Babies & toddlers

Best areas: South Tenerife, Lanzarote (Playa Blanca), Gran Canaria (Maspalomas & Meloneras)

Why it works:

For babies and toddlers, we’d look for destinations with flat promenades, sandy beaches, warm pools, easy transfers and hotels with genuinely useful family facilities. South Tenerife is particularly brilliant thanks to its huge choice of family resorts, calm beaches and excellent infrastructure. Lanzarote’s Playa Blanca is a lovely option for younger children thanks to its relaxed feel, sheltered beaches and family-friendly hotels, while Gran Canaria’s Meloneras and Maspalomas offer beautiful promenades, sandy beaches and plenty of easy days out

Our favourites for babies & toddlers:

Princesa Yaiza Suite Hote Resort, Lanzarote

GF Victoria, Tenerife

School-age children

Best areas: Tenerife (Costa Adeje & Puerto de la Cruz), Gran Canaria (Maspalomas), Lanzarote (Costa Teguise)

Why it works: Tenerife is probably the best all-rounder for this age group, combining beaches with whale watching, Mount Teide cable car trips, water parks and family attractions. Costa Adeje is ideal if you want a resort holiday with everything nearby, while Puerto de la Cruz gives you more culture, nature and a more authentic feel

Our favourites for kids:

Las Terrazas de Abama Suites, Tenerife

The Ritz-Carlton Abama, Tenerife

Lopsean Baobab, Gran Canaria 

Tweens & teenagers

Best areas: Fuerteventura (Corralejo & Jandía), Tenerife (Costa Adeje), Lanzarote (Puerto del Carmen)

Why it works: Fuerteventura is the standout choice for active teens, with some of the best beaches in the islands, surfing, paddleboarding, kiteboarding and plenty of space to explore. Corralejo works particularly well because it has a lively atmosphere, restaurants and beaches nearby. Tenerife is the safest all-round choice for mixed-age families, with surfing, shopping, water parks, hiking and boat trips. Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote is great for teens who want a bit more independence, with a long promenade, restaurants, beaches and watersports

Our favourites for teens:

Barceló Tenerife, Tenerife

Iberostar Waves Gaviotas Park, Fuerteventura

Kora Nivaria Beach, Tenerife

Still not sure where would work best for your family? We’ve rounded up our favourite family hotels in the Canary Islands, matched by age and stage, here

Approximate flight times from the UK:

Tenerife
Around 4 hours 30 minutes

Gran Canaria
Around 4 hours 30 minutes

Lanzarote
Around 4 hours 15 minutes

Fuerteventura
Around 4 hours 15 minutes

For winter sun holidays, November to March is the sweet spot. The Canary Islands are one of Europe’s best year round family escapes, with warm temperatures even when the UK is firmly in coat and welly season. Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura all offer plenty of sunshine, making them brilliant for escaping grey skies and getting some much needed pool time. Just remember that winter is peak season for sunshine seekers, so Christmas, New Year and February half term can be some of the busiest times to visit

For the best balance of sunshine, fewer crowds and better value, we’d choose May, June, September or October. Temperatures are still warm enough for beach days and swimming, but you’ll avoid the busiest periods when everyone else has had the same idea of chasing the sun

Good news for families: the Canary Islands are on the same time zone as the UK, so there is no time difference to worry about