Costa Dorada
Gran Canaria Holidays
from £ 189 pp
View All DealsSweeping 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.
Meloneras and Playa Taurito
Recently, Gran Canaria has started a collection of more bijoux beach resorts, too. In Meloneras and Playa Taurito, everything comes with a touch of gloss. Shops go down the boutique route and hotels lean towards luxury.
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.
At a glance
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Navigate the sand dunes at Maspalomas
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Tick off the island’s waterparks and theme parks
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Enjoy a shopping spree in Las Palmas
Destinations in Gran Canaria
Top Destinations
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Arguineguin
Holidays to Arguineguin are geared up for tourists, with a throng of beaches, a weekly market and a sought-after diving school.
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Bahia Feliz
Holidays to Bahia Feliz take you to a peaceful town in Gran Canaria. It’s the opposite of wild Playa del Ingles, but near enough that you can enjoy the best of both places.
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Maspalomas
Holidays to Maspalomas are first and foremost about the sand, with a 6-kilometre beach backed by huge, rolling dunes. But this stylish resort also crams in seafront restaurants and great days out.
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Playa del Ingles
Canary Island holidays to Playa del Ingles are all about the beach – an enormous blanket of golden sand and rolling dunes. The nightlife in this supercharged town also brings the crowds from far and wide.
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Puerto Rico
Holidays to Puerto Rico serve up more hours of sunshine than anywhere else on Gran Canaria. And once the sun’s gone down, this town gets dressed up for a lively nightlife.
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San Agustin (Gran Canaria)
With holidays to San Agustin, you get a quiet part of Gran Canaria but with vibrant Playa del Ingles just down the road.
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Puerto Mogan
Holidays to Puerto Mogan take you to one of Gran Canaria’s prettiest towns. Here you’ll find palm-lined avenues, top-quality restaurants and a harbour full of yachts.
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Playa Del Cura
Playa del Cura holidays are ideal for taking the pace down a notch, with pin-drop peaceful beaches and a clutch of Canarian restaurants.
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Playa Taurito
Holidays to Playa Taurito make beach connoisseurs instantly feel at home. This compact Canary Island resort set around a horseshoe bay serves up volcanic sands, top-drawer watersports and spectacular sunsets.
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Las Palmas
Beaches meet charming city sights on Canary Island holidays to Las Palmas. The buzzing capital brings historic buildings, trendy shops and gold-tinted sands to the table.
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Balito Beach
Canary Island holidays to Balito Beach bring peace and quiet in big portions.
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Meloneras
Holidays to Meloneras show you Gran Canaria’s grown-up side. This chic resort comes with upmarket shops and restaurants, plus a bijou beach with top-notch R&R credentials.
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Amadores
Holidays to Amadores take you to Gran Canaria’s southwest coast for restful days on the Blue Flag beach – and also place you next to Puerto Rico for livelier evenings.
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El Salobre
Holidays to El Salobre deliver a tucked-away countryside spot, where peace and quiet is the order of the day. Top-drawer golf courses cap things off.