Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote - which Canary Island suits you?

Created: 12/15/2022, 12:30 p.m

By: Anna Heyers

Escape the cold winter or plan your summer vacation for next year?

The Canary Islands are among the favorite destinations of Germans - but which one is right for you?

The Canary Islands belong to Spain and have been one of the most popular holiday destinations for Germans for decades.

The climate is pleasant and thanks to its location off the west coast of Africa, the flight time is not too long.

But anyone who thinks that the seven islands are all the same is wrong.

Because every single island has its own special advantages and characteristics and some even have beautiful natural pools.

You are sure to find your new favorite island here.

And if you can't make up your mind while reading, you may have found your next holiday destination that way.

, which shows the travel trends for 2023

, also offers further inspiration for the next summer vacation .

Tenerife: plenty of space for active people and explorers

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands.

It is also home to the highest mountain in the Canary Islands that rises from the center of the island: the Pico del Teide (3,718 metres).

The Teide and its surrounding national park is a popular excursion and hiking destination for active vacationers and many tourists.

It is drier in the southern part of Tenerife.

There are some beautiful sandy beaches here.

In the north it gets greener and the landscape looks really rugged.

Meter-high birch figs, cacti, laurel forests, oleanders, dragon trees and Canarian pines thrive particularly luxuriantly in this part of the island.

Families should check out Siam Park, a water park rated by

was voted the best in the world.

The nightlife can be enjoyed in the capital Santa Cruz with its bars and restaurants.

Tip: Mardi Gras is celebrated here in white and it is one of the largest in the world – after Rio de Janeiro, of course.

The dream beach of Las Teresitas on Tenerife is one of the few white beaches on the island.

However, it did not occur naturally: the sand once came from the African Sahara desert and was piled up on the black volcanic ground.

© kotangens/Imago

Tenerife is ideal if you want to experience even more away from the beach and hotel complex.

Heavenly: These are the five most beautiful beaches on the Canary Islands

View photo gallery

Fuerteventura: for bathing fans and water sports enthusiasts

Fuerteventura is particularly known for its long, white beaches and sandbanks - a bit like in the Caribbean.

A total of around 150 kilometers stretch around the island and invite you to long days on the beach with water sports and sunbathing.

Surfers and Co. are particularly drawn to the village of El Cotillo or to the lonely beach of Cofete.

The Playa de Sotavento beach with the Risco del Paso beach section is particularly recommended for bathing fans.

At low tide, one quickly wonders whether Tenerife really is the largest of the islands.

Fuerteventura was once considered the "island of the winds" and the typical Canarian windmills can still be seen here and there today.

The beach of El Cotillo in northwestern Fuerteventura is very popular with (kite) surfers due to its ideal wave and wind conditions.

If you don't like going into the water yourself, you can simply admire the daring jumps and maneuvers from afar.

© matej kastelic/Imago

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Fuerteventura is ideal for anyone who wants to practice water sports or enjoy the most beautiful beaches in the Canary Islands.

Gran Canaria: the all-round talent for everyone

Gran Canaria has everything, making it an ideal Canary Island for beginners.

Here, misty mountains alternate with desert-like dunes and lush laurel and pine forests.

In the bustling tourist towns, things get busy, especially at night, in the quieter fishing or mountain villages you can discover one or the other restaurant or shopping gem.

Tip: If you find yourself at a farmers' market, you should definitely keep an eye out for the Queso de Flor.

The creamy cheese specialty is also called flower cheese and is typical of the island.

Nature lovers can look forward to more than 30 nature reserves, explorers to the cave dwellings in the mountain village of Artenara.

In the dunes of Maspalomas, in the very south of Gran Canaria, you sometimes feel like you are in the desert.

Be sure to take enough water with you when discovering, the next beach bar is only at the sea again.

© ELIO MONTES/Imago

Gran Canaria is perfect for getting started in the Canary Islands, everyone will find their favorite corner here.

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Lanzarote: for volcano fans and those interested in culture

On Lanzarote, the volcanic heritage of the entire Canary Islands group is particularly evident.

The island is hardly green and there are only a few white beaches.

Instead, black volcanic ash and soil predominate.

Nevertheless: The landscape, which is actually so barren, shimmers in a wide variety of colors and everything seems mystical and a bit like from another planet.

In addition, the lava is sometimes so close underground that people even cook on it.

The best way for holidaymakers to taste how it tastes is in the restaurant in Timanfaya National Park.

In addition, the handwriting of a special artist on Lanzarote is particularly striking: César Manrique worked intensively for sustainable and gentle tourism until his death.

For this reason, the island does not seem as touristy as some of its sisters.

Tip:

Wine lovers should definitely give the wine route through La Gueria, the wine-growing region, a chance and stop off at Bodegas El Grifo.

Here you can not only learn interesting things about cultivation in the volcanic region, but also really tasty souvenirs.

Almost immediately, the craters and hills of the Timanfaya Volcanic National Park rise on the horizon.

A stark contrast to the black ash fields where the wine of the La Gueria region grows.

© Lucas Vallecillos/Imago

Lanzarote is a dream for anyone who dreams of other planets and loves natural phenomena and art.

La Palma: for romantics

Actually, La Palma likes to be called Isla Verde, the green island.

40 percent is covered by forest. But the last volcanic eruption (late 2021) has conquered a lot of land, totaling 670 hectares.

And the population has also suffered and many places have changed.

Nonetheless, the islanders are looking ahead, welcoming holidaymakers back and now increasingly focusing on sustainable tourism.

Because La Palma is something special.

For example, the island has been awarded Starlight Reserve certification, making it one of the best spots for stargazing.

In addition to one of the four national parks of the Canary Islands, there are a total of 19 nature reserves and an extensive network of hiking trails.

.

By the way: In Germany there are very similar stargazing regions that are ideal for romantics.

On a clear night, the sky seems almost endless over the Caldera de Taburiente National Park on La Palma.

In 2012, the island was recognized as the world's first light protection area.

© Sergio Pitamitz/Imago

Romantics, who want to discover perhaps the most beautiful sky in Europe with their better half, make the best vacation on La Palma.

La Gomera: for hikers

Mass tourism?

This is definitely a foreign word on La Gomera.

This is probably also due to the arrival.

To get to the second smallest of the Canary Islands, you have to take the ferry across from Tenerife.

But even on the way, some lucky ones are presented with unforgettable views: dolphins often take the opportunity and cavort in the bow waves of the boat.

In the interior of the island itself, protected as a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2011, is the Garajonay National Park.

Hikers discover a 1,000-year-old laurel forest with gnarled trees, deep gorges and moss-covered stones on winding paths.

Everything looks like a fairy tale.

After an extensive hiking tour, you go to the beach, which can usually be found in the south of the island.

One of the most beautiful here is Playa de Santiago.

Garajonay National Park on La Gomera is one of the island's top day-trip destinations.

Hikers immerse themselves in an almost fairytale forest world via the winding but well-developed paths.

© Martin Siepmann/Imago

La Gomera makes the hearts of hikers and nature fans beat faster.

El Hierro: for those seeking tranquility and divers

It is the smallest of the seven and still relatively original.

El Hierro is also often called "the forgotten one", because somehow time seems to have stood still here.

In some places cell phone reception is poor or non-existent and you won't find any large shopping malls or amusement parks.

But what you will find: pure peace.

A rarity in this often rushed world.

Vacationers can only get there with a propeller plane (from La Palma) or the ferry (from Tenerife or Gran Canaria).

Divers gravitate to the south of the island for great visibility and opportunities to swim alongside whale sharks, dolphins or trumpet fish.

Beach fans will find their happiness at Playa de Timijiraque or Playa de Las Arenas Blancas, for example.

Where there are no beaches, ladders lead down to the crystal clear sea on El Hierro.

A good example of this is the Playa de Tacoron swimming bay near La Restinga in the south of the island.

© Robert Schneider/Imago

El Hierro is perfect for those who really want to switch off.