Winter
Dec → Feb22 to 23°
nights 16 to 17°
- 3 rainy days · 22 mm
- 10 h of sun
- sea 21°
When is the best time to visit the Canary Islands?
- Jan22°recommended
- Feb23°recommended
- Mar23°recommended
- Apr24°recommended
- May25°fair
- Jun26°not recommended
- Jul31°not recommended
- Aug32°not recommended
- Sep28°fair
- Oct28°recommended
- Nov26°recommended
- Dec23°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Canary Islands, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22° | 16° | 9.8 h | 36 mm | 3 d | 21° | ✓ |
| February | 23° | 16° | 10.5 h | 10 mm | 2 d | 20° | ✓ |
| March | 23° | 16° | 11.4 h | 28 mm | 6 d | 21° | ✓ |
| April | 24° | 17° | 11.9 h | 27 mm | 6 d | 21° | ✓ |
| May | 25° | 18° | 12.9 h | 10 mm | 3 d | 22° | |
| June | 26° | 20° | 13.3 h | 9 mm | 2 d | 24° | |
| July | 31° | 23° | 12.8 h | 0 mm | 0 d | 24° | |
| August | 32° | 24° | 12 h | 2 mm | 0 d | 25° | |
| September | 28° | 22° | 11.5 h | 16 mm | 2 d | 25° | |
| October | 28° | 21° | 10.6 h | 7 mm | 2 d | 25° | ✓ |
| November | 26° | 19° | 9.7 h | 20 mm | 4 d | 23° | ✓ |
| December | 23° | 17° | 9.6 h | 21 mm | 3 d | 22° | ✓ |
The four seasons in the Canary Islands, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May23 to 25°
nights 16 to 18°
- 5 rainy days · 22 mm
- 12.1 h of sun
- sea 21°
Summer
Jun → Aug26 to 32°
nights 20 to 24°
- 1 rainy days · 4 mm
- 12.7 h of sun
- sea 24°
Autumn
Sep → Nov26 to 28°
nights 19 to 22°
- 3 rainy days · 14 mm
- 10.6 h of sun
- sea 24°
Book early for October to April
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in the Canary Islands, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 13h53 of daylight, in December 10h24, a difference of 3h30.
10h34Jan
11h11Feb
11h56Mar
12h48Apr
13h31May
13h53Jun
13h44Jul
13h07Aug
12h17Sep
11h27Oct
10h44Nov
10h24Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)" (27.74°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the Canary Islands, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsCarnival of Santa Cruz de TenerifeFebruary to MarchFiesta de la RamaAugustRomería del Pino in TerorSeptemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December
- Beach & swimming: May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
- Towns & culture: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December
- Diving & snorkelling: August, September, October
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Canary Islands, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- February to MarchCarnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife big crowds
Tenerife's capital parades in costume for more than a week, with the election of the queen and the burial of the sardine.
- AugustFiesta de la Rama big crowds
In Agaete, on Gran Canaria, crowds come down from the mountain to the sea waving branches, to the sound of the brass bands.
- SeptemberRomería del Pino in Teror big crowds
Gran Canaria converges on Teror for the feast of the Virgin of the Pine, with decorated carts and offerings in traditional dress.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended22°16° at night
- 36 mm · 3 d
- 9.8 h
- sea 21°
Busy, without the crush
February
Recommended23°16° at night
- 10 mm · 2 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 20°
High season, book early
March
Recommended23°16° at night
- 28 mm · 6 d
- 11.4 h
- sea 21°
High season, book early
April
Recommended24°17° at night
- 27 mm · 6 d
- 11.9 h
- sea 21°
Busy, without the crush
May
Fair25°18° at night
- 10 mm · 3 d
- 12.9 h
- sea 22°
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended26°20° at night
- 9 mm · 2 d
- 13.3 h
- sea 24°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended31°23° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 12.8 h
- sea 24°
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended32°24° at night
- 2 mm · 0 d
- 12 h
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
September
Fair28°22° at night
- 16 mm · 2 d
- 11.5 h
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended28°21° at night
- 7 mm · 2 d
- 10.6 h
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended26°19° at night
- 20 mm · 4 d
- 9.7 h
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
December
Recommended23°17° at night
- 21 mm · 3 d
- 9.6 h
- sea 22°
Busy, without the crush
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (36 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 9.8 h a day on average. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
February. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (10 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
March. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 28 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.4 h a day on average. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
April. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 27 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.9 h a day on average. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 25 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Hardly any rain (10 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 26 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 31 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 24 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 28 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Hardly any rain (16 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. 28 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (7 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
November. 26 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Rain stays light: 20 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
December. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (21 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Canary Islands?
October to April: over these months, recorded highs range from 22 to 28 °C, with 4 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)).
Which month should you avoid in the Canary Islands?
June: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 9 mm over 2 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)).
What is the hottest month in the Canary Islands?
August, with 32 °C on average in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)).
What is the coldest month in the Canary Islands?
January, with 22 °C at best during the day and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)).
What is the driest month in the Canary Islands?
July: 0 mm over 0 days of rain, against 36 mm in January, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in the Canary Islands?
June, with 13.3 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in the Canary Islands?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December (warmest 25 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Teide (Tenerife)).
When is the best time to hike in the Canary Islands?
January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in the Canary Islands?
August, September, October: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Teide (Tenerife)).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Canary Islands guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Spain: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Francesco Ungaro / Pexels · Nothing Ahead / Pexels · Josué Rodríguez / Pexels · Mihai Vlasceanu / Pexels