The most popular destinations for the Christmas holidays in the Canary Islands are Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife but that does not mean that the rest of the Canaries do not celebrate Christmas. On the contrary, Santa's bag of toys has many hidden surprises!
People Also Ask
In this way, we can say that if the weather is a determining factor when deciding the destination of your vacation, making a trip to the Canary Islands in December will be a great success. The islands where the climate is most favorable at any time of the year are Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote.
Gran Canaria gets its hot weather being so close to the Sahara Desert, although winds and the cool Canary Current keep things comfortable in December. Although it's winter, you'll still be able to lounge around in your beach gear all day, as Gran Canaria has an average high temperature of 22ºC in December.
Regional variationMost tourist destinations are in the south of Gran Canaria to take advantage of the best weather. This part of the island enjoys the hottest temperatures, though it can get extremely hot when the wind blows from the Sahara. For cooler weather, the mountains inland from the coast offer some respite.
It is one of Tenerife's coolest months in the year, although a lot warmer than the rest of Europe, with a mean daily maximum of 23°C and mean daily minimum of 15°C. An estimated 32mm of rain falls over the entire island in 5.5 days in December, with 17.6 of those days being partially cloudy.
The warmest Canary Island in winter is Tenerife. It boasts a warm climate all throughout the year, but in winter its temperatures are higher than the other islands.
This also depends on which beach you choose, since beaches that are more sheltered will have a warmer sea temperature. We've been able to swim in December in the Canaries several times, as well as all the other winter months, although there can be significant differences from year to year.
Rain in Gran Canaria in DecemberThe average rainfall in December is 31 mm and this occurs over 5 or 6 days throughout the month. So although there is a higher chance of rain compared to other months, Gran Canaria still gets far less precipitation than most places in the UK do.
What's the weather like in Lanzarote at Christmas? For Lanzarote, the temperatures at Christmas are a lot cooler than the summer and you can expect average temperatures of around 21 degrees in the day time and 14 degrees at night.
Go for Tenerife if you prefer popular tourist destinations with great restaurants and nightlife. On the other hand, Gran Canaria is your best bet if you want to explore the breathtaking landscapes and outstanding beaches.
If you want winter sun in Europe in December, your best bet is either Madeira or the Canary Islands. You can find warm temperatures and sunshine in Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and Malta, but fine weather isn't guaranteed. Morocco is also an excellent option, only three hours flying time from the UK.
Gran Canaria and Lanzarote are the hottest of the islands in December. There's only a very small chance of rain, and temperatures can reach as high as 26ºC, even over Christmas.
Yes, the average temperature in December during the daytime is 22.7°C (80.2°F), which is hot enough for sunbathing. Can you sunbathe in Tenerife in December? Yes, it is possible to sunbathe and go swimming in Tenerife in December, especially in the south of the island.
While most destinations experience plummeting temperatures and far too chilly conditions during winter months, the weather in Madeira offers mostly sunny skies and pleasant temperatures year-round, with the average temperatures hovering around 20 degrees Celsius during December and January in particular.
December brings rain, cooler temperatures and plenty of festive sparkle to Portugal. Up north in Porto, high temperatures now peak at 57°F (14°C), though they can plummet as low as 45°F (7°C), with 11 days of wet weather to contend with.
The rest of the island has its own charm, mainly in its quaint villages, like Masca and Icod, and in Teide National Park, home of Spain's highest mountain. Thanks to its atypical weather, December is one of the best times of the year to visit Tenerife.
Winter sunYou can expect temperatures in the early 20s, maybe even up to 25 degrees celsius. That's certainly sunbathing weather for us Brits at least! It's typically a little bit warmer than other Canary Islands, like Lanzarote, in December. The south of Tenerife is very dry, meaning it's quite unlikely to rain.
Winter sunTenerife is one of the warmest – if not the warmest – destinations in Europe during December. You can expect temperatures in the early 20s, maybe even up to 25 degrees celsius. That's certainly sunbathing weather for us Brits at least!