Canary Islands Travel Essentials

The Canary Islands archipelago is a Spanish territory comprising 8 inhabited islands off the coast of Western Sahara. The largest and most popular island is Tenerife with Santa Cruz de Tenerife as its main town. Fuerteventura is the 2nd largest island, with Betancuria among its most charming towns. Las Palmas on Gran Canaria serves as the archipelago’s shared capital, while Teguise in Lanzarote offers atmospheric strolls through its preserved historical center.

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

As the capital of the Canary Islands, Las Palmas is a great place to base yourself when visiting the archipelago. The largest city in the Canaries itself offers world-class attractions such as the urban beach of Playa de las Canteras, as well as various historical landmarks and museums.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife

The capital city of Tenerife combines old and new with its modern facilities and rich colonial history. Castles and fortifications in the city date back to the 16th century. There are various museums and galleries where you can admire pre-Castilian art and artifacts.

Betancuria, Fuerteventura

Betancuria may be small, but it's one of the most beautiful villages in Fuerteventura. Its Old Town once served as the capital of the Canary Islands. Well-preserved French Gothic historical landmarks, such as the San Buenaventura Convent and the Cathedral of Santa María de Betancuria, grace its quaint streets.

Teguise, Lanzarote

Centrally located Teguise is one of the most important historic towns in the Canaries. Preserved buildings with bright white walls the town – the likes of Spinola Palace, Santa Barbara Castle, and the 16th-century Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe cathedral – all give Teguise a nostalgic vibe. There is an unmissable market held in the town center on Sunday mornings.

• The Canary Islands’ subtropical Mediterranean climate brings pleasantly mild weather throughout the year. Temperatures average between 15°C and 21°C from December to March and between 20°C and 30°C from June to September.
• The rainiest months are between November and January. December is the wettest, with an average of 5 days of rain. It’s all sunny and bright from May to September.
• July and August are the warmest months in the Canary Islands, with temperatures averaging 28°C. January – March is the coldest period, with low temperatures averaging 15°C.
• March–May and September–November are generally considered the best times to visit the Canary Islands. Both winter (December–March) and summer (June–September) are considered peak seasons in terms of tourism and usually sees higher prices.

• Plug type: C, E and F
• Electricity: 230 V – 50 Hz
• Currency: Euro (€)
• International dialing code: +34
• Emergency telephone number: 112

The Canary Islands is one of the most popular island destinations among European travelers. As a Spanish territory, it is part of the Schengen Neighborhood. Most of the islands have their own airports, but the Gran Canaria Airport and Tenerife South Airport are the busiest of them all. By sea, you can get to the main islands from Huelva in Spain and Portugal’s island of Madeira.

Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)

The Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) or Aeropuerto de Gran Canaria is the Canary Islands’ busiest international airport. It’s served well by various international airlines. You can get direct flights to LPA from many different European cities, including Barcelona, Oslo, Amsterdam, Manchester, Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Milan, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Dublin.

The airport offers free Wi-Fi and facilities for people with reduced mobility. You can find the taxi stand just outside the arrivals hall. Many visitors opt for automobile rentals as a budget alternate as taxi cab fares can be high for traveling on the island. Automobile rental desks the likes of TopCar, AutoReisen, GoldCar-InterRent, Avis, Hertz, and Europcar are on the first floor of international arrivals.

Tenerife South Airport (TFS)

The Tenerife South Airport is on the largest island in the Canaries and the 2nd busiest after Gran Canaria’s. It’s served by many international airlines with direct flights to Tenerife from major cities across the European continent.

The taxi stands are just outside the arrivals hall. The airport also has bus services outside arrivals, which cost only a fraction of the taxi cab fare. Tenerife’s TITSA public buses are affordable alternatives, serving all parts of the island. Renting a automobile is a popular way of getting around the island. Rental desks of major companies such as Autoreisen, Budget, Cicar, Enterprise, Europcar, Goldcar, Hertz, Sixt, and Thrifty are on floors 0 and 1.

Ferry ports of Las Palmas, Arrecife, and Santa Cruz

The Port of Las Palmas (Puerto de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) on Gran Canaria, the ferry port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in La Palma, and the Port of Arrecife (Puerto de Arrecife) on Lanzarote are your main ports of call. Most of the ferries run inter-island transfers but you can also cross by ferry from the ports of Cadiz (Puerto de Cádiz) and Huelva (Puerto de Huelva) on mainland Spain’s southwest coast. Ferries also depart from Marina do Funchal in Madeira, Portugal.

Travel tips

The Canary Islands are well connected by inter-island flights and ferries. Most of the islands have airports – there are 11 in total with 2 on Tenerife and 3 on Gran Canaria. Inter-island flights are mostly served by turboprops.

On the islands, hiring a automobile is usually the best way to get around and for a good balance between budget and convenience. You’ll be able to discover the remote regions of each island freely. You can also continue driving to closer islands such as Fuerteventura and Lanzarote with a ferry crossing.

Taking a taxi cab

Taxi cabs on the Canary Islands are abundant and easy to hail down the street around the islands’ major towns. They’re quick and easy and are quite a common means of getting around. However, frequent trips by taxi cab can get be heavy on your budget. There are ranks outside the arrivals of most airports and you can call arrange for one easily.

Notable taxi cab companies include Taxi cab Rivas Santa Cruz de Tenerife (+34 617 79 04 27), TAXI Ramon Leonard Dulgheru (+34 677 25 82 11), Taxi cab Santa Cruz de Tenerife (+34 644 26 07 85), Taxi cab La Palma (+34 669 25 25 33), and Taxi cab Gran Canaria (+34 828 04 80 10). Ensure that the taxi cabs are metered and agree on the destination and price before getting in. Uber is not available on the Canaries.

Traveling by bus

Buses are commonly called guagua (pronounced with a silent ‘g’) in the Canary Islands and are an affordable way for getting around most of the islands. In villages and small towns, they usually terminate on a particular street or plaza. Buy your ticket on the bus.

Each island has its own distinctive urban bus service and cities on the larger islands such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria have better and more efficient public transportation systems that can take you around the whole islands.

You can hop on a bus from the bus stations (estación de guaguas) or certain streets and plazas in villages and smaller towns. Not all drivers know English very well, so having the name of your destination written on a card may help. Bus passes are available from the various bus companies on each island. Among them are Global Provides Gran Canaria (+34 928 25 26 30), Tiadhe in Las Palmas (+34 928 85 57 26), TITSA in Tenerife (+34 922 47 95 00), TransHierro El Hierro (+34 922 55 11 75), and Transportes Insular La Palma (+34 922 41 19 24).

Renting a automobile in the Canary Islands

Among the different means of getting around the Canary Islands, renting a automobile is the most recommended. This is especially true if you’re planning to explore more of the islands beyond the resort neighborhoods. Rental rates are fairly reasonable and they’re readily available at the major airports. Even so, booking ahead for one is recommended. Most rental companies allow you to drive inter-island, with crossings by ferry.

Presenting an international driver's license is often – but not always – required, but you must be at least 21 years of age and have a valid driver's license. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road. Wear a seatbelt when driving at all times.

Inter-island crossing by ferry

Ferries run between the islands daily, with frequent services between the closer ones like Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Ferry companies include Fred Olsen that also has services between La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro with a transfer in Tenerife and between Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Most crossings take around 2.5 hours, so plan your travels carefully.

Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

• February/March
• A lively celebration held in the capital of Tenerife. Widely considered the biggest carnival of its kind after Rio de Janeiro’s, this major event draws visitors to the island from all over the world annually.
• Where: Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Corpus Christi

• May/June
• This Catholic feast features parades all over Tenerife on a Thursday following Trinity Sunday. Around this time, you’ll be able to learn about local folklore and witness music performances and colorful street parades. The town of La Orotava in northern Tenerife often has the most elaborate celebrations.
• Where: throughout Tenerife

La Rama

• August
• Also called Fiesta de La Rama, this unique annual event honors the Virgin of Las Nieves. Thousands of people dance to the jovial music along the streets, before arriving at the shrine of the Virgin at Nuestra Señora de la Concepción in Agaete.
• Where: Agaete, Gran Canaria

Mount Teide, Tenerife

A still-active volcanic peak on Tenerife is the jewel of Teide National Park. It's the highest point in Spain and the highest point above sea level in the islands of all the Atlantic.

Timanfaya Natinoal Park, Lanzarote

A national park on the southwestern edge of Lanzarote. It's named after a volcanic peak that is still active and comprises a series of streaming volcanoes, lava fields, and a visitors center.

Parque Natural de Corralejo, Fuerteventura

This vast coastal nature preserve on the northeast of Fuerteventura features the largest spread of dunes in all of the Canary Islands. The exotic landscapes are starkly bordered by the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Roque Nublo, Gran Canaria

This 67-metre-tall volcanic rock is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Gran Canaria. It's one of the island’s most striking natural features, found high up in the mountains at 1,813 meters above sea level.