fbpx
Gran Canaria
Off the west coast of Africa, the Canary Islands consist of seven main islands. Gran Canaria is a fantastic destination - it's like a miniature continent jam packed into a small island. Sail out to watch whales, visit an ancient city and cultural museum, walk in the Canary pine forests, climb large desert sand dunes, have fun at a water park, wander Galdar’s shopping streets or... just relax on a beautiful beach.

Popular Picks

Browse popular sites among travelers.

las-palmas-1340736_1280
Las Palmas
47008596032_0cd9bd36a2_b
Puerto de Mogan
gran-canaria-1445423_1280
Las Canteras Beach
Iglesia.de.San.Juan.Bautista.Arucas
Church of San Juan Bautista
1200px-Teror_D81_6112_(38999457345)
Teror
1200px-Vegueta_D81_5464_(38849711875)
Vegueta Old Town
maspalomas-1762716_1280
Dunas de Maspalomas

Favorite Moment

Check out Guidester’s favorite Gran Canaria experience.

Driving around Gran Canaria

The Canary Islands are splendidly diverse both geographically and culturally. Officially part of Spain, the Canary Islands sit just 100 miles off the coast of Africa. Spanish is the local language, but tourists may be surprised to find a distinctly Canarian character and culture that is different from mainland Spain. So don’t expect bullfights or flamenco dancing.

The four largest islands, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria see the largest number of tourists. Each island is different, but they all have in common volcanic origins, which have led to their gorgeous distinctive natural attractions.

You can visit the Canaries anytime of the year, as their placement where the tropical climatic zone joins the sub-tropical zone gives them an ideal climate, with average temperatures varying very little throughout the year.

Read More

Jack Baumann

Jack Baumann

Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!

Jack Baumann

Jack Baumann

Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!

Play Around

Explore Gran Canaria with interactive maps.

Stroll Las Canteras Beach

Wander around Church of San Juan Bautista

Wander around the streets of Las Palmas

Discover Old Town Vegueta

Video Tours

Discover Gran Canaria through virtual walks and tours.

Start Planning

Begin planning your next adventure to Gran Canaria.

Local Tips

Where to go for the best views

Gran Canaria is quite mountainous in the center of the island. For sweeping views of the landscape and ocean drive up the steep slopes and stop in one of the several small mountaintop villages, like Tejeda.

How to save a ton of time

Gran Canaria is quite small and the highway along the coastline makes getting to major parts of the island quick and easy. However, it's easy to waste time going up and down the coast so it's wise to map out your sights for the day and bundle them together based on the region of the island you want to visit. Maybe spend a full day in the south near Maspalomas, and maybe another day in the north around Las Palmas, and then another to explore the interior mountainous terrain.

Where to watch the sunset

It's hard to get a bad sunset on this small, beautiful island. My favorite sunset was from the square in the little village of Tejeda nestled in the mountainous interior.

How to get around Gran Canaria

 

CAR RENTAL:

For access to isolated beaches and to move at a timetable that suits you, car rental is a winner. A car allows you the freedom to take things at your own pace. However, there are plenty of other ways to get out and see the sights if you decide not to deal with hiring a rental.

 

BUS:

Throw yourself right into the Gran Canaria experience by following in the footsteps of the locals and hopping on the “guagua” (local bus). Pronounced “waa waa”, the public bus system in Gran Canaria is super-organized and satisfyingly cheap, with regular services connecting the airport and all of the main tourist hubs. Global runs frequent services from the airport to Las Palmas, a journey that takes less than half an hour. From baggage reclaim, go up one floor to the entrance of the departure terminal and grab a Line 60 bus.

 

TAXI:

Taxi fares from the airport are fairly reasonable and there’s usually no wait, making it useful if your post-flight patience is beginning to wear thin.

Where To Stay

Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria, is a perfect place to base yourself as it has the setup to easily accommodate your needs while making it easy to get in and out to explore the rest of the island. It’s also a city with great food, a historic old town, and the world’s best city beach.

Guidester Favorites

Local Eats

5106536098_d23d3b6efa_b
The type of food you will find...
The cuisine of the Canary Islands combines traditional Spanish recipes with African and Latin-American influences.
paella-1038048_1280
Typical cuisine consists of...
Typical local cuisine on the Canary Islands is a variety of fresh vegetables, fruit and fish. Meat usually features as part of a stew and steaks are mostly imported from mainland Spain or South America.
fruit_market_canary_islands-833569
Unique to the Canary Islands...
Thanks to the perfect climate, colorful local markets in every town offer an abundance of seasonal produce that is fresh and inexpensive.
ropa-vieja-y-vino-blanco
Our favorite dining spot is...
The Gourmet La Tienda De Paco located in the picturesque mountaintop village of Tejeda serves up some amazing local cuisine combined with a gorgeous landscape view.

Download a free guide on international travel planning to help plan your next adventure; what to pack, how to get foreign currency, which adapters you need, the best phone plans, and more!