Tenerife, Gran Canaria or Lanzarote: Which Island Suits You?
Lanzarote gets the most sunshine of the three, averaging 8.5 hours a day, but it's also the most exposed to wind. Southern Tenerife is the warmest in winter at 22–23°C in December and sits in Mount Teide's wind shadow. Gran Canaria averages 7.7 hours of sunshine and mixes beach resorts with a proper city. If wind is what ruins a beach day for you, that matters more than the temperature difference.
The three islands, compared
Our sources conflict on wind. Some rate southern Tenerife the calmest because Mount Teide shelters it; others report Gran Canaria's beaches as less windy than Tenerife's. Lanzarote being the most exposed is the one point they agree on.
| Tenerife (south) | Gran Canaria | Lanzarote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind exposure | Sheltered by Mount Teide | Moderate | Most exposed to trade winds |
| Landscape | Volcanic peak, green north | Beaches plus a city | Flat, volcanic, compact |
| Best suited to | Waterparks and resort entertainment | Mixing beach days with a city | Toddlers, quiet beaches, volcanic scenery |
| Crowds | Busiest of the three | Moderate | Quietest |
Winter sun, by the numbers
Lanzarote averages 8.5 hours of sunshine a day, the highest of the three. Gran Canaria averages 7.7.
On temperature, southern Tenerife runs 22–23°C in December against Lanzarote's 20–21°C — and Lanzarote feels cooler than that gap suggests, because of the wind.
We don't have a verified December temperature figure for Gran Canaria, and we're not going to estimate one.
Why wind is the underrated factor
Lanzarote is flat and exposed to northeast trade winds, which are strongest in winter and spring. Tenerife's south coast sits in the wind shadow of Mount Teide.
That is the difference between a beach day and a beach day spent behind a windbreak, and it doesn't show up in the temperature figure most people book on.
Which suits which family
Tenerife has the most to do, including Siam Park, and feels the most crowded of the three.
Gran Canaria balances beach resorts with a city worth a day out.
Lanzarote's compact size and calmer beaches suit families with toddlers, and it's the strongest of the three on volcanic landscape and art.
These are tendencies rather than rules — each island has quiet corners and busy ones.
Where to stay on each island
We don't hold room prices ourselves. Each link opens an accommodation search for that destination with our booking partners, where you can see what's actually available for your dates.
We may earn a commission if you book — it never changes your price.
The verdict
Tenerife if you want entertainment and the warmest December.
Lanzarote if you want maximum sunshine, a quieter island and short drives, and you'll take the wind.
Gran Canaria if you want the most varied week rather than the best single attribute.
Sources
Climate and island characteristics checked 16 August 2026 across several sources, which do not fully agree — see the note on wind above.
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