In December the sea is warmest around El Hierro (22 °C), La Palma (22 °C) and Tenerife (22 °C). Average daytime highs across the 36 islands below range from 13 °C to 23 °C; the warmest days are on La Gomera (23 °C). 2 of them have real beach weather (sea and air both at 22 °C or more): Tenerife and La Gomera. Hiking conditions (15–25 °C by day, little rain) are best on El Hierro, La Palma, Tenerife, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, La Graciosa and others. Driest: Lanzarote with about 3 rain days.
| Island | Sea | Day | Night | Rain days | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Hierro | 22° | 19° | 13° | 7 | Hike |
| La Palma | 22° | 22° | 16° | 10 | Hike |
| Tenerife | 22° | 22° | 16° | 3 | SwimHike |
| La Gomera | 22° | 23° | 16° | 4 | SwimHike |
| Gran Canaria | 22° | 22° | 16° | 3 | Hike |
| Cyprus | 21° | 18° | 12° | 10 | – |
| La Graciosa | 21° | 20° | 15° | 3 | Hike |
| Fuerteventura | 21° | 21° | 16° | 3 | Hike |
| Lanzarote | 21° | 21° | 16° | 3 | Hike |
| Halki | 20° | 17° | 12° | 12 | – |
| Kos | 20° | 14° | 10° | 12 | – |
| Leros | 20° | 14° | 10° | 12 | – |
| Santorini | 19° | 15° | 12° | 10 | Hike |
| Gozo | 19° | 18° | 14° | 9 | Hike |
| Crete | 19° | 17° | 11° | 12 | – |
| Comino | 19° | 17° | 14° | 9 | Hike |
| Malta | 19° | 17° | 14° | 9 | Hike |
| Ithaca | 19° | 14° | 10° | 13 | – |
| Zakynthos | 19° | 13° | 8° | 13 | – |
| Corfu | 18° | 15° | 11° | 13 | – |
| Vulcano | 18° | 16° | 10° | 12 | – |
| Capri | 18° | 15° | 9° | 12 | – |
| Ischia | 18° | 15° | 11° | 10 | – |
| Ibiza | 18° | 17° | 12° | 6 | Hike |
| Menorca | 18° | 16° | 12° | 7 | Hike |
| Formentera | 17° | 17° | 12° | 6 | Hike |
| Mallorca | 17° | 16° | 10° | 7 | Hike |
| Lavezzi Islands (also Cavallo, Île de Piana) | 17° | 14° | 10° | 10 | – |
| La Maddalena | 17° | 15° | 10° | 9 | – |
| Île Sainte-Marguerite (also Île Saint-Honorat) | 16° | 14° | 6° | 7 | – |
| Île du Levant | 16° | 14° | 7° | 8 | – |
| Port-Cros | 16° | 14° | 7° | 8 | – |
| Porquerolles | 16° | 14° | 7° | 8 | – |
| Île du Gaou | 15° | 14° | 8° | 8 | – |
| Île des Embiez | 15° | 14° | 8° | 8 | – |
| Pomègues (also Frioul Islands, Ratonneau) | 15° | 13° | 7° | 7 | – |
Sources: ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (air temperature, rain; 10-year average) and Open-Meteo Marine API (sea surface temperature; 3-year average). Data by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Area averages — individual years vary.
Other months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
All islands, all months: sea temperature at a glance