Which islands make up the Canaries and what are they known for?
The Canaries consist of seven main islands: Tenerife with the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Gran Canaria with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura with Puerto del Rosario, Lanzarote with Arrecife, La Palma with Santa Cruz de La Palma, La Gomera with San Sebastián de La Gomera and El Hierro with Valverde.
La Graciosa administratively belongs to the municipality of Teguise on Lanzarote. Tenerife and Gran Canaria combine large cities, beaches and nightlife. Fuerteventura is particularly known for long sandy beaches and wind sports, Lanzarote for volcanic landscapes.
La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro stand for hiking, low-density development and nature tourism. The highest mountain in Spain is the Teide on Tenerife. This classification comes from the official Canary Islands tourism website and the island profiles of Turismo de Canarias.
How do you travel to the Canaries and between the islands?
Airports are located on Gran Canaria (LPA), Tenerife with Tenerife Norte–Ciudad de La Laguna (TFN) and Tenerife Sur (TFS), Lanzarote (ACE), Fuerteventura (FUE), La Palma (SPC), La Gomera (GMZ) and El Hierro (VDE). AENA provides authoritative airport information.
Between the islands, Binter operates flights and Fred. Olsen Express and Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea operate ferries. Sailing times, baggage rules, vehicle transport and fares must be checked directly with the relevant operator before each journey.
Public transport is provided by regional bus companies, including TITSA on Tenerife and Guaguas Municipales in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Routes, fares and ticketing systems vary by island. Specific prices change according to season and provider.
When is the best time to visit the Canary Islands?
The Canaries do not have a single island-wide climate. Altitude, north and south sides, and windward and leeward locations create significant differences. For reliable statements, AEMET uses climate normals rather than individual daily measurements.
For beach holidays, spring, early summer, autumn and winter are usually suitable. For hiking, spring and autumn are often more favourable because of lower heat. In winter, higher altitudes can be cold, cloudy or snow-covered. Current values and warnings: CITA Weather (cita.news/de/wetter.html) and AEMET.
Which national parks and protected areas are there and what rules apply?
Protected areas include the Teide National Park, the Garajonay National Park, the Caldera de Taburiente National Park and the Timanfaya National Park. The Canary Islands have only four national parks: Teide, Garajonay, Caldera de Taburiente and Timanfaya. La Graciosa and the northern islets form the Parque Natural del Archipiélago Chinijo, which is not a national park. The Parque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre de las Islas Atlánticas is in Galicia. Each park is subject to its own regulations.
Before visiting, reservation requirements for individual paths, summits or access routes must be checked. The same applies to closures due to weather, forest fire risk or construction work, as well as permits for camping, drones, fires and events.
In the Teide National Park, leaving marked paths, collecting volcanic rock or plants, wild camping, sleeping in vehicles and fires are generally problematic or prohibited. In the Garajonay National Park, dogs must be kept on a lead, drones, fires and overnight stays are prohibited, and there are restrictions on bicycles and climbing.
Only the responsible park authority, the relevant Cabildo (island government) or the Ayuntamiento (municipal council) should serve as the source for current opening times, fees and permits.
What should travellers know about safety and emergencies?
Hikers should take account of weather warnings, differences in altitude, water requirements and return times. In ravines, on cliff coasts and in volcanic terrain, marked paths are not automatically free of risk.
During heat, calima, storms, heavy swell or forest fire risk, the instructions of the authorities apply. Calima is the movement of dust-laden air from the Sahara; it can reduce visibility and affect air quality.
At the sea, flags and instructions from lifeguards are binding. Unsupervised beaches, currents and surf can be dangerous. In Spain, the emergency number 112 applies to all emergencies.
Which legal changes have applied in the Canaries since 2026?
In 2026, amendments to Canarian tourism law were published in the Boletín Oficial de Canarias (BOC, the official gazette of the Canary Islands). Ley 1/2026 of 28 April amended Ley 7/1995 on the regulation of tourism in the Canary Islands.
In addition, Ley 4/2026 of 14 July on tourist municipalities was published. These laws may have implications for tourist municipalities, accommodation and responsibilities.
For a travel guide, no blanket statements about holiday rentals, overnight taxes or access restrictions should be derived from these laws without checking the applicable implementing provisions and municipal regulations.