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Canary Islands on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, the Canaries are one of the easiest sunny places in Europe to do on a budget, especially off-peak. Allow about €90 a day per person in a shared apartment, with simple meals, one paid sight and a share of a rental car.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €35 | €65 | €130 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €40 | €75 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €30 | €50 |
| Local transport | €15 | €25 | €45 |
| Per person, per day | €90 | €160 | €300 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Canary Islands day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Hiking in the Anaga Rural Park's laurel forest from Cruz del Carmen
- The streets of La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage town
- The Maspalomas dunes on Gran Canaria
- Teide National Park's trails and viewpoints (only the cable car and summit permit system cost or need booking)
- Papagayo-area coves on Lanzarote (a few euros car entry) and free beaches like Las Teresitas
- Carnival parades in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas (February)
Cheap eats
- Papas arrugadas with red and green mojo: about €4–7
- Menú del día in a local bar: about €10–15
- Grilled fish of the day in a fishing village: roughly €12–18
- Barraquito coffee and a pastry: about €3–4
- Guachinche plate of meat and potatoes with house wine: roughly €10–15
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers use apartments and small pensions in towns such as Puerto de la Cruz, La Laguna and Las Palmas rather than the big resorts. Hostel beds exist in Santa Cruz, La Laguna and Las Palmas from about €25–40.
Getting around cheaply
Public buses connect airports, cities and main resorts cheaply, with rechargeable cards (such as TITSA's Ten+ on Tenerife) cutting fares further. To reach national parks and villages, a small rental car shared between two or more is usually the best value off-peak.
A sample budget day
- Morning: bus to La Laguna and a walk through the old town (free)
- Lunch: menú del día, about €12
- Afternoon: Anaga laurel forest walk or Las Teresitas beach (free)
- Evening: papas arrugadas and grilled fish with a beer, about €18
- Total: about €80–90 including a shared apartment and bus fares
More ways to save
- Travel in May–June or October to get warm weather and the lowest prices.
- Use a rechargeable bus card instead of paying single fares.
- Pick one or two islands rather than hopping every few days, to save on ferries.
- Book the Timanfaya and cable car tickets online for the best time slots.
- Shop at local supermarkets such as HiperDino for picnic food.
- Choose apartments with a kitchen in local towns instead of all-inclusive resorts.
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Common questions
How much do I need per day in the Canary Islands?
About €90 per person on a budget: €35 for a bed, €25 for food, €15 for sights and €15 for transport.
Can I get around by bus?
Yes, between airports, cities and main resorts. National parks and remote villages are much easier by car.
What is a guachinche?
A simple, often family-run wine house in northern Tenerife serving home cooking and its own wine at low prices. Some are open only part of the year.