Holiday on an island in Spain? Which island to choose? The islands of Spain are the ideal destination for different needs: there are social islands, islands for relaxation and islands where you can do sports.
Here is a useful guide to choosing the perfect island for your summer.
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Most beautiful Spanish islands
Las Palmas
Lanzarote
Tenerife
Fuerteventura
La Gomera
El Hierro
Ibiza
Majorca
Menorca
Formentera
Cabrera
Gran Canaria
Spanish Islands
There are two main archipelagos in Spain: the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. The first archipelago, with 11 islands, is located in the Mediterranean Sea while the second is in the Atlantic Ocean and consists of seven islands.
Spanish islands Atlantic
The Spanish islands in the Atlantic belong to the Canary Islands archipelago. They are seven islands of volcanic origin known worldwide for their mild climate all year round, their breathtaking landscapes and their dream beaches. The Canaries include Tenerife, Las Palmas, La Gomera, El Hierro, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
Spanish Islands in the Mediterranean
The Balearic Islands are known the world over for their heavenly beaches and nightlife. Each island has breathtaking beaches and beautiful inland landscapes. The best known island is definitely Ibiza while the largest is the island of Majorca. Part of the Balearic archipelago are the islands of Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera and some smaller islands such as Cabrera, Conejera, Dragonera, Es Vedrà, Espalmador, Espardell, Tagomago.
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Spanish islands: where to find them
Island | Where to find |
|---|---|
Fuerteventura | Canary Islands archipelago |
Lanzarote | Canary Islands Archipelago |
Menorca | Balearic Archipelago |
Tenerife | Canary Islands Archipelago |
Gran Canaria | Canary Islands Archipelago |
Menorca | Balearic Archipelago |
Ibiza | Balearic Archipelago |
Las Palmas | Canary Islands Archipelago |
Spanish Islands list
Below is a list of the islands of the two Spanish archipelagos: the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.
The following islands are part of the Balearic Islands:
Majorca
Menorca
Ibiza
Formentera
Cabrera
Belonging to the Canary Islands archipelago are the islands:
Tenerife
Fuerteventura
Gran Canaria
Lanzarote
La Palma
La Gomera
El Hierro
Spanish islands for young people
Ibiza is the summer destination for fun. The Balearic island, which in the 1960s was home to the first hippie communities in California, is now the island for young people: in addition to beautiful beaches, you will find a wide selection of clubs, beach discos and clubs open until the morning.
The d'en Bossa beach is a veritable open-air disco.
A good alternative for those who want to combine the sea with a good nightlife is the island of Majorca: recommended areas for discos include the Paseo Marítimo in Palma and the Magaluf area.
Cheap Spanish islands
The islands of Spain are relatively cheap for a holiday. If you're thinking of spending the summer in one of the Balearic Islands you should know that flights to Ibiza or Mallorca are almost always more than affordable, booking a cheap flight in advance can save you even more on ticket prices.
Flying aside (it is not cheap to fly there), the Canary Islands are the cheapest in Spain. The cost of living is low here, much more than in Italy, so it will not be difficult to find cheap accommodation. The fact that they are relatively cheap has meant that many people from Italy have gone to live in the Canaries.
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Canary Islands
The Canary Islands archipelago is located off the Moroccan coast in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite belonging to Spanish territory, the islands seem to come from another planet. The islands are of volcanic origin and are known worldwide for their mild temperatures all year round.
If you are a nature lover, plan a trip: you will be fascinated by the incredible beaches, the nature reserves or the amazing landscapes you will encounter while trekking inland, in the archipelago you will find four National Parks. You can hike to the top of Spain's most impressive volcanoes. Five of the islands in the archipelago have been declared a Biosphere Reserve. Here you will find 19 things you absolutely must do on your next trip to the Canarian archipelago.
Here you will find the most beautiful beaches in the Canaries.
Here are the islands in detail:
Tenerife
This is the largest island of the archipelago, world famous for its Carnival and the beautiful Pico del Teide, the highest mountain (or rather volcano) in Spain. You can visit the island any time of year as temperatures are always spring-like. Here is a guide to what to see in Tenerife.
Las Palmas
In Las Palmas, nature is king. If you need a break from the city, you can go to the island declared a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Here, in addition to the sea and beaches, you can practice sports and walk along numerous paths such as those leading to the springs of Nacientes de Marcos y Corderos, the forest of El Canal or the caldara de Taburiente.
Gran Canaria
The island of Gran Canaria is a veritable continent in miniature, a nickname given to it because of the incredible variety of climates and landscapes. It is worth a trip for the spectacular view of Teide, the volcano of tenerife. From Cruz de Tejeda, one of the most fascinating viewpoints in Gran Canaria, arrive in Tejeda and you will see the beautiful volcano rising from a sea of clouds. Don't miss a visit to the dunes of Maspalomas, a small desert near the ocean.
Lanzarote
Apart from its lunar beaches and landscapes, there is another good reason why you should book a flight to Lanzarote: the wine. Malvasia DOC is produced on the island and you can tour the island to discover its most beautiful wineries. Don't miss El Golfo, a crater at sea level formed by eruptions in the 1730s that almost looks like an amphitheatre over the ocean when seen.
La Gomera
On the island of La Gomera you will find few beaches. It is one of the wildest in the archipelago where the Garajonay National Park with its sub-tropical forest is worth a visit.
To the north of the island you reach the basalt cliffs called Los Organos, the shape of the lava stones resembles an organ. The island has its own typical whistle, it is a kind of birdsong but it is the humans who produce it: a kind of alternative language that was used in the past to communicate even at great distances in case of danger or emergency.
El Hierro
The island of El Hierro is the smallest and most unspoilt island in the archipelago and is the first sustainable island thanks to its good use of renewable energy. This island has also been declared a Biosphere Reserve. Here you will find volcanoes, lush forests and transparent waters.
Fuerteventura
150 km of coastline await you in Fuerteventura, where you will find beaches and bays where you can windsurf. Don't miss a visit to the Parque Natural de Corralejo: a 9 km stretch of beaches and small coves. The protected area has small coves interspersed with large beaches.
Balearic Islands
If Ibiza is the island of fun, Majorca is perfect for both fun and incredible beaches. If, on the other hand, you love water sports, Menorca is definitely the island for you.
Majorca
Majorca is the largest island of the Balearic Islands and awaits you with crystal-clear sandy beaches and wonderful bays. Along the island you will also find remote and secluded places where you can be in blissful solitude. Here you will find a selection of the most beautiful beaches.
Menorca
In Menorca you will find 200 km of jagged coastline with wonderful coves and beaches. Set off on a moped to discover the most beautiful corners of the island. The island was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993. You can find a guide to the most beautiful beaches here.
Ibiza
If Ibiza in July and August is the island of wild fun, out of season it is a paradise of beaches and coves: there are more than fifty of them. Don't miss a visit to the old town, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Formentera
On the island you will find stretches of sand and crystal-clear sea. Formentera is the smallest of the Balearic Islands.
It was once inhabited by pirates and, due to its beauty, became a hippy destination from the 1960s onwards. Here is a useful guide to the island's beaches.
Spanish Virgin Islands
The Spanish Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra, are also known as the Islands of the Passage. They are located east of Puerto Rico and are unspoilt paradises.
Vieques used to be an American base and in some of the bays there is a ban on anchoring. Culebra, the smallest of the inhabited Spanish Virgin Islands, is a paradise for those who love the sea and water sports.
Islands Spain map
On the tourist site of Spain you will find an interactive map of the islands of Spain and information for planning your summer trip.
Island of Ons
Ons is located in the small Galician archipelago of the same name. Together with other small archipelagos in the north of Spain such as the archipelago of the Cies Islands or the islands of Sálvora and Cortegada, it forms part of the Galician Atlantic Islands National Park. Here you can visit an unspoilt paradise where you can observe colonies of birds.
Cabrera Island
Cabrera is the main island of the small archipelago of the same name and is located about an hour's boat ride from Majorca. The island was for a long time a military zone and this closure to tourism has allowed the preservation of the ecosystem that has proclaimed it the National Maritime-Terrestrial Park of the Cabrera Archipelago.
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Island of Cortegada
The island of Cortegada is located in the province of Pontevedra and has been part of Galicia's Atlantic Islands National Park since 1999. For years it was private property, only since 2007 has it again become Galician public territory.
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