Canary Islands
Best time to visit Gran Canaria: weather month by month
Gran Canaria is often called the island of eternal spring, and the figures back it up: average highs stay between 21 and 28°C all year. December is the wettest month and August the warmest. Here is the year month by month, with the official averages from the Spanish weather agency.
Picolo Editorial
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In short: when is the best time to visit Gran Canaria?
Best for winter sun: January to March, with average highs of 21 to 22°C and lows around 15°C.
Warmest months: July to September, with average highs of 27 to 28°C.
Driest months: May to August, with almost no rain.
Best for walking in the mountains: March to May and October, with mild days and little rain.
Quietest months: May, June and November, between the main holiday peaks.
Our choice: Seaside Palm Beach in Maspalomas, two minutes on foot from the beach and three from the La Charca lagoon.
Check availability and prices at Seaside Palm Beach
Picolo has been to Gran Canaria many times, and the advice below is our own.
Gran Canaria weather month by month
The averages below come from AEMET, the Spanish weather agency, for Gran Canaria Airport on the east coast, between Las Palmas and the southern resorts. Sea temperatures are for Maspalomas, from Weather2Travel.
January: highs of 20.8°C and lows of 15.0°C, 3.1 rain days, 184 hours of sun, sea around 19°C.
February: highs of 21.2°C and lows of 15.0°C, 3.0 rain days, 191 hours of sun, sea around 19°C.
March: highs of 22.3°C and lows of 15.7°C, 2.3 rain days, 229 hours of sun, sea around 19°C.
April: highs of 22.6°C and lows of 16.2°C, 1.3 rain days, 228 hours of sun, sea around 19°C.
May: highs of 23.6°C and lows of 17.3°C, 0.3 rain days, 272 hours of sun, sea around 20°C.
June: highs of 25.3°C and lows of 19.2°C, 0.1 rain days, 284 hours of sun, sea around 21°C.
July: highs of 26.9°C and lows of 20.8°C, no rain days on average, 308 hours of sun, sea around 22°C.
August: highs of 27.5°C and lows of 21.6°C, 0.1 rain days, 300 hours of sun, sea around 23°C.
September: highs of 27.2°C and lows of 21.4°C, 1.1 rain days, 242 hours of sun, sea around 23°C.
October: highs of 26.2°C and lows of 20.1°C, 2.3 rain days, 220 hours of sun, sea around 23°C.
November: highs of 24.2°C and lows of 18.1°C, 3.9 rain days, 185 hours of sun, sea around 22°C.
December: highs of 22.2°C and lows of 16.2°C, 4.5 rain days, 179 hours of sun, sea around 21°C.
Our reading of the figures: the difference between the warmest and coolest month is under 7°C, which is why the island works all year. The sea stays at 19°C or more even in winter, and is warmest from August to October.
Evening at Cordial Mogán Playa, ten minutes on foot from the harbour in Mogán. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Winter, spring, summer and autumn
Winter, December to February: highs of 21 to 22°C and lows around 15 to 16°C. December has the most rain days, around four or five. Christmas, New Year and February half term are the busiest weeks.
Spring, March to May: more sun every month, from 229 hours in March to 272 in May, and very little rain. A good time for the mountains around Roque Nublo and Tejeda.
Summer, June to August: warm and dry, with highs of 25 to 28°C. Families from mainland Spain fill the resorts in August.
Autumn, September to November: the sea is at its warmest, around 23°C, and October still averages highs of 26°C. Rain becomes more likely in November.
North or south?
The airport figures are a good guide for the east coast. The south coast, from Maspalomas to Mogán, is where most visitors stay for winter sun, while Las Palmas in the north-east sees more cloud. The mountains in the centre are cooler, especially in the evening. Check the forecast on AEMET before you go.
The best time for your kind of trip
Beach holiday: June to November, when the sea is 21 to 23°C.
Winter sun: January to March in Maspalomas, Meloneras or Mogán.
Walking: March to May and October, for Roque Nublo, Tejeda and the pine forests in the centre.
City break in Las Palmas: any time of year. Las Canteras beach is sheltered by a natural reef.
Families: Easter and October half term give warm weather without the summer heat. See Gran Canaria with kids.
Where to stay
Our guide to the best hotels in Gran Canaria compares eight hotels area by area.
Seaside Palm Beach
Palm Beach stands in a palm garden about two minutes on foot from Maspalomas Beach, with the La Charca lagoon three minutes away. The rooms are 33 m², and there is a spa. Guests give it 9.4 out of 10 across 314 reviews on Hotels.com.
Check availability and prices at Seaside Palm Beach
Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa
Cordial is built like a small Canarian village, about seven minutes on foot from Mogán beach and ten from the harbour. The family rooms of 77 m² sleep up to five, and there is a spa. Guests give it 9.4 out of 10 across 946 reviews.
Santa Catalina stands among the palms of Doramas Park in Las Palmas. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
Santa Catalina stands in Doramas Park in Las Palmas, about 15 minutes on foot from Alcaravaneras beach and six minutes by car from Las Canteras. The rooms are 23 to 46 m², and there is a spa. Guests give it 9.4 out of 10 across 766 reviews.
Check availability and prices at Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
Getting there from the UK
Jet2 flies to Gran Canaria from 13 UK bases in winter 2026/27, according to Selling Travel. The flight from London takes just over four hours, according to British Airways. Maspalomas is about 33 km from the airport, according to Mytransfers.
Our recommendation
Seaside Palm Beach: a palm garden by the dunes
Seaside Palm Beach stands about two minutes on foot from Maspalomas Beach, with the La Charca lagoon three minutes away and the lighthouse about five. The rooms are 33 m², and there is a spa.
Our verdict
What Picolo chooses: March for sun and walking, October for a warm sea, and January for winter sun outside the school holidays.
Why: March has 229 hours of sun and few rain days, October averages highs of 26°C with the sea around 23°C, and January stays at around 21°C.
The trade-off: November and December have the most rain days of the year, though still fewer than five.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Gran Canaria?
October is a strong choice, with average highs of 26°C, the sea around 23°C and the summer crowds gone. For winter sun, January to March gives highs of 21 to 22°C, according to AEMET. May is dry and quiet, with 272 hours of sunshine.
How warm is Gran Canaria in winter?
At Gran Canaria Airport, average highs are around 21 to 22°C from December to February and lows around 15 to 16°C, according to AEMET. The sea is around 19 to 21°C at Maspalomas. The mountains in the centre are cooler, so bring a jacket for a day trip to Roque Nublo.
Which is the wettest month in Gran Canaria?
December, with an average of 4.5 days of rain of at least 1 mm and 31 mm of rain at Gran Canaria Airport, according to AEMET. November follows with 3.9 days. From May to August there is almost no rain, and the airport gets 151 mm over a whole year.
Is Gran Canaria warm enough to swim in winter?
For many people, yes. The sea at Maspalomas is around 19°C from January to April and 21°C in December, according to Weather2Travel. It is warmest from August to October, at around 23°C. Many hotels have heated pools if the sea feels too cool.
Is Gran Canaria or Tenerife warmer in winter?
They are close. In January, Gran Canaria Airport averages highs of 20.8°C and Tenerife South Airport 21.7°C, according to AEMET. Both islands are warmest and sunniest on their south coasts, so the resort you choose matters more than the island.
Sources
Temperatures, rain days, rainfall and sunshine come from AEMET's standard climate values for Gran Canaria Airport. Sea temperatures come from Weather2Travel. The flight time comes from British Airways, the transfer distance from Mytransfers and the Jet2 winter programme from Selling Travel. Room sizes and guest ratings come from Hotels.com. The reading of the figures and our choices are Picolo's own. Last checked: 3 November 2026.
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