From stunning beaches to art, culture, cuisine and architecture, the Canary Islands have lots to offer residents and visitors alike. Whether you spend time in Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera or El Hierro, you’ll never be short of things to do.
Of course, the subtropical climate of the islands is also a major draw and sees hot summers combine with mild winters to superb effect. The chance to enjoy year-round sun is also something that makes this destination so appealing to many.
Although the weather is usually pretty good in this part of the world, it’s not immune from bad weather. The good news is that even when it might be cloudy, raining or windy outside, the islands have plenty to stay entertained with.
But what is there to do if you’re unlucky enough to experience bad weather here?
Play games online
If you’re stuck indoors due to poor weather on any of the Canary Islands, logging on to play fun games is a great tip. This is an enjoyable way to pass the time and gives you something interactive to keep busy with. With so many types of online games available now via desktop, tablet or smartphone, finding the perfect one to check out is no problem.
The online lottery games shown at AskGamblers UK highlight this beautifully and show the variety of online games there are to dive into at the best iGaming platforms. Whether you stick with the familiarity of bingo or try something new like Slingo, these games make the hours whizz by.
Of course, it’s essential to only play games like this online at safe, secure sites. Casumo Casino and MrQ Casino are popular choices and are ideal for any Canary Island-based player.
Check out indoor attractions
The seven main Canary Islands have a huge choice of interesting indoor attractions between them to check out. This is a great idea if you want to get out of the house or hotel but want to avoid being affected by bad weather. For those who have children to entertain on a rainy day, indoor attractions can be a real lifesaver!
The Acuario Poema del Mar aquarium on Gran Canaria is a good example and opened in 2017 in the capital of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Built to accommodate guests of all ages, it spans a huge area and has around 350 stunning species to check out.
Tenerife is well known for having many indoor attractions to visit, such as the Museum of Nature and Archaeology or the TEA, both in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Sites like this not only showcase the history of the region but also its lively cultural scene.
With other indoor attractions such as the César Manrique Foundation in Lanzarote and the Betancuria Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography in Fuerteventura, having fun out of the bad weather is very easy.
Hit the shops
Shopping is a classic rainy-day activity in many countries worldwide and the Canary Islands are no different. Hitting the shops not only gets you out of the house without getting soaked but also gives you something fun to do until the sun comes out again.
As you would expect, the most well-known of the islands are the major hotspots for shopping sprees. Tenerife naturally warrants a mention and has some great shopping centres to browse around. Siam Mall, for example, is known as one of the best places to buy romantic gifts in Tenerife, while Centro Comercial El Mirador at Costa Adeje is a top choice for more general shopping.
The other islands, of course, are not left behind when it comes to awesome stores to browse in. Wandering around the Rubicon Shopping Centre in Lanzarote is a great way to pass the time, for example, as is a stroll around El Muelle in Gran Canaria.
Enjoy a good meal at a local restaurant
Finding things to do on the rare occasions the weather lets you down in the Canaries is usually about having fun inside. Another tip is heading out for a tasty meal at a local restaurant. It gets even better if you can find one that serves traditional Canarian food and drink to enjoy.
If you spot papas arrugadas on the menu, for example, it’s worth ordering them with meat or fish. These are local potatoes that are usually roasted whole in their skins before being served with a pepper-based sauce.
By the same token, it’s worth looking for authentic Canarian wines to try. These can differ between islands, with gual and negramoll being good examples of wines local to Gran Canaria. Even the less well-known islands are not left out, with food and drink in La Gomera being especially tasty.
Chill out at a local spa
Whether you’re a local who’s had a tough week or a visitor who wants to relax from a hectic schedule, booking into a spa is a fantastic thing to do when the weather turns. Once inside, you’ll forget all about the conditions outside and be ready to totally unwind. The spa will also have soothing music, pleasant temperatures and soft lighting to enhance your experience.
The best spas on the various islands offer indoor pools to chill out by, luxurious treatments and a serene atmosphere. They are also usually found in the top hotels each island has to offer, and you don’t normally need to be staying at the hotel to book into the spa.
The Aqua Princess Spa at La Palma’s La Palma Princess Hotel is a good example, as is the stunning spa at the Hotel Balneario Pozo de la Salud on El Hierro.
Explore the island’s many caves
The awe-inspiring natural beauty of the Canary Islands is something that helps them stand out. Although much of this might not be much fun to check out in bad weather, you can avoid the elements by taking time to explore the region’s many cave systems.
This is because exploring caves on the various islands is done inside or underground, well away from what’s happening outside. Lanzarote is one of the best islands for this and has the Cueva de los Verdes volcanic caves to experience. Cueva del Viento in Tenerife is one of the longest volcanic tubes in the world and a real sight to behold. Cueva Roja is another exciting place to explore on Tenerife and translates to the Red Cave in English.
Rest and recuperate
Sometimes, the best thing to do when you are stuck inside with bad weather is nothing! After all, it’s hard getting a chance to rest in everyday life, with so much to do and so much to think about. Inclement weather is the perfect excuse to put your feet up or take a nap.
Lots of things to do on the Canaries in bad weather
While the Canary Islands usually have decent weather all year round, there will be some days when the clouds, rain or winds show up. When this happens, it’s key to have a range of fun things to do and use them to keep boredom at bay. Our list above shows that this part of the world has lots of options for bad weather days and plenty of fun things to try.
Photographs by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
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