Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura offers families endless beaches, volcanic landscapes, and calm natural lagoons. Discover the best things to do with kids on this stunning Canary Island.
0 guides · SpainExplore →
🇪🇸Canary Islands
The Canary Islands offer families year-round sunshine, volcanic landscapes, golden beaches, and a laid-back vibe across seven very different islands.
10Cities
0Guides
Your family guide
Canary Islands with kids: volcanic landscapes, beaches and year-round sun
“Skip the island-hopping idea: pick one and go deep. The Canaries reward staying put, not racing between seven.”
— San & Jo
The Canary Islands are one of those rare places where the sun almost never stops shining. Sitting off the northwest coast of Africa, this Spanish archipelago enjoys a subtropical climate that locals call 'eternal spring': warm and welcoming every single month of the year. For your family, that means no anxious weather-checking before you pack the bags.
What makes the Canaries so special is how wildly different each island feels. One day you can be building sandcastles on Fuerteventura's Caribbean-like beaches, and the next you can be staring up at Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak, rising dramatically from Tenerife's volcanic heart. Black-sand beaches, golden dunes, ancient laurel forests, and lava fields: this archipelago packs an extraordinary variety of landscapes into a relatively small space.
The seven main islands, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, each have their own personality. There are lively resort towns with water parks and family attractions, quieter rural villages where life moves slowly, and everything in between. Whether your family craves beach days, volcano hikes, or wildlife encounters, the Canary Islands have you covered.
Year-round sunshineAvg. 24°C / 75°F
7 main islandsEach with its own character
Spanish spokenEnglish widely understood in resorts
Cities and places in Canary Islands
10 places
Gran Canaria
From the Maspalomas Dunes to mountain villages and whale watching, Gran Canaria packs extraordinary variety into one family-friendly island destination.
0 guides · SpainExplore →
Lanzarote
Explore Lanzarote with kids: volcanic landscapes, César Manrique attractions, secluded beaches, and fresh seafood. A family holiday that genuinely surprises.
0 guides · SpainExplore →
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria combines a stunning urban beach, a UNESCO old town, world-class museums, and year-round sunshine into one brilliant family destination.
0 guides · SpainExplore →
Maspalomas
Maspalomas combines a 404-hectare dune reserve, a wildlife lagoon, Aqualand water park, and year-round sunshine into one of Spain's top family holiday destinations.
0 guides · SpainExplore →
Mount Teide
Mount Teide is Spain's highest peak and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore lunar lava fields, ride the cable car above the clouds, and stargaze under some of the clearest skies…
0 guides · SpainExplore →
Playa del Inglés
Playa del Inglés on Gran Canaria offers families golden beaches, giant dunes, water parks, and year-round sunshine. Here is everything you need to plan your trip.
0 guides · SpainExplore →
Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz blends a historic fishing village with resort comfort, black-sand beaches, the Jardín Botánico, and Lago Martiánez for an easy family holiday on Tenerife.
0 guides · SpainExplore →
Tenerife
Tenerife combines Mount Teide's volcanic scenery, world-class theme parks, whale watching, and year-round sunshine into one of Europe's best family destinations.
0 guides · SpainExplore →
Timanfaya
Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote is a dramatic volcanic landscape with live geothermal demos, camel rides, and a lunar-like atmosphere that fascinates children.
0 guides · SpainExplore →
What makes it special
What makes the Canary Islands work for families
Beaches for every kind of family
From the sweeping golden dunes of Maspalomas in Gran Canaria to the endless sandy coastline of Fuerteventura, the Canary Islands offer some of Europe's most beautiful and family-friendly beaches. Calm, shallow waters make them ideal for little swimmers and confident teens alike.
Landscapes unlike anywhere else
The volcanic origins of these islands have created scenery that genuinely stops you in your tracks. Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote looks like another planet, with its lava fields and coloured craters. Mount Teide on Tenerife towers above the clouds. Children find these landscapes fascinating.
Nature and wildlife around every corner
From giant lizards in tropical plantation gardens to the ancient laurel forests of Garajonay National Park on La Gomera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the natural world here is genuinely extraordinary. Nature-loving families will find plenty to discover beyond the beach.
Sun every single month
The Canary Islands are one of Europe's top winter sun destinations for a reason. With temperatures hovering around 24°C year-round, you can plan your family holiday for any time of year without worrying about the weather letting you down.
History and culture woven into the landscape
San Cristóbal de La Laguna on Tenerife is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its beautiful colonial architecture. On Lanzarote, the entire island feels shaped by artist and architect César Manrique, whose creative vision turned volcanic terrain into living art.
Your kind of holiday
Beach and resort life
The Canary Islands are synonymous with long beach days, and islands like Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria deliver in spades. Safe, sandy beaches, calm Atlantic waters, and well-equipped resort towns mean your family gets maximum relaxation with minimum stress.
Volcano hiking and outdoor adventure
Tenerife's Mount Teide, Lanzarote's Timanfaya, and La Palma's Caldera de Taburiente National Park offer dramatic landscapes for families who love the outdoors. Hiking through pine forests, peering into craters, and spotting the stars from high-altitude viewpoints make for impressive family experiences.
Off-the-beaten-path island hopping
La Gomera's Valle de Gran Rey, El Hierro's remote lava coastlines, and La Palma's pine-blanketed mountains offer a quieter, more authentic Canarian experience. These lesser-visited islands reward curious families with space, silence, and a real sense of discovery.
Fun facts
Things to know about Canary Islands
The world's third tallest volcano is here
Mount Teide on Tenerife stands at 3,718 metres and is the highest peak in all of Spain. Measured from its base on the ocean floor, it is the third tallest volcano on Earth. On a clear day from the summit, you can see several other Canary Islands at once.
One of the world's biggest carnivals happens here
Every year, Santa Cruz de Tenerife hosts a carnival so spectacular it is considered second only to Rio de Janeiro. Elaborate costumes, music, and street parties fill the city for weeks. If your family visits in February, you are in for an incredible show.
Giant lizards roam the islands
The Canary Islands are home to giant lizards that you can encounter in tropical plantation settings across the archipelago. They have lived here for thousands of years and are totally harmless, though they might surprise you if you are not expecting them.
Taste the Canary Islands
What to eat with your family in the Canary Islands
Papas arrugadas with mojo sauce
Small wrinkled potatoes boiled in heavily salted water and served with mojo picón (a spicy red pepper sauce) or mojo verde (a milder green herb version). These are on almost every menu and are a guaranteed hit with kids who love dipping.
Kids love it
Gofio
A toasted maize or wheat flour that is a true staple of Canarian life. You will find it at breakfast mixed into milk, stirred into stews, or shaped into a dough called pella. It has a nutty, comforting flavour that makes it a great introduction to local food for curious kids.
Local favourite
Fresh grilled Atlantic fish
Parrotfish (vieja), grouper (mero), and sea bass are caught fresh from the Atlantic and typically served simply grilled with papas arrugadas on the side. It is honest, delicious food that even cautious eaters tend to enjoy.
Safe choice
Bienmesabe
A rich, sweet dessert sauce made from local almonds, eggs, sugar, and lemon. You will find it drizzled over ice cream or used in cakes and pastries. The name literally means 'tastes good to me' in Spanish, and children usually enjoy it.
Must try
Sancocho canario
A hearty traditional stew of salted fish served with sweet potatoes, gofio, and papas arrugadas. It is particularly popular in Gran Canaria and gives you a genuine taste of how Canarian families have eaten for generations.
Local favourite
More in Spain
6 regions
Andalusia
Andalusia is southern Spain at its most spectacular. Discover UNESCO palaces, dramatic gorges, Mediterranean beaches, and a food culture built for sharing.
0 guides · 5 placesExplore →
Balearic Islands
Discover the Balearic Islands with your family: four distinct islands with stunning beaches, mountain trails, prehistoric history, and food your kids will love.
0 guides · 5 placesExplore →
Barcelona & Surroundings
Discover why Barcelona and its surroundings are a top family destination, from Gaudí's iconic landmarks and golden beaches to medieval history and incredible Catalan food.
0 guides · 2 placesExplore →
Basque Country, Navarra & La Rioja
Basque Country, Navarra and La Rioja offer families dramatic landscapes, world-renowned cuisine, historic castles, and a culture unlike anywhere else in Europe.
0 guides · 3 placesExplore →
Costa Brava & Girona
Kayak hidden coves, explore medieval Girona, and eat your way through Catalan food culture. Costa Brava and Girona is one of Spain's most rewarding family destinations.
0 guides · 5 placesExplore →
Costa del Sol & Southern Andalusia
The Costa del Sol combines safe Mediterranean beaches, Moorish history, white mountain villages, and incredible food into one of Europe's best family destinations.
0 guides · 6 placesExplore →
New Canary Islands guides every week
Get the latest family travel tips for Canary Islands straight to your inbox.