86 Best Sights in Canary Islands, Spain

On Fuerteventura's northwestern tip, this fishing village has quaint and colorful houses and a sleepy, lost-in-time feel. Go at sunset, when the surrounding sands take on a red-orange glow, and peek into the Castillo de El Tostón (Tostón Tower), dating to 1700, which often holds temporary art exhibits.

Stretching more than 2 km (1 mile), this is the longest beach on the island and also one of the most distinctive, with the conical top of Montaña Roja (Red Mountain) crowning its southern tip. The golden sands and exemplary facilities earn it Spain's "Blue Flag" rating; the gentle waves make for safe swimming, while the strong winds are great for windsurfing. To get here, drive along the TF1 past Tenerife South Airport and take the TF64 south shortly afterward. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Destroyed by Dutch attackers in 1599, this charming little chapel (open until 2 pm daily) was rebuilt in the 18th century. Inside is a fine baroque altarpiece with rich gold leaf and wooden details. The chapel is generally open only before and after Mass.

Housed in the Castillo de la Luz—the Canary Islands' oldest defensive fortress that once protected the port from pirates and other invaders—this foundation celebrates the Canaries' famous modern sculptor, who died in 2019. To see Chirino's swooping abstract designs on a free English-language guided tour (every Wednesday at 4 pm), it's essential to book ahead by phone or email ( [email protected]).

The arcaded bell tower of this 16th-century church is an architectural icon of La Laguna, visible from almost everywhere in the city. Climb to the top for 360-degree views of the rooftops and surrounding countryside. Note the odd hours: 8:30 am to 1 pm and 5:30 to 8 pm.

A six-story Moorish bell tower tops this church, which was renovated as part of an urban-renewal project that razed slums in this area. Opening times vary, but you can generally visit before and after Mass.

These water caverns, turned into an architectural destination by César Manrique, are situated 15 km (9 miles) north of the Costa Teguise. They were created when molten lava streamed through an underground tunnel and hissed into the sea. Look for the tiny albino lobsters on the rocks in the underground lake—this blind species (Munidopsis polimorpha) is found nowhere else in the world. There's a pleasant if basic restaurant by the lake, and the Casa de los Volcanes (opened in 2023; additional fee) is a good museum of volcanic science.

Filled with more than 4,000 varieties of tropical trees and plants, and sonorous birds, the Jardín Botánico was founded in 1788, on the orders of King Carlos III, to propagate warm-climate species brought back to Spain from the Americas. The gardens close in stormy or excessively windy weather.

Because Puerto de la Cruz has uninviting black-sand beaches, the town commissioned Lanzarote artist César Manrique in 1965 to build Costa Martiánez, a forerunner of today's water parks. It's an immense—and immensely fun—public pool on the waterfront, with landscaped islands, bridges, and a volcano-like fountain that sprays sky-high. The complex also includes several smaller pools and a restaurant--nightclub. 

Also known as Bosque de Los Tilos, this protected biosphere is home to one of the best-preserved laurisilva forests in the archipelago. Take a leisurely walk beneath mossy lianas and towering laurel trees up to the Espigón Atravesado viewpoint, about one hour each way, or take a three- to five-hour hike along the Marcos y Cordero route, skirting beneath waterfalls. There's also a quick out-and-back trail (30 minutes total, give or take) to the Los Tilos Waterfall; follow signs for "Sendero a la Cascada." There's a well-appointed visitor center at the end of the LP-105 road (follow signs for "Los Tilos") with maps and English placards on local history, flora, and fauna.  Mudslides and inclement weather cause occasional closures; check with your hotel or the tourist office for updates.

One of eight beaches making up the sands in Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos, Las Vistas has clean yellow sand and perfect bathing conditions thanks to a series of breakwalls that temper high waves. Lounge chairs and parasols are available for rent. After sunbathing on this Blue Flag beach, take a stroll along the seafront promenade, one of the longest of its kind in Europe. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

Visit the winery that the New York Times's wine critic, Eric Asimov, deemed the Canaries' "star producer." In the small, modern tasting area, situated on a terrace overlooking the vines, sip one of Spain's top rosés, made from indigenous listán negro grapes, and wonderfully fragrant Malvasía whites. Walk-ins are accepted.

This was the first beach on the island to receive international tourists en masse, from the 1960s on; today its golden sands are flanked by apartment blocks and hotels. The nearby port protects the beach from high winds and waves, so bathing is safe. Lounge chairs and parasols are available for rent. This is a lively beach, with frequent concerts and sporting events, and finding a space for your towel can be a challenge in the summer. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming.

La Palma native Victoria Torres Pecis is a fifth-generation winemaker who understands the island's soils and microclimates, and she adheres to a minimal-intervention philosophy in both vineyard and cellar. “A volcano constructs and at the same time destroys; my vines grow in volcanic ash, and this is part of who we are," she said, reflecting on the 2021 eruption. Snap up as many bottles as you can—Torres's wines (ranging from floral Malvasía to earthy Negramoll) sell out quickly and are hard to come by anywhere else. Visits are private and by email appointment only.

This colorful city market, also known as La Recova, is part bazaar and part food emporium (though the food, for the most part, is nothing special). Stalls outside sell household goods; inside, stands displaying everything from flowers to canaries are arranged around a patio. Downstairs, a stroll through the seafood section will acquaint you with the local fish. Check the website for a monthly schedule of nighttime activities.

The entrance to the touristy restaurant Mirador de la Cilla takes you through a 164-foot tunnel. Don't eat here—the food is subpar—but it's worth making a stop to take in the spectacular mountain view with a beer or coffee.

Designed by César Manrique, this lookout at the northerly tip of a hairpin bend in the LZ-202 road lets you see the islet of La Graciosa from an altitude of 1,550 feet, in addition to the smaller protected isles of Montaña Clara, Alegranza, and Roque del Este. Arrive early to beat the crowds.

The town's Church Museum contains a replica of the banner carried by the Norman conqueror Juan de Bethancourt when he seized Fuerteventura in the 15th century. Most of the artwork was salvaged from the nearby convent, now in ruins. The museum is generally open weekday mornings but has no official hours.

Primitive ceramics and mummies are this museum's highlights. The ancient Guanches mummified their dead by rubbing the bodies with pine resin and salt and leaving them in the sun to dry for two weeks. Placards are in Spanish, but there's a downloadable app with English descriptions.

In Antigua, 8 km (5 miles) east of Betancuria, you can visit a restored white Don Quixote–style windmill that was once used for grinding gofio (toasted grain) flour and is now part of a museum devoted to Fuerteventura's cheese-making tradition. Next to the windmill are a craft shop and cactus garden. Incidentally, the modern metal windmills throughout the island were imported from the United States and are used for pumping water.

An 18th-century waterfront fortress, Castillo de San José is now a stunning modern art museum designed by architect César Manrique. One of his paintings is on display, along with works by Cárdenas, Beaudin, Zóbel, Tàpies, and others.

This 14-room, two-story gallery on Plaza Príncipe de Asturias is lined with canvases by Breughel, Coecke, and Ribera as well as other famed works created between the 16th and 20th centuries. Many memorialize local events. 

Occupying the splendid 17th-century palace of an Italian merchant, the Museo de Historia y Antropología de Tenerife chronicles the island's sociocultural history from the 15th to the 20th century with documents, artifacts, and religious relics. Signage is in Spanish, but English descriptions are available via app (ask personnel for details). The elegant courtyard blends Italian Renaissance architecture, like white marble columns, with local materials such as hardy Canary Island pine.

Small-boat excursions leave several times daily from this fishing village—situated 9 km (5½ miles) north of Jameos del Agua—to the one-town islet of La Graciosa (population 700), which has plenty of quiet beaches.

Up on the hill just behind Parque Marítimo is Europe's largest collection of palms with some 600 species. The 29½-acre site, built over the former city dump and opened in 2014, houses palm trees from all over the world set around waterfalls and lagoons, all with panoramic views of the ocean and city. Call ahead if you'd like an English-language tour of the grounds.

One of the main attractions in this part of the island, inland from Maspalomas, this part botanical garden and part zoo has 1,500 tropical birds, a butterfly sanctuary, an orchid house, 160 species of tropical fish, many crocodiles, and parrot shows.

In this park, visit the Museo Néstor, home to neoclassical and modernist works by brothers Miguel (architect) and Néstor (artist) Martín Fernández. There's also a play area and cultural center with temporary exhibitions. On the way there, stop at the neighboring Parque Doramas (stops are listed on big yellow signs; bus Nos. 2, 3, and 12 generally cover the entire city) to peek at the elegant Santa Catalina Hotel. Next to the Parque Doramas is the Pueblo Canario, a model village with typical Canarian architecture.

West of the auditorium, this public water park with three saltwater pools and tropical gardens is a favorite with locals. It was designed by the Lanzarote-born architect César Manrique and combines volcanic rock with palms and local flora.

Lava flows formed these seaside natural pools, to which stairs, paths, and railings have been added for easy access. There's a pleasant café selling drinks and snacks and a conventional swimming pool that comes in handy when the surf is rough. Far from luxurious or exclusive, the pools are owned by the town and popular with born-and-bred tinerfeños of all ages.

Playa Costa Calma is actually made up of three gorgeous white-sand beaches, a large one flanked by two smaller ones. You can walk along all three at low tide, but don't be caught by the rising tide: the rocky outcrops between the beaches will prevent your return. Lounge chair and umbrella rental is available near the hotels. Windy conditions draw windsurfers. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking; windsurfing.