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Hotels in Gran Canaria

A miniature continent: dunes, mountains and a city by the sea

Gran Canaria

LanguageSpanish
CurrencyEUR
TimezoneAtlantic/Canary
Temperature12-32 °C
Dial Code+34
Population47.6M
Area505,990 km²
SocketsType C / Type F
Tap waterDrinkable

Discover Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is a round island roughly 50km across, with mountains nearing 2,000m at its centre and desert dunes, banana plantations and misty laurel forest around its edges. The nickname "a miniature continent" isn't just marketing: in January the temperature gap between south and north can hit 10°C, and it's entirely possible to swim in Maspalomas in the morning and put on a jumper in Tejeda that afternoon. The touristy south around Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas is a continuous belt of hotels with guaranteed sun all year round, while the north, with capital Las Palmas, lives its own life and has little in common with a beach holiday beyond sharing the same airport. It's exactly this split personality that makes Gran Canaria an island where you can spend a week on a sunbed or a week behind the wheel without it feeling like the same trip twice. Most visitors fly in during winter, when it's 22°C here and freezing across Europe, but the most pleasant months are April, May and October. The island is small, the roads are good, and a car for 3 days is enough to see everything essential.

What to see

The places worth your time in Gran Canaria, and what to expect at each

Maspalomas Dunes

Maspalomas Dunes

south

6 square kilometres of genuine sand desert between the lighthouse and Playa del Inglés, a protected reserve with moving dunes up to 12m high. The sand wasn't blown here from the Sahara but carried by sea currents — it's made of crushed shells and coral. Several marked routes cross the dunes down to the sea.

Tip: Walk the dunes barefoot, and only early morning or after 5pm — at midday the sand can top 60°C and footwear slips in it. The smallest crowds are at the entrance by the lighthouse, not from Playa del Inglés.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
2 h
Roque Nublo

Roque Nublo

interior

An 80m basalt monolith on a ridge at 1,700m, a symbol of the island and the remnant of a volcanic vent. It was a sacred site for the island's original inhabitants. On a clear day, Teide on Tenerife is visible across the sea from here.

Tip: From the La Goleta car park it's a 40-minute climb up an easy path. Go at sunrise or an hour before sunset — during the day the ridge tends to cloud over between 10am and 3pm.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
2 h
Playa de las Canteras

Playa de las Canteras

Las Palmas

3km of city beach right in Las Palmas, sheltered from waves by the natural reef La Barra lying 100m offshore. This creates a huge calm pool of clear water with fish, where you can snorkel just steps from a café.

Tip: Snorkelling only works at low tide and for an hour around it, otherwise there's too much water over the reef. Tide times are posted on the promenade and in the Tablas de mareas app.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half day
Vegueta old town

Vegueta old town

Las Palmas

The oldest quarter of Las Palmas, founded in 1478, older than Havana or Lima. Cobbled lanes, Santa Ana Cathedral with towers offering views over the whole city, the Casa de Colón in the house where Columbus is said to have stayed, and the Museo Canario with the largest collection of remains from the original Guanche people.

Tip: Thursday evening is the ruta de tapas: dozens of bars serve tapas and a drink for a few euros, and the whole city turns out for it. On Sundays, by contrast, almost everything is closed except the cathedral.

Admission:
cathedral from €3, Museo Canario €6
Time needed:
3 h
Puerto de Mogán

Puerto de Mogán

southwest

A harbour in the southwest nicknamed "little Venice" for the canals between houses draped in bougainvillea. A marina full of yachts, a small sandy beach with calm water, and the most photogenic corner of the island. A large market is held here on Fridays.

Tip: A yellow catamaran runs from Puerto Rico every hour and is a far nicer way to travel than the road — it takes 25 minutes and costs around €6. The Friday market runs until 2pm.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half day
Tejeda and Roque Bentayga

Tejeda and Roque Bentayga

interior

A mountain village in the crater of an extinct volcano at 1,100m, ranked among Spain's most beautiful villages. White houses above a ravine, almond trees blossoming in January and February, and facing them the island's second monolith, Roque Bentayga, with its Guanche archaeological site.

Tip: In Tejeda, buy bienmesabe — an almond cream made here since the 16th century; the best is at Dulcería Nublo by the main square. The road here has hundreds of bends, so anyone prone to motion sickness should sit up front.

Admission:
free, Bentayga site free
Time needed:
half day
Guayadeque Ravine

Guayadeque Ravine

east

A 10km ravine between Agüimes and Ingenio, where people still live in caves carved into the walls. There's a cave chapel, a museum and restaurants built into the rock. Several plant species found nowhere else on Earth grow here.

Tip: The Tagoror restaurant is set entirely inside a cave and is hopelessly full without a reservation on Sundays. The ravine is one of the few attractions you can't reach by bus — without a car, it's an organised trip or nothing.

Admission:
free, museum €3
Time needed:
3 h
Teror

Teror

north

A mountain pilgrimage town above Las Palmas, home to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pine, patron saint of the island, and Calle Real de la Plaza lined with houses with carved wooden balconies. The Sunday market outside the basilica is Gran Canaria's largest farmers' market.

Tip: The Sunday market starts at 8am and winds down around 2pm; come for chorizo de Teror, a soft spreadable sausage, and the local mineral water. Parking in the centre is impossible, so leave the car at the edge of town.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
2 h
Agaete and Puerto de las Nieves

Agaete and Puerto de las Nieves

northwest

A fishing town in the northwest beneath 1,000m cliffs, with natural pools carved into the lava and a valley growing the only coffee in Europe. The ferry to Tenerife departs from here. The harbour's white houses face the site of the former rock arch known as Dedo de Dios.

Tip: The Las Salinas natural pools are free and wave-free, but close during northern swell — a board at the entrance shows conditions. Restaurants at the harbour have the best fish on the island's north coast, and lunch service ends by 4pm.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half day

Photos: Maspalomas Dunes — JUAN RAMON RODRIGUEZ SOSA (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Roque Nublo — MiljenkoSuljic (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Playa de las Canteras — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) · Vegueta old town — Bengt Nyman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Puerto de Mogán — Martin Falbisoner (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Tejeda and Roque Bentayga — Tamara k (CC BY-SA 3.0 es) · Guayadeque Ravine — Álvaro Ávila (Public domain) · Teror — Guido.Haeger at German Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Agaete and Puerto de las Nieves — Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden (CC BY 2.0)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés

Best for: guaranteed sun and a classic beach holiday

A continuous belt of hotels and bungalows along the dunes, with only a handful of rainy days a year and 22°C even in winter. Playa del Inglés is louder and cheaper, Maspalomas near the lighthouse calmer and pricier. Everything is walkable or reachable by bus number 30, but from here the island can look like nothing but beach — sightseeing means venturing out.

Puerto Rico and Amadores

Best for: families with small children

Artificially created coves in the southwest with imported sand, breakwaters and completely calm water, surrounded by hotels on the hillside. The safest swimming on the island, but hotels sit high above the beach, and without lifts or buses that means a steep climb. Boats set out from here for dolphin-watching trips.

Las Palmas

Best for: city life, food and lower prices

A city of a quarter million in the north, with 3km of sheltered beach, the old quarter of Vegueta and ordinary prices away from the tourist strip. Living here is cheaper than in the south and the food is excellent, but the weather is more changeable — the northern coast is often covered by the low cloud known as panza de burro.

The interior: Tejeda, Artenara, Fataga

Best for: hiking and peace and quiet

Mountain villages inside the island's central crater, where people live in converted country houses and in caves. Cool evenings, almond trees blossoming in February and stars undimmed by light pollution. There's practically no getting here without a car, and supermarkets close early, but it's the one place on Gran Canaria where you won't run into the crowds.

Search hotels →

Getting around

From the airport

Gran Canaria Airport sits roughly halfway along the east coast, 22km from Las Palmas and 30km from Maspalomas — so it's a similar distance to either main area. In the winter season, charter and scheduled flights arrive here from many European cities; otherwise you'll connect via Madrid or Barcelona. Direct long-distance buses run from the airport in both directions every half hour and are considerably cheaper than a taxi. Ferries connect the island to Tenerife from the port of Agaete, and to Fuerteventura and Lanzarote from Las Palmas.

Gran Canaria (Gando) (LPA) · 22 km

  • Global bus 60 to Las Palmas· 30 min· €2.95
  • Global bus 91 to Maspalomas· 40 min· €4.05
  • Taxi to Playa del Inglés· 25 min· €40
  • Hotel transfer· 30–50 min· included in the stay

Around town

The Global bus network covers the coast very well at low fares, but the mountains and ravines only get a few services a day, and often none on Sundays. Anyone wanting to see the interior needs a car — 3 days is enough, and rental starts at €25 a day. Roads are good, but the route from the south to Tejeda has hundreds of bends, and 80km takes an hour and a half. In Las Palmas a car is unnecessary, as the city's Guaguas Municipales buses cover it well and parking in the centre is expensive.

Global busesAn intercity network covering the whole coast; the Ten+ card cuts fares by around a third and also works on city buses. · €1.55
Guaguas in Las PalmasCity bus lines including the fast MetroGuagua trunk route along the coast. · €1.40
Rental carThe only way to see Roque Nublo, Tejeda and the ravines. Book ahead, as demand is high in the winter season. · €25/day
Catamaran Puerto Rico–MogánA boat service along the southwestern coast, faster and prettier than the bus. · €6

Useful apps: Google Maps, Moovit, Cabify, El Tiempo AEMET

When to go

Gran Canaria can be visited any time — the southern coast reaches 22°C even in January, and the sea never drops below 19°C. Winter months are the main European season, and flight and hotel prices are then at their highest. The best balance of weather and prices comes in April, May and October, when it's warmer, the sea is above 20°C and hotels are less full. Summer in the south is hot and dry, but the northern coast and mountains are often blanketed in low cloud from June to August, which locals call panza de burro. December and January storms occasionally bring high waves to the north.

Best time

April, May and October; the south of the island in winter

What to avoid

the north and mountains in July and August, for persistent cloud cover

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day21°21°22°22°23°25°27°28°27°26°24°22°
Night15°15°15°16°17°19°20°21°21°19°18°16°
Rainy days433210001345
Sea19°19°19°19°20°21°22°23°23°23°22°20°

Food & drink

Canarian cuisine is rustic and cheap: boiled potatoes with 2 sauces, goat's cheese, meat stews and fresh fish. In the south's hotel zone, prices are European and the offering international, while genuine local cooking starts just a few kilometres inland, in Agüimes, Fataga or Teror. Las Palmas offers the best value in the whole archipelago — Thursday evening is when locals go out for tapas as a social event. Fish is ordered whole and charged by weight, so ask the price per kilo up front.

What to try

Papas arrugadas con mojo

Small potatoes boiled in very salty water until wrinkled, served with red mojo picón from peppers and green coriander mojo. Ordered with everything, and the skin is eaten too.

Gofio

Roasted maize or wheat flour, the Canary Islands' number one staple food since before the Spanish arrived. Stirred into broth, into milk for breakfast, or made into the dessert gofio escaldado.

Queso asado con mojo

Grilled goat's cheese with mojo, the most common Canarian starter. On Fuerteventura and Lanzarote it's made with majorero, a goat's cheese with its own protected designation of origin.

Ropa vieja

Shredded meat with chickpeas, potatoes and peppers, the Canarian version of Sunday lunch. It began as a second life for meat from the stockpot and is the most filling dish on the islands.

Conejo en salmorejo

Rabbit marinated overnight in garlic, paprika and wine, then stewed. A Canarian festive dish rarely found in tourist zones — only in inland villages.

Pescado a la espalda

A whole fish split along the back and grilled with garlic and oil, typically vieja or cherne. Charged by weight — ask the price per kilo in advance.

Barraquito

A layered coffee with sweetened condensed milk, Licor 43, lemon zest and cinnamon. Ordered in the afternoon, it's more a dessert than a coffee.

Bienmesabe

A thick cream of ground almonds, eggs and honey from Tejeda, made there since the 16th century. Served over ice cream or eaten straight with a spoon, and very sweet.

What it costs

Cortado coffee

€1.30–2

Menu del día (set lunch)

€10–14

Restaurant dinner

€20–30 per person

0.33l beer

€2–3

Sunbed and parasol

€10–15 for 2 sunbeds

Rental car per day

from €25

Airport–Maspalomas bus

€4.05

Night in a 4-star hotel

€90–150

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsCEuroplug, two round pinsFSchuko
Voltage230V / 50Hz
Tap waterTap water is drinkable — Tap water comes from desalination plants and is safe, but has a strong mineral taste. Practically everyone, including locals, drinks bottled water, which costs around 20 cents per 1.5 litres in supermarkets.
TippingTipping isn't compulsory, and Spaniards themselves tip little — leaving small change in a café, rounding up or adding 5% in a restaurant. 10% is the upper limit and is given in cash, as card terminals usually have no tipping option.
Driving on theright
SafetyGran Canaria is safe, and violent crime is rare. The real risks are natural: open beaches, including Playa del Inglés, have strong rip currents when there's swell, and the flag system is taken seriously — red means no entry to the water. The sun here is noticeably stronger than in the Mediterranean due to the island's location, and sunburn is possible even under cloud. In the mountains, cloud can roll in quickly in the afternoon and the temperature can drop by 10°C. Pickpockets operate in Las Palmas around Las Canteras and in Triana.
Opening hoursShops are usually open from 10am to 8pm, with large shopping centres in the south open until 10pm even at weekends. Siesta is observed less in the Canaries than on the mainland, though it still holds in inland villages. Museums in Las Palmas close on Mondays, and village restaurants finish serving lunch by 4pm and don't reopen in the evening.
Customs & etiquetteLunch is around 2pm, dinner after 9pm; restaurants often don't have the kitchen open before 8pm. Swimwear belongs on the beach, not in town. Canary Islanders see themselves as Canarian rather than mainland Spanish, and appreciate that distinction being recognised. Greeting people on entering a shop or bar is standard practice here.
A few local wordsHello — Buenos díasThank you — GraciasPlease — Por favorThe bill, please — La cuenta, por favorCheers — Salud

How to plan your days

1 day

A day in the south

  1. 1Morning at the Maspalomas dunes by the lighthouse, while the sand is still cool.
  2. 2Late morning swim at Playa del Inglés or the calmer Amadores.
  3. 3Lunch by the canals in Puerto de Mogán.
  4. 4Afternoon catamaran back to Puerto Rico along the cliffs.
  5. 5Evening stroll along the promenade between Playa del Inglés and the lighthouse.

2 days

2 days including the interior

  1. 1Day 1 as above.
  2. 2Day 2, drive via Fataga to Tejeda, stopping at viewpoints over the crater.
  3. 3Lunch in Tejeda, with almond bienmesabe at the local bakery.
  4. 4Afternoon walk up to Roque Nublo from the La Goleta car park.
  5. 5Return south before dark, as the roads are narrow and unlit.

3 days

3 days including the north

  1. 1Days 1 and 2 as above.
  2. 2Day 3 in Las Palmas: Vegueta, the cathedral and Museo Canario.
  3. 3Lunch in Triana, then a swim and snorkel at Las Canteras in the afternoon.
  4. 4On the way back, stop at Teror or Agaete's natural pools.
  5. 5With a 4th day, head to the Guayadeque Ravine and Agüimes.

Day trips

Tenerife

70 km · 80 min by ferry from Agaete

The ferry from Agaete to Santa Cruz runs several times a day, and cars can be taken aboard. As a day trip you can just about manage Teide with the cable car or the old town of La Laguna, but it means setting off before 7am. 2 nights is a far more sensible option.

Fuerteventura

130 km · 2 h by ferry from Las Palmas

The neighbouring island with the longest beaches in the Canaries. The ferry from Las Palmas to Morro Jable runs twice a day, which just about covers a day trip — most people combine it with an overnight stay in Corralejo or in the south instead.

Artenara and Cuevas del Rey

50 km · 1 h 20 min by car

The island's highest village, at 1,200m, where many houses and even the church are carved into the rock. The Mirador de Unamuno viewpoint looks straight at Roque Bentayga and Roque Nublo. Combines well with Tejeda in a single loop.

Frequently asked questions

When is the weather best on Gran Canaria?+

April, May and October: 25–26°C in the south, the sea above 20°C and no winter crowds. In winter, the south is reliably sunny at around 22°C, which is the main reason Europeans fly here in December and January. Summer is hot, but the north tends to be overcast.

What's the difference between the south and north of the island?+

Huge. The south is desert-like, sunny almost every day and built entirely around tourism. The north is green, damper and often covered in low cloud, but that's where the real island lives, including quarter-million-strong Las Palmas. The temperature gap can be 5–10°C over a distance of just 35km.

Do I need a car on Gran Canaria?+

Not for a pure beach holiday — the Global bus network covers the coast well and cheaply. For Roque Nublo, Tejeda, Artenara and the ravines, yes — only 1 or 2 services run daily there, and often none on Sundays. For most people, renting a car for 2 or 3 days out of a week works best.

Are there sandy beaches on Gran Canaria?+

Yes, and genuinely sandy ones. Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés form a continuous stretch of fine sand over 6km long, while Las Palmas has the 3km Las Canteras. Southwestern coves such as Amadores and Puerto Rico are artificial, with imported sand and calm water, which families with small children appreciate.

Can you swim in the sea in winter?+

Yes. The sea sits at 19°C from December to March, cooler than in summer, but swimmable without a wetsuit. Most hotel pools in the south are heated too. Air temperatures reach around 22°C by day, though evenings cool down enough for a jumper.

How much does a week on Gran Canaria cost?+

The Canary Islands have a lower IGIC tax instead of Spain's mainland VAT, so restaurants and shopping are cheaper than on the mainland. A set lunch menu runs €10–14, dinner €20–30, beer €2–3. The biggest costs remain flights and accommodation in the winter peak, when prices are at their highest of the year.

Is it safe to swim in the ocean?+

On protected beaches, yes; on open ones, follow the flags. The Atlantic has strong rip currents, and a red flag at Playa del Inglés when there's swell means no entry to the water, not just a suggestion. The safest spots are Las Canteras, sheltered by a reef, and the artificial coves in the southwest.

Is a trip to the neighbouring islands worth it?+

For Tenerife, yes — the ferry from Agaete takes 80 minutes and can just about be done in a day, though it means dawn to dusk. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are 2–3 hours away, and a day trip doesn't make sense from there — either stay overnight or take a short 30-minute flight instead.

Visa Requirements

Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.

Check visa requirements

Emergency Numbers

Police112Ambulance112Fire112

Language

Spanish

Currency

EUR

Timezone

Atlantic/Canary

Dial Code

+34

Population

47.6M

Area

505,990 km²

Voltage

230V / 50Hz

Driving Side

Right

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