Gran Canaria holidays

Sweeping beaches, bustling resorts and villages ripe for exploring make holidays to Gran Canaria a failsafe choice year-round.

A world favourite

As far as holiday destinations go, Gran Canaria is part of the world’s vintage collection. The third-largest Canary Island first appeared on the Spain tourism radar as far back as the 19th century, and it’s gone from strength to strength ever since.

The beach scene

Gran Canaria’s enduring appeal begins with its beaches – and it’s not a case of one size fitting all. On one hand, you’ve got the larger-than-life coastal resorts of Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas, where sunbathing is serious business and nightlife is of the neon variety. On the other hand, you’ve got the sleepier towns of Puerto Mogan, Bahia Feliz and Puerto Rico, where the beaches come with more space and the evening entertainment is a little lower-key.

Capital of cool

If you want the vibe of a Latin American city with half the travel time, you’ll love Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Reggaeton is the unofficial soundtrack of the city, and you’ll find a colourful combo of boutiques, beaches and bars, all within a four-hour flight of the UK. What’s more to love? The top-notch weather. In a city with the ‘world’s best climate’, anytime’s a good time to catch a wave. Surfers flock to Las Canteras – the longest beach on the island – year-round, and their shacks get newbies up to speed with the basics.

Scenic interior

Another reason Gran Canaria’s popularity has stood the test of time is its good-looking interior, where cliffs and gorges wax and wane. If you want to catch a glimpse of traditional island life, there are plenty of hamlets here, too. Just half-an-hour’s drive from Playa del Ingles, you’ll discover Fataga, where car-free cobbled streets are lined with whitewashed houses.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT GRAN CANARIA

How long does it take to fly to Gran Canaria?

Flights from the UK to Gran Canaria take around four hours, depending on which airport you fly from.

What is the time difference between the UK and Gran Canaria?

There’s no time difference between the UK and Gran Canaria, so you won’t have to adjust your watch.

What currency should I take to Gran Canaria?

Just like mainland Spain, you’ll need to take euros to pay for things in Gran Canaria.

When is a good time to visit Gran Canaria?

You can expect year-round sunshine in Gran Canaria, with hot summers, and winters where the mercury stays above 20°C. August is the hottest month, with temperatures reaching heights of 29°C. The other toastiest months are July, September and October.

What is the best area of Gran Canaria to stay?

For beach resorts with around-the-clock buzz, check out Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas. Puerto Rico treads the tightrope between laidback and lively, and for peaceful getaways there are towns like Bahia Feliz and Puerto Mogan.

Popular hotels in Gran Canaria

Top things to see and do in Gran Canaria

Beaches

120 miles of coastline

When it comes to beaches, Gran Canaria has over and above the basic rations. More than 120 miles of coastline surrounds the island, and they’re broken up into everything from stretches of sand that seem endless to the eye to blink-and-you’ll-miss-them coves.

The big beach

In terms of size, nowhere comes close to Maspalomas Beach. This luge of golden sand is 6 kilometres long. Its impressive proportions continue with its height. The beach is topped with rolling sand dunes, some of which are 10 metres tall.

The secret beach

Just a 20-minute walk from Playa de Puerto Rico you’ll find Lovers Beach, which is a mile-long cove of golden sand. Ball games and radio playing aren’t allowed here, so it’s pretty peaceful. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes close by, too.

Shopping

Bargain buys

As far as street markets go, the Sunday market in Teror takes some beating. Stalls are weighed down by baton-shaped chorizo sausages, pinwheel cheeses are stacked in tiers, and jars of home-made honey go for a song. Puerto Mogan’s Friday market, near the marina, is also worth a visit. The stalls here sell everything from fresh produce to handicrafts.

Mid-range buys

Gran Canaria is a duty-free island, so many shoppers stockpile perfume, alcohol and electrical goods when they come here. The Centro Civico in Puerto Rico has more than its fair share of perfumeries and camera stores, as does the Yumbo Centre in Playa del Ingles. Just remember your duty free allowances while you’re going wild in the aisles.

Designer buys

Close to the waterfront in Las Palmas, the Triana area of the city is boutique central. You’ll find shops full of Versace sunglasses and watches alongside stores selling bespoke jewellery and haute couture by up-and-coming designers. Meloneras pulls its weight as far as designer labels are concerned, too. Head to the beach promenade to find names like Roberto Cavalli and D&G.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

If you’re looking for a low-key evening, head to the harbour in Puerto Morgan or the beach promenade in Meloneras. Both of these spots are dotted with cafes and restaurants, where the menus tip the scales towards fresh fish and Gran Canarian cuisine. If theatre is your cup of tea, try Garbos in Bahia Feliz, where you can enjoy a decade-themed 3-course meal while watching cabaret from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies.

Lively evenings

Playa del Ingles is a bit of an insomniac. You can drink and dance your way to dawn here. Visitors converge at the Kasbah Centre where the clubs play everything from rock to hard house. Just outside the Kasbah, you’ll find a long line of music bars like Harley Rock, which serves Tex Mex and rock music in big portions. In Maspalomas, Plaza Maspalomas is a good bet for live music. In Puerto Rico, meanwhile, you’ll find enough bars for several nights’ worth of crawls in the Commercial Centre Puerto Rico and Calle Juan Diaz Rodriguez by the harbour.

Food & drink

Sancocho

Sancocho is Gran Canarian soul food, ladled out to big broods at the end of busy days. It’s a chunky broth made from salty fish and vegetables, and it’s usually served with a side of Canarian potatoes rather than bread. This dish is quite time consuming to make, so you’re more likely to find it on specials boards than main menus.

Flor de Guia cheese

Made in northern Gran Canaria, Flor de Guia is a thick, creamy, stick-to-your-teeth sort of cheese. It’s made from a mixture of sheep, cow and goat’s milk, which is curdled with the juice from cardoon flowers. Gran Canaria locals find any excuse to eat it, topping pizzas with it, shaving it over salads, or eating it on its own with a glass of red wine.

Bienmesable

This one’s not for waist watchers. It’s a rich, gooey, cream dish that’s a bit like syllabub. Made from ground almonds, sugar syrup, cinnamon and eggs, it’s served after dinner with top button-popping consequences.

Honey rum

The world has been put to rights many times over a glass of honey rum on the rocks. Every cocktail bar worth its salt in Gran Canaria will have a bottle of this whiskey-coloured liquid in its back bar. For something special, order a swizzle, which mixes the liquor with lime juice and sugar.

El Monte wine

Grown in the vineyards around Las Palmas, El Monte wine tends to be red and fruity. It’s not heady or smoky, but light and easy to drink, so it’s a great wine to serve with dinner. If you want to learn more about the local liquid, you can visit Casa Del Vino in El Galeon for wine-tasting.

Average Weather in Gran Canaria

Facts about Gran Canaria

Currency
Euro
(EUR)
Language
Spanish
Time zone
GMT +0
Flight duration
4 hours 15 minutes from Gatwick

FAQs

Where can I find the latest travel advice?

All your questions about entry requirements, visas, passports or health information are answered on our Travel Advice page.

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