Best time to visit Gran Canaria (weather, temperatures...)

When to go to Gran Canaria
Well, that depends on your criteria.
Here’s our complete guide with details to help you make your decision based on:

Weather (temperature, rain, wind, etc.),
Crowds and prices,
Sea temperature, when to swim in Gran Canaria,
Dolphin-watching opportunities
Winter sunshine,
…

when to go to gran canaria best weather period

This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.

Content

When to go to Gran Canaria – Summary

Best month to visit Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is one of the islands of eternal spring. It’s an excellent year-round destination. Our favorite months are September and October, when it’s less crowded and the water is warm for swimming.

Best time to visit Gran Canaria

It all depends on what you’re looking for:

Best time for sunbathing: June to September
Best time to swim in the sea: July to October
Best hiking season: October to June
The best time to escape winter and soak up the sun: December to March, of course…

When to visit Gran Canaria – Criteria

If you don’t want to read the whole article, here’s a summary based on what you’re looking for:

Weather, temperatures, wind, rain…
The climate is subtropical, with pleasant temperatures all year round. Summer temperatures range from 25 to 31°C (77 to 88°F), with little precipitation. In winter, they fluctuate between 18 and 21°C (64 and 70°F), with a few rainy days, but the sun often shines.
Swimming
You can swim all year round. In summer, the water is warm at around 23 to 24°C (73 to 75°F). In winter, even though the water is cooler, it doesn’t fall below 18°C (64°F).
Crowd
In summer, Gran Canaria is a popular tourist destination. In winter, the island is less populated, offering a quieter atmosphere, but it does get busy over Christmas and during European school vacations.

Infographics for a quick visual

WHERE TO STAY IN Gran Canaria

Our independent picks for the accommodation of your dreams:

Where to stay in Gran Canaria
Our favorite: Marina Suites Hotel

Select by hotel type:

5-star hotels
Best boutique-hotels
Best adults-only hotels (coming soon)
Best all-inclusive hotels (coming soon)
Best hotels for families

Select by city:

When to go to Gran Canaria – Weather and conditions

Climate

Gran Canaria’s climate is that of eternal spring.
It rains in winter, but only a little, and it hardly rains at all in winter. You’ll enjoy year-round sunshine.
It’s hot in summer, but rarely too hot.
It’s warm in winter: t-shirt during the day and a little sweater in the evening.

In general, the south is a little drier and a little warmer, but the difference is not significant.

Temperatures

Summer temperatures range from 25 to 31°C (77 to 88°F) during the day, and from 20 to 22°C at night.
In winter, temperatures fluctuate between 18 and 21°C (64 and 70°F), and around 15 to 17°C at night.
These temperatures are for the seaside.
If you go up into the mountains, it gets cooler.

Length of day and sunshine

The Canary Islands and Gran Canaria are close to the equator, so the days are a little longer in winter than in Europe. The average length of day is:

10:20 am, the shortest day of the year, December 21
13:56, the longest day, June 21.

In terms of sunshine, Gran Canaria enjoys plenty of it: an average of 7.7 hours a day. It’s a little less than in Lanzarote or Tenerife, because the island’s mountains block the clouds. But it’s already a lot!
So you can enjoy plenty of sunshine, whether you go there in summer or even winter.

And you’ll have plenty of time to visit all the island’s top attractions.

OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Gran Canaria

Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
If you’re planning to explore the mountains, don ‘t take the smallest cars. A more powerful engine will be more comfortable.
But don’t take too big a car either, as some roads are narrow.
There’s a lot of demand and it’s an island, so book early.

See available cars >>

Read our tips

Rain in Gran Canaria

In Gran Canaria, rainfall varies according to the season. In summer, from June to August, rains are rare, with often months without a drop, favoring a dry, sunny climate. On the other hand, winter, from December to February, brings occasional rains, although these are not very frequent or intense.

Below, you can see Las Palmas Cathedral Square after a shower.

Wind in Gran Canaria

In Gran Canaria, the wind varies with the seasons.
In summer, the trade winds blow regularly, bringing cool breezes. This makes hot days more bearable.
In winter, the wind is generally less intense, but storms can occur, especially from December to February, with stronger gusts.
The windy conditions are ideal for water sports, attracting many kitesurfers and windsurfers all year round, especially at Punta de Maspalomas.

Crowds and prizes

Summer attracts a large number of tourists, leading to heavy crowds in coastal areas and rising prices, particularly for accommodation and activities.
In winter, from December to February, the island is less crowded, offering a quieter atmosphere and often more affordable rates. But it still attracts those looking to escape the cold, especially around Christmas, Easter and the school vacations in various European countries.

A LITTLE MORE patience

All the photos, maps, information and addresses you need to make your stay in the Canaries a success will soon be available in a single ebook!

If you’d like to be notified when our guide to the Canaries is published, please subscribe:

Gran Canaria sea temperatures – when to swim

Swimming is possible all year round, depending on the water temperature you prefer.

Sea temperatures in Lanzarote vary:

January, February, March, April: between 18 and 19°C
May and June, between 19 and 21°C
July and August, between 21 and 22°C
In September and October, between 22 and 24°C
November and December, between 20 and 21°C

Gran Canaria offers many beaches with seawalls to protect you from the elements.
See our selection of the most beautiful beaches in Gran Canaria.

When to watch whales and dolphins

Numerous species of dolphins and whales visit the island in different seasons.
But all year round you have two resident species:

Bottlenose dolphins
Pilot dolphins

As a result, you can choose these tours all year round.

For whales, it’s less clear-cut. They are observed for a few days each month, by different species, but often by resident sperm whales.

To find out more, see our article on dolphins in Gran Canaria (coming soon).

FUN in Gran Canaria:activities

Dolphin watching
Buggy / Quad
Snorkeling
Kayaking in the Mogan caves
But also: Canyoning, Horse riding, Via Ferrata, Coasteering… See all options

Best period – other criteria

When to hike in Gran Canaria

Outside summer, the island offers excellent hiking conditions. But the sun can still be a nuisance. We always recommend walking in the morning.
If you’re traveling during the summer months, we recommend hiking early in the day, as it gets hot during the day.

When to kitesurf in Lanzarote

Generally speaking, the best time to kitesurf is in summer, when the winds are more constant.

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Description of the seasons in Gran Canaria

Spring in Gran Canaria

Spring in Gran Canaria, from March to May, offers mild temperatures, varying between 20 and 25°C. Conditions are ideal for hiking and outdoor activities. Tourist numbers are moderate, except at Easter.

Summer in Gran Canaria

Summer, from June to August, offers hot temperatures, between 25 and 31°C, with peaks during heat waves. The days are sunny, with around 9 to 10 hours of sunshine a day and little precipitation. As a result, the beaches are very busy. But the trade winds bring a cooling breeze, making the heat more bearable.

Autumn in Gran Canaria

Autumn, from September to November, is a pleasant season, with mild temperatures ranging from 23 to 27°C. The main advantage is that the sea water is at its warmest in September and October, having had all summer to warm up. Showers are rare. November sees a slight drop in temperatures, to around 24°C, with a little more rain.

Winter in Gran Canaria

Winter in Gran Canaria, from December to February, is mild and sunny, with temperatures averaging around 20°C. There will be occasional showers. The water is cooler, but still very pleasant for swimming (between 19 and 21°C). The days are often sunny, offering many hours of light.
See our full article on the winter season.

Events to see or avoid

Depending on your interests, you should also take into account events that could have a major impact on your trip, and adapt your departure dates accordingly:

If you really want to see a party
If you don’t want to be blocked by an event

View of Roque Nublo and Tenerife in the background

Festivals in Gran Canaria (music and culture)

January 6 parades (Dia de los Reyes Magos)
Carnival all over the island February and March
Holy Week processions
In May, Maspalomas pride
Canary Islands Festival on May 30
Celebration of the patron saint of fishermen on July 16 (Fiesta del Carmen)
SUM Festival in October (music in Las Palmas)
Winterpride Maspalomas in November
Christmas market, nativity scenes and celebrations

Sports competitions in Gran Canaria

February: Transgrancanaria (trail running)
May: Rally Islas Canarias
October: Gran Canaria Marathon
October: Gran Canaria Walking Festival
Gran Canaria Wind & Waves Festival (not in recent years)

Best month to go to Gran Canaria

And if you’re asking month by month, take a look at our dedicated articles:

PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Gran Canaria

Best of

Best things to do in Gran Canaria
Most beautiful landscapes
Most beautiful towns and villages
Most beautiful beaches
Best natural pools
Archaeological sites
Best museums
Best boat tours (coming soon)
Secret places, off the beaten track

Practical advice

25 tips for a successful trip to Gran Canaria
When to go?

How to get around
How to rent a car in Gran Canaria
Driving tips
Best excursions (coming soon)

Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 6 days – 7 days – 10 days

Where to stay in Gran Canaria

The must-dos

Las Palmas and its historic center
Dolphin watching in Gran Canaria (coming soon)
Maspalomas dunes
Puerto de Mogan (Little Venice)
Agaete and its natural pools
The magnificent town of Agüimes

Best time to visit Gran Canaria (weather, temperatures…)