Which of the Canary Islands is best for you?

07.11.2024 - 18:03 / lonelyplanet.com / El Hierro

Nov 7, 2024 • 9 min read

Isabella is one of the writers on the brand new Canary Islands guidebook. Here she helps you decide which of the island is right for your perfect holiday.

Spain’s far-flung Canary Islands are deservedly one of Europe’s most popular travel destinations, but there’s much more to them than the famous “winter-sun” tagline suggests.Eight wonderfully varied islands make up this entrancing volcanic archipelago off Morocco’s Atlantic coast, where eerily beautiful lava-sculpted landscapes sweep from black-sand beaches and sparkling sea pools to misty laurisilva (laurel forests), scented pine groves and curiously craggy peaks.

You could visit year after year (like many travelers do), exploring a different island each time, and still be blown away by the Canary Islands every single trip.

First-timers are often drawn to the larger, better-known Canaries, particularly Tenerife and Gran Canaria, but each island has its own personality. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura on the east side feel beachier, surfier and more laid-back, while the three western islands – La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro – are much less touristed than the rest. 

You don’t have to stick to just one island either, as excellent flight and ferry links make it easy to plan a longer island-hopping trip. No matter your travel style, here’s a guide to finding the Canary Island that's best for you.

Best island for epic hikes, mountain scenery and family trips 

The archipelago’s largest and most-visited island combines sun-baked golden beaches and a flourishing gastronomic scene with seemingly endless activities, from cetacean-spotting in Europe’s first Whale Heritage Site to next-level surfing, kitesurfing and hiking. Tenerife is a hugely popular pick for holidaying families, but has enough variety to entertain a wide range of visitors, especially beyond the main south coast beach towns. 

There’s the spectacular Parque Nacional del Teide, where Spain’s tallest peak looms 3718m tall and walking trails thread through a moon-like high-altitude valley. Catching a glimpse of El Teide – originally known as Echeyde by the island’s indigenous Guanche communities – here is easily one of the Canaries’ wow moments. More thrilling hikes await in the biodiverse Anaga mountains, where laurel forests carpet the northern landscapes, or across the wild, secluded Parque Rural de Teno in the northwest. 

Tenerife’s culture-packed capital Santa Cruz is an enticingly laid-back city dotted with subtropical gardens, creative galleries and bold street art, and also hosts Spain’s most fabulous Carnaval each winter. The less-developed north coast, meanwhile, has a wealth of natural sea pools, sloping volcanic vineyards, organic banana farms and historical