Canary Islands holidays

The Canary Islands are a year-round choice for sunshine, with mild winters noticeably warmer than mainland Spain. Holidays to the Canary Islands put Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura within a 4-hour flight of the UK, each with its own character. You'll find family resorts, quieter escapes and a wide range of All Inclusive hotels, with direct flights from airports across the UK. Every holiday is ATOL & ABTA protected, so you can book with confidence. Explore our Canary Islands holidays 2026 and 2027 to compare all four islands.

Why choose the Canary Islands?

One reason people return to the Canary Islands time after time is the weather. While much of the Mediterranean cools down over winter, the Canaries stay warm enough for beach days throughout the year. Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura each have their own character, so you’re not choosing between four versions of the same holiday. Flights from the UK take four hours, and there’s tons of choice when it comes to All Inclusive and adults-only hotels, whether you’re booking your first trip or heading back to a favourite island. It’s easy to see why Canary Island holidays remain such a popular choice year-round.

The Canary Islands are one of our most consistently popular destinations, with over 24,000 Thomas Cook holidaymakers travelling here in the past year. A 7-night stay is by far the most popular trip length, whichever island you choose. August is the top month to travel, with October and June also popular — a sign of just how steady the climate stays here year-round. Our customers typically fly out from Manchester, London Stansted and London Gatwick.

Which Canary Island is right for you?

Tenerife

Best for: Families, value and evenings out

Weighing up all four islands? Tenerife is usually the easiest starting point, packed with the broadest range of hotels and resorts of any Canary Island. Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos  are at the heart of the busy south; Puerto de la Cruz offers a calmer, greener north, with Mount Teide inland. This popular island is a top choice for All Inclusive and adults-only stays.

Gran Canaria

Best for: Families, couples and variety

No two areas of Gran Canaria feel quite the same, which is what makes it such a versatile choice. Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés bring bigger resorts and dunes in the south; Las Palmas, in the cooler north, has a more local, city vibe. And you’re promised great value whatever resort you choose.

Lanzarote

Best for: Couples, adults-only and distinctive scenery

Couples and repeat visitors are often drawn to Lanzarote for its look and pace rather than its beaches alone. Low-rise towns and volcanic scenery give the island a unique character a lot of which was shaped by  the legacy of local artist César Manrique, who fought to keep it that way. Playa Blanca is the calmer base, Puerto del Carmen the liveliest, and Costa Teguise a favourite for windsurfing and diving  — home to popular stays like Barcelo Lanzarote Active Resort and the adults-only Barceló Teguise Beach.

Fuerteventura

Best for: Beaches, water sports and quieter holidays

After serious beach space? Fuerteventura is hard to beat. Closest to Africa, it has some of the region's longest stretches of sand. Corralejo is the busiest base in the north; Costa Calma and Jandía are quieter, family friendly options in the south, with Sotavento a top spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Tenerife holidays

Tenerife is the largest Canary Island, with sunny beach resorts in the south, greener landscapes in the north and holidays to suit families, couples and adults alike. Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos are two of Tenerife’s main beach resorts. Head north to Puerto de la Cruz for lush gardens, historic streets and a different side of the island. Away from the coast, Mount Teide National Park is one attraction you won’t want to miss. Our Tenerife holidays include everything from family-friendly All Inclusive hotels to adults-only escapes.

Gran Canaria holidays

Gran Canaria brings together beach resorts, city life and warm weather throughout the year, so no two parts of the island feel quite the same. Maspalomas’ famous dunes and neighbouring Playa del Inglés are at the heart of the south, while nearby Puerto Rico is a favourite with families. In the cooler north, Las Palmas combines city beaches with shops, restaurants and everyday Canarian life — all part of our Gran Canaria holidays.

Lanzarote holidays

Lanzarote’s volcanic landscapes give the island a character that’s unmistakably its own, attracting couples, adults-only holidays and anyone after a quieter beach break. Playa Blanca is a peaceful base, Puerto del Carmen is the island’s main resort, and Costa Teguise is a favourite for windsurfing and diving. Our Lanzarote holidays bring together all three, making it easier to choose the part of the island that matches your plans.

Fuerteventura holidays

Closest to Africa, Fuerteventura has huge sun-soaked beaches, family-friendly resorts and some of the Canary Islands’ best windsurfing and kitesurfing. Corralejo has a brilliant choice of places to eat, drink and shop, while Costa Calma and Jandía are quieter favourites with families — including popular choices like SBH Costa Calma Beach Resort. Sotavento beach is one of the island’s top spots for water sports – you’ll find it alongside the island’s other coastal resorts in our Fuerteventura holidays.

More Canary Island travel guides: 

Explore: Fuerteventura holidays | Gran Canaria holidays | Lanzarote holidays | Tenerife holidays

Our Canary Islands holidays guide was last revised and updated in August 2026.