The Canary Islands — Practical Holiday Guides for UK Travellers
Seven islands, one archipelago — and no two are quite alike. Based on over 100 visits since 2017.
Choose your island
Seven islands, each with a distinct character — find the one that suits you
The largest island, with something for everyone — families, beach holidays, hiking, and the Canaries' best water parks.
Year-round sunshine, spectacular dunes at Maspalomas, and the liveliest nightlife in the archipelago.
Volcanic landscapes unlike anywhere else in Europe, César Manrique's legacy, and quieter resorts.
The Canaries' finest beaches and the best island for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Quick answers
The most common questions from UK travellers planning a Canary Islands holiday
How long is the flight from the UK?
Tenerife and Gran Canaria: around 4 hours. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura: 3h 30m to 4 hours. La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro: slightly longer due to fewer direct routes.
When is the best time to visit?
There is genuinely no bad month. The Canary Islands have a year-round mild climate. Winter (November to February) is peak season for UK travellers escaping the cold.
Which island is right for you?
Families: Tenerife or Lanzarote. Beaches and watersports: Fuerteventura. Nightlife: Gran Canaria. Hiking and nature: La Palma or El Hierro.
Most-read guides
The destinations UK travellers research most on this site
The “Little Venice” of the Canaries — colourful canal bridges, a weekly market, and one of the best beaches on the island.
A tiny fishing village on Tenerife’s south coast where wild sea turtles swim alongside snorkellers year-round.
Tenerife’s most popular resort area — upmarket hotels, a long promenade, and easy access to Siam Park.
A quieter alternative to Corralejo — calm turquoise water, long sandy beaches, and a relaxed pace.
Best time to visit from the UK
The Canary Islands have year-round sunshine — but timing affects crowds, prices, and what you’ll find when you arrive.
- Most UK visitors — busiest resorts
- Highest prices for flights and hotels
- Ideal winter sun escape from the UK
- Christmas and New Year fully booked early
- Fewer UK tourists than winter
- Better value flights and accommodation
- Ideal for hiking and outdoor activities
- Easter week gets busy — avoid or book early
- Quieter from the UK — Spanish domestic tourists instead
- Hottest temperatures — some find it too warm
- Fuerteventura and Lanzarote stay breezy
- Good deals available on UK flights
- Sea temperatures at their warmest all year
- Fewer crowds than winter or Easter
- Occasional brief rain — especially October
- Half-term in October gets busy
☀️ All four Canary Islands are warm year-round. For detailed monthly weather: Gran Canaria · Tenerife · Lanzarote · Fuerteventura
Popular activities
What UK visitors actually do when they get here
Popular resorts
The destinations UK travellers return to year after year
About this site
Canary Islands Info has been running since 2017. In that time, Jarno has made more than 100 trips to the archipelago — visiting all seven islands, returning to Fuerteventura and Lanzarote every year, and spending time in resorts and villages that rarely appear in package holiday brochures.
The guides on this site are based on that accumulated research: what the beaches are actually like, which resorts suit which types of traveller, and what UK visitors consistently get wrong when planning a Canary Islands holiday. No sponsored content. No AI-generated filler. No “top 10 things to do” lists copied from other sites.