Tenerife for a first trip, Fuerteventura for sand, Lanzarote for volcanoes, Gran Canaria for the Maspalomas dunes and a city. The four big islands share the same winter sun, about 21°C by day in January, so choose by what’s outside the hotel gate. Tap an island, pick the trip, and the finder names the hotel list to open.
Tap an island
Find your hotel guide in two taps
What’s the trip?
Which island?
Hotels with their own slides, on the island that also has Siam Park.
See the guideAlso good: Playa Blanca Resorts with Water Parks- 4 islands
- Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, with 14 hotel guides between them
- About 21°C
- Average January daytime high at the four main airports
- 25 minutes
- Fast ferry between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura
Quick answer: Pick by the trip you’re planning:
- Families: Tenerife hotels with water slides
- Couples: Lanzarote hotels with private hot tubs
- Naturists: Gran Canaria hotels with naturist areas
- Private pool: Tenerife hotels with private pools
- All-inclusive: all-inclusive hotels in Fuerteventura
- Every guide: all Spain hotel guides
Table of Contents
Which Canary Island Suits Your Trip
Four islands take nearly all the visitors, and each has its own strength. Tap an island for where to stay, which airport to use and its hotel guides.
Tenerife
Book Tenerife for a first trip or a family week. It takes more visitors than any other Canary Island, and its main resorts sit in the south, where the mountains hold the trade-wind cloud back on the north side.
- Stay in
- Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos
- Fly into
- Tenerife South (TFS), 20 to 30 minutes by car from the southern resorts
- Known for
- Teide National Park, a World Heritage site around Spain’s highest peak, and Siam Park
- Sand
- Golden sand at Las Vistas and La Tejita, black volcanic sand in the north
Tenerife hotel guides:
Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is the one for the Maspalomas dunes and the hotels beside them. The dunes are a protected nature reserve of about 400 hectares, and stretches of the beach in front are used for nude bathing.
- Stay in
- Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés, with Puerto de Mogán further west
- Fly into
- Gran Canaria (LPA), 25 to 40 minutes from Maspalomas and 30 to 45 from Puerto de Mogán
- Known for
- The Maspalomas dunes and the city of Las Palmas
- Sand
- Dune-backed sand at Maspalomas
Gran Canaria hotel guides:
Lanzarote
Book Lanzarote for volcano country. Timanfaya National Park holds more than 25 volcanoes, and Puerto del Carmen is a short taxi ride from the airport.
- Stay in
- Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca
- Fly into
- Lanzarote (ACE), 10 to 15 minutes from Puerto del Carmen, 10 to 20 from Costa Teguise and 30 to 40 from Playa Blanca
- Known for
- Timanfaya National Park and César Manrique’s buildings
- Sand
- White sand in the Papagayo coves, black volcanic sand at Janubio
Lanzarote hotel guides:
Fuerteventura
Go to Fuerteventura for sand. Corralejo has the largest dune field in the Canaries, and Cofete runs for about 14 kilometres. It’s windy, which is why kitesurfers go.
- Stay in
- Corralejo in the north, Caleta de Fuste by the airport, Costa Calma and Morro Jable in the south
- Fly into
- Fuerteventura (FUE), 35 to 45 minutes from Corralejo and 70 to 85 from Morro Jable
- Known for
- The Corralejo dunes and wind sports
- Sand
- Natural pale sand at Corralejo and Sotavento, golden sand at Cofete
Fuerteventura hotel guides:
Bottom line: If you can’t decide, I’d book Tenerife’s south. It has the warmest winter days of the four, and Teide for the day you leave the pool.
Canary Islands Hotel Guides by Trip Type
Each guide covers one island and one kind of hotel, with room names and prices. The table shows which islands have which; the cards under it filter by island.
| Trip type | Tenerife | Gran Canaria | Lanzarote | Fuerteventura |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water slides and water parks | See guide: Tenerife Hotels with Water Slides | See guide: Gran Canaria Hotels with Water Slides | See guide: Playa Blanca Resorts with Water Parks | See guide: Fuerteventura Hotels with Water Parks |
| Swim-up rooms | See guide: Tenerife Hotels with Swim-Up Rooms | See guide: Gran Canaria Hotels with Swim-Up Rooms | No guide | No guide |
| Private pools | See guide: Tenerife Hotels with Private Pools | No guide | See guide: Lanzarote Hotels with Private Pool Villas | No guide |
| Adults-only hotels | See guide: Adults-Only Hotels in Tenerife | No guide | See guide: Adults-Only Hotels in Lanzarote | See guide: Adults-Only Hotels in Fuerteventura |
| Naturist areas | No guide | See guide: Gran Canaria Hotels with Naturist Areas | No guide | No guide |
| Private hot tubs | No guide | No guide | See guide: Lanzarote Hotels with Private Hot Tubs | No guide |
| All-inclusive | No guide | No guide | No guide | See guide: All-Inclusive Hotels in Fuerteventura |
Tenerife Hotels with Water Slides
Hotels with slides in their own pools, priced for two adults and two children.
Pictured: Adrián Hoteles Roca Nivaria on Tenerife
See Tenerife Water Slide Hotels
Tenerife Hotels with Swim-Up Rooms
Rooms where the terrace opens onto a pool.
Pictured: Royal Hideaway Corales Villas on Tenerife
See Tenerife Swim-Up Rooms
Tenerife Hotels with Private Pools
Villas and suites with a pool nobody else uses.
Pictured: Royal Garden Villas, Luxury Hotel on Tenerife
See Tenerife Private Pool Hotels
Adults-Only Hotels in Tenerife
Tenerife hotels that take adults only.
Pictured: JOIA El Mirador by Iberostar on Tenerife
See Tenerife Adults-Only Hotels
Gran Canaria Hotels with Naturist Areas
Hotels with a naturist pool or sun terrace.
Pictured: Vista Bonita on Gran Canaria
See Gran Canaria Naturist Hotels
Gran Canaria Hotels with Water Slides
Family hotels with slides and splash parks, priced for two adults and two children.
Pictured: Abora Interclub Atlantic by Lopesan Hotels on Gran Canaria
See Gran Canaria Water Slide Hotels
Gran Canaria Hotels with Swim-Up Rooms
Rooms that step straight into a pool.
Pictured: Hotel Riu Palace Oasis on Gran Canaria
See Gran Canaria Swim-Up Rooms
Lanzarote Hotels with Private Hot Tubs
Suites and villas with a hot tub of their own.
Pictured: Lani’s Suites de Luxe on Lanzarote
See Lanzarote Hot Tub Hotels
Lanzarote Hotels with Private Pool Villas
Villas with a pool inside their own walls.
Pictured: Kamezí Boutique Hotel Villas on Lanzarote
See Lanzarote Private Pool Villas
Adults-Only Hotels in Lanzarote
Lanzarote hotels with no children at the pool.
Pictured: Lani’s Suites de Luxe on Lanzarote
See Lanzarote Adults-Only Hotels
Playa Blanca Resorts with Water Parks
Resorts in Playa Blanca with slides in the grounds.
Pictured: Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park on Lanzarote
See Lanzarote Water Park Resorts
All-Inclusive Hotels in Fuerteventura
Hotels where meals and drinks are part of the rate.
Pictured: Iberostar Selection Fuerteventura Palace on Fuerteventura
See Fuerteventura All-Inclusive Hotels
Adults-Only Hotels in Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura hotels kept for adults.
Pictured: Secrets Bahía Real Resort & Spa on Fuerteventura
See Fuerteventura Adults-Only Hotels
Fuerteventura Hotels with Water Parks
Hotels with an aquapark on site, priced for two adults and two children.
Pictured: Iberostar Waves Gaviotas Park on Fuerteventura
See Fuerteventura Water Park HotelsThe Four Islands Compared
Transfer times are by car from each island’s main airport to its resorts, nearest to furthest.
| Island | Pick it for | Main resorts | Airport to resort | Sand | Hotel guides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenerife | A first trip or a family week | Costa Adeje, Las Américas, Los Cristianos | 20 to 30 minutes | Golden in the south, black in the north | 4 |
| Gran Canaria | Dunes and naturist-friendly hotels | Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Puerto de Mogán | 25 to 45 minutes | Dunes at Maspalomas | 3 |
| Lanzarote | Volcanic scenery and short transfers | Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca | 10 to 40 minutes | White-sand coves at Papagayo | 4 |
| Fuerteventura | Long beaches and wind sports | Corralejo, Caleta de Fuste, Costa Calma, Morro Jable | 10 to 85 minutes | Natural sand, pale to golden | 3 |
When to Go to the Canary Islands, Month by Month
Daytime highs climb 7 to 8°C from January to August and the sea only 3 to 4°C, so the water stays cool for swimming until summer.
| Month | Tenerife South | Gran Canaria | Lanzarote | Fuerteventura | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.7 | 20.8 | 20.7 | 20.6 | 19 |
| February | 22.0 | 21.2 | 21.3 | 21.0 | 18.5 |
| March | 23.1 | 22.3 | 22.9 | 22.2 | 18.5 |
| April | 23.1 | 22.6 | 23.5 | 22.9 | 18.5 |
| May | 23.9 | 23.6 | 24.6 | 24.1 | 19.5 |
| June | 25.4 | 25.3 | 26.3 | 25.8 | 20.5 |
| July | 27.7 | 26.9 | 28.2 | 27.3 | 21.5 |
| August | 28.4 | 27.5 | 29.1 | 27.8 | 22.5 |
| September | 27.9 | 27.2 | 28.6 | 27.5 | 23.5 |
| October | 26.8 | 26.2 | 26.7 | 26.1 | 23 |
| November | 24.8 | 24.2 | 24.2 | 24.0 | 21.5 |
| December | 22.8 | 22.2 | 21.8 | 22.0 | 20.5 |
Bottom line: For a swim in a warm sea, go in September or October. For winter sun, any of the four works from December to March, and Tenerife’s south is the warmest, by up to a degree in January.
Getting There and Between Islands
Each of the four has its own airport with direct flights from mainland Europe, so you fly straight to the island you’re staying on.
- From Britain and IrelandAbout 4 to 4.5 hours from London or Manchester.
- From GermanyBetween 4 and 5 hours from Frankfurt, with direct flights to all four islands.
- From mainland SpainUnder 3 hours from Madrid.
- Lanzarote to FuerteventuraA fast ferry crosses from Playa Blanca to Corralejo in about 25 minutes, several times a day. The slower boat takes about 35.
- North or south on TenerifeThe north is cooler: January days average 16°C at Tenerife North airport against 21.7°C at Tenerife South. Puerto de la Cruz in the north is 60 to 80 minutes from Tenerife South.
Bottom line: Want two islands in one week? Pair Lanzarote with Fuerteventura. The crossing is short enough to keep one hotel and go over for the day.
FAQs
Which Canary Island is best for a first trip?
Tenerife. A first week there gives you a beach base in the south and Teide National Park for a day out, without changing hotels. It also has two airports, so flights land at either end of the island. Start with Tenerife hotels with water slides if you’re bringing children, or adults-only hotels in Tenerife if you aren’t.
Which Canary Island is best for families?
Go to Tenerife if slides matter most: Siam Park is there, and several hotels have slides in their own pools. Fuerteventura is the pick for sand, and it has hotels with an aquapark on site. Playa Blanca on Lanzarote has resorts with water parks too. Start with Tenerife’s list; Fuerteventura and Lanzarote have their own.
Is Tenerife or Gran Canaria better?
Neither wins outright. Tenerife has Teide and Siam Park; Gran Canaria has the Maspalomas dunes at one end and a real city, Las Palmas, at the other. Pick Tenerife for a family week built around slides, and Gran Canaria for a hotel with a naturist area or a room that steps into a pool.
Is Tenerife or Lanzarote better?
Lanzarote, if you want Timanfaya’s volcanoes and a short ride from the airport to the hotel. Tenerife draws more than twice as many visitors and has Siam Park, so it wins for a family whose children want slides. For a couple, I’d look at Lanzarote hotels with private hot tubs first. Families who still prefer Lanzarote have Playa Blanca’s water park resorts.
How long is the ferry from Gran Canaria to Tenerife?
About 1 hour 20 minutes on the fast ferry from Agaete on Gran Canaria to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Flying between Gran Canaria and Tenerife North takes about half an hour in the air. Allow for the drive to the port or airport at each end, and plan it as the day you change hotels.
Is Fuerteventura a nudist island?
No, though nude bathing is accepted on many of its beaches and some have a naturist section. Cofete is described by the islands’ tourist board as the largest nudist beach in Spain. For a hotel with its own naturist pool or terrace, look to Gran Canaria: Gran Canaria hotels with naturist areas. On Fuerteventura itself, start with the adults-only hotels.
Which Canary Island has the shortest flight time?
By a few minutes, Lanzarote. From Frankfurt the scheduled time is about 4 hours 25 minutes to Lanzarote and 4 hours 55 to Tenerife South, with Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria in between. The gap is half an hour at most, so it shouldn’t settle which island you book. The drive from the airport to the hotel varies more than the flight does.
