Pack your sunnies—Canary Island holidays mean endless rays, unreal beaches, and no shortage of adventure. Leave your worries behind and let the islands work their magic. You in?

Good to know 

🤩 Fun fact: The Canary Islands’ Carnaval is one of the world’s largest and wildest, right up there with Rio!

🏖️ Best beach: Tough choice! Try the black sands of Playa de Las Teresitas in Tenerife or the golden stretches of Fuerteventura’s Corralejo Beach for some epic chill vibes.

🍺 Price of a pint: You can grab a cold cerveza for around €2 to €3—cheers to that!

Destination highlights

• Sunshine on tap - Warm weather, every. single. day.

• Endless beaches

• Volcanoes, deserts, forests - nature at it’s best.

• An island for every vibe

☀️ Canarian Chit-Chat ☀️

• Hello - Hola 

• Good bye - Adiós 

• Good morning - Buenos días 

• How are you? - ¿Cómo estás? 

• I’m good, thank you - Estoy bien, gracias 

• Please - Por favor

• Thank you - Gracias 

• You’re welcome - De nada 

• Mucho gusto – Nice to meet you

• Do you speak English? - ¿Hablas inglés? 

• A beer, please - Una cerveza, por favor 

• The bill, please - La cuenta, por favor

Getting around on your the Canary Island holidays

🚌 Buses
Buses, or "guaguas" as the locals call them, are a super easy way to get around the Canary Islands. They’re affordable, reliable, and cover most of the islands. Some even have air-con and free Wi-Fi, making the ride extra comfy! Major operators like TITSA in Tenerife and Global in Gran Canaria run frequent services, so you can explore the islands with ease.

🚖 Taxis
Taxis are easy to flag down and relatively cheap, especially for short journeys around towns or between beaches. You can also book them via apps like FreeNow. Be sure to check fares or ask for an estimate before hopping in.

🚘 Car Hire
Renting a car is a fab way to explore the islands at your own pace. With well-maintained roads and stunning scenic routes, it's the perfect choice for day trips, visiting national parks, or simply beach hopping! Just remember to book ahead in peak season for the best deals! 

Where is the best area to stay on your Canary Island holidays 2025? 

There really is something for everyone in the Canary Islands, so deciding where to stay can be a tough choice. Here's the lowdown on the best spots for every type of traveler, from family-friendly resorts to romantic escapes and lively group getaways:

Family holidays – For a friendly family holiday, Tenerife is perfect! With waterparks, kids' clubs, and plenty of fun activities, resorts like Costa Adeje will keep everyone entertained. Gran Canaria’s Maspalomas is another great option with its famous dunes and endless beaches.

Squad goals – If it’s good vibes and nightlife you're after, Playa del Inglés in Gran Canaria or Playa de las Américas in Tenerife should be on your list for the perfect group holiday! Think beach clubs, buzzing bars, and non-stop fun. Oh, and don’t forget Costa Teguise in Lanzarote for a more laid-back but equally epic time with your mates.

Coupling up – For a romantic couples holiday, La Palma is ideal. Stunning landscapes, stargazing, and tranquil beaches offer the perfect setting for some quality time. Or, head to Corralejo in Fuerteventura for beautiful beaches and intimate dining spots along the coast.

What are the best beaches to hit up on your holidays to the Canaries 2025?

Ready to swap your screen saver for the real deal? The Canaries are a buffet of sandy feasts and nature treats, with a side order of island vibes. With year-round toasty temperatures and over 300 annual days of sunshine, you can literally visit whenever you like. And if you're itching for a last-minute holiday in paradise, we've got deals hotter than your crush's summer pics. So, let's dive into the beachy who's who:

• Maspalomas (Gran Canaria): Picture 17km of pure sandy bliss. No rush for the best spots here (and no one plonking their towel down right next to you - winner)

• Amadores (Gran Canaria): This is the family-friendly bay where the waters are as calm as a zen master and the sands are as soft as your favourite pillow. It's a man-made marvel where even the wind takes a break.

• Playa el Bollullo (Tenerife): Black sands, secluded vibes, and a touch of volcanic drama – this beach is like the moody artist of the coast, perfect for lovebirds escaping the world.

• Las Vistas (Tenerife): With 850m of sandy bliss and a sea as serene as a lullaby, this beach is a playground for the young and the young at heart. And ice cream? You bet there's ice cream.

• Playa del Duque (Tenerife): A slice of luxury on Tenerife’s Costa Adeje, with golden sands and crystal-clear waters. Surrounded by stylish beach clubs and high-end restaurants, it’s the perfect spot to lounge in comfort and enjoy the island’s upscale vibe.

• Corralejo (Fuerteventura): Calling all thrill-seekers! This beach has waves that are ready to party with your surfboard, and sands that are itching to tickle your toes.

• Playa el Hierro (Fuerteventura): Ever seen a beach that looks like a popcorn machine exploded? This is it. Not your average sandy shore, but an epic tale of nature's quirks.

• Playa Flamingo (Lanzarote): With sands as fine as stardust and waters protected by manmade magic, families unite – this is your chill zone.

• Playa del Reducto (Lanzarote): Blue Flag certified, sand as soft as a whisper, and a vibe that sings 'holiday anthem' – it's the beach that everyone is writing home about.

• Playa de Papagayo (Lanzarote): Hidden in a natural cove, this golden-sand beach feels like a secret paradise. With crystal-clear waters perfect for snorkeling, it’s the ultimate spot to escape the crowds and enjoy a peaceful day by the sea.

• Puerto Naos (La Palma): The largest beach on the island, with fine black sand, palm trees, parasols, a promenade bursting with bars and cafés, and a Blue Flag status.

What are the top hotels to stay at on your holidays to Canary Islands?

These sun-drenched islands are full of tip-top hotels from all inclusive to adults only that all serve up that classic vacay feeling, and cheap holidays to the Canaries aren't hard to come by either. Have a nosy at these hotels if you can't decide where to jet off to...

• Paradise Lago Taurito & Aqua Park (Gran Canaria) - a great family-friendly hotel just 50m from the gorgeous beach of Playa Mogan

• Landmar Hotel Playa La Arena (Tenerife) - a beachfront beauty fit for the whole fam, with four pools, live music nights and a delish Spanish tapas restaurant

• Guayarmina Princess - Adults Only (16+) (Tenerife) - a haven away from little ones with a food market buffet, platinum services, a stunning infinity pool with panoramic views and swanky spa services that all shape up to be the jolly of your dreams.

• Broncemar Beach (Fuerteventura) - with a village-style layout and a pool, Jacuzzi, snack bar and entertainment programme at your fingertips, you'll have everything you need

• Sol La Palma Hotel (La Palma) - with plenty of facilities for all ages, this hotel is a great all-rounder

• Beatriz Playa & Spa (Lanzarote) - you'll have two pools to dunk into, mini golf for the kiddos, a choice of restaurants and the beach right on your doorstep

• Barcelo Lanzarote Active Resort (Lanzarote) - proofs in the name folks, if you're the active sort, then this is your bag, a gorge resort packing an olympic-size pool, sports activities and a tonne of wellness goodies to unwind, oh, and 10 bars & restaurants.

Canary Island holidays - The 2025 travel guide

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Things to do in the Canaries for families

If you’re after all-day fun that’ll keep the whole fam buzzing, Siam Park in Tenerife is the go-to. Not just any old waterpark — this one's been voted the best in the world. Slides, splash zones, wave pools... it’s basically a full-blown aquatic adventure and then some.

Prefer your wildlife on land? Oasis Park in Fuerteventura is part safari, part zoo, and 100% a hit with the kiddos. From cheeky lemurs to towering giraffes, it’s a proper animal-packed day out with a Canarian twist.

Feeling extra? Book yourself onto a submarine safari — yes, an actual sub — and dive into the deep without getting your hair wet. Through huge viewing windows, you’ll spot vibrant fish, stingrays, and maybe even a turtle or two. It’s giving serious Blue Planet energy.

And for those dreamy moments above sea level, hop aboard a dolphin and whale watching trip. These magical boat tours are especially easy to find in Tenerife and Gran Canaria, and the wide-eyed wonder on the kids' faces? That’s your real souvenir.

❤️ Things to do in the Canaries for couples

The Canaries were made for romance. Start strong with a sunset cruise — picture clinking glasses, sea breeze in your hair, and the sky doing that golden-hour glow thing. It’s an easy 10/10 date night.

If you're into hidden gems, head to Lanzarote’s Jameos del Agua. Once a dull volcanic cave, it’s now a super-cool cultural spot with live music, cocktails, and even a sneaky underground pool. Feels a bit like you’ve stepped into a Bond villain's lair... minus the evil plot.

Over in Gran Canaria, Puerto de Mogán brings all the charm. It’s nicknamed Little Venice for a reason — flower-filled streets, serene canals, and seafood dinners by the water that’ll make you feel like you’ve walked into a rom-com finale.

🍷 Things to do in the Canaries for Foodies

This one’s for the guzzlers and grazers. Swap the usual buffet for a local guachinche — these rustic, family-run spots serve up hearty Canarian dishes like grilled meats, stews, and dangerously drinkable homemade wine. Authentic, affordable, and absolutely delish.

Over in Lanzarote’s La Geria wine region, the vineyards are a whole vibe. Grown in volcanic soil, the wines are crisp, unique, and best enjoyed under the sun with a view you’ll be dreaming about long after your flight home.

And if you’re a cheese lover (or just enjoy brag-worthy foodie moments), you need to try the famous goat cheese in Fuerteventura. Head to a local farm, pair it with a glass of vino, and prepare for your supermarket cheddar to be ruined forever.

🚵🏽‍♂️ Things to do in the Canaries for Adventurers

If lying horizontal by the pool isn’t your vibe, the Canaries have plenty to get your heart racing. Lanzarote’s got volcano biking — an epic ride across lava fields and past ancient craters that'll leave your legs burning and your camera roll full.

In Tenerife, take to the skies with a spot of paragliding. You’ll soar over stunning coastlines and sleepy towns like a total legend, adrenaline and awe in equal measure. Prefer your thrill with a bit more grip? Gran Canaria’s rock climbing spots serve up cliffside views and proper pulse-raising routes.

Fuerteventura’s dune buggy trails are perfect for kicking up volcanic dust and channeling your inner action hero. Or, for something darker (literally), head to La Palma to explore underground lava tubes — eerie, atmospheric, and nothing like your average nature walk.

👯‍♀️ Things to do in the Canaries for groups

Whether you're on a big mates’ escape, a stag do, or just rolling deep with your crew, the Canaries serve up top-tier group adventures. Start with a catamaran party cruise — think sun, sea, music, and maybe a few dolphins popping by mid-dance floor moment. Absolute scenes.

Beach bar crawls are the stuff of legend here. From the buzz of Playa de las Américas to the beachy beats in Puerto del Carmen, expect cocktails, live DJs, and one or two rogue karaoke performances (no judgement).

For something more active, why not all try surfing together in Fuerteventura? You’ll laugh, you’ll wipe out, and you’ll definitely earn that post-surf cerveza. Escape rooms and forest zipline parks in Tenerife are another top shout — brilliant for bonding, especially if your group thrives on a bit of friendly chaos.

And for more scenic squad goals, book a Jeep safari or group hike through Lanzarote’s volcanic valleys or Gran Canaria’s mountain trails. Throw in a Fanta Lemon break and it’s basically a wholesome jolly with stunning views on tap.

Canary Island holidays destinations to explore...

• Lanzarote

• Fuerteventura

• Tenerife

• La Palma

• Gran Canaria