A Guide to Cheap Holidays in The Canary Islands

Getting to and around Canary Islands cheaply

There really is an endless choice of charter and schedule flights to the main islands from any number of UK airports. Unless you have arranged a transfer to your resort or hotel, then the best way to get about is in a hire car.

The bus services are cheap, reliable and efficient on the main islands and if you want to explore elsewhere, there are inter-island ferry services and domestic flights too which will whisk you off to your chosen destination in a matter of minutes. If you are using the public bus service, buy discount tickets (Bono) from shops or at the bus stations themselves.

Beaches in Canary Islands

The best island for wonderful beaches has to be Fuerteventura. There are 150 stunning stretches of sand and many of the best ones are off the beaten track mostly dotted with little café’s offering cheap lunches and drinks. In Tenerife, you'll find sandy beaches at the resorts of Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos and volcanic black beaches in Puerto de la Cruz. Lanzarote's not quite as good, though near El Golfo, there's a collection of great black sand beaches.

On Gran Canaria, there are big and bustling beaches in the main resorts of Playa del Ingles and La Palma, but you may have to step over the bodies recovering from the excesses of the night before.

Low-cost sightseeing in Canary Islands

While in Tenerife, don't miss the former island capital, La Laguna. The architecture of the town is quite stunning, so stroll around and admire the ornate balconies and brightly-coloured buildings. In Lanzarote, the Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporaneo in Arrecife is a must for art-lovers. The cheap museum is home to the most important collection of modern art in the Canaries and includes works by Miro, Millares, Oscar Dominguez and Lanzarote's most famous son Cesar Manrique.

Fuerteventura doesn't have much in the way of sights, but it's one of the best places in the world to try sailboarding so book yourself a few cheap lessons. The western islands - Palma, Gomera and Hierro - are lush, green and mountainous. You won't see many other tourists there and they're great for hiking.

Eating cheaply on Holiday in Canary Islands

As is the case in much of Spain, Canarians dine very late and you won't catch them out before 9pm.
Most places stay open until around five or six in the morning, so you can really party hard before recovering in bed or on the beach.

On Lanzarote, Arrecife has a few cheap clubs and bars and on the other islands, the pace of life is much, much slower.

Cheap Shopping in Canary Islands

The Canaries are a tax-free haven so take full advantage. Electronic goods are a particularly good bargain along with perfume, tobacco and alcohol, all at far cheaper prices than can be found in the UK. Local crafts include leather, linen tablecloths and jewellery and on Lanzarote, there's a Sunday morning market in Teguise, which is worth a look.

On Fuerteventura woodcarving from beech, pine, chestnut and mulberry trees is used to make a wide range of interesting and useful objects, including the famous castanets. Cigar-smokers should stock up on the inexpensive and good quality cigars made in La Palma and the basket-ware is also very good in La Gomera.

<< Back to Canary Islands Holiday Guide