Canary Islands on a Budget: Save Without Missing Out

How to visit the Canary Islands affordably — cheap accommodation, free activities, public transport and money-saving tips.

8 min read

Which island is cheapest?

Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria generally offer the best value for accommodation and food. Tenerife's south is mid-range; Lanzarote sits between the two. La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro have fewer budget hotels but lower prices when you find them. Book apartments with kitchens to save on meals.

Free & low-cost activities

The best things in the Canaries are often free — hiking trails, beaches, volcanic viewpoints and forest walks. Maspalomas dunes, Anaga forest and the Caldera de Taburiente cost nothing to enter. Public buses (guaguas) are cheap and cover most resorts.

Where to spend vs save

Splurge on one or two tours (Teide stargazing, whale watching) and save on transport by using buses or booking airport transfers in advance. Eat where locals eat — away from the promenade — and shop at supermarkets like Mercadona for supplies.

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