For a first trip or a family holiday, pick Tenerife, the most complete of the Canaries. Gran Canaria packs dunes, mountains and a lively city onto one small island; Lanzarote wins over lovers of volcanoes and design. The four other islands — Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro — answer more specific wishes: wild beaches, hiking, absolute quiet.
By The Dem-Tukki editorial team·Published ·Updated ·7 min read- 🌋 Tenerife — The all-rounder
- 🏖️ Gran Canaria — The miniature continent
- 🌑 Lanzarote — Volcanoes and art
- 🧭 The four other islands, in a nutshell
- 🗓️ When to go to the Canaries?
- ⛴️ How many days, and how to combine two islands?
- ✈️ Getting there and getting around
- 👨👩👧 Which island for which traveller?
- 📊 Comparison
- ❓ Frequently asked questions
A four-hour flight from most of Europe, the Canaries offer eternal spring: 20 to 24°C all year round, volcanoes, dunes and beaches galore. But among the archipelago's seven islands, which one deserves your suitcase? Here is our face-off between the three stars — Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote — followed by a tour of the four others, the best months to go and the combinations that work.
🌋 Tenerife — The all-rounder
Dominated by Mount Teide (3,715 m, Spain's highest peak), Tenerife plays on every field: golden beaches in the south, colonial villages and laurel forests in the north, whale watching off Los Gigantes. UNESCO-listed La Laguna is worth the trip on its own.
It is the ideal island for a first stay: excellent infrastructure, a family-friendly vibe, and a cable-car ride up the Teide you will never forget. The south (Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos) has the big resorts and guaranteed sunshine; the north (Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava) is greener, more authentic and a touch cooler. Find all our tips in our Tenerife guide.
🏖️ Gran Canaria — The miniature continent
Within its 50 km diameter, Gran Canaria packs Saharan dunes (Maspalomas), deep canyons, pine forests and a lively capital, Las Palmas, famed for its urban beach of Las Canteras and its old town, Vegueta.
Choose it for its variety: lazing in the dunes in the morning, hiking around Roque Nublo in the afternoon, tapas in the evening. It is also the most "urban" island of the archipelago, handy if you like to alternate beach days and nights out. Our Gran Canaria guide details the best spots.
🌑 Lanzarote — Volcanoes and art
Lanzarote is an open-air work of art: the volcanoes of Timanfaya national park, vines planted in the black ash of La Geria, and everywhere the imprint of artist César Manrique, from the Jameos del Agua to the Mirador del Río.
More mineral, more confidential, it wins over lovers of lunar landscapes and design. White villages with green shutters, a ban on billboards and the Papagayo beaches make it an island apart. Allow at least three days to explore it — our Lanzarote guide will keep you company.
🧭 The four other islands, in a nutshell
The "small" Canaries deserve more than a footnote. They suit travellers who know what they are looking for.
Fuerteventura is the beach island: miles of pale sand at Corralejo and on the Jandía peninsula, turquoise water and an almost constant wind that makes it a renowned surf and kitesurf spot. The closest island to Africa is also the flattest and driest; you come for the sea, not the mountains.
La Palma, the "Isla Bonita", is the greenest: laurel forests, the Caldera de Taburiente, spectacular trails and one of the purest skies in Europe (the island is a Starlight reserve and hosts major observatories). The south was marked by the 2021 eruption, whose lava flows can now be visited.
La Gomera, fifty minutes by ferry from southern Tenerife, is a hikers' paradise: the Garajonay national park, a UNESCO-listed cloud forest, dizzying ravines, timeless villages and the famous silbo, a whistled language still taught at school.
El Hierro, the smallest and westernmost, is a biosphere reserve powered almost entirely by renewable energy. Diving at La Restinga, natural pools, silence: this is the island at the end of the world, for those who really want to switch off.
🗓️ When to go to the Canaries?
The good news: there is no bad season. The subtropical climate, tempered by the trade winds, keeps coastal temperatures between 18 and 24°C in winter and 24 to 29°C in summer. That is what makes the Canaries Europe's winter refuge.
A few nuances, though. The south of each island (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura) is markedly drier and sunnier than the north, which often sits under clouds caught on the mountains. In winter the sea is cool (19–20°C) and the Teide may be snow-capped; in summer the heat stays bearable, but the calima — a sand-laden wind from the Sahara — can haze the sky for a few days. The best windows remain April–June and September–November: sunshine, a sea still warm in autumn, gentler prices than at Christmas or in February. The Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival, in February–March, is one of the largest in the world: book very early if you are aiming for those dates.
⛴️ How many days, and how to combine two islands?
A week is enough to discover one island without rushing; with fewer than five days, stay on a single one. With ten to fourteen days you can combine two, provided you choose a coherent pair.
Fast ferries link Tenerife to Gran Canaria in about 1 h 20, Tenerife (Los Cristianos) to La Gomera in 50 minutes, and Lanzarote (Playa Blanca) to Fuerteventura (Corralejo) in barely half an hour. For other routes, inter-island flights take 30 to 45 minutes and are booked like a bus. Our favourite pairs: Tenerife + La Gomera for nature, Lanzarote + Fuerteventura for volcanoes and beaches, Gran Canaria + Tenerife for the two "big ones". Find the archipelago's sea links on our sea transport page.
✈️ Getting there and getting around
Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura have direct flights from most large European cities, on full-service and low-cost airlines alike; allow around four hours from the UK, France or Germany. Watch out in Tenerife: international flights land in the south (TFS), close to the resorts, while the northern airport (TFN) mostly serves inter-island routes. See our flights to Tenerife and flights to Gran Canaria pages for airlines and seasons.
Once there, a hire car is almost essential as soon as you leave your resort: the best sites (Teide, Anaga, Roque Nublo, Timanfaya) are inland and buses, decent on Tenerife and Gran Canaria, rarely go there. Rates are among the lowest in Europe outside high season; book early for Christmas and February. Our island-by-island tips: hiring a car in Tenerife, in Gran Canaria, in Lanzarote.
👨👩👧 Which island for which traveller?
Families: southern Tenerife (theme parks, sheltered beaches, well-equipped hotels) or southern Gran Canaria. Couples: Lanzarote for the aesthetics, La Gomera for intimacy. Hikers: La Palma first, then Tenerife (Anaga, Teide) and Gran Canaria (Roque Nublo, Tamadaba). Tight budget: Tenerife and Gran Canaria offer the widest choice of apartments and flights — see our article Tenerife on a budget. Guaranteed winter sun: Maspalomas, Costa Adeje or Jandía. Beaches above all: Fuerteventura, no contest.
📊 Comparison
| Criteria | Tenerife | Gran Canaria | Lanzarote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Complete & family-friendly | Varied & lively | Arty & volcanic |
| Landscapes | Teide, cliffs, forests | Dunes, canyons, pines | Lava fields, vineyards |
| Beaches | Golden sand in the south | Maspalomas, Las Canteras | Coves, Papagayo |
| Hiking | ★★★ (Teide, Anaga) | ★★★ (Roque Nublo) | ★★ (volcanoes) |
| Budget | €€ moderate | €€ moderate | €€ moderate |
| Best for | First stay, families | Beach + hiking mix | Couples, photographers |
| Worth knowing | Cooler north | Windy south | Arid landscapes |
🏆 Our verdict
For a first trip to the Canaries or with the family, head straight for Tenerife: the most complete and easiest island.
Want everything on one small island, dunes included? Gran Canaria is your miniature continent.
And if you dream of lunar landscapes and art woven into nature, Lanzarote is unique in the world. Insider tip: inter-island ferries let you combine two islands in a single week!
❓ Frequently asked questions
Which is the most beautiful Canary Island?
There is no single answer: Tenerife is the most varied, Lanzarote the most photogenic with its volcanic landscapes, La Palma the greenest and Fuerteventura the one with the finest beaches. The right choice depends on what you are after — which is the whole point of this comparison.
Which Canary Island is the warmest in winter?
Southern Gran Canaria (Maspalomas), southern Tenerife (Costa Adeje) and Fuerteventura get the most sunshine from December to February, with 20 to 23°C in the afternoon. Lanzarote is just as sunny but windier. Avoid the north of the mountainous islands, often under clouds in winter.
Do you need a hire car in the Canaries?
Yes, unless you never leave your resort. The major sites are inland and buses rarely reach them. Rental rates are low outside high season; remember to book early for Christmas and February.
Can you visit two islands in one week?
It is possible with a pair linked by fast ferry — Tenerife + La Gomera or Lanzarote + Fuerteventura — but the pace will be brisk. With ten days or more, the combination becomes truly comfortable.
Which Canary Island is best for hiking?
La Palma is the benchmark, with the Caldera de Taburiente and the Ruta de los Volcanes. Tenerife (Anaga, Teide) and Gran Canaria (Roque Nublo) follow closely; La Gomera is perfect for walkers who love forests and ravines.
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🔗 Read next
- TenerifeThe complete guide: beaches, Teide, villages, where to stay
- Gran CanariaDunes, Roque Nublo and Las Palmas: our destination page
- LanzaroteTimanfaya, César Manrique and the Papagayo beaches
- Tenerife on a budgetCheap accommodation, local restaurants, free activities
- Flights to TenerifeAirlines, airports, seasons and good deals
- Hiring a car in TenerifeExcess, insurance, Teide roads: our tips
Keen to explore the Canaries? Our full guides await.
Discover our Canary Islands guides →
Dem-Tukki is an independent travel media devoted to islands: more than 80 destinations documented in five languages, practical pages that are regularly refreshed, and comparisons to help you choose the right island at the right time. Every guide is reviewed and dated; update dates are shown.
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