Which is the best Canary Island for winter sun?

If you want winter sunshine without committing to a long-haul flight, the Canary Islands are difficult to beat.  

Sitting pretty at just four to five hours from the UK, they stay pleasantly springlike, while most of Europe is still firmly in big coat weather. In fact, temperatures across the archipelago rarely drop below 20°C during winter, with December averaging around 22°C.  

But if you're hoping for a winter glow, you might find yourself wondering which is the warmest Canary Island in winter?  

The short answer is southern Tenerife, with southern Gran Canaria extremely close behind. But that doesn't necessarily make Tenerife the best island for everyone, though. Fuerteventura has arguably the best beaches, Lanzarote combines reliable sunshine with brilliant volcanic scenery, and Gran Canaria has some of the best winter resorts in the archipelago.  

Here's how to choose the right island for your Canaries winter sun holiday. 

Looking at long-term climate averages, the south of Tenerife has a slight edge. 

AEMET, Spain's national weather service, records average daytime highs at Tenerife South Airport of around 22.8°C in December, 21.7°C in January and 22°C in February. That's marginally warmer than the equivalent airport figures for Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. 

To help you compare, here are the average daily highs during the winter months on the four most popular Canary Islands:  

Tenerife: High in December 22.8°C | High in January 21.7°C | High in February 22.0°C | Warmest overall 

Gran Canaria: High in December 22.2°C | High in January 20.8°C | High in February 21.2°C | A very close second 

Lanzarote: High in December 21.8°C | High in January 20.7°C | High in February 21.3°C | Usually dry and sunny 

Fuerteventura: High in December 22.0°C | High in January 20.6°C | High in February 21.0°C | Best for beaches 

While these figures are useful for comparison, they don't tell the whole story. 

The Canary Islands are full of microclimates. Mountains, prevailing winds and the direction a resort faces can make one side of an island noticeably sunnier than another. 

That means choosing the right resort can be just as important as choosing the right island. 

Best for: First-time Canary Islands visitors, families, couples and reliable winter warmth.   

If you could only pick one Canary Island for a winter sun holiday, Tenerife is the obvious choice.  

Not because it's hugely hotter than everywhere else. The differences are usually only a degree or so. It's because Tenerife combines that slight temperature advantage with a huge choice of hotels, beaches, restaurants and things to do – like checking out the view from the top of Mount Teide, the highest mountain in Spain.  

The important thing is to stay in the south. For excellent value winter sun, concentrate on the south-western resort belt around: 

• Costa Adeje 

• Playa de las Américas 

• Los Cristianos 

• Callao Salvaje 

• Playa Paraíso 

The south of the island typically offers shorts-and-T-shirts weather throughout winter, with sunbathing usually possible too. Los Cristianos and neighbouring Las Vistas both have sheltered beaches with calm water and plenty of restaurants and facilities nearby. 

Northern Tenerife is greener and beautiful, but it also tends to be cloudier and wetter. If the main point of your trip is escaping the British winter, stick to the south. Lots of hotel competition also means you can also shop around between Self Catering, B&B, Half Board and All Inclusive. 

Best for: Couples, resort choice, nightlife and mixing beach days with exploring.   

Gran Canaria is Tenerife's closest rival for the title of best Canary Island for winter sun. And if you choose your resort carefully, you'll struggle to notice much difference in temperature.  

Again, you'll want to head south. If warmth is your priority, look around Puerto Rico and the municipality of Mogán. Puerto Rico sits on Gran Canaria's south coast and is specifically promoted by the island's tourism board as somewhere you can sunbathe throughout the year. Its sheltered beach also has calm water and a string of local restaurants to dip in and out of.  

Other strong winter options include Puerto de Mogán for a prettier, more relaxed base, Maspalomas and Meloneras for dunes, beaches and smart hotels, and Playa del Inglés for more nightlife and a huge choice of accommodation. 

Why choose Gran Canaria over Tenerife? Gran Canaria arguably gives you even more contrast in a relatively small area. 

You can spend the morning on the dunes in Maspalomas, explore mountain villages inland, and then head into Las Palmas for restaurants, shopping and city beaches. 

If you want short-haul winter sun but don't necessarily want to spend the entire week in one resort, it's an excellent choice. 

Best for: Couples, families, sightseeing and anyone who likes a beach holiday with plenty to explore.   

Lanzarote doesn't quite beat Tenerife on temperature, but the difference is tiny. Rainfall is also low, with only around three days per month getting at least 1mm of rain during the middle of winter. 

What really sets Lanzarote apart is the landscape. Alongside the typical beaches and hotel pools, you've got volcanic scenery, whitewashed villages, vineyards, and César Manrique's distinctive architecture. 

Playa Blanca is one of the best resorts for winter sun in Lanzarote. It's on the southern tip of Lanzarote and has a relaxed atmosphere, a marina, restaurants and easy access to the Papagayo beaches. Nearby Flamingo Beach is particularly good for families, with fine sand and sheltered water. Puerto del Carmen is another strong option if you want more restaurants and nightlife. 

Ultimately, Lanzarote is a good middle ground if you want reliable winter weather coupled with plenty of things to point your camera at.  

Best for: Beaches, surfing, couples and travellers who like plenty of space.   

Fuerteventura isn't technically the hottest Canary Island, but it might still be the best choice if your idea of winter sun involves miles of sand. Because where Fuerteventura really comes out on top is the coastline. 

Corralejo gives you beaches, restaurants and the spectacular dunes in the north. Caleta de Fuste works particularly well for families, and Costa Calma is quieter and beach-focused. 

And Jandía and Morro Jable in the south are brilliant if long sandy beaches are your main requirement. The official tourism board describes Jandía as an area for enjoying the island's mild climate at any time of year. 

What's the catch? The clue is in the name, with fuerte in Spanish meaning strong, and viento meaning wind –  Fuerteventura can be quite breezy.  

That's excellent news for windsurfers and kitesurfers, but on cooler winter days, the breeze can make the temperature feel lower than the number on your weather app. 

If you're travelling mainly to sit beside a swimming pool in January, sheltered south Tenerife may feel warmer even when the actual temperatures are similar. 

For some people, absolutely. Others might only make it as far as their ankles. 

Average sea temperatures range from roughly 18°C in February to 25°C in August. So swimming in December or January is perfectly possible, but the Atlantic isn't going to feel like bathwater. 

If swimming is important to you, look for a hotel with a heated outdoor pool or indoor swimming facilities to be on the safe side. 

For families, Tenerife or Gran Canaria are the top choices. Both have enormous selections of family hotels, restaurants, beaches and attractions.  

Tenerife gets the edge if your kids love waterparks and big-ticket attractions, while Gran Canaria has some excellent sheltered beaches for the sandcastle fans. Puerto Rico's beach, for example, is protected and known for calm water, making it particularly family-friendly.  

Lanzarote is another great family choice if you'd prefer a quieter atmosphere. 

If you're wondering which Canary Island is the best rather than simply which is hottest, we'd rank them differently depending on what you want. 

• Best overall: Tenerife 

• Best for winter warmth: South Tenerife 

• Best southern winter resorts: Gran Canaria 

• Best beaches: Fuerteventura 

• Best scenery: Lanzarote 

• Best for families: Tenerife/Gran Canaria 

• Best for couples: Lanzarote/Gran Canaria 

• Best for nightlife: Tenerife/Gran Canaria 

There's also La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, which are brilliant for walkers, scenery and quieter trips, but the four larger islands give you far more choice when it comes to value and resort facilities. 

Because the weather differences between the islands are so small, price and resort location should influence your decision too. For a winter break, the difference between paying £600 and £800 per person is likely to matter much more than the difference between 21.2°C and 22°C. 

A few things worth considering: 

• Stay south. Southern Tenerife and Gran Canaria are usually better bets for winter sunshine than the greener north. 

• Compare all four islands. Don't decide you're going to Tenerife before checking Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. 

• Travel outside Christmas and February half-term if you can. 

• Compare nearby resorts. Los Cristianos could be cheaper than Costa Adeje and Puerto Rico could beat Meloneras. 

• Look for heated pools. Especially in December, January and February. 

• Check different board options. Self Catering can be a real bargain in resorts with lots of affordable restaurants. 

• Compare airports and durations. The cheapest seven-night package isn't always the best-value option. 

If warmth is the deciding factor, choose southern Tenerife.  

It has a slight temperature advantage, lots of sunshine and a huge choice of winter package holidays around Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos.  

But it's a very close race. Gran Canaria may suit you better if you like Puerto Rico, Maspalomas or Puerto de Mogán. Lanzarote is a top contender for a more scenic holiday, while Fuerteventura wins if your main requirement is a huge sandy beach.  

That's the good thing about winter in the Canary Islands. You don't really need to obsess over finding the hottest Canary Island.  

Pick the resort, hotel and price you like best, stay on the sunnier side of the island, and you've got a very good chance of swapping the British winter for blue skies and 20-something degrees. Which, when it's dark at 4pm back home, often feels more than warm enough. 

For more affordable winter sun inspiration, visit the Sundeals blog, or browse the hottest deals to the Canaries to start planning your winter getaway.   

Author: Amabel Buck