Best time to go to the Canary Islands for a perfect weather and where to go?

Where and when to go based on the weather?

Best time to travel to Canary Islands by cities

Best time to go to Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Best time to go to Arrecife

Best time to go to Puerto del Rosario

Best time to go to Los Llanos de Aridane

Best time to go to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Best time to go to Valverde

Best time to go to San Sebastián de La Gomera

Best time to go to Playa de las Américas

Best time to go to Puerto de la Cruz

Best time to go to Playa Blanca

Best time to go to Teguise

Best time to go to Corralejo

Best time to go to Morro Jable

Best time to go to Los Canarios

Best time to go to Los Sauces

Best time to go to Agaete

Climate and Weather in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands form an archipelago constituting an autonomous community of Spain. They are located in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Morocco. The archipelago consists of seven main islands: Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro. However, there are also many smaller islands.

The climate of the Canary Islands is subtropical with consistently pleasant temperatures, many sunny days, and low rainfall.

The temperature variations are moderate throughout the year: it is around 20 to 30°C (86°F) all year round. However, temperatures can be cooler in the mountainous areas located in the center of some islands. It can even snow above 1,900 meters in altitude, such as in the caldera of the El Teide volcano in Tenerife.

Climate of the Canary Islands in Winter

The weather in the Canary Islands is mild from November to February with temperatures ranging from 18 to 22°C (72°F) . Although this season is relatively sunny, it is the time when precipitation is most frequent. For example, from December to February, one can expect 5 days of rain per month. Indeed, showers are often seen in the late afternoon, but it is rare for it to rain all day.

In the highlands, temperatures can drop drastically and even go below 0°C (32°F) . Therefore, warm clothing should be brought along to visit Teide National Park or for hiking in the center of La Palma.

Climate of the Canary Islands in Summer

In summer, the climate of the Canary Islands is hot and dry. Temperatures range between 23 and 28°C (83°F) on average, but can exceed 30°C (86°F) at times. Indeed, warm winds from the Sahara can blow over the islands, leading to heatwaves. The mercury can reach 35°C (95°F) in El Hierro or 40°C (104°F) in Tenerife and Lanzarote.

Moreover, precipitation is very low during this period. June and July are in fact the driest months of the year. It is not uncommon for not a single drop of rain to fall during these two months.

Furthermore, during the summer, even if the climate is mostly sunny, the sky is often hazy. Therefore, one must pay particular attention to sunburn. Indeed, the UV index is very high on these islands even when the weather seems cloudy.

Summer is also the best time to enjoy the beaches and surf spots in the Canary Islands. If the sea temperature ranges between 20 and 24°C (76°F) on these islands, it is in summer that it is the warmest. Swimming is thus particularly pleasant from August to October.

Climate of the Canary Islands: Autumn and Spring

Autumn and spring are pleasant and low-rainfall periods. From April to June, temperatures range between 19 and 23°C (74°F) , while in autumn, they range between 23 and 27°C (81°F) . Moreover, less than 30 mm of rain falls per month on average during these seasons.

Thus, the weather in the Canary Islands is very mild during these periods. November, however, can be quite rainy on some islands.

Climate Diversity Across the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands have diverse climates depending on the regions. Indeed, on the islands of Tenerife and El Hierro, there are mountainous areas inland. This leads to microclimates where it is cooler and more humid.

For example, in Tenerife, the north of the island is often colder and more exposed to bad weather than the south.

• For instance, in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, located at 600m altitude, temperatures range from 22 to 25°C (77°F) in July and 40 mm of precipitation in November.
• While in the seaside resort of Los Cristianos, further south, temperatures range from 25 to 28°C (83°F) in July and 20 mm of precipitation in November.

Furthermore, the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote have lower altitudes. Thus, they have a quasi-desert climate and are very sunny. The trade winds blow constantly on these islands, making them ideal for surfing.

However, in La Palma, which has mountainous areas exceeding 2,000 m in altitude, a colder climate is found. It is the greenest and therefore the rainiest island in the Canaries.

But this fact should not deter you from planning your trip. Indeed, on the coasts, the climate remains very pleasant and fairly dry throughout the year. One can therefore enjoy the beaches without worry.

Temperatures and rainfall in the Canary Islands

On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Canary Islands and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Arrecife, Puerto del Rosario, Los Llanos de Aridane and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.

Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in the Canary Islands

Find out when Canary Islands has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.

Tourist seasons in the Canary Islands

The months with low numbers of tourists are: March, April, May, June, September and November. The number of visitors to Canary Islands is high in: January, February, July, August, October and December.

• Very low season in the Canary Islands: March, April, May, June and September.
• Low season in the Canary Islands: November.
• Peak season in the Canary Islands: January, February, July, August, October and December.

Figure: Visitor index for Canary Islands month by month

Average price for flights to the Canary Islands

Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to the Canary Islands

Where to go in the Canary Islands?

This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).

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About Canary Islands

What can I do in the Canary Islands?

Beaches / swimming

Nature and countryside

Culture and heritage

Sports

Family travel

Crafts / shopping

Gastronomy

Nightlife