If you are tired of the cold during the winter and think you need to fly halfway around the world to get some sun on your back, then think again. The Canary Islands are the perfect place in Europe to visit in months of December, January, or February. These islands are Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa. I visited Tenerife for some winter sun and it was a great decision! Here is a small guide following my travels there.
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands with area of 2,034 km2 and with a population of nearly 1 million! Mt. Teide, a dormant volcano dominates the island and is Spain's tallest peak. The climate of the island is subtropical and has stays warm year round. During the winter months you can enjoy a splendid temperatures of 20-25 degrees.
How to Get There:
You can fly direct from Dublin to Tenerife South Airport in 4 and a half hours. Ryanair and Aer Lingus both operate flights throughout the winter season. You can get flights for €100 return if you book at the right time. Once you land in Tenerife you should know that the public transport in the island is not very good so you will need to get a taxi to your accommodation.
Where to Stay:
I highly recommend staying in the South of the island for the best weather in Winter. You will also be closer to the airport which makes the taxi ride cheaper! The best areas to stay are Playa de las Americas, Costa Adeje and La Caleta, all of which are about a 10-20 minute taxi journey from the airport. If you’re looking for luxury hotels then I highly recommend H10 Atlantic Sunset or Hotel Riu Buenavosta (all inclusive).
Where to Eat:
If you’re staying in Playa de las Americas, you will have lots of options to go out for dinner. This is the liveliest area on the island and you can choose from Mexican, Italian to Chinese food – there is something for everyone. The Hard Rock Café is a great place to go for a cocktail too and has an incredible fountain display outside. If you’re staying in Costa Adeje the below restaurants are definitely worth visiting:
- Steak 21 - @steak21tenerife
- Roca Negra - @rocanegrasunsetclub
- La Terraza - @laterrazzatenerife
- Tentation - @tentation.ristorante
- Mesón Bistro @mesonbistro
What to do:
Like most Canary Islands, visiting the beaches is a great day activity. However, the beaches in Tenerife are not your typical white-sand beaches. They are black sand beaches due to the volcanic ash, which is why you should make sure to book accommodation with a pool. Other things to do would be a sunset boat ride, shopping or if you’re a bit more adventurous, parasailing! Of course you can also just relax at the pool reading a book or sipping on a cocktail and enjoy the sunshine.
I hope you enjoy this blog post and that it inspires you to get some winter sun in the Canary Islands!
Jet off with Jess https://jetoffwithjess.com/
