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The Canary Islands share a volcanic origin and mild weather almost all year round, but each has a distinct feel. The eastern islands, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, are dry and known for long beaches; the western islands are green and mountainous.
That’s why deciding where to stay in the Canary Islands starts with choosing an island. We’ve reviewed the places to stay in the Canary Islands featured on our site and picked them one by one, based on what they offer and the travellers they suit. Of the more than 1,800 places that pass our review, three in four are villas or holiday homes: here, many people travel with a place of their own.
How to choose an island
Getting from one island to another means taking a boat or a flight, so choose one main base.
- Tenerife: Mount Teide, sunny beaches in the south and a green north dotted with historic towns.
- Gran Canaria: dunes in the south, a lively year-round capital and ravines inland.
- Lanzarote: black lava fields, white houses and the mark of César Manrique.
- Fuerteventura: the archipelago’s longest sandy beaches and wind for surfing and kitesurfing.
- La Palma: trails, pine forests and protected skies for stargazing.
- La Gomera: ravines, laurel forests and small towns, less than an hour by boat from Tenerife.
- El Hierro: the westernmost island, ideal for diving and switching off.
For a first visit, Tenerife or Gran Canaria make things easy; Lanzarote and Fuerteventura can be combined with a short ferry ride.
Lanzarote
Lanzarote has been a Biosphere Reserve since 1993: lava fields in Timanfaya, vines planted in ash pits in La Geria and whitewashed villages. Find out about the different areas in where to stay in Lanzarote, and browse all the places to stay in Lanzarote.
Puerto del Carmen is the most convenient base without a car, with an urban beach and a direct bus from the airport. We cover it in where to stay in Puerto del Carmen and, for the municipality, in our guide to Tías. The IRONMAN Lanzarote, closely associated with this area, will celebrate its 35th edition in May 2027. Our pick here:
Lani's Suites de Luxe - Adults Only
A five-star hotel on the seafront, with the main beach about 400 m away and suites with one or two bedrooms and a balcony or terrace overlooking the sea. Massages and treatments make it a good choice for a couples’ getaway. It only admits guests aged 16 and over, has no parking, and two of the suites have stairs.
Playa Blanca, facing Fuerteventura, suits families and anyone who wants the Papagayo coves nearby, while Yaiza is right on the edge of Timanfaya. Costa Teguise is popular for windsurfing, while Playa Honda, beside the airport, is more residential. Find flights and boats in our guide to getting to Lanzarote.
Inland, we’ve picked two places: one in Teguise, the former capital, and another in El Cuchillo, in the volcanic northwest.
B&B La Mimosa
A guesthouse with a garden, terrace and shared lounge, well placed for surfing at Famara, 6 km away. The suites have terraces overlooking the garden and, depending on the category, a bath or seating area; free parking is available. A minimum stay of three nights is required, and the double room’s bathroom is outside the room.
Kalufa Surf House
An adults-only hostel with a pool, garden and shared kitchen, designed for people who head out each day in search of waves or volcanoes. Private parking is free. Double rooms share a bathroom; only the suite has its own, and check-in is not possible after 20:00.
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest island. Mount Teide rises 3,715 metres in the centre, within a national park that has been a World Heritage Site since 2007; the south is dry and sunny, while the north is green. Browse places to stay in Tenerife and find out where to stay in Tenerife.
In the north, La Orotava combines a historic centre of wooden balconies with the most direct road to Mount Teide. If you want to hike up, the Telesforo Bravo trail towards the summit and the Montaña Blanca trail require advance reservations, and non-residents pay a fee. Find out more in where to stay in La Orotava; here are two houses in the valley:
Orotava The Home - Vacational rental with the lifestyle of 1700 and the comfort of 2022
Three houses in the heart of the historic centre, 70 m from Santo Domingo Church, with a kitchen, terrace and washing machine; the largest has four bedrooms. Ideal for families and groups who want to explore the town on foot. There is no parking, and parties are not allowed.
Finca Cebollino
A country estate with a private pool open all year, a garden, patio and barbecue, with mountain views. It’s a good fit if you’re travelling by car, as free parking is available on site. Check-in starts at 17:00, and Bollullo Beach is 2.7 km away.
In the south, Adeje has beaches and entertainment, while San Miguel de Abona offers golf and quiet coves. In the north, there’s Icod de los Vinos, home to its ancient dragon tree, and the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, whose carnival will take over the streets from 19 to 28 February 2027. Find flights and buses in our guide to getting to Tenerife. In Adeje, we’d choose:
Roque-House
A whole house for four, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a private pool and a terrace with sea views. With a fully equipped kitchen and free parking, it’s a good base for exploring the south by car. A minimum stay of five nights is required, and Fañabé Beach is 2.2 km away.
Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is the island of long beaches, the Corralejo dunes and steady winds, and has been a Biosphere Reserve since 2009. Browse places to stay in Fuerteventura and find out where to stay in Fuerteventura.
In the north, Corralejo brings together a lively atmosphere, dunes and boats to Lanzarote and Lobos; inland, Lajares and La Oliva are bases for people who head out on the water each day. On the east coast, Caleta de Fuste has a sheltered bay and is close to the airport (find out more in our guide to getting to Fuerteventura). Our two picks are in the centre:
Castillo Mar 95
A five-minute walk from Castillo Beach, with a fully equipped kitchen, a terrace overlooking the garden and Wi-Fi that can handle video calls. There’s a children’s pool and play area, and pets are welcome. Free parking is in a public car park; the upper floors are only accessible by stairs, and guests are asked to keep noise down from 22:00 to 08:00.
Finca Luz
A guesthouse for couples in the municipality of the capital, with a garden and free private parking. All rooms overlook the garden; options include a double room with a patio, a suite with a lounge and an apartment with a kitchen. Children are not allowed, and no room accommodates more than two people.
Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria packs the Maspalomas dunes, Las Canteras Beach in the capital and Roque Nublo in the mountains into a small area. The cultural landscape of Risco Caído has been a World Heritage Site since 2019. Browse places to stay in Gran Canaria and find out where to stay in Gran Canaria.
For sun and beaches, head south: Maspalomas for dunes and a slower pace, Playa del Inglés for a lively atmosphere and nightlife. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria offers a different, urban trip; its 2027 carnival, dedicated to music, will run from 22 January to 28 February. Find flights and buses in our guide to getting to Gran Canaria. In the south, here are two of our picks:
Villa Palmera
A two-bedroom villa for four, with a pool, garden, hot tub and play area, designed for small families. Playa del Inglés is 2.3 km away. Check-in closes at 21:00, and a refundable deposit is required on arrival.
Villa RG Boutique Hotel - Adults Only
Adults only, a six-minute walk from the Yumbo Centre and 500 m from the beach, with an outdoor pool and continental breakfast. Double rooms have a terrace overlooking the garden or pool; if you want to cook, choose the apartment. Free parking is available in a nearby public car park, not on site.
La Palma
La Palma is all mountains and sea. Caldera de Taburiente has been a national park since 1954, and major telescopes operate at Roque de los Muchachos, 2,426 metres above sea level, beneath a legally protected sky. Browse all the places to stay in La Palma and find out where to stay in La Palma.
The western side is the sunniest: it’s home to Los Llanos de Aridane and El Paso, the gateway to the Caldera and the 2021 volcano. After the eruption, swimming has resumed at Puerto Naos, where gas levels are monitored in real time.
If you’re into mountain running, Transvulcania takes place from 6 to 8 May 2027, with the ultra running between the Fuencaliente lighthouse and Los Llanos. We’ve picked two houses with pools, in El Paso and in Tijarafe:
El Time
A private pool, hot tub and terrace facing the Atlantic in the island’s northwest, with a fully equipped kitchen and free private parking. A high chair and entertainment for children are available. The nearest beach is 1.7 km away, and check-in is from 13:00 to 20:00 unless arranged otherwise.
Finca Maracuya
A detached house for four, with two bathrooms, a pool, garden, barbecue and sea views. With private parking, it’s a good base for exploring the island by car; Puerto de Tazacorte Beach is 8 km away. There are stairs between floors, and check-in starts at 17:00.
La Gomera
La Gomera is best explored on foot. Garajonay National Park, a World Heritage Site since 1986, is home to one of the finest laurel forests, while silbo gomero has been Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2009. Boats run daily from Los Cristianos in southern Tenerife, with the crossing taking around 50 minutes.
Here, the valleys take centre stage: Hermigua, with its banana plantations, and Vallehermoso, at the foot of Roque Cano, are northern bases for walking. Find more ideas in our guide to where to stay in La Gomera and browse places to stay in La Gomera. Here are our two picks:
Hotel Rural Ibo Alfaro - OFFLINE HOTEL
A restored manor house of stone and wooden beams, with rooms overlooking the valley, sea or mountains. Garajonay is about a ten-minute drive away, and bicycles are available to rent. Wi-Fi is only available in the communal areas, in keeping with the hotel’s focus on switching off.
Hostal Casa Amaya
A simple guesthouse with a garden, terrace and picnic area, plus views of the mountains and town. It has a single room for solo travellers and a 20 m² double room. Bathrooms are shared, Wi-Fi doesn’t reach the rooms, and there is no parking.
Further west, El Hierro, a Biosphere Reserve, completes the archipelago with the underwater scenery of La Restinga. Find out where to stay in El Hierro and browse its places to stay in El Hierro.
Getting there and travelling between islands
Canary Island airports handled 54.7 million passengers in 2025, with Gran Canaria and Tenerife South leading the way. La Gomera and El Hierro are usually reached via Tenerife.
There are short flights between the islands, as well as boat routes such as Playa Blanca–Corralejo, Los Cristianos–La Gomera and Agaete–Santa Cruz de Tenerife, taking between half an hour and an hour and a half. Find all the details in our guide to getting to the Canary Islands.
This is our general guide to the archipelago. For more detail, see our guides to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, as well as destinations such as Adeje, Maspalomas and Corralejo.
Frequently asked questions
Some of the most common questions when planning a trip to the Canary Islands.
Which is the best Canary Island to stay on?
It depends on the kind of trip you’re looking for. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are the most varied, with sandy beaches in the south, lively year-round cities and mountains inland. Lanzarote has volcanic scenery and a quiet coastline; Fuerteventura has very long beaches and wind for surfing. La Palma and La Gomera are ideal for walking and switching off among forests and ravines. If you’re undecided, start with one of the two larger islands.
Where should I stay in the Canary Islands for my first visit?
For a first visit, southern Tenerife or Gran Canaria is the easiest option: their airports receive the most flights, there’s plenty of accommodation and the weather is good almost all year round. In Tenerife, Adeje is the most complete base; in Gran Canaria, try Maspalomas or Playa del Inglés. If you’d prefer somewhere quieter, Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote has an urban beach and a direct bus from the airport.
Can you visit several islands on one trip?
Yes, and some combinations are particularly easy. Short ferries connect Lanzarote and Fuerteventura between Playa Blanca and Corralejo, while La Gomera is about a 50-minute boat ride from Los Cristianos in southern Tenerife. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are connected by both sea and air. For a week-long trip, it’s sensible to visit no more than two islands and stay at least three nights on each.
Do you need a car in the Canary Islands?
It depends on the island and where you’re staying. In southern Tenerife and Gran Canaria, Puerto del Carmen and the capitals, you can get around by bus and on foot. A car offers much more freedom for exploring Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma or La Gomera, as buses run less frequently and many rural houses are far from stops. Several of our picks have free parking.
When is the best time to visit the Canary Islands?
Any time of year: the climate is mild throughout the year, and you can swim even in winter, especially in the south of each island. Many travellers from northern Europe arrive between November and March, so accommodation is in high demand; more families from mainland Spain travel in July and August. Spring and autumn are good times for walking. In February, carnival fills the streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
