The best time to travel to Gran Canaria
Vacation between black lava and white sandy beaches
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The best time to visit Gran Canaria is in the summer months, from around April to October. With daytime temperatures of around 77° F, the weather is pleasantly warm and it rarely rains.
Deborah Clauss
Tourlane travel expert for Spain
Updated on 11/25/2025
When is the best time to travel to Gran Canaria?
The best time to travel to Gran Canaria is from spring through summer to fall, i.e. from April to October. This is when the weather in Gran Canaria is mild and dry. The conditions are ideal for hours on the beach, hiking, activities such as diving or yoga. From May to October, the water is warm enough for swimming.In midsummer it gets quite hot and the number of visitors also increases during the summer vacations. Gran Canaria is now a top destination for a beach vacation. Those who avoid midsummer will enjoy warm daytime temperatures of 22 to 26 °C in spring and fall and benefit from a quieter travel season. It remains mild in winter, but it can rain more often. Nevertheless, the lush nature is ideal for hiking and winter is also a good time to go surfing.
The best time to travel to Gran Canaria is from spring through summer to fall, i.e. from April to October. This is when the weather in Gran Canaria is mild and dry. The conditions are ideal for hours on the beach, hiking, and activities such as diving or yoga. From May to October, the water is warm enough for swimming.In midsummer, it gets quite hot and the number of visitors also increases during the summer vacations. Gran Canaria is now a top destination for a beach vacation. Those who avoid midsummer will enjoy warm daytime temperatures of 72 to 79° F in spring and fall and benefit from a quieter travel season. It remains mild in winter, but it can rain more often. Nevertheless, the lush nature is ideal for hiking and winter is also a good time to go surfing.
| Climate table for Gran Canaria | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max temperatures in °F | 70 | 70 | 72 | 73 | 75 | 79 | 81 | 82 | 81 | 79 | 75 | 72 |
| Min temperatures in °F | 59 | 59 | 61 | 63 | 64 | 66 | 70 | 72 | 72 | 68 | 66 | 63 |
| Sun hours per day | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Rainy days per month | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Water temperature in °F | 68 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 68 | 70 | 72 | 73 | 75 | 75 | 72 | 70 |
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Gran Canaria, one of the seven Canary Islands, has a mild climate all year round thanks to its location off the coast of Africa. In summer, temperatures rise up to 86° F and it stays dry. Even in winter it is warm and rarely gets colder than 59° F. In winter, however, it can rain more often and the island becomes greener at this time. In spring and fall, temperatures hover between a pleasant 68 and 77° F.
Gran Canaria in the high season
The peak travel season on Gran Canaria is in July and August, as many vacationers come to spend their free time on the beach during the summer vacations. In the peak summer months, it can therefore quickly become crowded, both on the beaches and at the sights, and hotels and flights are quickly fully booked and prices rise. Now it is summery, hot and dry, ideal for relaxing hours at the beach or pool with the whole family.
Gran Canaria in the off-season
The mid-season in Gran Canaria is winter. Although it rains more often in winter than in the rest of the year, it remains very mild compared to the rest of Europe. With temperatures of around 64° F, it is comfortable and retirees in particular like to come to the island to spend the winter. Between Christmas and New Year, the number of visitors increases once again, as many use the holidays for a vacation by the sea.
Gran Canaria in the low season
As the weather on the island is mild all year round, travel times are less dependent on the weather and more on the vacations. While the summer and Christmas vacations are particularly busy, Gran Canaria is quieter in spring and fall. This is the best weather for all kinds of activities. With mild temperatures, you can go on hikes, explore small towns and take walks on the beach. If it's warm enough, you can even take a dip in the sea.
“The Maspalomas Dunes are a nearly 990-acre desert in the south of the island. While it gets hot and crowded in peak summer, the dunes are best admired in May and June.”
Deborah Clauss
Travel expert for Spain
Hiking
Whether Roque Nublo or Tamadaba, the best time to go hiking in Gran Canaria is in spring and fall. It can get hot in summer and there is rain and storms in winter. In spring and fall, however, the temperatures remain pleasantly mild. When nature is in bloom in spring, it is a special experience. In the fall, the warm sunshine entices visitors to hike on the island until November.
Golf
A particularly pleasant time to play golf in Gran Canaria is from September to November. Then it is no longer too hot, but still pleasantly warm. The rains and storms that you have to expect in winter have not yet arrived and so the weather is ideal for extended games on the lawn.
Diving
Due to the mild climate, it is generally possible to go diving in Gran Canaria all year round. However, visibility can be limited in winter due to the strong currents. The best time for diving is therefore summer, when the weather is calm and visibility is particularly good. High summer is the peak season in the Canary Islands, which can lead to higher prices and higher capacity utilization for diving.
Surfing
The best time to go surfing in Gran Canaria depends on whether you are a beginner or an advanced surfer. For advanced surfers, the months of October through March are the best time to hit the waves in Gran Canaria. This is when the winds are strong and the waves are high. Summer is the best time for beginners. The water is calmer, the waves are smaller, and the weather is warm in summer.
