| Island | Known for | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tenerife | Teide National Park, Santa Cruz carnival, Siam Park, whale watching | A first trip, families, variety |
| Gran Canaria | Dune fields at Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés, Las Palmas carnival | Beach holidays with a city nearby |
| Lanzarote | Timanfaya National Park, César Manrique sites | Volcanic landscapes, design and architecture |
| Fuerteventura | Corralejo, El Cotillo, Jandía and Cofete beaches | Beaches |
| La Palma | Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, Caldera de Taburiente | Stargazing, hiking |
| La Gomera | Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO site since 1986 | Walkers, quiet |
| El Hierro | Natural pools such as Charco Azul, Los Sargos and Charco Manso | Remote nature, swimming in rock pools |
Tenerife: the all-rounder
Teide is the most visited natural park in Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. You can hike up in about six hours or take the cable car, which takes about eight minutes, and on clear days La Palma, La Gomera and Gran Canaria are visible. Santa Cruz de Tenerife holds a carnival of International Tourist Interest, and the tourist board counts six Michelin stars across five restaurants on the island. The south has the resorts and the boats, the north has the greener villages. If you pick Tenerife, start with where to stay in Tenerife, Tenerife north or south and Mount Teide tours.
Gran Canaria: dunes and a city
The islands' tourist board names Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas for their dune fields, and Las Palmas for a carnival with parades, competitions, concerts and the Drag Queen Gala. Two new Michelin stars were added in the municipality of Mogan. Choose it if you want a beach resort and a real city on the same island.
Lanzarote: volcanoes and Manrique
Timanfaya National Park covers more than 5,000 hectares, has more than 25 volcanoes and has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1993. Some points still give off volcanic heat. You can visit on foot, by bus or on a camel ride of about 25 minutes. The architect and artist César Manrique left works across the island, including his house in the Haría palm grove in the north, where he lived from the mid-1980s until 1992.
Fuerteventura: beaches first
The tourist board names Corralejo, El Cotillo, Jandía and Cofete among the best beaches in Europe. It is the island to choose when the beach is the whole plan.
La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro: the quiet ones
La Palma is the stargazing island. The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory has operated since 1985 at 2,400 m, and the island's Caldera de Taburiente is a crater about 8 km across and up to 1.5 km deep. La Gomera has Garajonay, a misty laurel forest of almost 4,000 hectares, and it is called "Columbus Island" because Columbus passed through on his way to America. El Hierro, the westernmost of the main islands, is a Biosphere Reserve known for its natural pools. These three suit a second trip or a hiking holiday rather than a beach week.
How to choose
- First time, week-long trip, family: Tenerife.
- Beach and nothing else: Fuerteventura.
- Volcanoes and design: Lanzarote.
- Beach and a city: Gran Canaria.
- Stars or forest walks: La Palma or La Gomera.
- Remote natural pools: El Hierro.
Once you pick Tenerife, compare the seasons in the best time to visit Tenerife and check Tenerife entry requirements. For rainy-day and family plans, see Siam Park tickets.
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing one island for every taste. Each of the seven has a different character, so pick one main reason for the trip.
- Planning to cover several islands in a week. Each island has its own national park, beaches or observatory, so a short trip is better spent on one.
- Booking a hotel before choosing the coast. On Tenerife, the south and the north are very different bases.
FAQ
Which Canary Island is best for a first visit?
Tenerife, because it combines a national park, big resorts, family attractions, whale watching and a major carnival on one island.
Which Canary Island has the best beaches?
The islands' tourist board names Corralejo, El Cotillo, Jandía and Cofete in Fuerteventura among Europe's top beaches, and Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés in Gran Canaria for their dunes.
Which Canary Island is best for stargazing?
La Palma, which has a network of astronomical viewpoints and the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory at 2,400 m.
Which Canary Island is quiet and green?
La Gomera, thanks to Garajonay National Park and its laurel forest.
The Tenerife Authority editorial team, 7 November 2026.
