Canary Islands Attractions: What to See on the Canary Islands? Discover the top locations for tourists in the Canaries with our extensive review. This guide includes photos, descriptions, maps, prices, and visiting tips. It aims to give you a great first impression of the Canaries and help you choose your ideal island for a vacation.

Canary Islands Attractions: Overview

In this article, I’ve compiled 2-4 top attractions from each island in the Canary archipelago to showcase the diversity among them.

Many tourists make the mistake of spending their entire vacation on just one island, typically Tenerife or Gran Canaria. This approach overlooks the unique offerings of the other islands. Every island is distinct, and Tenerife is not necessarily the best one in the archipelago

General Tips and Recommendations:

  • The Canary Islands are perfect for car rentals. They have excellent free roads, free parking, numerous viewpoints, beautiful mountains, volcanoes, and ocean views. Gasoline here is 20% cheaper than on mainland Europe, and rental prices are low. Without a car, you will miss out on many amazing attractions on the Canaries. Learn all about car rentals on the islands, including tips and specifics.
  • If you haven’t decided which island(s) to visit, I highly recommend reading the article: “Where to Stay on the Canary Islands.” It covers where you’ll find more beach resorts, differences between the islands, and which island suits which type of tourist.
canary islands attractions
A car is essential to truly experience the Canary Islands. Without one, you won’t reach the hidden gems. While you could use guided tours, they are significantly more expensive.

Map of the Best Attractions in the Canary Islands

The dynamic map below allows you to click and explore detailed information. It includes only the attractions mentioned in this article. Further down, you’ll find links to extensive reviews of attractions on each island, helping you plan your entire vacation. These reviews also feature maps of interesting locations, resorts, and beaches.

What to See on the Canary Islands: Top 20

Mount Teide – The Highest Peak in Spain (Tenerife)

Teide is the iconic landmark of the Canary Islands, a dormant volcano, and the highest point in the archipelago and Spain. It’s a real three-thousander you can conquer, plus it’s a vast national park in central Tenerife with lava fields and the Garcia Rocks.

what to visit in canaries
Seeing Teide is a must when visiting the Canary Islands. The photo shows the Garcia Rocks in the foreground and Teide’s summit in the background, taken at an altitude of 2400m.
  • Coordinates of the summit (3718 meters): 28.273067245156735, -16.642695543433568
  • For detailed information about Teide National Park, how to get there, climb it, costs, and other attractions, refer to the article linked here. There’s a lot of useful information.
  • Plan a full day for the park.
  • Teide is the number one attraction in the Canaries. If you haven’t seen Teide, you haven’t been to Tenerife.

Tip:

Teide is visible on any flight between the islands. Even if you fly domestically from La Palma to Gran Canaria, you’ll see Teide from the airplane window. The summit is either cloud-free or above the clouds and clearly visible from the plane.

Loro Park and Siam Park (Tenerife)

Two must-see attractions in Tenerife for the whole family. Loro Park is one of the best zoos in the world, and Siam Park is the best water park globally (awarded this title nine times in a row!). Both parks are managed by the same company and are top-notch. I highly recommend visiting both, but keep in mind that family tickets can be expensive.

list of best attractions in the canary
Two top attractions in the Canary Islands. The top photo shows Siam Park and one of its many slides (look underwater), while the bottom photo features the orca show in Loro Park.

Tip:

Loro Park’s ticket includes shows with seals, parrots, dolphins, and orcas! Arrive at opening time to see everything.

Masca Village (Tenerife)

Masca is a beautiful 18th-century Spanish village located in a stunning mountainous gorge. With a population of only 90 people, getting to Masca involves navigating a very narrow serpentine road, which can be quite an adventure for novice drivers.

For active tourists, there are hiking opportunities, while architecture enthusiasts can explore a village frozen in time.

interesting places canary
Natural beauty is everywhere you look in Masca.
  • Coordinates: 28.304646380524435, -16.840505880275224
  • Visiting the village is free.
  • If you don’t plan to hike into the gorge, an hour is sufficient to explore the village itself, which is quite small. Don’t miss trying cactus (prickly pear) ice cream available in a shop on the main street.

Tip:

The road to Masca is a 5 km narrow serpentine from the main wide road. If you drive early in the morning, around 9 AM, there are very few cars since most tourists are still on their way. This significantly reduces the stress for the driver. You’ll encounter many cars only on your way back.

A large overview of the TOP 15 attractions of Tenerife, including those above.

Poema del Mar Aquarium (Gran Canaria)

One of the top attractions on Gran Canaria and a world-class aquarium. It features a massive tank with millions of liters of water offering panoramic views. Words can’t do it justice; it’s a must-see for both children and adults.

best places canary islands
On the left is the main aquarium, on the right is the tunnel under the aquarium. If you have never been to such places, then delight is guaranteed for both you and the children.

Tip:

Plan your visit 3-4 hours before closing time. Half an hour before closing, the crowd thins out, allowing you to enjoy the views in solitude (as shown in the photo above). Sitting quietly in the main hall with the panoramic aquarium is a truly memorable experience. Notably, the aquarium is owned by the same company as Siam Park and Loro Park in Tenerife, which is a mark of quality on the Canaries.

Maspalomas Dunes (Gran Canaria)

If you look at a map, you’ll see that the Canary Islands are much closer to Africa than Europe. Just 100 km from Africa, and specifically the Sahara Desert, African wind (Calima) has carried hundreds of thousands of tons of sand to the Canaries over millions of years. Today, the southern tip of Gran Canaria features a unique site – a miniature Sahara, the Maspalomas sand dunes.

best sights in canaries
This is a real desert. This is what the Maspalomas dunes look like from a drone
  • Coordinates: 27.74063023140617, -15.575116077195233
  • This area also boasts the island’s two longest sandy beaches, popular among tourists. Additionally, it’s home to the island’s main nudist beach.
  • The entire location is free to visit.

Tip:

Walking through the dunes under the scorching sun is far from paradise. This is the island’s most famous and iconic attraction, best visited either in the morning or at sunset when it’s cooler.

Roque Nublo (Gran Canaria)

Roque Nublo, standing at 1813 meters, is the third highest peak on Gran Canaria. This uniquely shaped rock held significant religious importance for the native Guanche tribes, who performed rituals here. It’s not just a viewpoint but also a hike, with an easy 1.5 km trail from the nearest parking lot.

Kanaren Sehenswürdigkeiten
Roque Nublo is a symbol of Gran Canaria that is important to the locals.
  • Coordinates: 27.97041894948884, -15.612733071396374
  • The island’s center is rich with beautiful trails, hiking paths, and dozens of viewpoints. You can easily spend an entire day in this part of the island.

Tip:

Before heading to Roque Nublo, plan your route through the island’s center. There are many interesting and scenic natural spots to explore. Active tourists can spend the whole day hiking along one of the numerous marked trails.

A detailed overview of Gran Canaria’s top attractions, including prices, maps, and tips.

Unique Wine Region (Lanzarote)

This region is something you need to see and taste for yourself. In short, all wine from Lanzarote has DOP status (Protected Designation of Origin). The grapes grow in a unique way on the lava fields on the slopes of active volcanoes. There are dozens of wineries, each with a shop where you can go for a tasting or just buy a bottle of local wine.

besten Orte Kanaren
Top photo: One of the most famous wineries on the island, which you can visit. There’s a shop and tastings available. Bottom photo: This is what vineyards on Lanzarote look like on lava fields.

Tip:

Wine lovers and connoisseurs should definitely visit. This is a unique region, and there aren’t many places in the world where grapes are grown this way. You can’t get here by bus, only by car rental or a private tour with a personal guide.

César Manrique Foundation (Lanzarote)

If you’re heading to Lanzarote, I recommend reading about César Manrique and his biography beforehand. He is the most famous Canary Islander in the world, born on Lanzarote. He lived, created, and died here in 1992. Manrique is a legend on the island, and most attractions are connected to him in some way. One of the most central is the César Manrique Foundation. This is his villa and creative space that he built on a lava field.

canarian sights and attractions
César Manrique Foundation – This is the interior design of the villa. Manrique designed it for himself and lived and created here for about 20 years.
  • Coordinates: 29.002097216333798, -13.547539822337807
  • Tickets cost 10 euros. On the island, there is also the Lagomar villa, designed and built in the same style, as well as the Jameos del Agua art space. All these projects were designed by César Manrique.

Tip:

Many tourists (myself included) didn’t know who César Manrique was before visiting Lanzarote. But after a trip to the island, you become a fan and admirer. Every corner of the island is connected to his name and his work in some way.

Timanfaya National Park and the Volcano Restaurant (Lanzarote)

A unique location for all the Canary Islands. An enormous field of solidified lava, volcano craters, with temperatures of around 600 degrees Celsius just 3-5 meters below the surface. In the center of this national park is the EL DIABLO restaurant, where they cook barbecue on a natural volcanic grill.

volcano restaurant canaries
Where else but on the Canaries can you try barbecue cooked over an active volcano? You won’t see the lava, but I’ve checked—it’s there.
  • Coordinates of the restaurant: 29.005492384742272, -13.753107492539597
  • Entry to the national park costs 22 euros, which includes a bus tour of the park.
  • A portion of chicken barbecue costs 18 euros.

Tip:

This is a unique location, and if you go to Lanzarote, you must visit here.

Find all Lanzarote attractions, including a full description of Timanfaya National Park, tips on saving a lot of time when visiting, and all César Manrique attractions. Incidentally, the El Diablo restaurant was designed by Manrique.

Betancuria (Fuerteventura)

A very small town in the center of Fuerteventura, designed in a typical Spanish style. It has a population of only 800 people. Betancuria has no access to the ocean, being in the center of the island, surrounded by Martian landscapes. However, it is a significant place in the history of the Canary Islands. Betancuria was the first capital of the Canaries during the arrival of the first Europeans.

Kanarische Inseln interessante Orte
Betancuria (founded in 1404) – the town where the European history of the Canary Islands began. Before this, it was inhabited by scattered tribes.

Tip:

Betancuria is on the way to the town of Ajuy, which is also very popular with tourists. Plan to visit both of these places together.

Whale Skeletons (Fuerteventura)

Fuerteventura was once a center of whaling. Over 100 years ago, a total ban on whaling was implemented, and three monuments were erected on the island to honor these magnificent mammals. The unique aspect is that these are real whale skeletons at actual size.

Kanarische Inseln Touren
There are three such skeletons on Fuerteventura and one on Lanzarote in the capital. Specifically, this one is located in the resort town of Morro Jable on Fuerteventura.
  • Coordinates of all the skeletons on the island can be found in the article about Fuerteventura attractions (link will be in the next section).
  • Two skeletons are in open access at the resorts, and the third is in the salt museum, where the entrance fee is 6 euros.

Tip:

If you choose a hotel in the popular resort town of Morro Jable, you can enjoy a daily promenade along the beautiful beach. Along the way, you’ll pass a large operational lighthouse and a whale skeleton. This is one of the most beautiful beaches on Fuerteventura.

Villa Winter (Fuerteventura)

The most mystical and hard-to-reach attraction on Fuerteventura. It’s difficult to get here, and there are many legends surrounding this villa. It was built in a godforsaken place in the 1940s by a German named Winter, who had connections with the Nazis. One of the main legends: there is a submarine base under the villa. You can read more about this mystical location in the Fuerteventura attractions article, which also includes the coordinates of all the whale skeletons.

Teneriffa Urlaub
The villa itself is quite ordinary, but the location and the legends make it a very cool and unusual attraction.
  • Coordinates of the villa: 28.102359127310223, -14.37516832441352
  • You can only get here by car. The last 20 km to the villa is a terrible gravel road, and it takes at least an hour to cover this section.
  • Today, a caretaker lives in the villa, and you can get inside for a few euros. But rumors say it has been bought by a developer, and a hotel will be built here. Maybe they will at least improve the road, as the place is very beautiful.

Tip:

Before going to the villa, read its history and legends. The villa itself is nothing special, but the legends about submarines, underground explosions, and a secret runway add a lot of mystique to this place and leave a very different impression from the visit.

Roque de los Muchachos (La Palma)

The highest point on La Palma, at 2,426 meters above sea level. Here is one of the largest astrophysical observatories in the world, a small hiking route, and a stunning viewpoint. Plus, the road to the top passes above the clouds (if there are clouds).

Ferien auf Teneriffa
Top photo: The viewpoint at Roque de los Muchachos. Bottom photo: The road to the summit—note, we are already above the clouds. You’ll want to stop for photos every 200 meters.
  • Coordinates: 28.75471353334984, -17.88503998764425
  • The drive to the summit takes about an hour and a half. Along the way, there are dozens of viewpoints, some above the clouds, and you’ll want to stop everywhere for pictures.
  • At the top, you’ll not only see the world-renowned GTC (Gran Telescopio Canarias) but also a space museum.

Tip:

Remember to dress according to the weather. If it’s +20 on the coast, it can easily be +5 with strong winds at the summit.

Caldera de Taburiente National Park (La Palma)

One of the most famous Canary national parks. Its unique feature is a giant caldera (8 km in diameter) in the center, formed after a massive volcanic eruption about 100 years ago. This caldera is like a Lost World, covered in forest, with a river and a waterfall. There are hiking routes in the caldera ranging from a couple of hours to a full day.

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Viewpoint Mirador de La Cumbrecita in Caldera de Taburiente Park: Behind us is the 8 km wide caldera. On the other side, on the ridge, is Roque de los Muchachos and the astronomical observatory.

Tip:

You need a special permit to enter, often required a day in advance. It’s free but can be a bit inconvenient.

A comprehensive guide to Caldera de Taburiente National Park, including how and where to get a permit, as well as the top attractions on La Palma and coordinates of the island’s cool lava pools, can be found in the link.

Laguna Grande and the Laurisilva Forest in Garajonay National Park (La Gomera)

A relic laurel forest, a 1.5 km “health trail,” a barbecue area, and playgrounds—all this can be found in one place in the center of La Gomera in Garajonay National Park. There’s also a long hiking mountain route that runs through the entire island.

Ferien La Gomera
This enchanting location often finds itself enveloped in clouds due to its elevation of 1300 meters. This creates a spectacular atmosphere, perfect for taking stunning photos with a dense fog effect.

Tip:

This place is beautiful and atmospheric, a must-visit. If you don’t feel like grilling, at least have a picnic with some ham. There’s also a visitor center and a small café where you can enjoy a coffee. For active tourists, plan a half-day or full-day hike on the trail, but make sure to study it in advance. The route is available on maps in the OrganicMaps app.

Los Organos (La Gomera)

A rather rare natural attraction, found in few places around the world—basalt cliffs, also known as the basalt “organ.” Such a basalt organ can be found on La Gomera in the Canary Islands, known as Los Organos.

La Palma Ferien
Los Organos are basalt cliffs similar to those in Iceland, Armenia, and a few other places around the world.

Tip:

Boat trips are available on all the islands of the archipelago, but on La Gomera, you will have the most unforgettable experiences. Almost all sea tours include dolphin and whale watching, and as a bonus, you will see Los Organos, which is part of any ocean tour on La Gomera. Remember, this is the ocean, and strong waves can cause seasickness for unprepared tourists.

Learn all about the ocean and marine life in the Canary Islands, including the likelihood of encountering whales and dolphins on such excursions.

Mirador de Abrante (La Gomera)

Mirador de Abrante is a viewing platform with a glass floor, 600 meters above the ocean. The views and emotions are spectacular, especially if you are afraid of heights. This viewpoint is part of Garajonay National Park, which is vast, featuring dozens of viewpoints, hiking trails, and cool locations. Read more about all the park’s attractions and the island of La Gomera in the detailed guide linked below.

Gran Canaria Ferien
Mirador de Abrante – many people find their legs shaking when they visit. It’s not easy to reach the end, especially if you’re afraid of heights 🙂

Tip:

To see all the locations in Garajonay Park, you’ll need a car, as there is no public transport. It’s essential to rent a car for at least one day to drive through the center of the island. To visit all the attractions of La Gomera at a relaxed pace, you’ll need 3-4 days (by car).

In conclusion, this has been a very brief ranking of “what to see щn the Canary Islands,” highlighting the main attractions from each island. Choose the ones you like, read detailed reviews for each island on the pages of this guide, see where the beach resorts are, and plan your route through the Canary Islands. Remember, the Canaries are not just the island of Tenerife; there are great experiences on the other islands as well. My personal favorites are La Palma and La Gomera, and also Lanzarote, which is very different from the others.

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.