Are you trying to decide between Lanzarote and Tenerife for your next trip to the Canary Islands? However, the two islands do not have much in common, despite their shared volcanic origin. One emphasizes simplicity and architecture designed by an artist; the other, the vastness and diversity of its landscapes. Here is our comprehensive comparison to help you decide: beaches, scenery, hotels, culture, activities, and climate.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Lanzarote or Tenerife: Quick Answer
If you don’t want to read through all the criteria below, here’s our answer in a nutshell. We recommend Lanzarote if you’re looking for a small, intimate island with harmonious architecture and rolling volcanic landscapes that make you feel like you’re at the end of the world. We recommend Tenerife instead if you’re looking for a larger island with a real volcano to climb, varied microclimates, and much more to offer families.
- Best Untouched Beaches: Lanzarote
- Best variety of beaches: Tenerife
- Most Spectacular Landscapes: Tenerife
- Architecture and Harmony: Lanzarote
- Family-Friendly Attractions and Parks: Tenerife
- Ease of Driving: Lanzarote
- Climate: equivalent
If you’ve made up your mind, check out our tips on where to stay in Lanzarote and where to stay in Tenerife.
And if you’re still trying to decide between several islands, check out our comparison of all the Canary Islands.
Best beaches: Lanzarote or Tenerife?
Lanzarote beaches
In Lanzarote, what stood out most to us were the wild beaches, nestled between cliffs and black volcanic rocks. There are fewer of them than in Tenerife, but their austere setting gives them a special charm.
You’ll still find a few well-equipped beach resorts if you prefer a bit of comfort.
Check out our top 15 most beautiful beaches in Lanzarote. Here are our favorites:
- Papagayo Beach, a wild stretch of sand on the oldest part of the island
- Playa Flamingo, in the seaside resort of Playa Blanca
- Famara Beach, overlooked by high cliffs
Beaches in Tenerife
Tenerife offers a much wider variety: black-sand beaches, beaches with imported golden sand, secluded coves, and long stretches of beach near the city. We enjoyed this variety, which lets us experience a different atmosphere every day. This way, you can go from a rugged volcanic beach to a family-friendly, well-equipped beach in just a few kilometers.
Check out our list of the most beautiful beaches in Tenerife. Tenerife also has some beautiful natural pools. Among our favorites:
- Playa El Medano and its volcano
- Playa de las Teresitas, one of the best-known beaches
- Playa del Duque, more upscale
- Playa Jimenez and its black sand
Winning island
When it comes to diversity, we give the edge to Tenerife, which offers black sand, golden sand, and a beach for every mood. But if you’re mainly looking for beautiful, unspoiled beaches, Lanzarote is still a safe bet.
Which island has the most beautiful scenery?
Landscapes of Lanzarote
Lanzarote is distinguished by the almost lunar uniformity of its landscapes. We fell in love with its lava fields and colorful volcanic cones, which make you feel like you’re walking on another planet. You’ll also come across vineyards growing right out of the rock—an agricultural curiosity unique to the island.
- Timanfaya National Park, with its black, red, and one large white volcanoes
- The Lava Cliffs of Los Hervideros
- The Green Lagoon in El Golfo
- The high cliffs of Famara in the northwest
- The vineyards of La Geria, at the foot of the volcanoes
- Get a better idea with our article on the most beautiful landscapes in 25 photos.
Landscapes of Tenerife
Tenerife is in a league of its own: it is the largest island in the Canary Islands, and its highest point is the summit of Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain. We were impressed by the contrast between the desert areas in the south and the Anaga rainforest in the north. In just under an hour’s drive, you’ll go from a lunar landscape to dense vegetation—something unique to this island.
- Teide National Park and its volcano, which rises above the island
- The Anaga Forest and its green cliffs
- The High Cliffs of Los Gigantes
- Get a better idea with our article on the most beautiful landscapes in 25 photos.
Winning island
We give Tenerife the edge for the grandeur of its landscapes, enhanced by the presence of Mount Teide. Lanzarote remains, however, one of a kind: no other island in the Canary Islands offers such volcanic uniformity.
Best hotels
Both islands have a solid selection of hotels, though in different styles. In Lanzarote, César Manrique established building regulations that limit the height of structures, resulting in hotels that are more unobtrusive and blend into the landscape. In Tenerife, there is a wider range of options, especially in the south, with large family-friendly resorts.
Best hotels in Lanzarote
See our selection of the most beautiful hotels in Lanzarote. Among our favorites:
- Fariones Hotel, an elegant 5-star beachfront hotel
Check photos and availability - CalaLanzarote Hotel—if you’re looking for a charming boutique hotel
Check photos and availability - Princessa Aequora Hotel—if you’re looking for an all-inclusive family resort
Check photos and availability
Best hotels in Tenerife
See our selection of the most beautiful hotels in Tenerife. Among our favorites:
- Corales Beach Hotel, an elegant 5-star adults-only hotel
Check photos and availability - La Laguna Gran Hotel, if you’re looking for a charming boutique hotel
Check photos and availability - GF Victoria Hotel—if you’re looking for a family-friendly resort
Check photos and availability
Cultural Attractions: Which Island Has the Most to Offer?
Culture in Lanzarote
In Lanzarote, culture is inextricably linked to the work of one man: César Manrique. We visited several of his works, where art blends with volcanic geology in an almost inseparable way. You can also learn about the history of local wine or take a stroll through the historic village of Teguise.
- The Work of César Manrique
- A bus tour of the Timanfaya volcano
- The History of Wine and Vineyards
- The Historic Village of Teguise
- See all the best attractions in Lanzarote.
Culture in Tenerife
Tenerife offers a richer cultural scene, thanks to its longer history and larger population. We especially liked San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose historic center dates back to the 15th century. You’ll also find charming towns like La Orotava and Garachico, as well as more unusual sites like the pyramids of Güimar.
- Art Museums in Santa Cruz
- The historic towns of La Orotava and Garachico
- The UNESCO World Heritage Site: San Cristóbal de La Laguna
- The Pyramids of Güimar
- See all the best attractions in Tenerife.
Winning island
It’s hard to choose between the two, since their identities are so different. Lanzarote captivates visitors with a culture centered around a single artist, while Tenerife offers a richer and more ancient cultural heritage.
Activities: Parks, Sports, and Thrills
Theme parks in Lanzarote
Lanzarote has a more limited selection of family-friendly activities, but it’s enough for a relaxing day.
You can visit Rancho Texas Park, which combines a zoo and a water park near Puerto del Carmen— book your tickets.
The island also has a second water park, Aquapark, in Costa Teguise, which features a paintball area— be sure to book your tickets.
See the amusement parks in Lanzarote.
Amusement Parks in Tenerife
If you’re traveling with your family, Tenerife is a clear winner. The island is home to several of the best amusement parks in the Canary Islands, especially in its southern half. We especially enjoyed Siam Park, which is regularly ranked among the best water parks in the world. You’ll also find:
- Siam Park – Book your tickets.
- Aqualand – Book your tickets.
- Loro Parque Zoo— book your tickets.
- Jungle Park – Book your tickets.
- See the amusement parks in Tenerife
Winning island
Tenerife is far ahead in this regard. There is a much wider variety of options there, especially for families with children.
Driving in Lanzarote or Tenerife
Driving in Lanzarote
In Lanzarote, the roads are easy to navigate. They are in good condition, offer good visibility, and have little traffic. We strongly recommend that you rent a car to explore all of the island’s scenery at your own pace.
See our tips for renting a car in Lanzarote and for driving.
Our preferred car rental platform is Discovercars: see offers.
Driving in Tenerife
In Tenerife, the roads are in good condition, but traffic is heavier there because the island has a larger population than Lanzarote. We came across a few narrow mountain roads and some steep slopes in the northwest. Avoid a car that’s too big or not powerful enough if you plan to explore the entire island.
See our tips for renting a car in Tenerife and for driving.
Our preferred car rental platform is Discovercars: see offers.
Winning island
Lanzarote is a more relaxing place to drive, thanks to its open roads and light traffic.
Gastronomic offer
Because of the Canary Islands’ shared history and similar weather conditions, the cuisines of the two islands are quite similar. It combines seafood, traditional Spanish recipes, and Latin American influences. One of Lanzarote’s distinctive features is its vineyards, where the vines thrive thanks to the volcanic rocks of Picon, producing sweet wines that are unique in the archipelago. In Tenerife, however, you’ll find a wider variety of restaurants, thanks to its larger population.
Check out our selection of the best restaurants in Lanzarote and our selection in Tenerife.
Climate
Weather conditions are quite similar on both islands, with differences due to the terrain. We’ve noticed more foggy days in Lanzarote when the wind blows in from the Sahara, while Tenerife gets a little more rain, as its mountains trap the clouds. On both islands, you can expect temperatures of around 21°C in the winter and 28 to 30°C in the summer.
Combining Lanzarote and Tenerife
Unlike other pairs of Canary Islands, Lanzarote and Tenerife are not connected by a short ferry ride. The most convenient way to travel between the two is still the domestic flight, operated primarily by Binter Canarias, which allows you to get from one to the other in a short amount of time. We recommend spending at least a week on each island if you want to visit them all, since their atmospheres are so different.
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