Tenerife and the Canary Islands: winter holidays in the sun | Top 10 Putovanja
Canary Islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote
When the fog sets in at home, it is still summer in the Canary Islands. Daytime temperatures are around 22 °C, the sea is 19 to 21 °C and the sun shines even in December and January. That is why Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote are among the most popular winter destinations in Europe. At Top 10 Putovanja you can choose from more than 140 hotels on the three islands, and you book the flight and hotel in one package. Below you will find what to do on each island, which hotels and apartments we recommend for families with children, and our favourite hotels with all their offers.
Why the Canary Islands in winter
Warm all year round: around 21 to 23 °C in winter, so the islands are the nearest real summer when it is winter at home.
A short trip: the flight takes about five hours and the time difference is only one hour.
Something for everyone: beaches and pools for families, adults-only hotels for couples, volcano hikes for the active.
Great for families: water parks, zoos, calm beaches with breakwaters and hotels with kids’ clubs, and during the winter holidays the sea instead of snow.
Carefree Europe: the Canary Islands are part of Spain, you pay in euros, no passport is needed and an ID card is enough.
All in one package: flight, hotel and, with many offers, the airport transfer too, without putting together separate bookings.
Weather in the Canary Islands in winter
Average daily maximum air temperatures and sea temperature:
Month
Tenerife (south)
Gran Canaria
Lanzarote
Sea
November
25 °C
24 °C
24 °C
21 to 22 °C
December
23 °C
22 °C
22 °C
20 to 21 °C
January
22 °C
21 °C
21 °C
19 to 20 °C
February
22 °C
21 °C
21 °C
18 to 19 °C
March
23 °C
22 °C
23 °C
18 to 19 °C
The sunniest and driest part is the south of the islands (Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, Maspalomas, Playa Blanca). The north of Tenerife around Puerto de la Cruz is green, a few degrees cooler and rainier in winter, but it has more local character. Evenings are pleasantly cool everywhere, so bring a light jumper.
Flights to the Canary Islands
The packages on our site include flights from Zagreb and nearby airports in Italy, most often Venice and Treviso. You can see the exact departures, airports and prices for your chosen date in the search for each offer, together with whether luggage and the airport transfer to the hotel are included. The flight takes about five hours.
Which island to choose
Tenerife is the largest and most varied island. In the south are the resorts of Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas with reliable sunshine, and in the north the picturesque Puerto de la Cruz, Loro Parque and the green slopes below Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain.
Gran Canaria is famous for the Maspalomas dunes and the long sandy beaches of Playa del Inglés and Meloneras. It is a great choice for families, couples and anyone who loves the beach, seaside walks and lively evenings.
Lanzarote is a quieter island of volcanic landscapes, white houses and the art of César Manrique. The most choice is in Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise, and many hotels are all inclusive.
The Canary Islands with children
The Canary Islands are one of the easiest winter destinations for families. The flight takes around five hours and the time difference is only one hour, so children adjust quickly. In winter it is around 22 °C during the day, just right for playing on the beach and by the pool. At 19 to 21 °C the sea is refreshing, so families spend most of their time by the hotel pools and on calm beaches, with the odd trip to a water park or zoo in between.
Calm beaches for children
Tenerife: Playa de las Vistas and the beach in Los Cristianos in the south have light sand and calm water. In the north, children play on the black volcanic sand of Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz.
Gran Canaria: Playa de Amadores is a sheltered bay with a breakwater and light sand, where the sea is almost always as calm as a pool. The long beach by the Maspalomas dunes is a real playground for sandcastles.
Lanzarote: the Dorada and Flamingo beaches in Playa Blanca are protected by breakwaters on both sides, so there are hardly any waves. Playa Grande in Puerto del Carmen is usually calm too.
Excursions children will love
Tenerife: Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz with more than 350 species of parrots, Siam Park water park in Costa Adeje, regularly ranked among the best in the world, Aqualand with fewer height restrictions for younger children, Jungle Park with more than 500 animals, and a boat trip to see whales and dolphins.
Gran Canaria: Palmitos Park near Maspalomas with dolphins, birds of prey and the largest butterfly house in Europe, Aqualand Maspalomas water park, Holiday World amusement park, the Wild West town of Sioux City and the Poema del Mar aquarium in Las Palmas with a 36-metre curved window onto the ocean. From Puerto de Mogán you can dive 20 metres below the sea in a yellow submarine.
Lanzarote: camel rides at the entrance to Timanfaya National Park, Rancho Texas Park in Puerto del Carmen with animals and Wild West shows, the water park in Costa Teguise, an aquarium with a tunnel where sharks swim overhead, and a boat trip to the island of La Graciosa, where there are almost no cars.
Hotels and apartments we recommend for families
We have chosen hotels with a kids’ club, several pools or a water park, and apartments with their own kitchen, which are very popular with families.
Paradise Park Fun Lifestyle Hotel (Tenerife): five pools, a mini club and entertainment for children, while parents can retreat to the adults-only roof terrace. See the offer
Alua Tenerife (Tenerife): all inclusive, three pools and a kids’ club, a few minutes’ walk from Playa Jardín beach. See the offer
Apartamentos Marola Park (Tenerife): apartments with their own kitchen and a pool, five minutes’ walk from Playa de las Vistas beach. See the offer
Barceló Margaritas (Gran Canaria): two pools, a kids’ club, entertainment and a free shuttle to Playa del Inglés beach. See the offer
Lopesan Costa Meloneras (Gran Canaria): the 4,000 m² El Lago pool, six restaurants and plenty of space for the whole family. See the offer
Santa Mónica Suites (Gran Canaria): 45 m² junior suites and direct access to the beach by the Maspalomas dunes. See the offer
Grand Hyatt Lanzarote Playa Dorada (Lanzarote): a water park and kids’ clubs, right next to the calm Dorada beach. See the offer
Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park (Lanzarote): a water park with slides and only 50 metres to Flamingo beach. See the offer
Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort (Lanzarote): six pools, spacious suites and a well-organised children’s programme. See the offer
Tip: children under three are not allowed on the Teide cable car, as the upper station is at 3,555 metres. The same applies to pregnant women.
Tenerife
What to do on Tenerife
Teide National Park: the cable car takes you up to 3,555 metres, just below the summit of Teide, which at 3,718 metres is the highest mountain in Spain. The route leads through a lava landscape that looks like another planet.
Masca: a village in the Teno mountains reached by a narrow, winding road. The view of the gorge is among the most beautiful on the island.
Los Gigantes: cliffs up to 600 metres high on the west coast, best seen from the sea.
Whales and dolphins: in 2021 the sea between Tenerife and La Gomera was declared the first Whale Heritage Area in Europe. Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins live here all year round, and boat trips leave from the south of the island.
La Laguna and Garachico: the old town of La Laguna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in Garachico you can swim in the El Caletón natural pools formed by lava.
Anaga and Icod de los Vinos: in Anaga park in the north-east there are laurel forests and hiking trails, and in Icod the Drago Milenario dragon tree, more than 800 years old.
On Tenerife we recommend these hotels, and you will find more than 50 others in the search.
North: Puerto de la Cruz
H10 Tenerife Playa ★★★★
A hotel on the seafront promenade in Puerto de la Cruz, directly opposite the Lago Martiánez seawater pools. It has two pools on the terrace, a restaurant with sea views and an evening programme. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4/5)Why book: the sea on the doorstep, the old town within walking distance, half board or all inclusive.
A large all-inclusive hotel a few minutes’ walk from the black sand beach of Playa Jardín. It has three pools, a kids’ club and an evening programme.
Why book: all inclusive for families and couples who want everything taken care of at the hotel.
Spacious apartments on a cliff above the sea in Los Realejos, right next to Puerto de la Cruz. The terraces look out over the Atlantic, and the Rambla de Castro coastal path starts almost at the entrance. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4/5)Why book: plenty of space and peace, your own kitchen, breakfast or half board as you wish.
South: Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas
Paradise Park Fun Lifestyle Hotel ★★★★
A hotel with five pools, gardens and a roof terrace overlooking the bay of Los Cristianos and Teide. Children have a mini club and entertainment, and adults have their own area on the roof. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: a great choice for families, with a quiet adults-only corner.
A fully renovated adults-only hotel (16+), a few minutes’ walk from La Pinta and Fañabé beaches. It has a heated pool with a waterfall, a spa and an evening programme. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: modern rooms, half board or all inclusive and the beach just around the corner.
A boutique hotel for guests aged 18+ on the seafront promenade in Los Cristianos. It has three restaurants, a heated pool with a jacuzzi and a beauty centre with a sauna. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: a peaceful holiday for couples, with the beach, shops and restaurants on the doorstep.
Studios and apartments with a pool, five minutes’ walk from Playa de las Vistas beach and just over a kilometre from the centre of Los Cristianos. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: your own kitchen and a good price, with breakfast or half board as an option.
Maspalomas dunes: 400 hectares of sand dunes, some more than ten metres high, stretching all the way to the sea. At the end of the beach stands the Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse.
Roque Nublo and Tejeda: the 80-metre rock at 1,813 metres above sea level is the symbol of the island. The nearby village of Tejeda is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.
Puerto de Mogán: a fishing town with canals, nicknamed Little Venice, with white houses, flower-filled balconies and a Friday market.
Las Palmas: the old town of Vegueta with Santa Ana Cathedral and the Columbus House, and the city beach of Las Canteras, one of the most beautiful city beaches in the world.
Bandama crater and Teror: a volcanic crater more than a kilometre wide and 200 metres deep, and a village with wooden balconies and a basilica where the island’s patron saint is venerated.
Guayadeque ravine: an 11-kilometre ravine with cave dwellings where people still live today, and restaurants in the rock.
On Gran Canaria we recommend these hotels, and you will find around 50 others in the search.
LIVVO Dunagolf Suites ★★★★
Spacious suites with a kitchenette right next to the Maspalomas golf course. Three pools, one of them adults-only, and the Maspalomas dunes are just under two kilometres away. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 5/5)Why book: peace, space and one of the best guest ratings on the island.
A hotel for guests aged 18+ in Playa del Inglés with two heated pools. All rooms and suites have a kitchenette, and the Yumbo centre is a few minutes’ walk away. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.8/5)Why book: a relaxed atmosphere, breakfast until noon and the freedom of your own kitchen.
45 m² junior suites on the seafront promenade, right next to the Maspalomas dunes nature reserve and with direct beach access. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.6/5)Why book: plenty of space, with sand and dunes on the doorstep.
A large seafront hotel in the Meloneras resort, with a spa, several pools and five restaurants. The golf course is right next to it. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: five-star comfort, half board or all inclusive and the beach a hundred metres away.
A resort with the El Lago pool, which measures a full 4,000 m², a spa and six restaurants, just a few minutes’ walk from the Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: a huge choice for families and couples in one place.
A clifftop hotel between Puerto Rico and Amadores, with views of the Atlantic and a seawater thalasso centre. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: sunshine in the south-west of the island and a touch of pampering, also with all inclusive.
A family hotel with two pools, a kids’ club and entertainment. It offers guests a free shuttle to Playa del Inglés beach and the Maspalomas dunes. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: all inclusive for families and a separate adults-only area.
Timanfaya National Park: eruptions between 1730 and 1736 created more than 50 km² of volcanoes and lava. You drive along the Route of the Volcanoes by bus, and at Islote de Hilario you can see how hot the ground is just below the surface.
The art of César Manrique: Jameos del Agua with an underground lake in a lava tube, the Mirador del Río viewpoint overlooking the island of La Graciosa, the Cactus Garden with around 4,500 cacti, and his former house built into lava bubbles in Tahíche.
Cueva de los Verdes: a lava tube more than six kilometres long that runs from the volcano all the way to the Atlantic.
El Golfo and Los Hervideros: an emerald-green lagoon in a half-submerged crater, and a coastline where waves burst out of lava caves.
La Geria: vineyards in hollows of volcanic ash, where Malvasía wine is produced.
Papagayo beaches: calm coves with white sand and crystal-clear water in the protected south of the island.
On Lanzarote we recommend these hotels, and you will find around 20 others in the search.
Barceló Teguise Beach ★★★★ (adults only)
A hotel for guests aged 18+, 150 metres from Las Cucharas beach in Costa Teguise, with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.5/5)Why book: all inclusive and a peaceful holiday without the bustle of children.
An all-inclusive resort right on Dorada beach in Playa Blanca, with six restaurants and views of Fuerteventura. (TripAdvisor guest rating: 4.2/5)Why book: a water park and kids’ clubs for families, and a quiet adults-only area.
A resort right next to Dorada beach with six pools and spacious suites, designed mainly for families.
Why book: plenty of space and a well-organised children’s programme.
A large seafront resort on the west side of Playa Blanca, with views towards the islet of Isla de Lobos and Fuerteventura.
Why book: all inclusive, a kids’ club and adults-only Privilege rooms.
An all-inclusive hotel just 50 metres from the sandy Flamingo beach in Playa Blanca, with a water park with slides.
Why book: the beach on the doorstep, slides for children and a separate area for adults.
A hotel on the seafront promenade in Matagorda, 200 metres from the beach, with a spa and a kids’ club. Most rooms face the sea.
Why book: a good choice for families and couples alike.
When is the best time to visit the Canary Islands?
The islands are pleasant all year round, but they are most popular in winter, when the difference from the weather at home is greatest. From November to March daytime temperatures are around 21 to 25 °C.
Which island is the warmest in winter?
The differences are small. The south of Tenerife and the south of Gran Canaria have the most reliable sunshine, while the north of Tenerife is a little cooler and rainier.
Which island is best for families with children?
All three are a great choice. Tenerife has the most theme parks, including Siam Park and Loro Parque. Gran Canaria offers long sandy beaches and the calm bay of Amadores, while Lanzarote has calm beaches with breakwaters in Playa Blanca and hotels with water parks.
Do I need a passport?
No. The Canary Islands are part of Spain and the European Union, so a valid ID card is enough. You pay in euros.
Is the transfer from the airport to the hotel included?
It is with many offers, and with some you can add it. You can see exactly what is included in the search for each offer before you book.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Payment in instalments is interest-free and without extra costs, and there is no booking fee.
Don’t book the flight and hotel separately. At Top 10 Putovanja you will find the flight and hotel in one package.
Hotel Beatriz Playa (Lanzarote): a kids’ club and the beach 200 metres from the hotel. See the offer
