In September the Canary Islands are still in full summer in the air, and it's the best month of the year in the water: an average high of 27.9 °C at Tenerife South, 28.6 °C on Lanzarote and 27.2 °C on Gran Canaria, nights of 21 °C and a sea at its peak, between 23.0 °C off Lanzarote and 24.1 °C off El Hierro. In the south and east it rains on one day or none. With the school holidays over, arrivals drop to about 1.38 million: the third-quietest month.
- High °C
- 27–29 °C
- Low °C
- 21–22 °C
- Sea °C
- 23–24 °C
- Rainy days
- 0–2
- Hours of sun a day
- 6–8 h
- Daylight hours
- 12 h 20 min
- Lanzarote29 °C
- Tenerife28 °C
- Fuerteventura28 °C
- Gran Canaria27 °C
- La Palma27 °C
- El Hierro27 °C
| High °C | Low °C | Sea °C | Rainy days | Hours of sun a day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenerife, south coast | 28 °C | 21 °C | 24 °C | 1 | 7 h |
| Tenerife, north (La Laguna, 632 m) | 25 °C | 17 °C | 24 °C | 3 | 7 h |
| Gran Canaria, east coast | 27 °C | 21 °C | 23 °C | 1 | 8 h |
| Lanzarote | 29 °C | 21 °C | 23 °C | 0 | 8 h |
| Fuerteventura | 28 °C | 21 °C | 23 °C | 1 | 8 h |
| La Palma, east coast | 27 °C | 21 °C | 24 °C | 2 | 6 h |
| La Gomera | — | — | 24 °C | — | — |
| El Hierro | 27 °C | 22 °C | 24 °C | 1 | 7 h |
| Teide, high zone (Izaña, 2,369 m) | 19 °C | 10 °C | — | 2 | 10 h |
Sunrise and sunset in mid-month: 07:48 – 20:09 · Source: AEMET, climate normals (1981–2010) · sea temperature: seatemperature.info, ten-year average
What's the weather like in the Canary Islands in September: south, north, east and summits
The pattern is still a summer one, but it starts to ease off. Sunshine hours fall (7.1 at Tenerife South, 8.3 on Lanzarote) and the first millimetres of rain appear: 4 mm at Tenerife South, 9 mm on Gran Canaria, 2 mm on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
In the west it's the hottest month of the year: La Palma reaches 26.6 °C, and El Hierro a high of 26.5 °C and a low of 21.7 °C. The north of Tenerife stops at 24.9 °C with 16 mm over nearly 3 days, and at Izaña, at 2,369 m, it's already turning cooler: 18.6 °C by day and 10.4 °C at night.
September also opens two windows worth keeping an eye on. Saharan air can still blow in, with fire alerts and highs of 36 °C on Gran Canaria and Tenerife. And it's the start of the period when, very occasionally, a tropical storm arrives: Hermine, at the end of September 2022, brought a red warning, closed schools, a day without Binter flights to the western islands and the wettest September on record. AEMET, Spain's state weather agency, describes these storms as very rare, but not impossible.
Sea temperature in September: can you swim?
It's the best month of the year for it. The sea is at its warmest: 23.0 °C off Lanzarote, 23.1 °C off Fuerteventura, 23.3 °C off Gran Canaria, 23.8 °C off Tenerife, 24.0 °C off La Palma and 24.1 °C off El Hierro. It's the month for unhurried snorkelling or a try dive, allowed from the age of 8 (diving and snorkelling). Turtles turn up now and then, but nobody can promise them.
For packing, summer clothes, high-factor sun cream and a light jacket if you're going up to the summits at night are all you need.
Where to go in the Canary Islands in September
For the warmest water, El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera, around a degree above the eastern islands. For dry heat, Lanzarote and the south of Tenerife. For fiestas, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, which celebrate their patron saints this month. More in which island to choose.
September, island by island
26.5 °C and the sea at 24.1 °C
Its hottest month and the warmest water; diving at La Restinga.
26.6 °C and the sea at 24.0 °C
Its warmest month too; hiking festival in mid-September.
South at 27.9 °C and the sea at 23.8 °C
Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos for the water; the first rain in the north.
28.6 °C and 2 mm of rain
Los Dolores fiestas and the end of the grape harvest.
27.2 °C and the sea at 23.3 °C
Fiesta del Pino in Teror and Fiesta del Charco in La Aldea.
27.5 °C and 2 mm of rain
Long beaches and the first autumn waves.
Things to do in the Canary Islands in September: festivals and events
- Virgen del Pino, Teror (Gran Canaria). Pilgrimage and offering on 7 September, and the feast of the island's patron saint on the 8th.
- Fiesta del Charco, La Aldea de San Nicolás (Gran Canaria), 11 September. Hundreds of people leap into the lagoon at the same moment to fish with their bare hands.
- Los Dolores, Mancha Blanca (Lanzarote). Pilgrimage and the island's craft fair during the first half of the month; the patron saint's day is the 15th.
- Virgen de la Peña, Vega de Río Palmas (Fuerteventura). Fiesta on the third Saturday of September, with an island-wide pilgrimage on the Friday before.
- Cristo de La Laguna (Tenerife), 14 September. The fiestas go on for almost three weeks.
- La Palma hiking festival, in mid-September, and El Río, the 2.6 km open-water swim between Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
What's in season: sea, surf, water parks and stars
Sea. Anything that involves getting into the water works better than in August. The resident pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins of south-west Tenerife can be seen all year round (whale and dolphin watching).
Surf. At the end of the month the first autumn swells arrive and open the wave season on the north and west coasts (surfing in Fuerteventura).
Water parks. The Aquapark in Costa Teguise opens daily until early November, and Siam Park, both Aqualands and Aqualava all year (water parks).
| Where | Ticket | Rating | Price | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Maspalomas: Aqualand Maspalomas Water Park Entry Ticket | 4.1 (1,654) | €41 | View on GetYourGuide |
| Tiqets | Aqualand Maspalomas: Online Ticket | 4.2 (217) | €41 | View on Tiqets |
| Official website | Aqualand Maspalomas, official online fare (from; €41 at the gate) | — | €32 Cheapest | Official site ↗ |
Adult prices checked on 2 October 2026. They may vary by date; each site confirms the final price.
At Aqualand Maspalomas the dated online ticket starts at €32 on the official website, against €41 at the ticket office and on the platforms: buy direct. The Siam Park and Loro Parque combined ticket costs €78 everywhere.
| Where | Ticket | Rating | Price | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Loro Parque and Siam Park Combined Admission Tickets | 4.7 (8,432) | €78 | View on GetYourGuide |
| Tiqets | Loro Parque & Siam Park: Entry Ticket | 4.7 (1,298) | €78 | View on Tiqets |
| Official website | Official Twin Ticket (Loro Parque + Siam Park) | — | €78 | Official site ↗ |
Adult prices checked on 2 October 2026. They may vary by date; each site confirms the final price.
Stars. The core of the Milky Way is visible until October, and with sunsets around 20:00 the night starts at a comfortable hour (stargazing).
Tours that suit September
Our pick
1
Try dive and snorkelling
Three hours on Tenerife with the water at its best; turtles aren't guaranteed.
GetYourGuide3 hours
Tenerife: 2-in-1 Scuba Diving & Snorkelling in Turtle Habitat
4.7 (1,996 reviews)
from €75Check availability
2
Lobos by catamaran
Snorkelling in the warmest water of the year; Lobos requires a free permit from the Cabildo.
GetYourGuide4 hours
Corralejo: Lobos Island Catamaran Tour with Drinks & Snorkelling
4.8 (1,171 reviews)
from €75Check availability
3
Whale watching from Los Gigantes
Two hours with a swim stop, from €28.
GetYourGuide2 hours
Los Gigantes: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swim Stop
4.7 (5,807 reviews)
from €28Check availability
4
Surfing in southern Fuerteventura
Group or private lesson, with the water at 23 °C.
GetYourGuide3 - 3.5 hours
Fuerteventura South: Learn to Surf (Group or Private)
4.7 (216 reviews)
from €54Check availability
GetYourGuide
Loro Parque and Siam Park Combined Admission Tickets
4.7 (8,432 reviews)
from €78Check availability
GetYourGuide
Maspalomas: Aqualand Maspalomas Water Park Entry Ticket
4.1 (1,654 reviews)
from €41Check availability
GetYourGuide4 hours
Corralejo: Lobos Island Catamaran Tour with Drinks & Snorkelling
4.8 (1,171 reviews)
from €75Check availability
GetYourGuide6 hours
From Lanzarote: Sailing Day Trip Around La Graciosa
4.4 (1,186 reviews)
from €72Check availability
GetYourGuide3 hours
Tenerife: 2-in-1 Scuba Diving & Snorkelling in Turtle Habitat
4.7 (1,996 reviews)
from €75Check availability
GetYourGuide3 - 3.5 hours
Fuerteventura South: Learn to Surf (Group or Private)
4.7 (216 reviews)
from €54Check availability
See all options on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 2 October 2026
September compared with August and October
August is half a degree hotter, with slightly cooler water and about 155,000 more arrivals: if your dates are flexible, September is worth it. October keeps the sea almost the same, cools down by one or two degrees and opens the high season. For the whole year, see Canary Islands weather by month.
Canary Islands in September: frequently asked questions
What's the temperature in the Canary Islands in September?
On the coast, 27–29 °C in the afternoon in the south and east and a little less in the west, with nights of 21–22 °C: 27.9 °C at Tenerife South, 28.6 °C on Lanzarote and 26.6 °C on La Palma, according to AEMET averages.
Can you swim in the Canary Islands in September?
It's the best month for it: the sea is between 23.0 °C off Lanzarote and 24.1 °C off El Hierro, the highest of the year.
Does it rain in the Canary Islands in September?
Very little: 2 to 9 mm on the coasts, on one day or none. The north of Tenerife gets about 16 mm, and tropical storms are very rare, although they have happened.
Is it windy or busy in the Canary Islands in September?
The trade wind peaks in July and blows on fewer days from here on; the main windsurf season is over. It's the third-quietest month of the year, with about 1.38 million arrivals.
