Canary Islands Weather: When Is the Best Time to Visit?

Planning a trip to the Canary Islands? You’re in for an amazing vacation! From Lanzarote to Gran Canaria, the Canary Islands offer pristine natural landscapes to explore, amazing photo ops, and one-of-a-kind cultural experiences.

To make the most of your Canary Islands vacation, you’re probably wondering about the weather and when the best time to visit is. Fortunately, you’ll enjoy warm, sunny weather year-round. However, the shoulder seasons – spring and fall – are the best times to visit the Canary Islands. Read on for additional tips on planning your trip and what to expect.

What’s the Weather like in the Canary Islands?

The Canary Islands are warm year-round! You can expect highs of 80º F and 30º C in the summer and enjoy temps in the 60s (ºF) and 20s (ºC) in the winter. Thanks to their location north of the Tropic of Cancer, the Canary Islands benefit from the trade winds, keeping visitors cool despite hot temperatures. 

September through April are considered the rainiest months in the Canary Islands, but you don’t have to worry about your whole trip getting rained out, especially if you’re visiting Gran Canaria, where rainfall is minimal. 

When Is the Best Time to Visit?

With the weather in mind, you can begin to plan the rest of your trip. You really can’t go wrong with any time of year, but the general consensus is that spring and fall are the best times to visit the Canary Islands for the weather and fewer crowds.

Winter: December through February

The winter months in the Canary Islands see a lot of European tourists seeking warm weather as a break from their colder home cities. With temperatures in the 60s and 70s, it’s certainly warmer than your average winter locale, but it might not be warm enough to fully enjoy sunbathing or activities like snorkeling. 

The top event in the Canary Islands during the winter is the famous Carnival celebration, making this an exciting time to visit. However, you’ll want to book your flights and accommodations well in advance.

Things to Do

• Go karting
• Hiking
• Photography tours
• Canary Islands Music Festival
• Carnival de Tenerife

Spring: March through May

March, April, and May are some of the best months to visit the Canary Islands. Not only will you enjoy warm weather, but there will be fewer tourists crowding the beaches (though you might see more crowds during Easter). It should be easy to book tours and activities like sailing cruises and scuba diving. 

Things to Do:

• Semana Santa
• Cruises
• Teide National Park visit
• Pyramids of Güímar visit

Summer: June through August

If you don’t mind hotter temps and you love catching a tan or swimming at beautiful beaches, you can have a lot of fun in the Canary Islands during the months of June, July and August. The summer months are the hottest with the smallest chance of rain. However, these months also see the most visitors since they coincide with school vacations. If you have your heart set on a summer vacation in the Canary Islands, be sure to book your accommodations and activities far in advance.

Things to do

• Festival of Saint John
• Kayaking
• Swimming
• Siam Park

Fall: September through November

Cheap hotel rates, empty beaches and mild weather make the fall a perfect time to visit the Canary Islands. Although you might catch some rainy days here and there, you can still soak up the sun and enjoy classic beach weather. 

Things to Do:

• Hiking in La Gomera and La Palma
• Swimming: October typically has the warmest water temps
• Surfing
• Fiesta de San Andres

Put simply, there’s no bad time to visit the Canary Islands thanks to the area’s fantastic weather. We suggest planning your trip around what you want to do most. If water sports are your favorite activities, consider visiting in the summer or fall and save activities like hiking or photography tours for the cooler, less crowded months.

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