Practical Info A–Z

Medical care on the Canary Islands is good to very good — the islands are part of Spain and thus the EU health system.

With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

EU citizens are entitled to treatment in public health centers (Centros de Salud) and hospitals with the EHIC (back of the German health insurance card). In practice, this means:

• Treatment in public facilities is free (with presentation of the EHIC)
• Waiting times can be long — especially in high season
• Language barrier: Doctors often do not speak German, sometimes English

Private Doctors & Clinics

In tourist centers, there are numerous German-speaking private doctors and clinics:

• Tenerife South: German doctors in Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, and Costa Adeje — partly with German practice standards
• Gran Canaria South: Clinica Germano-Canaria and other German-speaking practices in Maspalomas/Playa del Inglés
• Fuerteventura: German doctors in Corralejo and Costa Calma
• Lanzarote: German-speaking practices in Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen

Private treatment costs 50–150 € per visit depending on the doctor — reimbursable with international health insurance.

Hospitals

The main hospitals with 24-hour emergency departments (Urgencias):

• Tenerife: Hospital Universitario de Canarias (La Laguna), Hospital del Sur (Arona)
• Gran Canaria: Hospital Universitario Insular (Las Palmas), Hospital Dr. Negrín (Las Palmas)
• Lanzarote: Hospital Dr. José Molina Orosa (Arrecife)
• Fuerteventura: Hospital General de Fuerteventura (Puerto del Rosario)
• La Palma: Hospital General de La Palma (Santa Cruz de La Palma)

Pharmacies (Farmacias)

Pharmacies are recognizable by the green cross. Outside opening hours, there is always a Farmacia de Guardia (on-call pharmacy) — the schedule is posted at each pharmacy. Many medications that are prescription-only in Germany are available over the counter in Spain.

The Canary Islands use the Euro (€) — no currency exchange needed for travelers from the Eurozone.

ATMs (Cajeros)

ATMs are widespread — in every city, tourist center, and most villages. The main banks:

• CaixaBank — the largest network, many ATMs in shopping centers and supermarkets
• BBVA — good network in cities
• Santander — sporadic
• Cajasiete — the Canary savings bank, especially common on the western islands

Beware of fees: Some ATMs (especially the standalone "Euronet" machines in tourist centers) charge high fees (up to 5 €) and offer unfavorable exchange rates. Preferably use the ATMs of the banks mentioned above and always choose "without conversion" (for non-Euro cards) to get the better rate from your home bank.

Card Payment

Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted in hotels, restaurants, and larger shops. In small bars, kiosks, markets, and Guachinches, cash is often the only option. Recommendation: Always carry 50–100 € in cash.

Bank Opening Hours

Monday to Friday 8:30–14:00. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Some branches in tourist centers have extended hours.

The Canary Islands are a bargain paradise for certain products due to the low IGIC (Impuesto General Indirecto Canario — only 7% instead of 21% IVA on the mainland):

What is cheaper?

• Perfume & Cosmetics: Significantly cheaper than in Germany — perfumeries like "Perfumes y Cosméticos" are everywhere
• Tobacco & Alcohol: Considerably cheaper (cigarettes ~50% less than in Germany, spirits ~30% less). Note: Pay attention to import allowances!
• Electronics: Moderately cheaper — worthwhile for more expensive devices (cameras, laptops)
• Sunscreen: Paradoxically not cheaper — on the contrary, often overpriced in tourist areas

Supermarkets

• Mercadona: Largest chain, affordable, own quality brand "Hacendado"
• HiperDino / SuperDino: Canary chain — good selection, local products
• Lidl: Like in Germany, German products available
• Spar: Widespread, even in small towns

Weekly Markets

The most beautiful weekly markets for local products:

• Teguise (Lanzarote): Sundays — the largest and most famous market in the Canary Islands with handicrafts, cheese, wine, and live music
• Vega de San Mateo (Gran Canaria): Sat/Sun — the most authentic farmers' market in Gran Canaria
• Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África (Santa Cruz de Tenerife): Daily — the most beautiful market hall in the Canary Islands in a Moorish-style building with a courtyard
• Mercado del Puerto (Las Palmas): Daily — historic market hall, now also a food hall with tapas stalls

On holidays, banks, authorities, and many shops are closed. Supermarkets have reduced opening hours (usually 9–14). Restaurants and tourist facilities remain open.

Additionally: Each island and each municipality has its own local holidays — often in honor of the patron saint. These can lead to closed shops at short notice.

The Canary Islands are part of Spain and thus the EU — EU roaming applies at no extra cost. You surf and call as you do at home (within your data volume).

Mobile Network

• Coverage: Excellent in cities and tourist centers (4G/LTE, partly 5G). Possible dead zones in mountainous areas, remote valleys (especially La Gomera, El Hierro), and inland Fuerteventura
• Providers: Movistar (best coverage), Vodafone, Orange, Yoigo
• Prepaid SIM: For non-EU travelers — Lycamobile and Digi offer affordable prepaid rates (from 10 € for 5 GB), available in phone shops and some tobacco stores

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available in:

• Virtually all hotels and holiday apartments
• Most restaurants and cafes (ask for the password)
• Airports (time-limited)
• Some public squares and libraries
• Coworking spaces (Las Palmas is Europe's coworking capital for digital nomads — over 30 spaces)

The Canary Islands have the best climate in the world — not only says the advertising but also a study by Syracuse University. Mild all year round, hardly any extreme temperatures, little rain. But: There are significant differences between the islands and between the north and south sides.

Tenerife (South: Playa de las Américas)

Tenerife (North: Puerto de la Cruz)

Gran Canaria (South: Maspalomas)

Lanzarote (Arrecife)

Fuerteventura (Corralejo)

La Palma (Santa Cruz de La Palma)

Calima — The Desert Wind

Several times a year (especially in summer and autumn), the Calima brings hot Sahara wind to the islands — temperatures rise to 35–40 °C, the air fills with fine Sahara dust, visibility becomes milky. A Calima lasts 2–5 days and can affect flights. Drink plenty, use sun protection, and avoid activities in the midday heat!

The Canary Islands are one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly travel destinations in the world. Spain has had marriage equality since 2005, and Canary society is exceptionally tolerant.

Gay Hotspots

• Maspalomas/Playa del Inglés (Gran Canaria): The undisputed LGBTQ+ center of the Canary Islands. The Yumbo Centrum has dozens of gay bars and clubs. Beach at Kiosko 7 (between Playa del Inglés and the dunes). Numerous gay hotels and apartments
• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Vegueta and Santa Catalina with a good scene
• Playa de las Américas (Tenerife): Smaller scene around the Veronicas area

Pride Events

• Maspalomas Gay Pride (May/June): 300,000+ visitors, a week of partying, parade along Avenida de Tirajana
• Carnival of Las Palmas (February/March): The Drag Queen Gala is a national TV event
• Winter Pride Maspalomas (November): Smaller winter version of the big Pride

Safety

Open hostility towards LGBTQ+ individuals is extremely rare in the Canary Islands. Holding hands in public is absolutely normal in tourist centers. In rural areas on the smaller islands, people are more conservative, but hostile behavior is also the absolute exception there.

A rental car is practically a must on the Canary Islands if you want to see more than just the hotel pool area. Public transport is available on the larger islands, but absolutely inadequate on the smaller islands and for the most beautiful spots.

Providers

• International Providers: Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Enterprise — reliable but more expensive. Available at the airport
• Local Providers (recommended!): CICAR (Canary chain, excellent!), Autoreisen, Payless, TopCar, Cabrera Medina. Often 30–50% cheaper than the internationals, newer vehicles, more lenient insurance terms

Prices & Booking

• Small car: From 15–25 €/day (off-season) to 30–50 €/day (July–August, Christmas)
• SUV/Jeep: From 30–50 €/day — recommended for mountain roads and gravel tracks
• Booking online is almost always cheaper than on-site. Comparison portals (Check24, billiger-mietwagen.de) show the best prices
• Comprehensive insurance without deductible is highly recommended — the narrow mountain roads, windy parking lots, and spontaneous stones on the road regularly take their toll

Driving on the Canary Islands

• Right-hand traffic as in Germany
• Speed limits: Urban areas 30–50 km/h, rural roads 90 km/h, motorway (Autopista) 120 km/h
• Alcohol limit: 0.5 ‰ (novice drivers: 0.3 ‰)
• Mountain roads: Tight hairpin bends without guardrails are the norm, especially on La Gomera, La Palma, and in the Anaga Mountains (Tenerife). Honk before blind curves!
• No parking zones: Yellow curb marking = absolute no stopping. Towing is quick and costs 80–150 €
• Refueling: Gasoline is cheaper than in Germany (~1.30–1.50 €/liter). Gas stations are everywhere, on the small islands sometimes only one per town

The most important emergency numbers on the Canary Islands:

• 112: General emergency number (police, fire brigade, ambulance) — also available in German!
• 091: Policía Nacional (crime, theft)
• 062: Guardia Civil (traffic police, rural areas)
• 092: Policía Local (municipal police)
• 061: Ambulance / Medical service

In case of theft

Report (Denuncia) to the Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil — you need the report for the insurance. In large police stations, there are sometimes English-speaking officers; German is rare. Alternatively: Online report via sede.policia.gob.es (in Spanish).

German Embassy / Consulates

• German Honorary Consulate Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Calle Albareda 3, 2nd Floor — Tel. +34 928 491 880
• German Honorary Consulate Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Calle Costa y Grijalba 18 — Tel. +34 922 248 820
• Nearest Embassy: German Embassy Madrid — Tel. +34 91 557 9000 (also outside office hours)

Lost travel documents?

Lost ID card or passport? The Honorary Consulate issues emergency travel documents (passport substitute for the return journey). You need: police report, passport photo, and a copy of the document (therefore: always keep a copy in the hotel room or in the cloud!).

The Canary Islands follow the Spanish rhythm — with a pronounced midday break, although in the south it is softened by tourism.

Typical Opening Hours

• Shops: Mon–Sat 10:00–13:30 and 17:00–20:30. In tourist centers often continuously 10:00–22:00
• Supermarkets: Mon–Sat 9:00–21:00 (Mercadona until 21:30, Lidl until 22:00). Closed on Sundays (exception: small shops in tourist zones)
• Shopping Centers: Mon–Sat 10:00–22:00, sometimes also on Sundays
• Banks: Mon–Fri 8:30–14:00
• Post: Mon–Fri 8:30–14:30, Sat 9:30–13:00
• Pharmacies: Mon–Fri 9:00–13:30 and 17:00–20:00, Sat 9:00–13:00 (on-call pharmacy available 24/7)
• Restaurants: Lunch 13:00–16:00, dinner 19:30–23:00 (in tourist areas from 18:00). Canarians rarely eat dinner before 21:00
• Museums: Usually Tue–Sat 10:00–18:00, often closed on Mondays

The Canary Islands are extremely safe — safer than most German cities. Violent crime against tourists is virtually non-existent. Nevertheless:

What to watch out for

• Pickpocketing: The only relevant risk — especially in tourist centers (Playa del Inglés, Playa de las Américas, beach promenades), markets, and buses. Keep valuables close to your body, do not leave backpacks unattended
• Rental cars: Do not leave anything visible in the car — broken into rental cars at hiking parking lots and viewpoints are unfortunately not uncommon. Put everything in the trunk
• Beach: Never leave valuables unattended on the beach. Waterproof phone cases with a neck strap are a good solution
• Nightlife: In nightlife districts (Veronicas in Playa de las Américas, Avenida de Tirajana in Playa del Inglés), drinks can be tampered with when left unattended. Do not take your eyes off your drinks
• Currents: The greatest danger in the Canary Islands is the sea. The Atlantic has strong currents, and the surf on the north and west coasts can be deadly. Red flag = absolute swimming ban. Even with a yellow flag, exercise extreme caution. Drowning is the most common cause of death among tourists in the Canary Islands

230 V, 50 Hz — identical to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The sockets are Type C and F (Europlug and Schuko). No adapter needed for DACH travelers.

Travelers from the UK, USA, or Australia need an adapter (Type C/F) — available cheaply in supermarkets or electronics stores.

In some older holiday apartments, the sockets are loose — bringing a power strip can't hurt.

Tipping (Propina) is customary but not mandatory on the Canary Islands — the culture lies somewhere between German generosity and Spanish restraint.

Guidelines

• Restaurant: 5–10% of the bill is appropriate. In simple eateries and Guachinches, round up. Tips are left in cash on the table (even if paid by card)
• Bar/Café: Small change (20–50 cents) for a coffee. For a round of drinks: 1–2 €
• Taxi drivers: Round up to the next euro, for longer rides 5–10%
• Hotel staff: Room service 1–2 € per day, porter 1 € per piece of luggage
• Excursions/Tours: 5–10 € for the guide, especially for whale watching or hiking tours
• Rental car return: No tip needed

Important: Tips are always given in cash, even if you pay by card. Most card readers do not have a tip function.

Island Hopping is one of the best ways to experience the diversity of the Canary Islands — each island is a world of its own. The logistics are easier than you think:

By Plane

• Binter Canarias: The Canary airline connects all islands several times a day. Flight time: 25–50 minutes. Prices: 30–80 € per route (the earlier booked, the cheaper). Modern ATR-72 turboprops — reliable and punctual
• Canaryfly: Second Canary airline, similar routes, sometimes cheaper
• Booking: Directly on bintercanarias.com or canaryfly.es — here you can find multi-island tickets and resident discounts. Luggage: 20–23 kg included in the price

By Ferry

• Fred Olsen: Fast ferries (catamarans) between the islands — fast, comfortable, more expensive. Tenerife–La Gomera: 50 min., Lanzarote–Fuerteventura: 25 min.
• Naviera Armas: Larger, slower ferries — cheaper, take cars. Good for rental car transfer between islands (note: many rental contracts do not allow island hopping with the car!)
• Líneas Romero: Connection Lanzarote–La Graciosa (20 min. from Órzola)

The Most Important Ferry Connections

Recommended Island Hopping Routes

• 2 Weeks Classic: Tenerife (5 days) → La Gomera (3 days) → Gran Canaria (4 days)
• 2 Weeks Adventure: La Palma (4 days) → El Hierro (3 days) → La Gomera (3 days) → Tenerife (3 days)
• 1 Week East Canary Islands: Lanzarote (3 days) → La Graciosa (1 day) → Fuerteventura (3 days)