Seven days, one island, done properly — that's a recipe for a holiday you'll remember. It's tempting to island-hop, but for a single week the smarter move is to pick one island and get under its skin: settle into a base, learn a couple of good restaurants, mix beach days with a mountain day and a culture day, and never feel you're just passing through. This guide lays out relaxed seven-day plans for the four most popular islands — Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura — each blending sand, nature and local life. Treat them as a framework, not a schedule, and leave room to do nothing at all.

Rent a car for two or three of the seven days rather than the whole week. You'll want wheels for the mountain and touring days, but not for the pure beach days when you'd rather stroll. See our car hire guide.

Gran Canaria in a week

A "continent in miniature": dunes in the south, pine forests and craggy peaks inland, and a lively working capital in the north. Base yourself in the south for beaches, or split between south and Las Palmas if you like a city buzz.

  1. Day 1 — Settle in. Ease into Gran Canaria at your resort: Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés or quieter Puerto de Mogán.
  2. Day 2 — The dunes. Walk the golden Maspalomas dunes at dawn or dusk, then the long beach and lighthouse promenade.
  3. Day 3 — West-coast beaches. The sheltered coves of Amadores and Puerto Rico, with a boat trip or dolphin cruise from the marina.
  4. Day 4 — Into the mountains. Drive to the iconic monolith of Roque Nublo and the whitewashed village of Tejeda.
  5. Day 5 — Family or theme park. A day at Palmitos Park or Aqualand.
  6. Day 6 — The capital. Las Palmas for the old Vegueta quarter and the city beach of Las Canteras.
  7. Day 7 — Slow finish. Fishing-village lunch at Arguineguín and a last swim.
The wide golden sands of Maspalomas beach along the south coast of Gran Canaria
Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) / Wikimedia Commons

Tenerife in a week

The biggest island packs in the most variety: Spain's highest peak, two very different coasts, and everything from mega-resorts to misty laurel forest. A south base suits sun-seekers; the north suits greenery and character.

  1. Day 1 — Arrive. Base in Costa Adeje or lively Playa de las Américas, or northern Puerto de la Cruz.
  2. Day 2 — Teide. The volcanic national park and Mount Teide itself — cable car, lava fields and, if you can, stargazing after dark.
  3. Day 3 — Beach and theme park. Playa del Duque plus the world-class Siam Park waterpark.
  4. Day 4 — Whales and dolphins. A whale-watching trip from Los Cristianos, resident pods year-round.
  5. Day 5 — Wild Anaga. The ancient forests of Anaga Rural Park and the black sand of Playa de Benijo.
  6. Day 6 — History and animals. The old capital La Laguna, or Loro Parque in the north.
  7. Day 7 — Golden sands. Relax at palm-fringed Las Teresitas before flying home.

Lanzarote in a week

A UNESCO Biosphere shaped by fire and by one artist's vision. Black-earth vineyards, whitewashed villages and beaches lapping the volcanic coast — quieter and more design-conscious than the big southern resorts elsewhere.

  1. Day 1 — Settle in. Base in Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise or southern Playa Blanca.
  2. Day 2 — Fire mountains. The astonishing Timanfaya National Park by coach tour through the lava.
  3. Day 3 — Manrique's island. The César Manrique sights — the Jameos del Agua, Mirador del Río and cactus garden.
  4. Day 4 — Best beaches. The turquoise Papagayo coves near Playa Blanca.
  5. Day 5 — Wine and villages. The lunar vineyards of La Geria and the market at Teguise.
  6. Day 6 — Surf coast. Wild Famara beach beneath its cliffs, or the capital Arrecife.
  7. Day 7 — La Graciosa. A day-return ferry to car-free La Graciosa and its empty sands.

Fuerteventura in a week

The island of extraordinary beaches — endless white sand, turquoise shallows and reliable wind for surfers and kitesurfers. Sleepier and more low-key than its neighbours, it's all about the sea.

  1. Day 1 — Arrive. Base in northern Corralejo, central Caleta de Fuste or the southern Costa Calma.
  2. Day 2 — The great dunes. The Grandes Playas and the dune-backed natural park by Corralejo.
  3. Day 3 — Watersports. A surf, windsurf or kite lesson, or a gentler boat trip.
  4. Day 4 — The wild south. The vast lagoon of Sotavento and the beaches of the Morro Jable peninsula.
  5. Day 5 — Remote Cofete. The dramatic, hard-to-reach sweep of Cofete beneath the mountains.
  6. Day 6 — North-coast charm. The old town and lagoons of El Cotillo.
  7. Day 7 — Easy last day. A lazy beach morning near your base before departure.

Fuerteventura's finest beaches are spread far apart, and the wind that makes it a surf paradise can chill a sunbather. Pack a light windbreak and don't underestimate the driving distances to Cofete and the deep south.

Making the most of your week

Whichever island you choose, weave in the local flavour: a plate of papas arrugadas with mojo, a glass of Canary wine and a proper Canarian meal away from the resort strip. For where to lay your head, our where to stay guide breaks down each area, and if one island leaves you wanting more, the case for combining two is made in our island-hopping itineraries. A single island, unhurried, is the surest way to fall for the Canaries.