Must-see attractions in Canary Islands

  • Galdar, Spain - March 2, 2019: Woman admiring the Interior of museum and Archaeological park, Cueva Pintada, in Galdar Gran Canaria, Spain . ; 
Cueva Pintada Museum & Archaeological Park

Shutterstock ID 1462682909; your: Bridget Brown; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI Image Update

    Cueva Pintada Museum & Archaeological Park

    Gran Canaria

    Discovered by a local farmer in the late 19th century, this is one of Gran Canaria's most important pre-Hispanic archaeological sites: a cave adorned with…

  • The facade of the Casa de Colon (also known as Columbus House), a museum in Las Palmas and a fine example of Canarian architecture.

    Casa-Museo de Colón

    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

    This fascinating museum documents Columbus’ voyages and features exhibits on the Canary Islands’ historical role as a staging post for transatlantic…

  • Mount Teide Landscape

    Pico del Teide

    Tenerife

    The cable car provides the easiest way to get up to the peak of El Teide. The views are great – unless a big cloud is covering the peak, in which case you…

  • César Manrique Foundation on the island of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe; Shutterstock ID 603358700; Your name (First / Last): Tom Stainer; GL account no.: 65050 ; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Best in Travel 2018

    Fundación César Manrique

    Lanzarote

    Upon returning definitively to Lanzarote, César Manrique built his spectacular house and creative centre, Taro de Tahíche, into the lava fields just…

  • Panoramic view of the Timanfaya National Park ( also called The Montanas del Fuego or Mountains of Fire ) in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain; Shutterstock ID 437700634; Your name (First / Last): Tom Stainer; GL account no.: 65050 ; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Best in Travel 2018

    Parque Nacional de Timanfaya

    Lanzarote

    Lanzarote's most spectacular sight, the eerie 51-sq-km Parque Nacional de Timanfaya sprawls around the Montañas del Fuego (Mountains of Fire) formed by…

  • Santuario de la Virgen de las Nieves

    Santa Cruz de la Palma

    For splendid views down the valley to Santa Cruz, put aside time to tackle the 4km uphill hike north of town to La Palma’s main object of pilgrimage, the…

  • Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA)

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    The highlights of this dramatic contemporary building are the architecture, its three galleries and the stunning library downstairs. The galleries display…

  • Dunas de Maspalomas

    Maspalomas

    These fabulous dunes cover 400 hectares and were designated a nature reserve in the 1990s, ensuring that the rapidly multiplying hotels would never…

  • Casa de los Coroneles

    Fuerteventura

    This 18th-century building has been beautifully restored, retaining its traditional central patio and wooden galleries, while other buildings on the…

  • Parque Nacional de Garajonay

    La Gomera

    La Gomera's prime attraction, the magical, often-misty Parque Nacional de Garajonay extends across 40 sq km of dense, primeval laurisilva forest at the…

  • Auditorio de Tenerife

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    This magnificent, soaring white wave of an auditorium was designed by the internationally renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, and delivers…

  • Jardín Botánico

    Puerto de la Cruz

    Established in 1788, this magnificent botanical garden has thousands of plant varieties from all over the world and is a delightful place to while away an…

  • Acantilados de los Gigantes

    Tenerife

    These astonishing, dark rock cliffs soar sublimely 600m from the ocean, forging a magnificent natural geological spectacle right on the edge of Los…

  • Parque Natural de Corralejo

    Corralejo

    This nature park of yellow dunes stretches along the east coast for about 10km south from Corralejo; it's also several kilometres wide, so covers a lot of…

  • Pico Bejenado

    La Palma

    At 1854m, clambering up to this peak offers glorious views over the pines, valleys and ridges of the Caldera de Taburiente. The peak marks the conclusion…

  • Santo Domingo

    La Palma

    Wind your way down the lovely, sinuous LP-112 to the settlement of Santo Domingo and then turn left in the village and follow the signs to the Puerto de…

  • Mirador de Unamuno

    Gran Canaria

    One of several viewpoints in town, the Mirador de Unamuno looks out onto a sweeping panorama of the vast volcanic caldera beyond – it is a stupefying…

  • Secret of cave

    Cueva de los Verdes

    Lanzarote

    A yawning, kilometre-long chasm, the Cueva de los Verdes is the most spectacular segment of an almost 7km-long lava tube left behind by an eruption 5000…

  • outer Jameos del Agua pool, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain; Shutterstock ID 283647977; Your name (First / Last): Tom Stainer; GL account no.: 65050 ; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Best in Travel 2018

    Jameos del Agua

    Lanzarote

    When molten lava seethed through this volcanic cavern around 5000 years ago, the ocean leaked in slightly, forming the startling clear azure lake that…

  • Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    Dating from 1944, this tantalising market is housed in an eye-catching building that combines a Latin American feel with Moorish-style arches and patios…

  • Castillo San Jose in Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands; Shutterstock ID 177666716; Your name (First / Last): Tom Stainer; GL account no.: 65050 ; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Best in Travel 2018

    Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo

    Arrecife

    Converted into an art gallery in 1976, on César Manrique's wish, the well-preserved 18th-century Castillo de San José houses one of the Canaries' major…

  • Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos

    La Palma

    The huge telescopes on the peak of Roque de los Muchachos belong to the island’s astronomical observatory, one of the world’s best places to study the…

  • Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    This brain-bending amalgam of natural science and archaeology is an excellent museum, despite a rather confusing layout. Set inside the former civil…

  • Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    It's difficult to miss the striking bell tower of the city’s oldest church, which also has traditional Mudéjar (Islamic-style architecture) ceilings. The…

  • Casa-Museo César Manrique

    Lanzarote

    Frozen in time, complete with Manrique's clothes in the cupboard and personal art collection adorning the walls, the palm-shaded final home of the island…

  • Museo del Queso Majorero

    Fuerteventura

    This superb museum is one of the island's best, with lots of interactive displays including a sit-down 'virtual goat milking' activity! Kids will enjoy…

  • Charco Azul

    La Palma

    Creatively designed Charco Azul is a blending of moulded concrete with natural volcanic rocks. The effect is stunning, especially when the waves are…

  • La Maceta

    El Hierro

    Taking a refreshing dip is a dream at La Maceta, arguably top pick among El Hierro's beautiful natural coastal pools and just as popular with herreños as…

  • Playa de las Canteras

    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

    The fine 3km stretch of yellow sand is magnificent, and is considered by many to be one of the world's best city beaches. There’s an attractive seaside…

  • Iglesia de Santa María

    Fuerteventura

    This lovely church dates from 1620 and has a magnificent stone floor, carved wooden ceiling and an elaborate baroque altar. Don’t miss the sacristy with…

  • Mirador Astronómico de Sicasumbre

    Fuerteventura

    If you want just one place to put the island's primordial, barren geology and Martian features into wide-angle perspective, this mirador has breathtaking…

  • Iglesia de San Juan Bautista

    Gran Canaria

    The extraordinary, neo-Gothic church stands sullen watch over the bright, white houses of Arucas in a striking display of disproportion and contrast. The…

  • Parque Municipal de Arucas de las Flores

    Gran Canaria

    These terraced municipal gardens are laid out in French style with fountains, pavilions, sculptures and tropical trees, including the rare evergreen soap…

  • Mirador de la Peña

    El Hierro

    Designed by famous Lanzarote-born artist César Manrique in 1989, the clifftop Mirador de la Peña (just a kilometre west of agricultural hamlet Guarazoca)…

  • Museo Casa Roja

    La Palma

    This handsome ochre-red mansion (built in 1911), located down one of the steep streets from the main road, has downstairs exhibits on Corpus Christi – a…

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