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Best time to visit the Canary Islands

The best time to visit the Canary Islands is September and October. Offering relief from the sunbaked temperatures and crowded beaches of summer, the autumnal months are delightful, with just the right conditions for walkers and swimmers. You can still happily get by in shorts and sandals, with rain and chills a distant prospect.

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Best time to visit the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands’ reputation as Europe’s finest winter sun destination is well-earned

The Canary Islands are hot most of the year, and even when they’re not hot, they’re warm, only falling below 20°C in January or February, and then usually only in elevated areas. In July and August, average temperatures hover around 30°C, somewhat relieved by a cooling coastal breeze in most places. They dip to delightful in September and October, and can be the best time to visit the Canary Islands, when the sea is still lovely and warm for swimming. For hikers, almond trees are in bloom in January and February on Gran Canaria, and the wildflowers, from corn poppies to Cirsium come out to dance in March and April. As do whales and dolphins.

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A month by month guide on when to go to the Canary Islands

January in the Canary Islands

Water sports

Winter sun

Occasional showers

Though a popular winter sun destination, daytime temperatures peak around 18°C in the Canary Islands in January, and at night you’ll need a coat or jumper. It’s a windy month, too, especially on islands such as Fuerteventura and Lanzarote where water sports like surfing are popular. Preparations for Carnival celebrations are in full swing. Expect the odd shower.

February in the Canary Islands

Carnival

Low season

Coldest month

February is the coldest month in the Canary Islands, the lowest temperatures are around 12°C. You may see snow on the volcanic peaks of Mount Teide National Park in Tenerife. The Canary Islands in February are quiet, with less nightlife in the resorts and some attractions on reduced hours. But if Carnival falls in February, many villages and towns get very lively.

February is great for a stay in our Lanzarote eco barn

March in the Canary Islands

Walking

Carnival

Spring weather

Spring arrives in the Canary Islands in March, with temperatures climbing into the early 20s°C. This is a good month for walking, with small group tours embarking across islands such as Gran Canaria. Lent often falls in March, so you may see Carnival celebrations around the islands, with communities escorting statues of their patron saints to church.

April in the Canary Islands

Shoulder month

Easter breaks

Temperatures rising

April can be one of the best months to go to the Canary Islands, with good weather (daytime highs in the low 20s°C) but the summer crowds still some way off. The Canary Islands in April promises idyllic walking, and they’re also a reliably sunny and warm destination for family Easter breaks.

May in the Canary Islands

Dry weather

Beaches getting busy

La Gomera

From May through to October rainfall in the Canary Islands dwindles to near-zero so you can travel nice and light. This is a great month to walk in places such as Garajonay National Park on La Gomera, warm but not scorching. Popular beaches are starting to get busy in the Canary Islands in May. Luckily, there are a lot of beaches.

June in the Canary Islands

Rising temperatures

Peak season begins

Corpus Christi Festival

By June temperatures in the mid-20s°C are the norm. Hot, dry winds occasionally blow in from the Sahara Desert. Walkers stick to the mornings and late afternoons. Summer crowds begin to arrive, beach umbrellas go up, and prices start creeping up, too. A cultural highlight of the Canary Islands in June is Tenerife’s colourful Corpus Christi Festival.

November is wine time, with vines being harvested and festivals to celebrate. A great time to go on a walking break with plenty of wine tasting thrown in

July in the Canary Islands

Peak season

Summer music events

Beaches & swimming

Average daytime temperatures soar into the high 20s°C throughout the Canary Islands in July. The heat, and the arid landscapes, mean walking is challenging, and not to be embarked on lightly. By contrast, the islands’ many beaches are filled with sunseekers, while summer music events include the Maspalomas Soul Festival on Gran Canaria.

August in the Canary Islands

Hottest month

Family holidays

Peak season prices

August is the hottest month in the Canary Islands – expect highs in the mid-30s°C. And August is also the best month to visit the Canary Islands for a family holiday, but hotels and resorts are very busy this is not a good month for budget trips. With laws against light pollution, the Canary Islands in August are good for viewing the Perseids meteor shower.

September in the Canary Islands

Autumn

Temperatures cool

Less busy

Temperatures drop a little across the Canary Islands in September, with averages back down in the mid-20s°C. The summer crowds disperse, leaving the islands feeling much more peaceful. The weather remains inviting for swimming and walking, and holidays that feature yoga and Spanish lessons are other nice ways to explore Canarian culture.

October in the Canary Islands

Walking

Grape harvest

Sultry weather

October can be the best time to visit the Canary Islands for a walking holiday. Autumnal hikes through volcanic ravines and pine laurel forests on islands such as Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura are glorious. The Canary Islands in October mark la vendimia, the traditional grape harvest season. With average highs around 24°C, the weather is very pleasant.

November in the Canary Islands

Whale watching season starts

Changeable weather

Low-season deals

The Canary Islands in November face the onset of winter but remain significantly warmer than mainland Spain. Sea temperatures will still be 20°C-plus, ideal for swimming though windy days are likely, handy for surfers on Gran Canaria. This is the start of whale watching season in the Canary Islands, with humpback, minke and even blue whales passing through.

November is a great month for our Gran Canaria walking tour

December in the Canary Islands

Stargazing

Cool in evenings

Occasional showers

It’s cool in the Canary Islands in December, especially after sunset, but while jackets are recommended, you’ll rarely need waterproofs even in winter. The weather and temperatures remain fine for walking. There are three Starlight Reserves in the Canary Islands including on La Palma and Tenerife, perfect for observing the Geminids meteor shower in December.

Canary Islands Weather Chart

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Best times to visit the Canary Islands for festivals & events

Carnival (February / March)

Carnival, which begins in either February or March depending on when Easter falls, is the biggest event of the cultural calendar in the Canary Islands. Every island, indeed every town, has its own celebrations, with those of Gran Canaria and Tenerife being a riot of colour featuring parades, music and dance performances and vibrant costumery. And since the Canary Islands are generally quite warm and sunny through winter, you can enjoy the party under a lovely sunny sky.

Corpus Christi, Tenerife (May / June)

La Orotava, in northern Tenerife, hosts one of the islands’ oldest traditional and most creative festivals between May and June, when the town’s beautiful historic centre is festooned with flower petals. These floral carpets often depict religious iconography, while a highlight of the event is an image of the island’s volcanic Mount Teide, made of sand. Local people compose the scenes through the night, before a religious procession walks along them the following day.

The Bringing of the Water, Gran Canaria (August)

With average temperatures in the mid-30s°C, any excuse to cool off is welcome. And in Telde, on Gran Canaria, the Festival of Our Lady of the Snows culminates with an event in the Lomo Magullo neighbourhood when participants take part in a giant water fight. The event has its roots as an invocation of rain – in a place as bone-dry as the Canary Islands, the importance of rainfall cannot be overstated. On Gran Canaria, the Fiesta de la Rama, where people wave branches and thrash the sea with them, is also an appeal to the heavens for water.

Fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe, La Gomera (October)

On a Catholic saint’s feast day, their statue is brought out of the church and borne aloft through the streets in an expression of faith and devotion. Held every five years on La Gomera, the Fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe is a religious festival paying tribute to the island’s patron saint, as well as La Gomera’s seafaring tradition. It is the only ‘descent’ in the islands that takes place on water, as her statue travels by fishing boat.

Visual Music Festival, Lanzarote (October)

Lanzarote’s dramatic volcanic landscapes make a fitting backdrop for this avant-garde festival of experimental music, created by the multidisciplinary artist Ildefonso Aguilar, a resident of the island. A host of renowned Spanish and international performers descend on Lanzarote every October to perform works such as sound installations, films and concerts that spectacularly fuse music and imagery with the natural environment.

Our travellers also ask…

Is there a rainy season in the Canary Islands?

The Canary Islands do not have a rainy season, and even during the winter months (December to February) precipitation is low. Islands such as Gran Canaria see as little as 135mm of rain over the course of a year, leading to arid landscapes throughout the archipelago.

When should I not go to the Canary Islands?

There is no bad time to go to the Canary Islands. That said, if you want to avoid heat, crowds and high prices you should avoid the summer (late-June to August). The winter (December to February) can see changeable, sometimes overcast weather with wind likely and sporadic showers. But the Canary Islands typically still enjoy much better weather in this period than mainland Europe, making it a reliably popular destination for winter sun-seekers.

What is the warmest Canary Island year-round?

Lanzarote is the warmest Canary Island, year-round, as it lies closest to the Sahara Desert, though other islands such as Tenerife or Gran Canaria may top it in some months. Even Lanzarote’s landscapes feel hot, all black sand beaches, volcanic craters and stark, rugged rock.

What is the cheapest time of year to visit the Canary Islands?

The cheapest time of year to visit the Canary Islands is winter (December to February). This is the winter low season, yet it remains a perfectly good time to visit as the weather is usually sunny. Temperatures are just fine for walking on islands such as Gran Canaria and La Gomera, with the occasional overcast day or shower not likely to affect your enjoyment. And with the wind picking up a little, this is also a popular season to visit for surfers and windsurfers.

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Written by Rob Perkins

Best time to visit the Canary Islands

Best time to visit the Canary Islands