A great Canary Islands holiday usually comes down to a handful of good decisions made before you fly — and a few classic mistakes avoided. The islands are easy, warm and welcoming, but first-timers regularly land on the wrong island, pick the cloudy side by accident, underestimate the sun or pay over the odds by booking late. None of it is hard to sidestep once you know. Here are the tips that matter most, plus the common pitfalls to steer clear of, so your trip is as good as the islands can make it.
1. Choose the right island — and the right side
This is the single most important decision, and the one people most often get wrong. The eight islands are genuinely different: Fuerteventura for wild beaches, Lanzarote for volcanic design, the western islands for green quiet, Tenerife and Gran Canaria for variety. Just as important is which coast you pick. Thanks to the trade winds, the north of each island is greener and cloudier while the south is drier and sunnier — so a winter sun-seeker who books a northern resort can be baffled by the grey skies. As a rule, head south for guaranteed sun and calm; north for lush scenery and character. Settle the island first with our which island should you choose guide, then the resort with where to stay.
The most common Canaries mistake: booking a resort on the cloudy northern coast expecting wall-to-wall sun. If sunbathing is your priority, choose a southern resort — the difference between the two sides of the same island can be striking.
2. Respect the sun
The Canaries sit far south off the Sahara, and the UV is high all year — often stronger than it feels, because the trade winds keep the air cool and breezy. People burn on overcast days and on the plane-cabin-cool beach without realising. Use a high-factor sunscreen, reapply after swimming, wear a hat and seek shade in the middle of the day, and drink more water than you think you need. This matters even in winter. Our health and safety guide covers sun, sea and pharmacies in full.
3. Hire a car — even for a day or two
The resorts are the front door; the real islands begin inland. A hire car unlocks the mountain villages, hidden coves and national parks that most package tourists never see, and car rental in the Canaries is famously cheap. You don't need it for the whole trip — even a day or two transforms a holiday, letting you reach places like the volcanic uplands or a quiet beach beyond the crowds. Read our car hire in the Canaries guide before you book, and note the practicalities in driving in the Canary Islands.
Book your hire car in advance, especially in peak season and over Christmas and Easter. Local demand spikes, the best-value companies sell out, and airport walk-up rates are far higher than pre-booked ones.
4. Book ahead — flights, cars and Christmas
The Canaries are busiest exactly when northern Europe is coldest, so winter — counter-intuitively — is high season. Christmas, New Year, February half-term and Easter fill up early, and prices climb for late bookers. If you're travelling then, book flights, accommodation and hire car well in advance. Popular excursions and top restaurants in peak weeks are worth reserving too. Conversely, the shoulder months offer better value and thinner crowds with barely any drop in weather.
5. Consider low season for value and calm
Because the weather is reliable year-round, the "quieter" months are a genuine bargain. Late spring and autumn — outside the school holidays and the winter-sun rush — bring lower prices, fewer crowds and still-glorious weather. If your dates are flexible and you don't need to travel in peak periods, this is the savvy traveller's secret. Our best time to visit guide breaks the seasons down island by island so you can time it right.
6. Eat and shop like a local
You'll eat better and cheaper by stepping off the resort strip. Seek out local dishes — papas arrugadas with mojo, fresh Atlantic fish and light Canary wines — at neighbourhood restaurants rather than the "full English" cafés. The low IGIC sales tax keeps prices down across the board, and local markets are great for produce and crafts. A little effort here is the difference between a generic holiday and a real taste of the islands.
7. Pack for sun, breeze and the odd cool evening
Even in the warm months, evenings can turn breezy and the higher altitudes (like Teide) are genuinely cold, so bring a light layer alongside the shorts and swimwear. Reef-friendly sunscreen, a hat, sturdy shoes if you plan to walk, and a light waterproof for the greener north all earn their place. Don't over-pack the basics, though — anything you forget is cheap to buy locally.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming all eight islands are the same — they aren't; match the island to your holiday.
- Booking the wrong coast — south for sun, north for green.
- Underestimating the sun — high UV all year, even when it feels cool.
- Never leaving the resort — the best of the islands is inland and along the coast.
- Leaving hire cars and Christmas bookings too late — peak season fills up.
- Trying to island-hop on a short trip — one island per week is the comfortable ratio.
Put it all together
Choose the right island and the right side, respect the sun, grab a hire car for a day or two, book ahead in peak season and look beyond the resort strip — do those five things and the Canaries rarely disappoint. For the finer detail, dive into where to stay, best time to visit and the individual island hubs, and you'll travel like someone on their fifth trip rather than their first.
Nearly every Canaries regret traces back to one avoidable choice — the wrong island or the wrong coast. Get those right and the rest falls into place.