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The dunes of Maspalomas, Gran Canaria San Cristóbal de La Laguna in its valley, with Teide on the horizon The salt pans and lighthouses of Fuencaliente, La Palma Garachico and its rock in the Atlantic, seen from the cliffs above Playa de Las Canteras and the sea front of Las Palmas

The city guide to the Canary Islands, Spain

Best of the Canary Islands · This week

Article of the weekThe Canary Islands on filmFilms shot in the Canary Islands, from the official Canary Islands Film list: Moby Dick (1956), One Million Years B.C.Read the article In depthCanary Islands fun factsFun facts about the Canary Islands, each with its source: Teide, the highest peak in Spain and the world’s third-tallest volcanic structure; La…Read the article In depthThe Canaries at the table: two-star tables, island kitchens and the Bib GourmandTwo-star tables at Abama and La Caleta, one-star kitchens in Adeje, Puerto de la Cruz, Las Palmas, Mogán and Playa Blanca, and Bib Gourmand cooking…Read the article In depthWhere the Canaries sleep: Atlantic resorts, old houses and island hideawaysThe great resorts of south-west Tenerife, the historic houses of Garachico, Tazacorte and Puerto de la Cruz, the design hotels of Gran Canaria and…Read the article Coming upChristmas in the Canary IslandsChristmas and New Year in the Canary Islands: the sand nativity on Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas, in its twentieth-anniversary year, The Phantom…Plan your Christmas

Launch edition · Autumn 2026

The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakSister guideULTIMATE Rail JourneysThe story of the train, the great journeys and where to book themA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resortThe Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyPuerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz and Costa Adeje, and the agents on Tenerife

Seven islands, one ocean

Four of the Canary Islands’ sites are on UNESCO’s World Heritage List: Teide National Park and the old town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna on Tenerife, the laurel forest of Garajonay on La Gomera, and Risco Caído and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria. The MICHELIN Guide counts 60 restaurants across the islands, two of them with two stars.

Seven islands, four World Heritage sites: reading the Canaries’ great sights

In depth

Four World Heritage sites

Canary Islands·In depth

Teide and its sea of clouds, the laurel forest of Garajonay, the cave temples of Risco Caído and the grid of La Laguna.

Read the story

The Canary Islands, island by island

Five islands, each with its own guide: Tenerife’s volcano and old towns, Gran Canaria’s capital and sacred mountains, Manrique’s Lanzarote, the beaches of Fuerteventura and the stars of La Palma.

The lobby bar of The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama, under woven lanternsIsland guideTenerifeTeide, La Laguna and the south-westRoque Nublo above the village of Tejeda in the mountains of Gran CanariaIsland guideGran CanariaLas Palmas and the sacred mountainsThe volcanic cones of Timanfaya National Park, LanzaroteIsland guideLanzaroteCésar Manrique’s islandThe beach of Cofete and the Jandía mountains, FuerteventuraIsland guideFuerteventuraDunes, wind and beachesThe walls of the Caldera de Taburiente through Canary pines, La PalmaIsland guideLa PalmaThe island of stars

Our advice

Teide, early

Go up Teide early in the morning, when the air is clearest, and take a layer: it is cold at the top in every season. Teide National Park

History & heritage

The pre-Hispanic people of the cave temples, the ideal city of La Laguna, the sugar and wine of the old estates, the societies and theatres of the nineteenth century, and César Manrique’s Lanzarote.

History & heritageThe Canary Islands: from the cave temples to Manrique’s lavaCave temples, a first ideal city, wine, sugar and Manrique

Before you go

Ferries between the islands, the Tenerife tram, and itineraries for Tenerife, Lanzarote and a weekend at the starred tables.

The Castillo de San Felipe in Puerto de la Cruz, TenerifeBefore you goCanary Islands essentialsEntry, 112 and the GHICA Fred. Olsen Express fast ferry off the coast of TenerifeGetting aroundGetting aroundFerries, tram and busesThe Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa CruzItineraryA week on TenerifeTeide, La Laguna and GarachicoA path of lava stone through the Jardín de Cactus, with its windmillItineraryManrique’s LanzaroteTwo daysTeide above a sea of clouds, seen from the Cumbre Dorsal on TenerifeLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addresses

Our advice

La Gomera in a day

For La Gomera as a day trip, take the first ferry from Los Cristianos and the last one back. La Gomera

The ULTIMATE letter

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Nearby Escapes

La Gomera, a fast ferry ride from Los Cristianos, and El Hierro, the youngest island.

Moss-hung laurel forest in Garajonay National Park, La GomeraNearby EscapesLa GomeraGarajonay’s laurel forestNearby EscapesEl HierroBiosphere Reserve and Geopark

In depth: the Canary Islands’ back stories

The four World Heritage sites, the islands’ fifteen starred kitchens, Manrique and the concert halls, the hotels and the ferries.

Winter sun and sandChristmas in the Canary IslandsThe Belén de Arena’s twentieth yearThe cliffs of Los Gigantes above the sea, TenerifeIn depth: nature & wildlifeWild CanariesWhales, chaffinches and blind crabsThe back storyThe Canaries at the tableFifteen starred kitchens

At the table

Try the starred tables at lunch, and eat the Bib Gourmand addresses on the days between.

  1. The back storyFrom Manrique’s lava to the AuditorioThe islands’ arts

Spain and the Atlantic with the ULTIMATE guides

Andalusia, Madrid and Mallorca, Lisbon across the water, and the great journeys by sea and rail.

The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightULTIMATE AndalusiaAndalusiaSeville, Granada and the coastThe Metrópolis building at the start of the Gran VíaULTIMATE MadridMadridThe capitalLa Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarULTIMATE MallorcaMallorcaThe largest Balearic
  1. ULTIMATE LisbonLisbonThe Atlantic capital

The ULTIMATE City Guides around the world

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Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

Canal houses and bridges in Amsterdamthe NetherlandsULTIMATE AmsterdamThe canal ring, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, canal-house hotels, twenty MICHELIN-starred tables, brown cafés, and day trips to Haarlem and Keukenhof.The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.The Church of St John at Kaneo above Lake Ohrid, North MacedoniaOur sister guideULTIMATE The BalkansOur magazine of the Balkans: the food, markets, nature, seasons and cinema of seven countries, linked to every Balkan city guide.The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.

See all 91 guides

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and islanders talking about the Canaries, from Teide at dawn and the ferries to La Gomera to the starred tables of Adeje and the concerts in Santa Cruz and Las Palmas.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Every list in the guide

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1The Canaries at the table: two-star tables, island kitchens and the Bib GourmandCanary Islands · In depth
    2. 2M.BGuía de Isora, Tenerife · Restaurant
    3. 3El Rincón de Juan CarlosLa Caleta, Adeje, Tenerife · Restaurant
    See all 36

    Hotels

    1. 1Where the Canaries sleep: Atlantic resorts, old houses and island hideawaysCanary Islands · In depth
    2. 2The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, AbamaGuía de Isora, Tenerife · Resort
    3. 3Royal Hideaway Corales ResortLa Caleta, Adeje, Tenerife · Resort
    See all 12

    Sights

    1. 1Seven islands, four World Heritage sites: reading the Canaries’ great sightsCanary Islands · In depth
    2. 2The Canary Islands: from the cave temples to Manrique’s lavaCanary Islands · In depth: history and heritage
    3. 3Teide National ParkTenerife · National park
    See all 13

    Arts & Culture

    1. 1From Manrique’s lava to the Phantom at the Auditorio: Arts & Culture in the CanariesCanary Islands · In depth
    2. 2Fundación César ManriqueTahíche, Lanzarote · Museum
    3. 3Casa-Museo César ManriqueHaría, Lanzarote · House museum
    See all 12

    Nature

    1. 1Wild Canaries: Pilot Whales, the Blue Chaffinch of Teide and the Blind Crabs of JameosCanary Islands · In depth: nature & wildlife
    2. 2Jardín Botánico Canario “Viera y Clavijo”Tafira, Gran Canaria · Botanic garden
    See all 1

    Cafés

    1. 1Mirador del Río CaféHaría, Lanzarote · Café
    2. 2Islote de FerminaArrecife, Lanzarote · Café and terrace
    3. 3Jardín de Cactus caféGuatiza, Lanzarote · Café
    See all 4

    Wine & Bars

    1. 1El GrifoLanzarote · Winery
    2. 2Bodega La GeriaLa Geria, Lanzarote · Winery
    3. 3Bodegas RubicónLanzarote · Winery
    See all 6

    Shopping

    1. 1Mercado de VeguetaVegueta, Las Palmas · Market
    2. 2Zona TrianaTriana, Las Palmas · Shopping street
    3. 3Centro Comercial Las ArenasLas Palmas, Gran Canaria · Shopping centre
    See all 3

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: call 112Canary Islands · Emergency number
    2. 2HospitenCanary Islands · Private hospitals
    3. 3Hospitales Universitarios San RoqueGran Canaria · Private hospitals
    See all 5

    Walks

    1. 1The two towns of La LagunaSan Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife · Town walk
    2. 2Vegueta to TrianaLas Palmas, Gran Canaria · Town walk
    3. 3The laurel forest of GarajonayLa Gomera · Forest walk
    See all 3

    Cars & yachts

    1. 1CicarCanary Islands · Car hire
    2. 2Puerto ColónCosta Adeje, Tenerife · Marina
    3. 3Puerto Deportivo Pasito BlancoPasito Blanco, Gran Canaria · Marina
    See all 5

    Property

    1. 1Engel & Völkers Puerto de la CruzPuerto de la Cruz, Tenerife · Estate agent
    2. 2Engel & Völkers Santa Cruz de TenerifeSanta Cruz de Tenerife · Estate agent
    3. 3Engel & Völkers Costa AdejePlaya Paraíso, Tenerife · Estate agent
    See all 3

    Getting Around

    1. 1Getting to and between the islands: ferries, island flights and the Tenerife tramCanary Islands · In depth
    2. 2Fred. Olsen ExpressInter-island · Ferry
    3. 3Armas TrasmediterráneaInter-island · Ferry
    See all 6