Tenerife or Gran Canaria: Deciding which Canary Island outpost is best for you

11.12.2024 - 20:29 / lonelyplanet.com / Isabella Noble / El Teide

Dec 11, 2024 • 8 min read

If you're planning a trip to any of the seven Canary Islands, expect to find incredible beaches, epic hikes, fresh-from-the-farm-or-ocean meals and the best of Spanish culture. A two-hour ferry ride apart, Tenerife and Gran Canaria are two of the most beautiful islands to consider, each with their own personalities and opportunities for adventure. Leverage our experts' advice to map out your ideal trip to this lovely Spanish archipelago. 

Based between Barcelona and Málaga, Isabella Noble has been exploring Tenerife for years over many extended trips to the sunny Canaries. She is the author of Lonely Planet’s new Pocket Tenerife, as well as the Tenerife chapter of the new Canary Islands guidebook.

It’s no surprise that Tenerife has long been the most popular island in the Canaries. From the undulating lava-formed shoreline to the hazy heights of El Teide, even just the sweeping variety of its landscape is endless and enchanting.  

The spectacular Parque Nacional del Teide, a UNESCO-listed place of haunting beauty literally unlike anywhere else in the world is a destination in its own right. Few travel moments can beat catching a first glimpse of Spain’s tallest peak, El Teide, surrounded by a moon-like valley of twisted lava and, if you’re here in spring, all kinds of curious Canarian flora. Or better yet, hike all the way to El Teide’s summit – at a whopping 3718m high – to see the world sprawled out below.

No other Canary Island has such an impressive line-up of things to do. Fancy learning to kitesurf? Head to laid-back El Médano. Keen to see the archipelago’s finest Canarian-style architecture? La Laguna has you covered with its World Heritage old town or take a stroll around low-key Garachico and lovely La Orotava. Tempted by the deep-blue Atlantic? Pick from diving, kayaking, paddle boarding and more. For the simple thrill of swimming in the ocean, there are heavenly natural pools all over the island; I always squeeze in a dip at gorgeous Bajamar, beneath the north coast’s surf-washed cliffs. Or take your pick from the countless honey-colored beaches, like mountain-framed Playa de las Teresitas and El Médano’s gorgeous surfy strands.

Hikers will be blown away by Tenerife’s wealth of trails, whether you choose to roam through the elevated cloud forests of the Anaga mountains (a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) or tackle coastal routes with stops at hidden volcanic-sand coves. This is one of the best places in Europe to spot whales and dolphins in the wild too, thanks to the protected 2000-sq-km Whale Heritage Area sprawling between west Tenerife and neighbouring La Gomera, with its resident population of short-finned pilot whales. 

Tenerife also happens to be one of the Canaries’