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Canary Islands
Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma. Seven Spanish islands with year-round mild climate, volcanic drama and one of Spain's highest peaks (Teide, 3718 m). Ideal for winter sun.
Destination Canary Islands
Canary Islands – springtime in the Atlantic, year-round
From Tenerife to Lanzarote, Funchal to Agadir: the Canary Islands offer guaranteed mild weather, year-round routes and spectacular volcanic landscapes. The winter alternative to the Caribbean – we'll find the route that fits you.
7islands
3countries
Oct–Aprbest season
18–25°Cclimate
All Canary Islands itineraries
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Itineraries from AIDA, TUI Cruises, MSC, Costa, Mein Schiff and Royal Caribbean. Filter by duration, season and departure port – or get personal advice from our team.
Regions of the Canary route
Three areas, three Atlantic worlds
Canary Islands, Madeira and Morocco – the classic Atlantic island loop combines volcanoes, mountain villages and Moroccan souks in one trip.
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Madeira
Funchal – the Portuguese flower island with subtropical vegetation, steep Levada hiking trails and world-famous Madeira wine. Almost always included in Canary Island routes, rarely a destination by itself.
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Morocco
Agadir, Casablanca, Tangier. The African counterpart: souks, mosques, medinas. Often added to Canary routes for a cultural contrast to the European islands. Same season as the Canaries.
Best time to go
When are the Canaries at their best?
The Canaries are sailable year-round – the differences are minimal. Pick a month and see when each region is most pleasant.
Mayis in 1 sub-region at its best
Ideal
Good
Off-season
Canary Islands
Good time
High summer (June–September): 25–30 °C, dry, but significantly more tourists on the beaches. Still more pleasant than the overheated Mediterranean.
Madeira
Best time
16–22 °C, mild, ideal for Levada hikes and city sightseeing in Funchal. Flowers year-round, flower festivals in spring.
Morocco
Good time
Summer months in Morocco quickly become too hot (30–38 °C in Marrakesh), coastal cities are milder – still more demanding.
Why the Canaries
Why the Canaries are Europe's best winter cruise
No other short-haul destination delivers sun and warmth in winter so reliably. Ideal if you don't want a long-haul flight.
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Year-round mild climate
The Canaries lie at 28° north – the same latitude as Florida. 18–25 °C by day, nights rarely below 14 °C, 320 sunny days per year. No other European destination offers this reliability.
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Short flight from Switzerland
Direct flights from Zurich to Tenerife, Gran Canaria or Lanzarote in 4–4.5h. No jetlag, comfortable evening departures. Significantly shorter than the Caribbean (11h) or Asia (12h) – and similar winter climate.
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Volcanic drama
Mount Teide on Tenerife (3718 m) is Spain's highest peak. Lanzarote's Timanfaya National Park feels like the moon. La Palma and El Hierro offer steep trails and black lava beaches – completely different from the usual Caribbean cliché.
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German-language options
AIDA, TUI Cruises and Mein Schiff sail the Canaries intensively with a large fleet. German-speaking crew, German excursions, familiar food – ideal for first-time cruisers or seniors who value security.
Canary Islands consultation
Your Canary Islands voyage starts with a conversation
Classic Canaries or with Morocco? 7 nights from Tenerife or 14 nights from Hamburg? AIDA, TUI Cruises or international? Tell us what you're looking for – we'll suggest the right route and the right ship. No obligation, in your language, from Switzerland.
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Frequently asked
Canary Islands cruises – your questions
The Canaries are ideal year-round. October to April is the classic winter season with 18–25 °C – the main time for Swiss guests. June to September is warmer (25–30 °C) but more touristy. Excursions to Morocco are much more pleasant in winter than in high summer.
7 nights from Tenerife or Gran Canaria (loop through the Canaries + Madeira) is standard. From Hamburg or Kiel routes last 14 nights including the Atlantic crossing. Shorter trips of 4–5 nights exist as island hops, but they're rare.
The main departure ports are Tenerife (Santa Cruz), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Funchal (Madeira) and Hamburg/Kiel for the Atlantic crossing. Direct flights from Zurich to Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote in 4h. We organise flights, hotel and transfers to the ship on request.
AIDA, TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff) and Costa with a large fleet and German/Italian service, MSC international, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian occasionally, Hapag-Lloyd (MS Europa) in the premium segment. The Canaries are a classic winter destination for European cruise lines.
The Canaries belong to Spain and therefore the EU – an ID card is sufficient. For Morocco you need a passport (valid for at least 6 months), but no visa for Swiss citizens on shore excursions. Madeira (Portugal) is also EU, ID card is enough.
Yes, AIDA and TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff) are known for family-friendly ships with kids' clubs, water parks and teen zones. The milder temperatures (18–25 °C instead of 30 °C in the Mediterranean) are more pleasant for young children. Excursions like Loro Parque on Tenerife or Siam Park are kid highlights.
Beach resorts on the southern coasts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria are busy in winter, but less crowded than you'd think – the islands are large. A cruise avoids this anyway: you see a different port every day and only go ashore for excursions.