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Furthermore, we analyzed all climate data and provide a recommendation about which months are best to visit Gran Canaria for your holiday.
Climate Overview
16 °C to 26 °C
18 °C to 23 °C
0 – 0.83 in (0 – 5 Days of Rain)Show temperatures in degree
Geographical location
Table of Contents
After Tenerife and Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria is the third largest of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic.
About 130 miles off the African coast, the almost circular island of Gran Canaria is home to around 850,000 inhabitants and is also one of the most popular holiday regions in Europe.
The scenic and geographical diversity have also earned the Canary Island the nickname “mini-continent”.
While the interior of the island is mainly mountainous and protrudes up to 1949 meters at Pico de Las Nieves, the south of Gran Canaria is mainly barren and dry. In contrast to this rather desert-like landscape, the north is much greener due to increased rainfall.
Capital of Gran Canaria is Las Palmas with the important cargo and cruise port Puerto de la Luz.
Climate in Gran Canaria
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The Canary Island of Gran Canaria has 14 microclimate zones, although precipitation is very rare in all areas. Gran Canaria is directly affected by trade winds that divide the climate and rain on the northern slopes.
Therefore, the north is much wetter than the south, where dry Sahara winds can sometimes even cause sandstorms and enormous temperature rises (Calima). In the region around Las Palmas you often meet a dense cloud cover, which is also colloquially called “donkey belly” by the locals.
Especially in the popular holiday regions in the south, the subtropical climate provides pleasant temperatures between 20 °C to 29 °C a day all year round, the weather is very constant and balanced. In the summer months almost no rain falls, even in autumn and winter it remains very mild with daily temperatures above 20 °C.
Best Time to Visit Gran Canaria: Overview
JanuaryJan WinterWinter yet mildmostly mild | FebruaryFeb Pre-SeasonPre-Season sea a little bit coldMeer etw. kühl | MarchMar Pre-SeasonPre-Season sea a little bit coldMeer etw. kühl | AprilApr Good time to traveltime PleasantPleasant climate in Gran Canaria | MayMay Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Gran Canaria | JuneJun Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Gran Canaria |
JulyJul Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Gran Canaria | AugustAug Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Gran Canaria | SeptemberSep Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Gran Canaria | OctoberOct Good time to traveltime After-Season, freshNach-Saison, chilly | NovemberNov Suitable time to travelsuitable time usually Pleasantmostly Pleasant | DecemberDec WinterWinter yet mildmostly mild |
When to travel to Gran Canaria?
Due to the mild, pleasant climate, the Canary Islands are real year-round destinations and also in winter very popular retreats for sun-hungry holidaymakers. Even in the coldest month of February, the average night temperature is still around 16 °C.
So it’s no wonder that the winter months are the most popular travel season on Gran Canaria and especially around Christmas ensure a real high season. However, our experience and evaluations show that the weather between November and February has been rather volatile in recent years.
Our recommendation for the best time to travel on Gran Canaria is therefore April and November, although it can be very full (and expensive) between July and August due to the summer holidays in many European countries. Therefore, the months April to June and September to November are ideal.
Climate Chart Gran Canaria
Las Palmas
Show temperatures in degree
Source of Data: German Weather Service (Offenbach) and Wikipedia
Climate Table Gran Canaria
In the following, you will find the climate table for Gran Canaria, containing information about Temperatures, Precipitation, Water Temperatures, and Hours of Sunshine.Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 20° | 21° | 21° | 22° | 22° | 24° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 26° | 24° | 22° |
| Night Temperature | 16° | 16° | 17° | 17° | 18° | 20° | 21° | 22° | 22° | 21° | 19° | 17° |
| Water Temperature | 19° | 18° | 18° | 18° | 19° | 20° | 21° | 22° | 23° | 23° | 21° | 20° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 0.59 | 0.79 | 0.43 | 0.24 | 0.12 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.35 | 0.79 | 0.83 |
| Rainy days | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Las Palmas is 21.1 °C.For comparison: London 11 °C, NYC 12 °C, LA 17.9 °C
Warmest month: September (24.3 °C)
Coldest month: January (18.4 °C)
The maximum water temperature in Las Palmas is 23 °C. You can take a bath at these temperatures.
Months with water temperature of at least 17 °C (Limited bathing is possible):
all months
Months with water temperature of at least 21 °C (adequate for beach vacation):
July, August, September, October, and November
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 4.37 inch on 26 rainy daysFor comparison: London 24.06 in, NYC 41.57 in, LA 12.01 in
There is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
You cannot expect snow in any month in Las Palmas.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, July is the sunniest month with an average of 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 7.5 hours of sunshine per day on average. For comparison: London has 4.1, NYC has 7 and LA has 8.9 hours of sunshine per day on average.Sights and Highlights
The main tourist centres of Gran Canaria are located in the south of the island, especially near the dunes of Maspalomas and the adjacent Playa del Inglés. The towns of Fataga, Puerto de Mogán, Puerto Rico and San Agustin also have first-class hotels and tourist highlights.
Puerto de Mogán in particular is also perfect for day trips and with its colourful houses and the promenade at the harbour is considered one of the most beautiful sights of Gran Canaria. But the interior of the island and the north are also full of exciting attractions.
Explore the lively Las Palmas, admire the small village of Tejede above the clouds overlooking Roque Nublo, be enchanted by the Guayadeque Gorge and the Bandama Basin.
More information about the best things to do: Gran Canaria
Popular Activities
Gran Canaria: Poema del Mar Skip-the-Line Ticket
Entry tickets
from 27 $ »
With this skip-the-line entrance ticket to Poema del Mar, you will embark on an exciting journey into the deep blue world of marine wildlife in Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria: 8-Hour Lazy Wednesdays Tour From Las Palmas
Tours
from 42 $ »
Cross the island from north to south on an full-day tour. Visit the Bandama volcano, villages of Santa Brígida, San Bartolomé and Fataga, admire the views from the highest peak and enjoy the sand dunes.
Las Palmas: Las Canteras Beach Snorkeling Trip
Tours
from 38 $ »
Enjoy snorkeling at Las Canteras beach, one of the best urban beaches in the world. Snorkeling equipment is provided, and you’ll be guided through an underwater world full of marine life by a professional instructor.
More attractions
Gran Canaria: Canyoning Trip | Las Palmas: Old City Private Walking Tour | Las Palmas: Vegueta Old Town Walking Tour | Las Canteras Scuba Diving | Canteras Beach: Scuba Diving Discovery Tour | Las Canteras: Snorkeling Private Guided Tour | Las Palmas: 3.5-Hour Full City Guided Taxi and Walking Tour |Current Weather and Forecast
Current Weather in Las Palmas
broken clouds, 14.8 °CClouds: 56 % Wind: 15 mph NNW
Air Pressure: 1021 hPa Humidity: 66 %
Air Pressure: 1021 hPa Humidity: 66 %
Last updated: 7th Feb 2023, 09:52 am
The next days …
| 7th Feb 2023 | 8th Feb 2023 | 9th Feb 2023 | 10th Feb 2023 | 11th Feb 2023 | 12th Feb 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 16 °C to 18 °C | 16 °C to 17 °C |  15 °C to 17 °C |  15 °C to 18 °C | 16 °C to 18 °C | 17 °C to 19 °C |
| 16 °C to 18 °C | 16 °C to 17 °C | 15 °C to 17 °C | 15 °C to 18 °C | 16 °C to 18 °C | 17 °C to 19 °C |
| Clouds: 60 % | Clouds: 83 % | Clouds: 50 % | Clouds: 0 % | Clouds: 31 % | Clouds: 33 % |
| 0.07 in of rain | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation |
Weather information provided by OpenWeatherMap. (CC BY-SA)
Show temperatures in degree
Canary Islands: Regions
Gran Canaria is part of the holiday destination Canary Islands. We analyzed the climate for additional regions, in order to provide you with information about the best time to visit and the expected holiday weather:Best Time to Travel for the Regions
Las Palmas: all except January, February, March, and December
Hottest Month
September: 26 °C
Day Temperature in Las Palmas
September: 26 °CDay Temperature in Las Palmas
Coldest Month
February: 16 °C
Night Temperature in Las Palmas
February: 16 °CNight Temperature in Las Palmas
Rainiest Month
December: 0.83 in
Rain in Las Palmas
December: 0.83 inRain in Las Palmas
Driest Month
July: 0 in
Rain in Las Palmas
July: 0 inRain in Las Palmas
Maximum Water Temperature
September: 23 °C
Water Temperature in Las Palmas
September: 23 °CWater Temperature in Las Palmas
Sunniest Month
July: 9.5 hours/day
Sunshine in Las Palmas
July: 9.5 hours/daySunshine in Las Palmas
Activities and Attractions
Gran Canaria: Winery Tour, Wine Museum, and Tasting
Tours
from 24 $ »
Kayak and Snorkeling Tour in Gran Canaria
Tours
from 76 $ »
Las Palmas: Canary Tapas & People Stories. Enjoy Sunset.
Tours
from 65 $ »
Distances to Gran Canaria
| London | New York | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Palmas | 1800 mi | 3390 mi | 5820 mi |
Where’s Gran Canaria?
Show Las Palmas on MapContinent: Europe
All Holiday Destinations in EuropeShare your Experience and Win
We want to know: how was the weather during your Gran Canaria holiday? You can win a travel coupon of 1000 $. The price will be raffled among all submissions.
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Gran Canaria: Experiences of our Visitors
Just right, not too hot, not too cold, no rain 🙂
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
We are already for 15 years about 4 weeks in beautiful hotel
Suite Princess Playa Taurito,were very satisfied with the weather,
only nature has changed a bit, it was very warm at noon
and sun, but there was lots of cloud wind, and sometimes some rain.
in the last few years. but still recommendable for a nice
relaxing vacation
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good
We drive every year from January to February and always had the best weather, except for a few days. Since we are both enthusiastic about sports, this is the best climate for us.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
1 week. It was warm and sunny every day, but also a little windy.
Temperatures 23 – 26 °C.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
It was wonderfully warm and sunny every day, also at night it was pleasant.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
We were on GC for 6 weeks and had only one day very easy.
Spray! Otherwise only sunny weather.
Grade: 1
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
We were on GC 11 years ago at the beginning of March and had fantastic weather (27*) unusually warm for the time. That was our happiness
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Except for a small rain shower on 3.12. the weather was excellent. The temperatures were between 22 and 27 degrees. Wonderful for a cruise. The sea was also very calm.
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good
partly the sky was overcast and it was very windy, the temperatures did not rise above 24 degrees
Weather Rating: 3 stars – Mixed
We had only sunshine every day for 14 days and it was 25 – 30°.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
I was on GC once in early December for a week. It was pleasantly mild and not too hot. On the beach you could lie in the sand. In summer the sand is too hot-you need to lie there. I was already on GC in June. That was a wonderful bathing holiday. But also to drive around with the car it was great, because it is longer bright. In December it usually got dark around 18 o’clock. In summer only around 9.30 pm. Advantage in winter. All restaurants are open. In summer they are often closed from June to the end of August, when they themselves go on holiday and go to cooler regions. In June I myself had seen a fire in the dunes because it was so hot. In summer it is also too hot to lie in the dunes. Everything then takes place either at the pool or at the beach/sea. However, the water is not as warm as on the Adriatic Sea, which is ok. In winter a little too fresh and often too windy (red flag) due to storm. So everything has advantages and disadvantages, but despite everything GC is a great island where I would like to live from December to May and maybe some day will.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Bathing weather up to 30 degrees on the beach. In the evening pleasantly warm to sit outside, but not as hot as on Mallorca
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent