Best time to visit
Best time to visit the Canary Islands
The Canaries are warm all year, around 18°C in winter and 25°C in late summer. Winter is peak season as Europe's nearest guaranteed sun. May, June and October are best value.
- Best value
- Busy and pricier
- Quiet
The north of each island is cloudier and greener, the south sunnier and drier. Calima, dusty winds from the Sahara, can bring haze and heat for a few days.
Where timing differs
- South Tenerife and Gran CanariaBusy and pricier
Sunniest. Busiest in winter and school holidays.
- Lanzarote and FuerteventuraBest value
Windy, great for watersports.
Month by month in Tenerife
- J18°
- F17°
- M18°
- A18°
- M19°
- J21°
- J22°
- A23°
- S23°
- O22°
- N21°
- D19°
Best valueBusy and pricierQuiet
Average temperature each month (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2025), coloured by season.
Month by month in the Canaries
- November to March: Peak winter sun, 18 to 22°C in the south. Book Christmas and February half-term early.
- April to June: Warm, quieter and good value, apart from Easter.
- July and August: Hot, with UK and Spanish summer holidays. Calima dust can bring hazy heat.
- September and October: The warmest sea of the year. October half-term is busy.
Which island when?
Tenerife and Gran Canaria's southern resorts are the sunniest in winter. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are flatter, windier and great for watersports, but can feel cooler on breezy winter days. La Palma and La Gomera are greener, quieter and better for walking than beaches.
Before you go
- Sea temperature peaks in September and October.
Stay and do
Ready to book Canary Islands? Compare places to stay and things to do.
We may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never affects our ratings.