The 7 Islands at a Glance

The Canary Islands are an archipelago of seven main islands and several small islets in the Atlantic Ocean, about 100–500 km off the coast of Morocco. Although they are geographically part of Africa, they are politically part of Spain and thus the EU. Each island is a world of its own — here is the comparison:

Island	Area	Population	Highest Point	Character	Ideal for
Tenerife	2,034 km²	~930,000	Teide 3,718 m	Diverse, large, touristy in the south, wild in the north	All-rounder, first-time visitors
Gran Canaria	1,560 km²	~855,000	Pico de las Nieves 1,949 m	Miniature continent, urban & rural, party & nature	City life, diversity, LGBTQ+
Fuerteventura	1,659 km²	~120,000	Pico de la Zarza 807 m	Flat, windy, endless beaches, desert-like	Beach, surfing, kiting, peace
Lanzarote	845 km²	~155,000	Peñas del Chache 670 m	Volcanic, artistic, barren & fascinating	Volcanoes, art, wine, culture
La Palma	708 km²	~85,000	Roque de los Muchachos 2,426 m	Green, steep, original, star paradise	Hiking, stars, pure nature
La Gomera	370 km²	~22,000	Garajonay 1,487 m	Densely wooded, steep, alternative, mystical	Hiking, dropouts, slow travel
El Hierro	268 km²	~11,000	Malpaso 1,501 m	Tiny, remote, 100% renewable, diver's paradise	Diving, absolute peace, eco

Additionally, the islets: La Graciosa (north of Lanzarote) has been officially the eighth inhabited island since 2018 — car-free, with 700 inhabitants and dream beaches. Isla de Lobos (off Fuerteventura) is uninhabited and a perfect day trip for snorkeling.