The best rainy day activities in the Canary Islands are the aquariums and science museums, the spectacular volcanic caves like Cueva de los Verdes, Jameos del Agua and Cueva del Viento, the big shopping centres, and Siam Park — where you're getting wet anyway. Rain is genuinely rare in the Canaries, and when it does come it tends to be brief and mostly in the greener north, so a grey morning rarely spoils a holiday. But it's good to have a plan, and the islands have plenty of brilliant indoor and weather-proof options. This guide rounds them up and links each to its full guide, plus our guide to Canary Islands weather.
First, how much rain to expect
Very little. The southern resorts of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are among the driest, sunniest places in Europe, and a full rainy day in summer is unusual. Showers are more likely in winter and on the cooler, greener north coasts, and they usually pass quickly. So treat these ideas as a backup for the odd grey spell rather than a whole holiday's worth. For the detail by month, see our Canary Islands weather guide.
Aquariums — Poema del Mar
Top of the indoor list is Poema del Mar in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria, one of Europe's finest aquariums, built around a spectacular curved ocean tank. It's a superb couple of hours whatever the weather, and a genuine highlight in its own right. On Tenerife, the animal parks with covered attractions also make good wet-weather bets when the sun hides.
Explore the volcanic caves
The islands' lava tubes are among their most extraordinary sights — and they're perfectly dry inside. On Lanzarote, the artist Cesar Manrique turned two into unmissable attractions: Cueva de los Verdes, a vast lava tunnel with a famous optical surprise, and Jameos del Agua, a magical collapsed cave with an underground lake, concert auditorium and turquoise pool. On Tenerife, Cueva del Viento is one of the world's longest volcanic tubes, explored on a guided tour. All three are ideal rainy-day outings — book ahead, as visitor numbers are limited.
Museums and science centres
Every island capital has good museums for a wet morning. On Gran Canaria, the Museo Canario in Las Palmas tells the story of the islands' aboriginal Guanche people, with an atmospheric collection well worth an hour or two. Science centres, historical museums and art galleries across the islands offer more of the same — cultural, dry and often inexpensive, with free-entry days if you time it right.
Shopping centres
When the weather really sets in, the big commercial centres make a comfortable, air-conditioned day out with shops, cafés, cinemas and often bowling under one roof. From the malls of southern Tenerife and Gran Canaria to the bazaars of Puerto del Carmen, there's plenty to browse. See our guide to shopping in the Canary Islands for where to go and what's a genuine bargain.
Siam Park — you're getting wet anyway
Here's the counter-intuitive rainy-day tip: head to a water park. At Tenerife's world-famous Siam Park — regularly voted the best in the world — you're soaked from the first slide regardless of the sky, and the queues are shorter when the weather looks iffy. As long as it's warm and there's no thunder, a cloudy day at the water park can be one of the best-value days of the trip. See more options in our water parks guide.
Animal and theme parks under cover
Several of the islands' biggest attractions work fine under grey skies. Tenerife's Loro Parque mixes covered animal houses, an aquarium and indoor shows with its outdoor enclosures, so a passing shower needn't spoil the day. On Gran Canaria, the tropical gardens and bird shows of Palmitos Park and the dolphinarium keep children entertained, and many of the islands' smaller wildlife parks, reptile houses and butterfly gardens are at least partly indoors. They're not strictly rainy-day attractions, but they cope with the weather far better than the beach does.
Long lunches and local culture
Sometimes the best response to rain is to slow down. A wet afternoon is the perfect excuse for a long Canarian lunch — order papas arrugadas with mojo, a plate of fresh fish and a glass of Canary wine, and let the shower pass. The old-town cafés and covered markets of the island capitals are made for exactly this, and a rainy day is a good moment to explore the food and history you might skip when the sun's out. See our guide to eating out in the Canaries.
Rainy day ideas by island
| Island | Best wet-weather picks |
|---|---|
| Gran Canaria | Poema del Mar, Museo Canario, shopping centres |
| Tenerife | Cueva del Viento, Siam Park, museums in Santa Cruz |
| Lanzarote | Cueva de los Verdes, Jameos del Agua |
| Fuerteventura | Aquariums, wildlife parks, shopping |
If a rare wet spell hits the north, remember the south of the same island is often still sunny — a short drive can find you blue skies. On the western islands a cloudy coast frequently means clear weather up in the mountains, so head for higher ground.
The bottom line
Rain rarely troubles a Canary holiday, but when it does you're spoilt for choice. Visit the Poema del Mar aquarium, explore the caves at Cueva de los Verdes, Jameos del Agua or Cueva del Viento, learn something at the Museo Canario, browse the shopping centres, or simply embrace the wet at a water park. Check what to expect first in our Canary Islands weather guide.