Christmas in the Canary Islands: the ho-ho-holiday guide
Find out which Canary Island rings the sleigh bells for you!
The most wonderful time of the year is almost here! Yet, there you are, wishing for the whole Christmas package except the frost! Ferryhopper warms up your winter and takes you to the ultimate Christmas experience in the Canaries. So, if you are ready, pack your bags! We are leaving for the most alternative “summery” Christmas holidays in the Canary Islands!
Christmas decorations in La Palma
What is the weather like in the Canary Islands at Christmas?
You are not dreaming of a white Christmas and we totally get it! Who needs a snowy Christmas when you can spend the happiest season of all in an island paradise, right? The toasty temperatures of the Canary Islands during Christmas are between 19ºC and 26ºC during the day, and around 17ºC at night.
Gran Canaria has the warmest Christmas weather of the Canary Islands, with an average temperature of 23ºC and 6 hours of complete sunshine! Sunny weather in the Canary Islands at Christmas, along with all the festive goodies? It looks like your fairy godmother granted your wish!
Tip: for more info, check out our ultimate guide on the climate of the Canary Islands.
Do they celebrate Christmas in the Canary Islands?
The Canary Islands have a complete transformation during Christmas time! The Christmas preparation starts early in November, while the celebration period begins at the end of November and is going strong until the first days of the New Year.
Also, the biggest Christmas celebration in the Canary Islands is actually on Christmas Eve, which is known as Nochebuena (the Good Night) and not on the 25th of December. So, if you want to be a true Canarian and feel the local spirit, you should book ahead for a festive seafood dinner on the 24th of December.
The streets and squares are filled with parties, christmas choirs and folk groups. In the Canaries, La Nochevieja, New Year's Eve is a big thing! So, go traditional, bring a bunch of grapes with you and look forward to a year blessed with good luck. When the clock strikes midnight you have to eat 12 grapes, one for each month of the year, one with each toll of the bell.
Tip: most places are closed or fully booked on the 25th of December in the Canary Islands, so you should book in advance if you want to have a Christmas meal.
Festive evening at a Christmas market in Tenerife
Which is the best Canary island to visit for Christmas in December?
The most popular destinations for the Christmas holidays in the Canary Islands are Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife but that does not mean that the rest of the Canaries do not celebrate Christmas. On the contrary, Santa's bag of toys has many hidden surprises!
So, are you ready to meander into the maze of the festive markets and the Christmassy hot spots? Feel the jolly spirit by visiting the nativity scenes, tasting the Canarian Christmas sweets and listening to the Ranchos de Pascua, local groups of musicians filling the streets with traditional melodies.
If you are still wondering which Canary Island is best in December, then keep reading!
Holidays in Lanzarote at Christmas
Lanzarote is the island of eternal spring and it ticks all the boxes for the most amazing Christmas holidays for 2023. It combines winter sun, breathtaking natural landscapes and it also hosts the Navidad Isleña, a program of cultural activities focusing on its traditional music. These concerts usually run from the beginning till the end of December, bringing music to all corners of Lanzarote's municipalities.
If you want to explore the festivities running near Lanzarote, then hop onto the Lanzarote to La Graciosa ferry. You will arrive at your destination in less than 30 minutes!
So, are you ready for the Christmas party? Here are some of Ferryhopper’s suggestions:
- Have a Christmas dinner in a volcanic tube at the Jameos del Agua. The Jameos del Agua, designed by local artist César Manrique, is a volcanic cave where you can enjoy Christmas concerts and delicious meals.
- Welcome the New Year with a small bunch of grapes at hand! In Arrecife, the square at the church of San Gines is where all people gather wearing their party hats and holding grapes.
- Lanzarote’s Christmas gem is well hidden among the camels! Visit the Christmas post office where children send their letters not to Santa but the Three Kings instead. Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar, who traveled to Bethlehem by camel, bring their gifts on the 6th of January!
- Visit the flea market in Teguise during your Christmas holidays in Lanzarote. A big part of the Christmas traditions in the Canary Islands are presents! Wander around the flea market to find unique Christmas gifts from handmade goodies to traditional, hand-painted ceramics and pottery for your loved ones. If you are not into Christmas shopping though, it’s ok! You can head towards the strands and grab a bite of the scrumptious Canarian food!
Tip: the market opens on Sundays from 09:00 to 14:00.
The ethereal blue pool inside the volcanic cave of Lanzarote
Holidays in Tenerife for Christmas
Tenerife is the largest among the Canary Islands. It is ideal for the warm Christmas holidays as it is one of the hottest Canary Islands in December, with the temperature reaching 23ºC to 24ºC during daylight hours.
Some of the most exciting things to do in Tenerife at Christmas are:
- Head to Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz where you can enjoy a walk through the festively lit streets.
- Las Teresitas is the best beach for Christmas on the island. Why? Because you won’t find people with hands full of bags rushing for last-minute Christmas shopping here! Instead, along the coastline of Las Teresitas, you will find a row of bars serving tropical Christmas cocktails following the slow pace of life. Christmas holidays are also about relaxation, aren’t they?
- Do tropical cocktails tempt you? Then, take a seat under the stars in Santa Cruz and get in the festive spirit at one of its open-air Christmas concerts.
- Get your hands into the fascinating guachinches (typical Canary Island establishments) to taste the best local wine served along with traditional Canarian dishes. Let’s mistle-toast on the alternative Christmas of 2023 in Tenerife!
Las Teresitas golden-sand beach in Tenerife
Christmas in Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is considered to be the most cosmopolitan of the Canary Islands. The island offers a wide range of activities for Christmas holidays in the sun. Go trekking through the Tamadaba Natural Park, go hiking on Los Tilos de Moya or try snorkeling in Las Caletas beach.
However, what really gets Gran Canaria on top of the list of the hottest Christmas destinations is the lively capital of Las Palmas.
Here are some suggestions for your Christmas visit in Gran Canaria:
- Do not miss the awe-inspiring nativity scene in Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas, a result of the best of Europe's sand sculptors. You can visit Belén for free!
- Christmas holidays in the Canary Islands taste like trucha (trout), a typical festive sweet. Do not worry, it has nothing to do with the fish! It is a dumpling with a touch of anise filled with sweet potato, angel hair (a kind of pasta in the shape of fine long strands) or almonds. The Christmas list goes on with turrónes, polvorones and coquitos. Ready to hit the sweet road through Gran Canaria?
The nativity scene in Lanzarote
Christmas in Fuerteventura
You are probably wondering about the weather in this Canary Island at Christmas time. Well, the weather in Fuerteventura at Christmas still feels like summer in December, with warm temperatures and an average 20ºC during daylight. So, let the party begin and enjoy your coastal Christmas celebrations on the beautiful island of Fuerteventura!
Find some suggestions for Christmas activities in Fuerteventura:
- Visit the Corralejo Christmas Market held every Saturday and Sunday between 09:00 and 19:00 during December in Plaza Patricio Calero. Taste the traditional Christmas sweets queso con almendras (cheese with almonds) and bienmesabe (creamy, almond frosting).
- Are you ready to experience the most magical Christmas this December in Fuerteventura? Witness the Geminids, the most spectacular meteor shower of the year with naked eyes! Simply stand and fix your gaze on the bright sky.
The meteor shower of Geminids in Fuerteventura’s dark sky in December
Christmas in La Gomera
There is nothing more identifying in the Canarian houses than the smell of hot puff pastry, cinnamon and sweet potato at Christmas.
La Gomera is a tiny, little island that loves Christmas tradition! As its festive program for 2023 indicates, it is already Christmas in San Sebastián, the capital of La Gomera. The Christmas program lasts from the end of November until the beginning of January. Ferryhopper suggests some of the most fun, holly jolly activities:
- Enjoy the Villancicos de Navidad (Christmas carols) and attend the musical concerts in the center of La Gomera’s capital.
- Watch Christmas movies at one of the open-air cinemas! There are also movies for children and classic Christmas fairy tale reading in the municipal library of San Sebastián. Also, if you were thinking of writing a letter to Papa Noel (Santa Claus), you are so outdated for La Gomera! The island is filled with spots where you can instantly have a video call with Papa Noel!
- Join one of the Christmas cooking workshops and learn how to make the island’s traditional vilana cake or milana (torta de vilana). It is an unusual sweet named after the vilana, the tinpot where it is baked. All you need is mashed potato, buttery crumbs, almonds, spice, and dried fruit!
The dazzling island of La Gomera is a magical combination of traditional Christmas customs and wild beauty! Read all you need to know about the island in the La Gomera travel guide.
Traditional Christmas sweet from the Canaries
Christmas in La Palma
Are you planning on a Christmas in La Palma? The island known as ‘’the beautiful island’’ of the Canaries loves Christmas traditions.
For your holiday break in La Palma, we invite you to experience the following traditions:
- Christmas in La Palma is all about the Belenes, the nativity scenes spreading throughout the island.
- The Rondallas de los Divinos are choral groups playing Christmas carols late at night adding some magical sparkle in La Palma’s streets.
- Make sure not to miss the Auto de los Reyes Magos (a theatrical piece narrating the Three Wise Men’s journey) taking place in the narrow streets of Santo Domingo on Christmas Eve.
Important: the island's volcano erupted in 2021. Before taking the trip, stay informed about updates on La Palma’s volcanic eruption.
Enjoy your Christmas holidays in the Canary islands
Were you naughty or nice this year? If your name is on Santa’s Nice List, then you deserve the best Christmas holiday deals for the warm, sunny Canary Islands. So, book your ferry tickets faster than Santa’s sleigh on Ferryhopper and...Feliz Navidad!
