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PolskiChoose Gran Canaria if you want more of everything: the sunniest resorts in the archipelago in the south, a real city by the sea in Las Palmas, mountains for hiking and plenty of flights. Choose Lanzarote if you want a calmer, smaller and slightly cheaper island, with unique volcanic scenery, low-rise towns and easy flat walks by the sea. Coastal temperatures are very similar; the choice is about scale and lifestyle.
Gran Canaria is one of the two big islands of the archipelago, with around 850,000 residents, a lively capital and a wide range of places to stay. Lanzarote is smaller and quieter, shaped by volcanoes and by César Manrique’s vision of an island without tower blocks. This comparison focuses on what matters for a stay of one to four months.
Side by side
| Gran Canaria | Lanzarote | |
|---|---|---|
| Main long-stay bases | Las Palmas, Playa del Inglés, San Agustín, Puerto Rico, Arguineguín | Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise |
| Typical rent, one-bedroom, peak winter | About €1,000-1,900 depending on area | About €900-1,500 in Puerto del Carmen |
| Sunniest area | The south-west: Maspalomas, Puerto Rico, Mogán | Playa Blanca and the south |
| City life | Las Palmas, a large Spanish city with a beach | Arrecife, smaller |
| Landscape | Mountains, ravines, dunes, pine forests | Volcanic, dry and mostly low |
| Remote work | Strong, centred on Las Palmas | Limited |
| Pace | Varied: busy city or relaxed resorts | Calm and low-rise |
Rents are indicative ranges from listings. See monthly rental prices in the Canary Islands.
Weather
At the coast, both islands are typically around 21 to 23°C by day from December to February, a little warmer in November and March, with little rain. Gran Canaria’s south-west, around Puerto Rico and Mogán, is one of the sunniest places in Europe in winter. Las Palmas, in the north-east, gets more cloud, especially in the mornings. Lanzarote is sunny and dry almost everywhere but usually breezier. See Gran Canaria weather in January and February and Lanzarote weather in January.
Lifestyle
Gran Canaria gives you two very different options. Las Palmas is an authentic Spanish city, with the Las Canteras beach promenade, markets, the historic Vegueta quarter and a large international community. The south is a classic sunny resort coast, from the flat promenades of San Agustín and Playa del Inglés to the sheltered valleys of Puerto Rico and the fishing town of Arguineguín. Read the best area in Gran Canaria for a long winter stay.
Lanzarote is calm and compact. Puerto del Carmen has a long flat promenade and every service nearby, Playa Blanca is quieter and very sunny, and Arrecife offers local life and low rents. Read wintering in Lanzarote: the best towns.
Things to do
Gran Canaria has more variety for a long stay: hiking in the mountains around Roque Nublo and Tejeda, the dunes of Maspalomas, the villages of Teror and Agaete, and city culture in Las Palmas. Lanzarote has fewer sights but they are memorable: Timanfaya National Park, Manrique’s Jameos del Agua and Mirador del Río, the vineyards of La Geria and the Sunday market in Teguise.
Cost
Lanzarote is usually a little cheaper for rent. In Gran Canaria, Las Palmas often offers better value than the southern resorts, and eating out is cheaper there because restaurants price for locals. Puerto Rico and Mogán are among the most expensive areas in winter. See a monthly budget for a couple in Gran Canaria and the cost of living in Lanzarote.
Flights and getting around
Gran Canaria has more direct flights from northern Europe, and its Global buses connect the airport, Las Palmas and the south frequently. Lanzarote has one airport close to Puerto del Carmen and a smaller bus network that works well between the main towns. On both islands, renting a car for a week or two is the best way to explore. See monthly car hire in the Canary Islands.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Gran Canaria | Very sunny south, real city, mountains, remote work scene, many flights | Southern resorts spread out, some areas hilly, higher rents in the south-west |
| Lanzarote | Calm, low-rise, unique scenery, flat promenades, lower rents | Smaller, breezier, fewer flights and city options |
Who should choose which
Choose Gran Canaria if you want the strongest winter sun, the option of city life, hiking or remote work, and a wide choice of places to live. Read the town guides to Puerto Rico and Arguineguín.
Choose Lanzarote if you want a calm, easy winter in a smaller place, like walking by the sea and prefer lower rents. Read Puerto del Carmen for a long winter stay.
Travelling with someone without an EU passport? Check the dates with the Schengen 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gran Canaria or Lanzarote warmer in winter?
They are very similar at the coast. The south-west of Gran Canaria is often the sunniest and most sheltered.
Which is cheaper?
Lanzarote is usually a little cheaper for rent; Las Palmas is the best-value option in Gran Canaria.
Which is better without a car?
Both work if you choose a central base. Las Palmas and the south coast of Gran Canaria have very frequent buses.
How do you travel between the two islands?
The quickest way is a short inter-island flight. See island hopping in the Canary Islands.
Our verdict
Gran Canaria is the better choice if you want sun, variety and the option of city life. Lanzarote suits those who want a calmer, simpler winter at a slightly lower cost. Read the full guides to wintering in Gran Canaria and wintering in Lanzarote.