10 Best Things to Do in the Canary Islands

Maspalomas is one of the most popular resort towns on Gran Canaria, in part thanks to its massive beach. Technically, the beach here is just the edge of a large desert – Las Dunas de Maspalomas. The dynamic dune system covers about 400 hectares and is a protected natural environment, so you can only explore it along marked trails. You can make your exploration a little more fun by doing it from the back of a camel, though.

Aside from the desert, Maspalomas has plenty more to offer as an excellent family destination. There are some fantastic beaches along this stretch of Gran Canaria’s south coast, from Playa de San Agustin to Playa de las Mujeres, with some well-known names in between. The small town also has a water park and other activity centres for the kids, a choice of shopping centres and an excellent selection of places to stay.

Roque Nublo is a volcanic rock formed about 4.5 million years ago but is now one of the most photographed scenes on Gran Canaria, if not the whole archipelago. At about 67 metres tall, it forms a sort of hub to the giant disk the island resembles from above, especially as it’s right in the geographical centre. It’s surrounded by smaller formations and the other natural treasures of the Nublo Rural Park.

It’s worth noting both that the rock itself is about an hour’s hike from the nearest car park and that the site does get busy on nice days – especially on weekends. However, the view is pretty spectacular and there’s plenty of it for everyone.

The beaches of the Canary Islands are undoubtedly one of the archipelago’s star attractions. The fact the weather stays warm here almost continuously makes it a viable destination for a beach holiday at any time of the year. The fact that there are over 500 beaches to choose from makes it virtually impossible to miss out on some seaside fun.

Among the cream of the bountiful crop are Maspalomas and Playa Las Canteras on Gran Canaria. Lanzarote adds Playa de Papagayo and Playa de Famara to the list. On Tenerife, Playa de las Teresitas and Playa de los Gigantes are among the standouts. Finally, Fuerteventura has Playa de Sotavento and Playa Grande. Each offers something different, whether that’s the convenience of a city beach or the space of larger and more remote beaches. The water here can also vary wildly, from extreme surfing conditions to toddler-friendly calm and shallow seas.

Vegueta is the oldest part of one of the Canary Islands’ capital cities – Las Palmas. This southern end of the city is packed with historical structures, including the beautiful Cathedral of Santa Ana right at its heart. The nearby Casa de Colón, where Christopher Columbus is said to have stayed in 1492, has a very different but equally striking style. There are also a couple of interesting museums here, including Museo Canario and the Perez Galdos House Museum.

Among the beautiful, cobbled streets of Vegueta, you’ll find a wealth of excellent tapas restaurants and some cool bars, as well as some recommendable hotels. It’s the sort of place you can enjoy getting lost in but is compact enough that you probably won’t stay lost for long.

The national parks of the Canary Islands showcase the archipelago’s stunning volcanic scenery. The views are often rough and rugged but are especially fascinating for their comparatively recent formation. While there are exceptions to the rule – Garajonay National Park on La Gomera being the most noteworthy – you shouldn’t go expecting tropical greenery.

Among the best national parks in the Canary Islands are Teide National Park on Tenerife and Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote, with La Palma’s Caldera de Taburiente National Park deserving an honourable mention. All of them have a great selection of hiking trails at different difficulty levels. However, Timanfaya has a still-active volcano and Tiede is home to the striking Mount Teide, both of which steal their respective shows.

Pueblo Canario is a little square surrounded by historical buildings in Las Palmas – one that is effectively a theme park devoted to Gran Canarian culture. The buildings now contain an excellent restaurant and 2 museums while the square regularly hosts a small market selling handmade souvenirs.

If you want to get a flavour for this island’s history in a single quick bite, this is a good place to go. Specifically, you should try to visit on a Thursday at 5 pm or Sunday at 11.30 am, if you can. Locals in traditional dress come out to do special traditional dances at these times.

Siam Park is a waterpark in Costa Adeje on Tenerife with, somewhat bizarrely, a Thai theme. The whole design of the park and its rides is based around the Asian country that’s known as the ‘Land of Smiles’. The rides are pretty typical of water parks around the world, including a 1.6-km lazy river and a wave pool for those looking to relax. For those looking for excitement, you’ll find a range of rapids, rides and slides, with the Tower of Power being perhaps the most exciting.

The Thai theme spills out into the Siam Mall – an elegant shopping centre next door. However, it doesn’t quite make it all the way up the road to Aqualand, which is a separate waterpark with a less exotic design.

Each of the Canary Islands offers something unique and, in the case of Fuerteventura, water sports are the speciality. The surfing here is world-class, with the best spots being Lobos Island (just off Corralejo) and La Derecha (near Majanicho), the latter of which regularly hosts competitions.

Favourable winds and powerful waves also make Fuerteventura a great spot for sailing and there are several sailing clubs and marinas along the east coast where you can put that to the test. Other water sports available here include stand-up paddleboarding, kitesurfing and scuba diving, with specific spots around the island ranked among the world’s best for each.

Museo Atlántico is an entirely underwater museum in Lanzarote. Created by artist Jason deCaires Taylor, the 2,500-square-metre area of the seabed off Las Coloradas contains over 300 life-sized statues, all at a depth of about 14 metres. Naturally, you’ll need a diving certification to be able to visit.

Among the most noteworthy of the works is the Raft of Lampedusa, which depicts 13 refugees in an overcrowded dinghy. Since they were first installed in 2016, they are now home to small colonies of marine life. The same artist has a second underwater museum off the coast of Cancun, Mexico and works in the Bahamas and even in the River Thames in London.

Puerto del Carmen is the go-to spot if you’re looking for a party in Lanzarote. The island has something of a reputation as a nightlife destination and it’s places like this south-coast town that help it earn that reputation. You’ll find plenty of tourist-friendly bars and clubs along the main road behind the beach, with happy-hour specials bringing the price of local beers surprisingly low.

The variety of bars available in Puerto del Carmen is impressive. Whether you’re looking for rowdy revels or a sophisticated cocktail, there’s at least a couple of bars that will suit you. A good place to start is local favourite Kicko’s Bar, where a duo of talented guitarists often belts out regional folk tunes.