Aena runs eight airports in the Canary Islands, two of them on Tenerife, so every main island except La Graciosa has one, but most international flights land on Tenerife South, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura. To hop between islands you either take a fast ferry or a short propeller flight, and on almost every island a hire car is the easiest way to explore, with a decent bus network as a cheaper backup.
The airports
All the islands' airports are run by Aena, Spain's airport operator, whose site has live arrivals and departures.
- Tenerife South (TFS): the main airport for flights from the UK and for the southern resorts.
- Tenerife North (TFN): near La Laguna, used mostly for flights to mainland Spain and the other islands. Check which Tenerife airport you use; they are roughly an hour apart by road.
- Gran Canaria (LPA): on the east coast, between Las Palmas and the southern resorts.
- Lanzarote (ACE) and Fuerteventura (FUE): both close to the main towns and resorts.
- La Palma (SPC): inter-island flights plus routes to mainland Spain and, mostly seasonal, to other European cities, according to Aena.
- El Hierro (VDE) and La Gomera (GMZ): small airports with flights only to Tenerife North and Gran Canaria; La Gomera's is the quietest and most visitors arrive by ferry instead.
Entry for British and American visitors
The Canary Islands are part of Spain and the Schengen area. According to GOV.UK's Spain entry requirements, British visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and their passport must be less than 10 years old on arrival and valid for at least 3 months after leaving. Under the EU's Entry/Exit System you may have to give fingerprints and a photo on your first entry, so allow extra time. US citizens should check the State Department's Spain page. Rules change, so check before every trip.
Inter-island ferries
Fred. Olsen Express and Baleària Canarias, which took over Armas Trasmediterránea's Canary routes in 2026, run most routes, carrying both foot passengers and cars. Typical crossing times on Fred. Olsen's fast ferries, per its own site:
- Tenerife to La Gomera: about 50 minutes, from Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife.
- Tenerife to Gran Canaria: about 80 minutes.
- Tenerife to La Palma: about 2.5 hours; to El Hierro: about 2 hours 20 minutes, both from Los Cristianos.
- Lanzarote to Fuerteventura: 25-35 minutes, Playa Blanca to Corralejo.
- Gran Canaria to Fuerteventura: about 2 hours.
Baleària Canarias's conventional ferries can be slower than the fast ferries, so compare crossing times when booking. Timetables and fares change by season; book on the operators' sites, and arrive early with a car. The channels can be rough, so take seasickness tablets if you need them. For La Graciosa, small ferries run by Biosfera Express and Líneas Romero cross from Órzola in the north of Lanzarote in about 25-30 minutes.
Inter-island flights
Binter connects all seven main islands with small turboprops, though not every pair has a direct flight, and most hops are short, often under an hour. Flying is the better option for distant pairs such as Lanzarote to La Palma, where the ferry would take most of a day. El Hierro and La Gomera are only served from Tenerife North and Gran Canaria, with fewer flights, so book early.
Car hire
Outside the resorts, a car makes mountain villages, viewpoints and trailheads far easier to reach.
- Licences: GOV.UK says you do not need an International Driving Permit to drive in Spain with a UK photocard licence, though hire companies can set their own rules. US licence holders should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their licence; check the State Department page above and ask your hire company.
- Ferries: some hire companies do not allow their cars on inter-island ferries, or charge extra, so check the rental terms before booking a ferry with a vehicle.
- Roads: mountain roads are narrow and winding, and some, such as the road to Masca on Tenerife, get very busy. Teide and the high roads can close after snow in winter.
- Access controls: car access to some natural sites is regulated, for example the road to the La Cumbrecita viewpoint on La Palma, where you may need to book ahead; check the site's official page.
Buses
Buses are called guaguas in the Canaries, and each island runs its own network. On Tenerife, TITSA covers the island and runs airport routes, and a tram links Santa Cruz with La Laguna. On Gran Canaria, Global runs the interurban buses; Aena's airport page lists the lines from the airport to Las Palmas (such as line 60) and to Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas (such as line 66). Lanzarote and Fuerteventura have their own, smaller networks. Free and discounted travel passes in the Canaries are mainly aimed at residents, so visitors usually pay standard fares; check the operators' sites for current prices and cards.
Staying connected
Ferry e-tickets, Binter boarding passes, hire car directions on mountain roads and bus timetables all rely on mobile data, and some UK tariffs charge for roaming in Spain. A data eSIM for Spain gives you local data from the moment you land, without removing your own SIM; installing it takes a few minutes before you fly.