Hotels
Best hotels in Tenerife and Gran Canaria: 11 places we would book
The Canary Islands are Europe's winter sun favourite. These are the hotels in Tenerife and Gran Canaria we would book, from Abama by the sea to the historic Santa Catalina in Las Palmas.
When November turns grey and wet, the Canary Islands are a short flight away, with temperatures that rarely dip below 20 degrees. The islands lie off the coast of West Africa and enjoy mild weather all year, which is why Tenerife and Gran Canaria have been winter sun favourites for generations.
But the islands are more than package hotels and the race for sunbeds. In Tenerife you can stay in a pink hotel on a cliff above the sea, in a tropical garden in Puerto de la Cruz or in a historic hotel in Santa Cruz. In Gran Canaria you will find colonial style by the Maspalomas dunes and a hotel more than a century old in a park in Las Palmas.
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Tenerife or Gran Canaria?
Tenerife is the largest and most varied island, with Teide, Spain's highest mountain, at its centre. The south coast around Costa Adeje has the most sunshine and most of the luxury hotels, while the north is greener and lusher. Gran Canaria is often called a continent in miniature, with the Maspalomas dunes in the south and the city of Las Palmas in the north.
Choose Costa Adeje in Tenerife for the most sun and beaches
Choose Puerto de la Cruz or Santa Cruz for town life, culture and greenery
Choose Maspalomas and Meloneras in Gran Canaria for dunes and long promenades
Choose Las Palmas for a city beach, restaurants and life all year round
Tenerife: luxury in the south, gardens in the north
The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama
The pools and palms at Abama.
The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama: for the big occasion
Abama sits on its own on the west coast, looking out towards the neighbouring island of La Gomera. The pink hotel stands on a cliff above the sea, surrounded by palms and pools, and the Abama golf course is just a few minutes away.
The hotel is known for its restaurants, and breakfast, wifi and parking are included. This is the place for an anniversary, a milestone birthday or a week when you do not want to think about anything at all.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites
The pool with the ocean beyond.
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites: room for the whole family
Corales Suites is in Costa Adeje, a few minutes from Fañabé beach. Every suite has a kitchen and a balcony or terrace, so you can have breakfast in the sun before the rest of the family wakes up.
The hotel has five restaurants and a spa, and the architecture is light and modern, with the sea right in front of you.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Royal Hideaway Corales Suites
Domes Baobab Suites
The terrace overlooking Costa Adeje.
Domes Baobab Suites: a suite with your own terrace
Baobab Suites sits a little above the beach in Costa Adeje, a few minutes from Playa del Duque. You stay in spacious white suites with a terrace and sea views, almost like your own apartment.
Breakfast, wifi and parking are included. A good choice for couples and families who want more space than a standard hotel room.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Domes Baobab Suites
Hotel Botánico
The pool in the tropical garden.
Hotel Botánico: a tropical garden in Puerto de la Cruz
On the north coast Tenerife is green and lush, and Hotel Botánico is right by the botanical garden in Puerto de la Cruz. The pool sits in a tropical garden, and the hotel has its own spa garden, The Oriental Spa Garden.
Breakfast, wifi and parking are included, and the old town of Puerto de la Cruz is a short taxi ride away. Stay here for a greener, calmer side of Tenerife.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Hotel Botánico
Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey
The courtyard garden at Grand Mencey.
Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey: a city break in Santa Cruz
Grand Mencey is in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the island's capital, a few minutes from the Rambla de Santa Cruz. The hotel is built around a large courtyard garden, and the pool area is an oasis in the middle of the city.
The hotel has four restaurants and guests praise the breakfast. Stay here for museums, markets and tapas bars on your doorstep, with Las Teresitas beach a short drive away.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey
Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife
The pool at sunset.
Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife: for families who want a buzz
Hard Rock Hotel is in Adeje, a few minutes from El Pinque beach, and the pool is the heart of the hotel. Expect music, sunsets over the sea and enough going on to keep teenagers happy.
Breakfast and wifi are included. Choose it for energy and activities rather than peace and quiet.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife
Gran Canaria: dunes and city life
Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
Santa Catalina among the palms of Doramas Park.
Santa Catalina: historic luxury in Las Palmas
Santa Catalina stands in Doramas Park in Las Palmas and is one of the oldest hotels in the Canary Islands. The building has traditional Canarian wooden balconies, and from the pool you look out over the palms of the park.
It suits travellers who want restaurants, museums and a city beach with a calm base. Las Canteras beach is a short taxi ride away.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia
The garden and pool at Grand Hotel Residencia.
Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia: colonial style by the dunes
Grand Hotel Residencia is in Maspalomas, a few minutes from the lighthouse and the dunes. The hotel is laid out like a small Canarian village, with houses around two pools and palms everywhere.
Wifi and parking are included. It is a place for slow days, and in the evening the Meloneras promenade is a short walk away.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia
Lopesan Costa Meloneras
The pool landscape at Costa Meloneras.
Lopesan Costa Meloneras: a pool landscape for the whole family
Costa Meloneras is on the Meloneras promenade, a few minutes from the Maspalomas lighthouse. The hotel has six outdoor pools and four pool bars in a large palm garden, and guests especially love the pool.
The colonial style buildings and the huge garden make it feel more like a resort than a hotel.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Lopesan Costa Meloneras
Bohemia Suites & Spa
The bar with sea views.
Bohemia Suites & Spa: adults only
Bohemia Suites & Spa is adults only and sits in Playa del Inglés, a few minutes from the beach. From the top floor terrace you look out over the town, the dunes and the sea.
Wifi and parking are included. Come here for quiet days, the spa and a drink at sunset.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Bohemia Suites & Spa
Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity
The view from Salobre in the evening light.
Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity: golf and quiet
Salobre sits in the hills above Maspalomas, a few minutes from Salobre golf club. Breakfast, wifi and parking are included, and the hotel has its own section, Serenity, for guests who want extra peace.
Golfers come for the courses. Everyone else comes for the views, the pools and the quiet away from the beach crowds.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity
When should you book a hotel in the Canary Islands?
High season runs from Christmas to Easter, with a peak during February half term. The best hotels fill up early, so book in the autumn if you can. For fewer crowds, November and late April are good months, with temperatures above 20 degrees on most days.
Book February half term and Easter by the autumn
Choose the south for sunshine, the north for greenery and culture
Hire a car for a day to see Teide or the mountain villages of Gran Canaria
See also where is hot in February and winter sun destinations in Europe.
FAQ: hotels in Tenerife and Gran Canaria
Where is the warmest part of Tenerife?
The south coast around Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas has the most sunshine and the least rain. The north coast around Puerto de la Cruz is greener and cloudier, but just as mild.
Where should I stay in Gran Canaria?
Maspalomas and Meloneras are best for beaches and dunes, Playa del Inglés for nightlife and Las Palmas for city life and a city beach. Puerto de Mogán suits those who want peace and quiet.
Is Tenerife or Gran Canaria better for families?
Both work well. Tenerife has Siam Park and Loro Parque, while Gran Canaria has the long sandy beaches of Maspalomas. Choose a hotel with a large pool area and family rooms.
How warm is Tenerife in winter?
Daytime temperatures in the south are usually around 20 to 22 degrees, and the sea stays around 19 degrees. Evenings can be cool, so pack a jumper.
How long is the flight to the Canary Islands from the UK?
Flights from London to Tenerife or Gran Canaria take around four and a half hours, and there are direct flights from most UK airports in winter.