Here us out… Christmas has been all about the cold in the UK for years now. Getting cosy by the fire, having snowball fights and living off hot chocolate. But winter is LONG. You’ve got at least four months to tick off all the best bits about sub-10-degree temps. So, while everyone else is gearing up for another Christmas at home, this year could be the perfect opportunity for you to sneak off somewhere hot, like the Canary Islands.
If you’re not one for tradition anyway, we already know you’re sold 🤝 And, even if you love your nativity scenes and Christmas markets, stay tuned because Christmas in the Canaries is more festive than you think…
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Get the gift you really want
Admit it – we’ve all had unwanted presents before. But an island getaway? Now Santa’s talking. The Canary Islands have a bit of something for everyone, so you can pick the perfect spot for you. Lanzarote’s the lively one, La Palma‘s a hidden gem, while sand-swept Fuerteventura is all about the beaches and Tenerife is the biggest island of them all – it’s even got mountains to ski down. Plus, the whole archipelago is known for its All Inclusive resorts, so the Christmas dinners really do keep on coming here.
Soak up the Christmas spirit
Planning on a Christmas in La Palma? Get in the festive spirit with a visit to one of the biggest nativity scenes in the world – hand-sculpted in sand on Las Canteras beach. Or, trade in your reindeer and hop on a camel in Gran Canaria to take a ride over the Maspalomas dunes and feel like one of the three kings. More tempted by Tenerife? Sit under the stars in Santa Cruz and soak up the festive spirit at one of its open-air Christmas concerts.
Walk in a ‘winter’ wonderland
The sun’s shining, it’s stunningly warm and there’s absolutely no sign of snow – but that doesn’t mean Christmas hasn’t arrived in the Canaries. Drive up to Gran Canaria’s highlands and walk through a forest of pine trees to smell the true scent of Christmas. Keep an eye out for Belen – the Spanish word for Bethlehem that also refers to traditional nativity scenes – which pop up everywhere, from parks to shopping centres. The biggest is Los Llanos de Aridane’s nativity village in La Palma.
Top up your tan
Say bye to woolly jumpers and hello to shorts and tees. Get those layers off and sunbathe in temperatures that can reach up to 25 degrees, with seven hours of sunshine a day. Being smug at the fact it’s probably miserable at home and that it took under five hours to get there is part of the package here – Rudolph could never.
Get your Christmas market fix
The last-minute Oxford Street chaos can get gone. Festive walks around twinkling Christmas markets are way better – there’s no need to wear three scarves, either. Every town in Gran Canaria puts on a market in late December and you can work your way around food stalls and enjoy the music in most town squares. Fill your belly with truchas – traditional pastries stuffed with sweet potato and candied pumpkin – and bag unique gifts including jewellery and cool prints by local artists. Most markets run until the evening and the main ones to look out for include Tequise Market in Lanzarote, Teror Market in Gran Canaria, Puntagorda Market in La Palma, Teguise Market in Tenerife and La Oliva Market in Fuerteventura.
Have a BBQ on the beach
Let someone else do the hard work for you this year with Christmas dinner at a beachside restaurant, or switch it up completely with a BBQ on the beach. If you fancy doing things the Spanish way, the main traditional festive meal in the Canaries takes place on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. You can tuck into giant prawns in a Marie Rose sauce (known by the locals as langostinos con salsa rosa) and turron, a traditional almond candy dessert.
See in the New Year in style
‘Nochevieja’ is the official name for New Year’s Eve in the Canaries. Go traditional and eat a grape at every chime up until midnight to look forward to a year blessed with good luck. Or watch the fireworks under one of the starriest skies in Europe, on the beach in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. If you’re feeling fresh enough the next day, grab your swimwear and take part in the Canarian tradition of welcoming renewal and purity with a swim in the sea on New Year’s Day.
Meet the three kings
No Christmas is complete without a visit from the three kings. On the 5th of January, get ready for Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar to arrive in the main cities of each of the Canary Islands on camels, accompanied by a sea of colourful floats and sleighs full of gifts. Make sure you’re in the front row for the biggest processions in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, or Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Yes, you can still ski
If you still can’t quit a white Christmas this year, take a trip to Mount Teide in Tenerife and admire the powder-covered peaks over the valley. Ski down the dormant volcano or stay wrapped up with a cable car ride to the mountain tops, where you can hopefully spot Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro in the distance.
Get all the festive feels with our winter breaks to the Canary Islands
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Author: Lily Owen (she/her)
Last updated: 05/09/25
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