Family holidays in the sun

Best Canary Island for Families: 4 Islands Compared

A family holiday can be a perfect beach, a spectacular volcano and a small child who wants to look at the same drain cover every morning. Leave room for all three.

All four big islands do sunshine, sand and an easy fly-and-flop week. The real differences are the length of the flight, how sheltered the beach outside your hotel is and how many big days out your family wants.

The four islands at a glance

Flight times are Ryanair’s scheduled times from Stansted, Manchester and Birmingham (Stansted and Manchester only for Gran Canaria) in November 2026. Bristol is 15 to 20 minutes quicker, while Edinburgh to Tenerife South is 4 hours 50 minutes. The weather barely separates them: January daytime highs average 21–22C on all four, and the weather table has the detail.

One rule helps more than any ranking: the smaller the child, the more the stretch between your door and the sand matters. A sheltered beach five minutes’ walk away beats a famous one an hour’s drive away.

Tenerife: the most to do

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and the one to pick if your family wants a different adventure most days. The lively resorts in the south have the fine golden sand and calm water, while Loro Parque is on the north coast at Puerto de la Cruz.

Where to stay

Costa Adeje: golden beaches, boulevards lined with restaurants and Siam Park on the doorstep. Boat trips to see whales and dolphins leave from this stretch of coast.

Los Cristianos: two beaches joined by a passage of shops, an old fishing-town centre and a harbour. The ferry to La Gomera takes 50 minutes, which makes a neat island-hop for a day.

The big days out

• Siam Park, Costa Adeje: the islands’ official tourism board calls it the largest water park in Europe. Save it for the day older children have been counting down to.
• Aqualand Costa Adeje: slides and pools, plus a dolphin show.
• Loro Parque, Puerto de la Cruz: on the north coast, with the world’s largest parrot collection, a penguinarium, gorillas, tigers and an orca show. A free little train runs to the gate from Plaza de los Reyes Católicos in town. From a southern resort, treat it as a full day.
• Whale and dolphin watching: dolphins live off the south-west coast all year. Trips are regulated, so book a boat that is authorised.

The Teide cable car

Teide is Spain’s highest peak at 3,715 metres. The cable car starts from a base station at 2,356 metres, which has free parking, a café and toilets, and climbs to 3,555 metres in under eight minutes. There is no café at the top, and it is far colder than the beach, so pack coats and hats. A return ticket costs from €42 for an adult and €21 for a child aged 3 to 13 at the time of writing (non-resident prices). Children under 3 and pregnant women cannot ride the cable car, for health reasons, and neither can anyone with a heart condition. Everyone needs closed trainers or walking shoes with grippy soles: sandals, flip-flops, beach or water shoes and other open or flat-soled shoes are refused.

That is a big climb in a short time. The NHS says altitude sickness usually becomes possible above 2,500 metres and is more likely when you go up quickly, and GOV.UK names Tenerife’s mountains as a risk area. Keep the visit unhurried, and if anyone gets a headache or feels sick or dizzy, head back down rather than walking further up.

Lanzarote: easiest with toddlers

Lanzarote is compact and has the shortest flights of the four: 4 hours 10 minutes from Stansted or Birmingham and 3 hours 55 minutes from Bristol. The island’s official guide says many of its beaches are protected from waves and currents, which suits small paddlers, and its volcanic landscape gives you one properly strange day out.

Three family bases

Playa Blanca: quiet, in the south, with a seafront promenade, the Papagayo beaches and Timanfaya close by. Ferries from its marina reach Corralejo on Fuerteventura in 25 or 35 minutes, depending on the sailing.

Puerto del Carmen: six kilometres of golden sand sheltered from the wind, and a promenade with a cycle lane to Arrecife. It also has the island’s liveliest nightlife, so ask for a room away from the bars if you want early nights.

Costa Teguise: the official guide names El Jablillo as its best family beach. Aquapark Costa Teguise, Lanzarote’s largest water park, is here, and the Pueblo Marinero square holds a market on Wednesdays and Fridays. It is a year-round windsurfing spot, so El Jablillo is the one for little ones.

Timanfaya: how the visit works

The standard Montañas del Fuego visit at Timanfaya combines geothermal demonstrations with a 35-minute coach ride along the Route of the Volcanoes. Allow about 1 hour 15 minutes in all.

• Tickets: online only, in advance, for a set time slot. There are no sales at the gate. Adults pay €30 at the time of writing; children under 7 go free.
• Timing: arrive 15 minutes before your slot. Arrive late and the ticket is no longer valid; arrive very early and there is nowhere to wait. Tickets cannot be changed or refunded.
• With a baby: pushchair access is difficult, so bring a carrier. The restaurant and cafeteria have high chairs.
• What to wear: warm layers from October to April, because it is windy, and a cap and sun cream from June to September.

If the volcano sparks an interest, the lava-tube visits at Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes cost from €17 each for adults at the time of writing, and children under 7 go free.

Gran Canaria: city beach or calm southern resort

Gran Canaria is often called a “miniature continent”: dunes, pine-covered peaks and a proper city on one island. Decide which half you want before choosing a hotel.

Las Palmas: a beach with a city around it

Las Canteras is a city beach more than three kilometres long, lined with hotels, activities and restaurants. It suits families who like to wander out for lunch rather than eat every meal in one hotel.

Poema del Mar aquarium, also in Las Palmas, has Jungle, Tropical and Deep Ocean zones, and the official tourism board says its deep-sea window is the largest in the world. It is a good bet for a windy afternoon. Vegueta, the old town, has cobbled streets, the cathedral and the Casa de Colón.

The south: dunes and calm water

Maspalomas: a long sandy beach backed by the famous dunes and the old lighthouse, with a wide choice of hotels. The dunes are a 400-hectare protected nature reserve. Start at the information centre and lookout by the Riu Palace hotel in Playa del Inglés, then follow trail fork 3 down to the beach.

Puerto Rico: white buildings stepping down the hillside to a beach where the sea is calm all year round. Boat trips to see dolphins leave from the marina.

Puerto de Mogán: a fishing village with canals, flowery gardens and a golden beach with calm water. The official guide calls it a great resort for children.

Palmitos Park: a botanical garden and zoo in the Los Palmitos ravine in the south, with an aviary and the largest orchid collection in the Canaries. Combined tickets with Aqualand Maspalomas are available.

Fuerteventura: when the beach is the plan

Fuerteventura has more than 150 kilometres of beaches, and its official tourism site calls it a quiet island and an easy place for a family holiday. It suits families who would happily spend most days on the sand. If your crew needs a new attraction every morning, Tenerife fits better.

Where to stay

Caleta de Fuste: just seven kilometres from the airport, with golden beaches protected from waves and strong currents. For babies and toddlers, it is the easiest base on the island.

Corralejo: in the north, with white sandy beaches, an old town with a seafaring feel and the Corralejo dunes natural park nearby. Boats leave for the uninhabited islet of Lobos, which has beaches, a circular walking path and good snorkelling, and for Lanzarote. Corralejo’s water park has a wave pool, an artificial river and a children’s play area. Some of its beaches are surf and kitesurf spots, so pick your swimming beach with care.

Costa Calma: in the south, a long beach next to the Jandía nature reserve, popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers, with the island’s largest attraction park nearby.

Days out

Oasis Wildlife is one of the largest zoos and botanical gardens in the Canaries, with giraffes, elephants, hippos, sea lions and a camel safari for brave riders. The Ajuy caves are free to visit, sit beside a black-sand beach and hold marine fossils in some of the oldest rocks in the islands. Older children who want to try surfing or windsurfing will find plenty of beginner schools.

What about the smaller islands?

The smaller islands suit families who want nature more than water parks.

• La Palma: a biosphere reserve and certified Starlight Reserve, home to the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. The official guide names Puerto Naos and Los Cancajos as calm, safe beaches for the whole family. Ryanair’s November 2026 timetable has no UK flights to La Palma, so see which airlines fly from your nearest airport, or take the Fred. Olsen ferry from Los Cristianos on Tenerife (150 minutes).
• La Gomera: 50 minutes by Fred. Olsen ferry from Los Cristianos, so it works well as a day trip from Tenerife. It is also home to silbo gomero, a whistled language.
• El Hierro: the youngest Canary Island, quiet and well known for its diving. Fred. Olsen sails there from Los Cristianos in 140 minutes.
• La Graciosa: about half an hour by boat from Lanzarote, with white-sand beaches and no paved roads.

When to go: the weather through the year

The islands are warm all year, but January is mild rather than hot. The table shows the average daytime high and night-time low in °C, from AEMET, Spain’s weather agency, at each island’s coastal airport (1981–2010).

October half-term is still warm, with average highs of 26–27C. An average January brings only two or three days with at least 1mm of rain, but evenings around 14–15C call for a jumper, and Teide is far colder than the coast. If small children will want to swim in winter, ask whether the pool is heated. Before an outdoor trip, look at AEMET’s weather warnings for the Canaries.

Questions to ask before you book

Put two or three hotels on a map and trace an ordinary day from the door. Then send these to the accommodation or holiday company:

• “How far is the walk to the beach, and is it step-free?” Ask about hills, steps and road crossings on the route you will actually use with a pushchair.
• “Is the pool heated in our travel month, and how deep is the children’s pool?” “Family pool” tells you neither.
• “Is a cot confirmed, and what is included for a child of this age?” Ask about meals, room occupancy and kids’ club age limits. If you would rather take your own, our travel cot comparison covers weights and fold sizes.
• “How long is the transfer, and how will child seats be supplied?” Count every stop, not just the drive.

A light buggy that folds small makes transfers and promenades easier. Our lightweight buggy comparison lists six at 6kg or less; your airline’s baggage rules decide what it will carry.

UK family travel essentials for the Canary Islands

Passports and the border

The Canary Islands are part of Spain and the Schengen area. A British passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and must expire at least three months after the day you plan to leave. Child passports last five years, so look at the children’s dates first. A baby needs a passport of their own; our newborn passport guide walks through the application. Visits are visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180.

If one parent is travelling alone with the children, take a letter of permission from everyone else with parental responsibility, with their contact details and the trip details; GOV.UK says this is usually enough, and a birth or adoption certificate helps show your relationship. At the border you may be asked for your return ticket, proof of travel insurance, proof that you have enough money for the stay and your accommodation booking.

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is now being implemented across the Schengen area, including Spain. You may need to register fingerprints and a photo, sometimes at a booth on your first entry; children aged 11 or younger are not fingerprinted but can be photographed. Allow extra time on the way home too, because EES checks may happen before boarding. The current Spain entry requirements cover the details.

For milk, hand luggage and airport security, use our guide to flying with children. Pack nappies, food, medicine and spare clothes for the flight in your hand luggage, with extra in case of a delay.

Child seats

In Spain, children under 1.35 metres tall must use an approved child seat in the back of the car. Book the right seat for your child’s size with the hire car or transfer, and look at how it is fitted before you drive off; our child-seat fit checks show what to look for.

Sun and sea

Keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight; the NHS does not recommend sunscreen for them. From six months, use SPF30 or higher with UVA protection, alongside shade, a hat and light clothing, and keep older babies out of the sun as much as possible between 11am and 3pm in summer. Reapply every two hours and straight after swimming. Clip a parasol or sunshade to the pushchair instead of covering it with a blanket, which can cause overheating. Our baby sun-cream guide has product picks.

GOV.UK warns that some beaches around Spain’s islands have strong undercurrents. Keep small children within arm’s reach in and around the sea and pools, even when a lifeguard is on duty. Never swim under a red flag, and take extra care where there are no lifeguards, flags or signs.

Health cover

Each eligible family member, children included, should take their own valid UK GHIC (or EHIC) for covered healthcare in Spain. It gives medically necessary state healthcare on the same basis as local residents, which may still involve a charge. Apply through the NHS website.

Our child GHIC application and expiry checklist explains the eligibility check, how to add a child to an application and what to arrange if the card is missing when treatment is needed.

Remember that your GHIC does not cover you for rescue or repatriation costs, so before you go, choose a travel insurance policy that covers travel delays and disruptions and the activities you have planned, such as boat trips or surf lessons. In an emergency in Spain, call 112.

Quick questions about a Canary Islands family holiday

Which Canary Island is best with a toddler?

Lanzarote: the shortest flights, a compact island and plenty of beaches sheltered from waves and currents, with El Jablillo in Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen’s sands as easy bases. Caleta de Fuste on Fuerteventura, seven kilometres from the airport, is a close second.

Which island is best with teenagers?

Tenerife, for Siam Park, Loro Parque, whale watching and the Teide cable car. Teenagers keen to learn to surf or windsurf may prefer Fuerteventura, where beginner schools are easy to find.

Do we need to hire a car?

Not for a beach-and-pool week: book a transfer and use taxis or organised trips for one or two big days out. A car makes sense if you plan several outings, such as Teide and Loro Parque from a southern Tenerife base. Our family car hire checklist covers the drive-away total, child seats and the deposit.

Are the Canary Islands warm in winter?

Warm by UK standards, but not hot. AEMET’s averages at Tenerife South airport are a 21.7C daytime high and a 15.2C low in January, against a 28.4C high in August. Pack a jumper for the evenings.

Can we visit two islands in one holiday?

Yes, and the ferries are short. On Fred. Olsen’s routes, Playa Blanca (Lanzarote) to Corralejo (Fuerteventura) takes 25 or 35 minutes, Los Cristianos (Tenerife) to La Gomera 50 minutes, and Agaete (Gran Canaria) to Santa Cruz de Tenerife 80 minutes.

Sources

1. Hello Canary Islands: holidays with the family, La Palma, El Hierro and La Graciosa; La Gomera official tourism site
2. Hello Canary Islands: Tenerife, Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos
3. Hello Canary Islands: Lanzarote, Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise
4. Hello Canary Islands: Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Maspalomas, Maspalomas Dunes, Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán
5. Hello Canary Islands: Caleta de Fuste, Corralejo and Costa Calma
6. Visit Fuerteventura: official island site and activities for children
7. CACT Lanzarote: Montañas del Fuego visitor information
8. Volcano Teide: Teide cable car, prices and opening times and plan your visit
9. CIT Puerto de la Cruz: Loro Parque
10. Poema del Mar and Palmitos Park
11. Fred. Olsen Express: inter-island routes
12. AEMET standard climate values, 1981–2010: Tenerife South, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura airports
13. Ryanair: flight timetable (November 2026 schedules from UK airports to the four islands)
14. GOV.UK: Spain entry requirements, safety and security, health, getting a child passport and permission to take a child abroad
15. NHS: free UK GHIC, babies in the sun, sunscreen and sun safety and altitude sickness