The Canary Islands are a fantastic family destination, with beaches, a warm climate, dramatic views, a vibrant culture and unworldly landscapes courtesy of the active volcanoes. It also has a wide range of properties to stay out to make your holiday there fun and relaxing. Find the right property for your family, whether it includes babies, toddlers, children, teens or multigenerational travel, with our guide to the best hotels and resorts in the Canary Islands!
Check out the interactive map on Spain.info to find the activities your family will love the most and find out more about the Canary Islands.
Check out the interactive map on Spain.info to find the activities your family will love the most and find out more about the Canary Islands.
Best family resorts in Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest Canary Island in terms of population and is the busiest too. Here you’ll find Mount Teide, the highest point in Spain and the third largest active volcano in the world as well as stunning black sand beaches, the popular Playa Jardin beach landscaped by artist César Manrique. There’s also a delightful Canary Islands Music Festival — just to name a few of the things you can do and see together.
Fantasia Bahia Principe
This buzzy magical 5-star resort holds plenty of appeal for children and teens. The 372-room resort is centred around an awe-inspiring six-storey fairytale castle, with a children’s water park, 7 swimming pools, 5 restaurants, 6 bars, a splash areas, kids club, a teen ‘Loft’, spa, gym and nightly Cirque du Soleil-style entertainment. It’s tech-forward with free wifi, plenty of charging points and an all-inclusive wrist band that opens your door. Other cool features: Swim up junior suites, family suites, buggy parking for strollers (so no wrestling it into your room), play area in the lobby and supervised play area in the restaurant. Need a moment’s peace? Head for the adults-only infinity pool and infinity bar. (Read a full review of Fantasia Bahia Principe by Susanna on her blog A Modern Mother.)
The Ritz-Carlton Abama
This distinctive bright-coral Canary Island retreat garners five stars and a closer look tells you why. There are 459 rooms and suites where you’d like to set up home. You’ll find the largest Ritz Kids club in Europe, where parents can do fun activities with their children. The list of other family amenities the hotel can provide is long, ranging from car seat for transfers from the airport to bouncy chairs, playpens or microwaves to make feeding easier. Grab your rackets — the Abama Tennis Academy provides opportunities for every level and age of player. Seasoned golfers whose handicaps make the grade can take the links on the Abama par 72 course. The hotel has its own section of the public beach, dining ranging from Michelin star to beach-club barbecue and a spa inspired by Roman bathing traditions. Ahhhhh.
Hotel Bahia Del Duque
This hotel has won a slew of awards for its service and facilities, and you’ll know why when you arrive. Based in the chilled-out town of Costa Adeje, this resort looks a bit like a town itself, with lush palms, water features and an array of family facilities. You won’t go hungry – it has 8 restaurants (7 of which are open to the under-10s), plus there are bars, 4 swimming pools, even an ice cream parlour! Teens have their own space with the Teen Lounge, and you can have some parent time by hiring a babysitter for young ones.
Royal Hideaway Corales Beach
So many luxury designer hotels can be lacklustre points out My Travel Monkey. The Royal Hideaway Corales Beach is not one of these places. Renowned Tenerife architect Leonardo Omar designed the complex, which is in the shape of a boat, and the interior is inspired by the island’s marine corals. It marries style, comfort and amazing service — which is probably why TripAdvisor has named it one of the top 25 hotels in Spain. (Read My Travel Monkey’s full review of Royal Hideaway Corales Beach.)
Family-friendly hotels and resorts in Gran Canaria
This Canary Island is popular and home to loads of fabulous hotels and resorts, from rural getaways to super luxurious resorts with an outrageous array of delights.
The Lopesan Baobob Resort
Feel the 5-star African influence of this resort in the public spaces, restaurants and rooms…alongside its ample amenities for kids and adults. The 7 pools include a small and large children’s pool (!) and a lazy river, there’s a range of sports and facilities, and the design of the spaces is gorgeous and distinctive. We can just imagine lounging by Mungo Park pool with its tropical pool bar, eat African-inspired menus in one of the restaurants. Check into one of the double family pool rooms – overlooking the pools and accommodating 5 people.
Seaside Sandy Beach, Playa del Inglés
Playa del Inglés is one of Gran Canaria’s sandiest beaches and is 200 metres from this 4-star, all-inclusive, family-friendly hotel. Because of the Moorish influence, you’ll feel like you’ve landed in Aladdin’s cave. You can organise picnic baskets for outings, get competitive in the games rooms, plus enjoy discounts — children under 3 stay free and there are discounts for some older children as well. We love the outside hot tubs and family rooms organised around a large swimming pool with waterfall. Older kids will love the sports, including tennis, diving lessons, riflery, golf and more.
H10 Playa Meloneras Palace
Any place that calls itself a palace sounds pretty good to us. The 5-star H10 Playa Meloneras Palace sits on the southern tip of Gran Canaria, near Aqualand water park. We love the multi-level pool area, with a waterfall, lazy river, infinity pool, kids’ pool and shaded play area. H10 Playa Meloneras Palace also offers a children’s entertainment program, and can arrange babysitting alongside spa offerings and proximity to golf courses. Choose an all-inclusive option for not only food but also access to the spa facilities and tennis court.
Hotel Riu Gran Canaria, Maspalomas
This 600-room all-inclusive Meloneras hotel has four stars, a minimalist look and access to Gran Canaria’s fanciest seafront. It’s bright, light and a little bit playful. Scheduled activities include Pilates and water aerobics in the main pool, and there’s an adults-only infinity pool overlooking the ocean. The RiuLand children’s club runs a full programme for kiddies, the kids pool features slides and the hotel has won a range of guest awards.
TUI BLUE Orquídea in Bahia Feliz
This hotel has fab for children – it used to be called TUI Family Life Bahia Feliz Orquídea. It has a top kids’ club, character parades, a splash park and child-friendly shows. There are also cool things parents will appreciate, such as the Healthy Eating Challenge which encourages kids to try new foods (can family holidays not be two weeks of chicken nuggets? Yes!). You can also use the facilities at other TUI BLUE for Families hotels on either side of this one! Bahia Feliz means Happy Bay (if that gives you a sense of the hotel’s location) and is great for windsurfing.
Dunas Suites & Villas Resort
This property has different kids clubs for children of different ages, with activities that include music and dance, gymkanas, games and logic. There’s a Splash area and it’s won a cycling award. We love the chilled-out family suite featuring bean bag chairs, a children’s tepee, terrace space and welcome gift for the kiddos. Guests can use the facilities at the adjoining four-star Dunas Maspalomas Resorts. The buffet restaurant serves free breakfast and offers theme nights.
TUI Playa Feliz
Peaceful seafront resort with a mushroom-shaped pool, near town of San Agustin. You’ll find 1- and 2-bedroom apartmedunasnts with balcony or terraces and kitchenettes and a shaded children’s pool. Early evening games and shows are dedicated to the little ones. Later on, professional acts take to the stage for all the family to enjoy. Check out the games room, billiards, watersports on the beach including windsurfing and kayaking. Also helpful here – a self-service laundry.
Lopesan Villa del Conde Resort & Thalasso
Near the Maspalomas Lighthouse and only a mile from the Maspalomas Nature Reserve, this resort is grand and gorgeous and perfect for well-heeled families. Take advantage of the lagoon pool, kids club, family suites, sit-out terrace, bicycle hire, playground, spa for parents and its right-on-the-beach location. One of the 6 bars puts on live concerts. The 561-room resort’s layout copies that of a traditional Canarian village, complete with streets, several buildings, squares, fountains and even a church. Five pools, including an infinity-edge one with ocean views, three restaurants, five bars, a full entertainment program, daily activities for kids, and a playground means that there is no shortage of things to do, but the resort is also walking distance to restaurants, shops, and the beach.
Hotel El Mondalon
Nestled on the side of a mountain at the foot of a volcano, this rural hotel offers luxury in the Protected Natural Area of La Caldera de Bandama. The restaurant, housed in the old stable, overlooks olive trees, vineyards and native Canarian plants, and features a children’s menu. (We imagine sitting on the terrace, watching the children play on the grass…). There’s a play area and heated outdoor pool. Adjacent to the hotel is a winery that’s part of the Las Palmas wine route, and there’s golfing, riding and tennis nearby.
Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso & Hotel, Mogán
Families enjoy this hotel—it’s got a dramatic clifftop location, 2 pools (one is an infinity pool) plus children’s pool and kids club. It’s a short walk to the sandy beaches of Puerto Rico and Amadores. Take in the nightly entertainment, play sports including darts, petanque, shuffleboard and archery, or hit the Thalassotherapy spa. We’re also a little bit in love with the fact they have a piano in the lobby, where you can sit down and tickle the ivories.
The best Lanzarote resorts and hotels for families
You’ll get a tropical vibe in Lanzarote with its white-washed buildings and an awe-inspiring volcano experience. The presence of the artist Cesar Manrique is felt around the island including the amazing cactus garden.
Hotel Grand Teguise Playa
Prepared to be wowed when you first step foot into the Hotel Grand Teguise Playa. The expansive lobby features a 6-story high atrium with giant palms, fringed with dangling plants from the different floors. The second wow factor is when you step into one of the hotel’s rooms overlooking the swimming pools and the Atlantic. There are 320 rooms, a freshwater kids pool, 2 adult seawater pools and a kids club for 4- to 12-year-olds during the high season. Have some fun with the games and sports on the tennis courts, ping pong tables, pool table or with the long list of daytime entertainment (minigolf, volleyball, basketball) and nighttime fun (bingo, performances). Tots and teens will love it here. Read Susanna’s Hotel Grand Teguise Playa review on her blog, A Modern Mother.
Aequora Lanzarote Suites
Whitewashed apartment-style complexes landscaped with palm trees set against black lava rock are organised into family-friendly and adults-only sections, so you know your holiday will be amid like-minded parents. There are all-inclusive packages in the buffet restaurants. They are cheerful and lively, with themed food nights. We loved the special tiny kids’ buffet. Or try the a la carte options, such as Don Paco which serves Spanish food and wine where you can watch an evening talent show presented by staff with star quality! Choose from one of the 5 pools – there’s a colourful, cheerful one with slides, dunk buckets, sprayers and mini-pirate ship for kids as well as an adults-only one), sport courts, mini-disco and archery. The 6km beach is a short walk away. The entire complex is chic and colourful. Read more the Aequora Suites Lanzarote review by Jennifer on Jenography.net.
Princess Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort
This 5-star resort is a master at facilitating fun and relaxation for parents and children. A few of the attractions: Palms and cacti, the Kikoland children’s park that spreads over 10,000 square metres (!) with mascots, games, aqua activities and ‘cocktail’ games, live shows that entertain grown-ups and children and a Thalassotherapy spa for parent downtime or with older kids. Top it off with impeccable dining (it’s won gastronomy awards). We love the dining themes as well as the dressed-up approach to dinner (long trousers are compulsory for 16+ diners). Note: The hotel reopens 1 March 2021. (See what Twins and Travel had to say about staying there.)
5* Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa
The 5* Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa towers 17 stories over one of the best beaches in Arrecife: El Reducto Beach. It’s upscale, swish, with a spa and chic light-filled seaview suites decorated in white with splashes of colour. Teens will love the Star City bistro that has its own DJ. An added plus for short breaks especially: It’s only 15-minutes from the airport.
Finca de Arrieta
This family-run takes a sustainable approach with glamping in yurts in the unspoilt North. You feed your food waste to the chickens, donkeys and rabbits, use greywater for the plants, and the kids can swim in a pool heated by solar energy. We love that they have a playground, a trampoline and plenty of child-friendly things to borrow, including buckets and spades, pushchairs and car seats. Plus kids’ yoga and kids’ movie night! Go big with the Eco Yurt Royale, a 83 square metre yurt with two super kingsized bed and two single beds. The Playa de la Garita beach nearby has a chill beach bar, tapas and a playground. Read more about what makes it great for young kids in this full review from Travelynn Family.
Another great resource: Flying with a Baby’s family guide to Lanzarote
The best Fuerteventura hotels and resorts
Many Brits head for the Caleta de Fuste area when visiting Fuerteventura, but you can also find a Canarian experience in other areas. We’re fascinated by the salt museum, which tells the history of its production on the island.
H10 Tindaya
For families with younger children, this hotel gets high marks. If the big swimming pools and white sands of the Sotavento beach aren’t enough, the kids can also make waves in the the children’s swimming pool and splash park, the Daisy Adventure pool with a pirate ship and slides. Plus there’s the sandy playground, the Daisy Club with organised activities and beautiful lush grounds.
Barcelo Correlejo Sands
Bright, practical room designs, colourful spaces and loads of family amenities. You can book rooms with their own hot tubs. 2 swimming pools and solarium, 2 restaurants, a fitness studio and a spa. The hotel is 300m from the beach where you can windsurf, dive, sail and more – great for older kids. There’s a very cute miniclub for younger kids, an outdoor play area including a climbing frame and the children’s pool has a pirate ship slide.
Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach, Golf & Spa Resort
This resort from the trusted Marriott brand Sheraton is on the eastern coast of the island. They rack up four pools, a fitness centre, a tennis court, mini golf and access to a sandy beach plus the Yambaland kids club. Palms and other plants grow in the atrium and rooms mix clean neutrals with dark wood and splashes of colour. They have an array of room styles and levels, with direct garden access, terraces, even a duplex bi-level suite with a vast terrace and hot tub. Rollaway beds and cribs are available as are connecting rooms. Head out for nearaby activities to keep everyone happy: horseriding, snorkelling, scuba diving, jet-skiing, boating, even bowling.
Gran Hotel Bahia Real
La Palma
Some must-see destinations here include the La Palma Astrophysical Observatory which is a designated Starlight Reserve (visits are free but must be booked), the Enchanted Forest, Charco Azul natural pool, a swimming pool carved from natural rock and more in the local vibe than the tourist trail. Also worth checking out: El Jardin de la Sal restaurant which serves local seafood next to a former lighthouse beside salt pans, and La Casa del Volcán, which focuses on Canarian gastronomy including wines, half portions and picnics on the terrace watching the sun set on the volcano.
Faro Cumplida
Stay in a 150+ year old lighthouse turned boutique hotel. No surprise: The views are spectacular over the Atlantic, banana plantations and La Palma mountains. Up to 8 guests can take over the entire lighthouse or book one of the suites. The Farero Suite features 2 bedrooms, 2 ensuites has a big sitting room with a full kitchen and fireplace in from the seaview terrace. The La Palma Suite sleeps two with a terrace and kitchen. The Atlantic Suite is the snuggest, with views of the ocean on two sides and one wall displaying the original volcanic stone. Cook dinner on the outdoor barbecue overlooking the sea or dine at the long table in the courtyard. The interiors are modern and sleek – patterned tiles, shiny fixtures, modern kitchens and cushy furnishings familiar to any luxury hotel-goer. One for the bucket list.
Hotel La Palma Teneguia Princess
Get active in this sprawling hotel on the quiet coast of Fuencaliente is close to the fishing village of Los Canarios. It has 7 outdoor pools (The Telegraph calls it ‘possibly the best hotel swimming complex in the archipelago’. Or take advantage of the extensive calendar of planned fitness and fun activities including a kids programme that ranges from darts and archery to Dora the Explorer Day and Superhero Day to Cupcake Time and a mini disco. Nearby there are volcanoes, vineyards and a pine forest to explore. You can go ‘off-campus’ to hike, mountain bike, dive, explore caves and more. A great option with your active teen.
Las Casitas de Tijarafe
These casitas are a brilliant budget option – 4 rural houses surrounded by nature. Informal furnishings mean you can really relax with your young ones. Two have private pools, the other two share – a great option for multigenerational or multi-family groups. Stock up on local ingredients for family meals at the fantastic Mercado Municipal in Santa Cruz de la Palma.
El Cerrito
This 3-‘aparthotel’, housed in a low-rise serviced apartment complex is an affordable and comfortable option for families. It’s only a 5-minute drive from Santa Cruz, the capital of La Palma. The landscaped courtyard features a swimming pool. It’s popular with families and gets rave review in Trip Advisor.
La Gomera
La Gomera, the second smallest of the Canaries, is known as Isla Mágica (the magical island). It’s barely 20 kilometres nose to tip and is home to the Parque Nacional de Garajonay is a prehistoric forest and the UNESCO World Heritage designation. La Gomera has its own whistling language called Silbo Gomero, a form of communication that can travel across the dramatic valleys. Plan to go hiking, whale watching, exploring or just enjoying the spectacular scenery. To get to La Gomera, fly into Tenerife and take a ferry or you can catch a flight between the islands. (Get more info about La Gomera on the Spain tourism site.)
Parador La Gomera
This hotel offers stunning vistas over the ocean, with Tenerife and Mount Teide on the horizon. Columbian-inflected architecture, the Parador de La Gomera offers cosy rooms, a swimming pool with views and a lush garden, palm trees and filled with lyrical birdsong.
Hotel Jardin Tecina
Located in Playa Santiago, on a clifftop, this hotel has 70k square meters of gardens on its grounds, 5 swimming pools, 4 bars and 7 restaurants, a beach club, a golf course and mini golf, volleyball, a fitness programme and more! Kids will love the mini golf, kids club, video rooms, table tennis and disco, to name a few. This resort is large
Hotel Playa Calera
This hotel in Valle Gran Rey with modern décor is about 20 metres from the beach, surrounded by nature. It won a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award in 2020 and features family-friendly accommodation. One to check out.
Hotel Gran Rey
This 3-star hotel with 99 rooms aims to integrate with its surroundings with a minimal environmental footprint, from the design of the air conditioning and water systems to social responsibility in the community. It’s won a TUI Environmental Champion award as well as a TUI Top Quality Winner. Dine on the terrace beside the sea, play tennis or walk 30m down to the sea.
Hotel Rural Ibo Alfaro
This traditional 150-year-old manor house in the Hermigua Valley has 17 rooms and offers tranquiity. They have affordable family suites for up to 4 people.
(Also check out 10 things to do with kids in La Gomera from Scots2Travel. )
El Hierro
El Hierro is less than 50km from one end to another but even so has been declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. It has rugged, beautiful landscape and coves and lagoons along its 100km of coastline. (Get more info about El Hierro here.)
Parador de El Hierro
This hotel with its traditional red-tiled roof is situated between a volcanic mountain and the ocean. The building’s balconies overlook the sea and you can hear the waves from the garden, swimming pool and guest rooms. Visit the wellness spa with your teen
Hotel Balneario Pozo de la Salud
This small spa hotel set in a solidified lava flow has cliffs rising to one side, the sea on the other. It’s a real retreat (shops and banks are a drive away) with rattan furniture, an interior conservatory and mineral-rich healing waters. There’s a children’s play area and interconnecting rooms.
La Graciosa
La Graciosa is home to the La Francesca beach, with calm waters and fine white sand. You won’t find big hotels or resorts on this island (last census: 734). Plan to stay in an apartment in Caleta de Sebo, La Graciosa’s main town, where there are amenities like shops are nearby.
This guide to staying in La Graciosa tells you a bit about what to expect.
More advice and tips on what to do in the Canary Islands and in Spain with kids
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