Canary Island Cities and Resorts

Discover the unique features of Canary Island cities, which ones are perfect for beach vacations, where to find accommodation for your holiday, and which ones you can just visit for a few hours. You’ll find a list of the most popular tourist cities, along with tips and recommendations for visiting.

Canary Island Cities: General Information

Here are a few general points about all cities and resorts in the Canaries:

• Throughout their modern history, spanning over 500 years since Europeans first arrived here, the Canary Islands have always been under Spanish rule. As a result, the architecture of cities and resorts carries a distinct Spanish flavor. If a city is over 200 years old, which many are, you can enjoy its colonial architecture.
• Looking at the map, the Canary Islands are quite distant from Europe, over 1000km from the mainland. Consequently, the islands largely avoided the global conflicts and wars that plagued European countries over the centuries. This spared them from destruction, leaving their architectural landmarks well-preserved. You can read more about the history of the Canaries through the provided link.

• The largest city in the Canaries has just over 300,000 people. That’s not a lot. There’s no subway here, no passenger railway. Public transportation on the islands consists only of buses and a couple of trams in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
• Any city, along with all its main attractions, can be seen in a single day if desired.

Important to Know:

All the Canary Islands are of volcanic origin, and there are few beaches. Lava rocks are prevalent, with small beaches nestled between them. Not every coastal city has a suitable beach for leisure. Check out the top 15 beaches of the Canary Islands.

The Largest Cities in the Canaries

Below is a ranking of the largest cities in the Canaries.

• In the far-right column, “Rating,” is my subjective rating, evaluating the infrastructure, attractions, beaches, and entertainment in the city. The closer the score is to 10, the more attractive the city is for tourists. For example, a score of 1 indicates an industrial center with little to offer.

Key Takeaways from the Ranking of the Largest Cities:

• These are not tourist cities for beach vacations. Seven out of ten cities are not even on the coast.
• There’s not much to do in Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife. You can stroll around the city center, see the main square, and walk along pedestrian streets, but you’ll see this city in about 5-6 hours. There are no beaches here; all the cool beaches are outside the city. There’s no point in staying here for 2-3 days unless it’s for the annual carnival.
• Among all the cities in this ranking, Las Palmas is the only tourist hub with an incredibly cool beach, and even surfing right within the city limits. You can spend your entire vacation in Las Palmas. Read more about Las Palmas, its beaches, and other tourist resorts on the island in the overview article about Gran Canaria.

Best Beach Resorts in the Canary Islands

I’ll list the top beach resorts where you’ll find all the amenities for relaxation, scenic promenades, plenty of dining options, and stunning beaches. Detailed information about all resorts can be found on the pages of this guide, where I’ll provide links for further reading and photos.

Also, if you haven’t decided on which island to visit, be sure to read the article: Where to Stay in the Canary Islands. You’ll learn about the differences between the islands and which one suits you best.

Important to Know:

Tourists often ask me about vacations in the Canaries. I’ve noticed a common misconception: the vast majority of tourists believe that all the Canary Islands are similar and alike. Consequently, 90% of tourists come to Tenerife or Gran Canaria, completely overlooking other islands. This is a big mistake.

Author’s Personal Opinion: The most beautiful and lush islands in the archipelago are La Gomera and La Palma, with Tenerife following closely behind.

So, here’s the ranking of the best beach resorts, along with coordinates and links to reviews:

• Gran Canaria Island:
  • Las Palmas: 28.143543899921887, -15.433731152434536
  • Maspalomas: 27.74133844908015, -15.574371297838882
  • Amadores: 27.79030725998711, -15.724011209717196
  • Link to the Gran Canaria Island overview was provided above.
• Tenerife Island:
  • Los Cristianos and Las Americas: 28.05044614811601, -16.717902326651018
  • Costa Adeje Beaches: 28.085379181989133, -16.736858612674272
  • Tenerife Resorts Overview.

Best Resorts on Other Canary Islands:

• Fuerteventura Island – Morro Jable Resort: 28.051055980826206, -14.35114150286792
• Lanzarote Island – Puerto del Carmen Resort: 28.920272125898556, -13.661957242594973
• La Palma Island – Resort and Capital city – Santa Cruz de La Palma: 28.68456644268531, -17.762179960208282
• La Gomera Island – Valle Gran Rey Resort: 28.082436121581637, -17.334786057148595

In Conclusion: Out of 2 million inhabitants of the Canary Islands, about 1.2 million live in the top 10 most populous cities. But the key point is that the best cities for tourists in the Canary Islands are not necessarily the largest ones (Las Palmas is a pleasant exception). The best cities are those with excellent beaches and all the infrastructure for relaxation. In the menu at the top of this guide, you’ll find reviews of each island and its resorts, helping you organize your perfect trip to the Canaries.

Useful links to help you plan your dream trip to Canary Islands:

• Car Rental: LocalRent or DiscoverCars – the most popular car rental platforms.
• Accommodation:
  • Trip.com – the largest accommodation booking platform.
  • or TripAdvisor – to compare prices among other platforms and choose the best one.
• Budget-friendly vacation packages to Spain and Canary Islands: CheapOair.
• Tours and activities: GetYourGuide or Viator – hundreds of offers, whales and dolphins, entrance tickets with discounts.
• eSIM and internet: Airalo.
• Flights: WayAway compares prices among dozens of companies.
• Travel Insurance: EKTA.