Decision guide · reviewed on 8 October 2026
In winter, choose the island and which side of the island.
Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote are the islands most often requested for winter-sun holidays. Fuerteventura comes in when the priority is wind, long beaches and an even more open pace. La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro need a different brief: more nature and less resort beach. Official information from Spain describes winter averages around 20 ºC and little rain: mild warmth, not tropical heat.
| Priority | Tenerife | Gran Canaria | Lanzarote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter sun | The south coast (Adeje, Arona) is the usual bet for beach and pool. | The south (Maspalomas, Mogán) holds most of the winter beach offer. | A drier, more open island; less north–south contrast than Tenerife. |
| Outings | Teide, Anaga and laurel forest mean another microclimate; pack a layer. | Maspalomas dunes, the interior and viewpoints; the north is greener and damper. | Volcanic landscape, Timanfaya and César Manrique’s legacy. |
| Families | Many south-coast hotels with meal plans and entertainment; check the beach. | Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés concentrate services; the south-west is quieter. | A calmer pace; check wind and the sand at the beach you choose. |
| Winter sea | The Atlantic is usually cooler than in late summer. Check the sea temperature close to your dates; a heated pool may matter more than the beach photograph. | ||
Official averages help you choose the coast.
In the AEMET 1981–2010 normals for Tenerife South, December has a mean maximum of 22.8 ºC and a mean minimum of 16.5 ºC; January falls to 21.7 ºC / 15.2 ºC, with little rain. At Gran Canaria Airport, December’s mean maximum is about 22.2 ºC; at Lanzarote Airport, about 21.8 ºC. The north is not the same figure: Tenerife North station sits above 600 m and records far more rain. Santa Cruz, at low altitude but on another coast, also gathers more winter rainfall than the south. The useful question is “which coast?”, not only “which island?”.
Planning example (not a package): for seven nights in December I would keep a single base in the south of Tenerife or Gran Canaria, with one inland day and room for wind. If volcanic landscape and less height matter more, I would compare Lanzarote. I would not join two islands in a short week unless the domestic flight and transfer are confirmed without using up two half-days.
What should appear in the proposal
Island, area (south or north), hotel orientation, meal plan, transfer and whether the pool is heated in winter. If you want walks, say the level and whether you accept a cloudier day in the north. Give the departure airport you choose and how flexible the dates are.
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Sources: Spain.info — Canary Islands in winter, AEMET — Tenerife Sur, AEMET — Gran Canaria Airport, AEMET — Lanzarote Airport, Hello Canary Islands and Tenerife Tourism. Treat winter swimming qualitatively: check the sea temperature and the forecast close to your dates.