesthouses on the small western islands: the range is densest on the three large islands.
Tenerife and Gran Canaria have the widest selection of resorts, all-inclusive hotels and vacation rentals, concentrated in the south of both islands (Costa Adeje/Los Cristianos and Maspalomas/Playa del Inglés respectively). Fuerteventura leans more toward water-sports resorts in Corralejo and Jandía. On La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, smaller country hotels and vacation rentals dominate, with large chains being rarer.
Sources: Hello Canary Islands
What do you eat in the Canaries?
Papas arrugadas with the sauces Mojo Rojo and Mojo Verde are the best-known dish, along with fresh fish, the cheese Queso de Flor from Fuerteventura, and wines from volcanic soils, for example from the Lanzarote wine region.
Canarian cuisine centers on papas arrugadas (potatoes cooked in salted water) with the sauces Mojo Rojo (spicy, paprika-based) and Mojo Verde (coriander or parsley). Add to that fish dishes with parrotfish or grouper, the goat cheese Queso de Flor from Fuerteventura, and tropical fruits such as bananas, grown on a large scale on Tenerife and La Palma.
The volcanic soils produce distinctive wines, for example from the protected Lanzarote wine region, where vines are planted in hollows in the black lapilli rock.
What cultural characteristics are there?
The original inhabitants, the Guanches, still shape place names and archaeological sites today; add to that carnival traditions, especially in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas, and a distinctive, Atlantic-influenced architecture.
Before the Spanish conquest in the 15th century, the Canaries were inhabited by the Guanches, a people of Berber origin; traces survive in place names, mummified finds in the museum on Tenerife, and rock engravings. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is considered one of the largest in the world after Rio de Janeiro and usually takes place in February.
Architecturally, Canarian wooden balconies shape historic centers such as La Laguna (Tenerife) and Vegueta (Las Palmas); both old towns are protected heritage sites. Musically, the timple, a small five-stringed guitar, is the islands' emblem.
What can you experience in the Canaries?
Hiking and stargazing on Teide, surfing and kitesurfing off Fuerteventura, lava landscapes at Timanfaya (Lanzarote) and the Caldera de Taburiente on La Palma cover a broad spectrum.
Volcanoes and stars
The cable car up Teide (3,715 m) takes visitors to around 3,555 m; a free, capped permit is required for the summit itself. Thanks to the clear, dry air, Teide National Park is one of the best places in Europe for stargazing, with several certified «Starlight» viewpoints.
Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote shows the aftermath of the 1730–1736 volcanic eruptions: an almost vegetation-free lava landscape that may only be entered by bus or on designated paths. On La Palma, the Caldera de Taburiente, one of the largest erosion basins in the world, is the destination of multi-day hikes.
Water and beach
Fuerteventura, thanks to the steady trade winds, is considered one of Europe's best surf and kitesurf spots, especially around Corralejo and the Jandía peninsula. Off Tenerife and La Gomera, whale- and dolphin-watching tours run year-round.
Hiking
La Gomera is known for Garajonay National Park with its laurel forest, El Hierro for coastal hikes and diving in clear, little-developed waters. On Gran Canaria, marked trails lead to the landmark rock Roque Nublo in the mountainous center.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Hello Canary Islands
How do you travel sustainably in the Canaries?
Teide National Park limits summit access with free permits, and several marine protected areas restrict anchoring and fishing. Traveling with Binter Canarias or the ferry instead of a car eases pressure on the most heavily touristed coastal strips.
A free, capped permit from the national park is required for the ascent to the Teide summit above the cable car station, to manage the sensitive vegetation and visitor numbers. Marine protected zones with restrictions on anchoring and fishing apply off several coastal stretches, for example around La Graciosa.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Do the Canary Islands combine well?
Tenerife and Gran Canaria are only around 35 flight minutes apart and combine well over two to three weeks. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are connected by ferry in around 30 to 60 minutes and also fit well together.
Tenerife + Gran Canaria is the classic combination: a short flight, a big contrast between volcanic highlands and dune landscapes. Lanzarote + Fuerteventura lie close together, both geared toward dry, volcanic or sandy terrain respectively. Anyone wanting to add the quieter western islands La Palma, La Gomera or El Hierro should plan at least 18 to 20 days, because connections are less frequent.
Sources: Wikipedia
Who are the Canaries suited for, and who less so?
Year-round sun-seekers, hiking and volcano fans, and surfers will find their destination depending on the island; anyone looking for European city life or large historic cities is in the wrong place in the Canaries.
Tenerife suits anyone who wants a volcanic landscape, rainforest and large resort towns on a single island. Gran Canaria suits travelers seeking landscape diversity in a small area. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote suit beach, wind and volcano fans, less so cultural travelers. La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro suit hikers and anyone who deliberately wants to avoid tourist infrastructure — less so travelers who value a large nightlife or shopping scene.