More Than Just Beaches and Sun
The best things to do in the Canary Islands go way beyond beaches and sun.
Look, the Canary Islands have a reputation as a sun-and-beach destination. And yes, the beaches are genuinely world class. But if that is all you do here, you are leaving a lot on the table.
These islands have some of the best surf in Europe, hiking trails through volcanic landscapes that feel like another planet, food scenes that most visitors never even find, and wildlife encounters that honestly catch people off guard. Here is a quick overview of everything worth doing — and where to find the full guides for each.
🏄 Water Sports & Surf
The Canary Islands are one of Europe’s top destinations for water sports — and it is not even close. The Atlantic delivers consistent swells, warm water and wind conditions that attract surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers from across the world.
Fuerteventura is the surf capital — flat island, incredible waves, and a laid-back culture built entirely around the ocean. Lanzarote has some of the most powerful and respected surf spots in the archipelago. Tenerife and Gran Canaria offer great conditions for beginners and intermediate surfers.
Beyond surfing, you will find snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, paddleboarding and boat trips on every island.
👉 Read more: Water Sports & Surf in the Canary Islands (coming soon)
🥾 Hiking & Nature
This is the one that surprises people most. The Canary Islands are an extraordinary place to hike — and not in a gentle, flat kind of way. Mount Teide in Tenerife is Spain’s highest peak and one of the most visited national parks in the world. The Caldera de Taburiente in La Palma is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Lanzarote’s Timanfaya is unlike anything you have ever walked through.
Even on the smaller islands, the trails are dramatic, well marked and rarely crowded if you go early. You do not need to be an experienced hiker to enjoy them — but you will feel like one by the time you finish.
👉 Read more: Hiking & Nature in the Canary Islands (coming soon)
🍽️ Food & Restaurants
Canarian food is one of the best-kept secrets in Spanish cuisine. Simple, honest and built around fresh local ingredients — fish caught that morning, goat cheese that has won international awards, papas arrugadas with mojo sauce that you will be craving for months after your trip.
Every island has its own food culture. Las Palmas in Gran Canaria has a proper city dining scene. Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife has restaurants that have been doing the same dishes perfectly for decades. Lanzarote has a growing fine dining scene that nobody talks about enough.
The key is getting off the main tourist strip. Walk two streets back from the seafront and the quality doubles while the prices drop.
👉 Read more: Food & Restaurants in the Canary Islands (coming soon)
🐋 Tours & Excursions
Some of the best experiences in the Canary Islands happen on organised tours — not because you cannot do them independently, but because local guides genuinely add something that no guidebook can.
Whale and dolphin watching is the obvious one. The waters around Tenerife and La Gomera are home to resident pods of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins. These are not occasional sightings — they live here year round, and the chances of seeing them on a boat trip are genuinely high.
Beyond wildlife, there are jeep safaris through volcanic landscapes, guided hikes with local experts, catamaran day trips along dramatic coastlines, and food tours through local markets. All worth doing at least once.
👉 Read more: Tours & Excursions in the Canary Islands (coming soon)
🏖️ Beaches
Yes, we had to include them. Because the beaches here are not just good — some of them are genuinely among the best in Europe. White sand dunes in Maspalomas. Black volcanic beaches in Tenerife. Turquoise bays in Lanzarote that look too perfect to be real.
The secret is knowing which ones to go to and when. The famous ones get crowded. The ones five minutes further down the road are often empty.
👉 Read more: Best Beaches in the Canary Islands (coming soon)
Whatever you are into, the Canary Islands have something for you. Pick your island, pick your activity, and go. You will figure out the rest when you get there — that is half the fun.