Most visitors see one side of Gran Canaria: the sunny south of Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés. With five days, you can see the whole island — and the difference is remarkable. The north is green and Spanish, with a real capital city, colonial streets and villages of wooden balconies; the interior is a world of pine forests, volcanic monoliths and cave villages; and the south has the dunes, the beaches and the harbour of Puerto de Mogán.
This itinerary uses two bases: two nights in Las Palmas and three in the south. It's the single best decision you can make for a five-day trip — you'll enjoy the city in the evening, when the day-trippers have gone, and still have three relaxed nights by the sea. For each day, we recommend one experience worth booking, chosen for quality, plus alternatives where they genuinely help. Short on time? See our 3 days in Gran Canaria itinerary.
The Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Area | Highlights | Our Pick | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Las Palmas | Vegueta, Triana, Las Canteras | Vegueta tapas tour | Expedia → |
| Day 2 | Summit & north | Pico de las Nieves, Roque Nublo, Teror, Bandama | Summit day trip | Expedia → |
| Day 3 | Move south | The interior, then the Maspalomas dunes | Sunset e-bike tour | Expedia → |
| Day 4 | South-west coast | Puerto de Mogán by boat, then the stars | Mogán + stargazing | Expedia → |
| Day 5 | Green interior | Agüimes, Guayadeque caves, Firgas, Fataga | Interior bus tour | Expedia → |
Prices mentioned below are per adult as shown on Expedia in October 2026 and may vary by date.
Where to Stay: Two Bases
Nights 1–2: Las Palmas
Hotel Cristina by TigotanOn Las Canteras Beach
Adults-only (16+) five-star right on the promenade of the city beach.
Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway HotelHistoric Grand Hotel
The city's 1890 grand dame, with a Michelin-starred restaurant.
AC Hotel Gran Canaria by MarriottBest Value
Modern tower near Santa Catalina Park, with a rooftop pool.
Nights 3–5: The South
Seaside Grand Hotel ResidenciaMost Exclusive
Gardens near the Maspalomas lighthouse and dunes.
Lopesan Costa MelonerasBest All-Rounder
Five-star on the Meloneras promenade, with pick-ups at the door.
Hotel Riu Palace OasisBest for Families
Direct access to Maspalomas beach beside the dunes.
For more choice, see our best hotels, luxury hotels and adults-only hotels guides.
Day 1Las Palmas: Vegueta, Triana and Las Canteras
Gran Canaria's capital is one of Spain's most underrated cities. Start in Vegueta, the historic quarter founded in 1478, around the Cathedral of Santa Ana and the Casa de Colón, then cross into Triana for its shopping street and modernist façades. In the late afternoon, head to Las Canteras, one of Europe's best city beaches, protected by a natural reef, for a swim and the sunset along the promenade.
- 10:00VeguetaThe cathedral, Plaza de Santa Ana and the Casa de Colón.
- 13:00Lunch in TrianaThe pedestrian Calle Mayor de Triana and its cafés.
- 16:30Las CanterasSwim behind the natural reef, then walk the promenade at sunset.
- 20:00Tapas in the old townA small-group tapas tour in Vegueta with a local guide.
Travelling as a group? The private city highlights and northern villages tour combines the old town, Las Canteras, Arucas, Firgas and Teror with a tapa, priced per group. See our Las Palmas city guide for the rest of the capital.
Day 2The Summit, Roque Nublo and the North
From Las Palmas, the road climbs into the mountains in less than an hour. Today's tour takes you to Pico de las Nieves, the summit of the island at around 1,950 metres, with views of Roque Nublo and, on clear days, Mount Teide on Tenerife. You'll stop at the Cruz de Tejeda to taste local cheese, honey and fruit, visit Teror and its Basilica of Our Lady of the Pine, and look into the Bandama volcanic crater.
- 09:45Pick-up in Las PalmasAir-conditioned transport with an official guide.
- 11:30Pico de las NievesThe summit of the island and its views over Roque Nublo.
- 13:00Cruz de TejedaLocal products in the heart of the island.
- 15:30Teror and BandamaWooden balconies, the basilica and the volcanic crater.
- 17:15Back in Las PalmasA last evening by Las Canteras.
Want to wake up in the mountains? Swap your second night in Las Palmas for the Parador de Cruz de Tejeda, with an infinity pool facing Roque Nublo. Prefer to walk? Our Roque Nublo guide covers the short hike to the base of the rock, and our best hikes guide adds longer routes.
Day 3To the South and the Maspalomas Dunes
Move to your southern base — under an hour by car or express bus on the GC-1. With a hire car, take the slow route through the interior via San Bartolomé de Tirajana and the Fataga valley. Check in, rest by the pool, and in the late afternoon head to the Maspalomas dunes: a protected nature reserve of golden sand between Playa del Inglés and the lighthouse, at its best in the soft evening light.
- 10:00Transfer to the southExpress bus, or drive through the interior via Fataga.
- 13:00Check in and relaxPool, beach or lunch on the Meloneras promenade.
- 17:30Sunset e-bike tourThe dunes, the Charca lagoon, the lighthouse and Meloneras with a local guide.
- 20:30Dinner in MelonerasThe promenade restaurants by the lighthouse.
Our Maspalomas dunes guide covers the marked paths and the best time for a sunrise walk.
Day 4Puerto de Mogán by Boat — and the Stars
Head west to Puerto de Mogán, the island's "Little Venice", arriving the best way: by boat along the south coast from Puerto Rico. Explore the canals, the fishing harbour and, on Fridays, the market, and add the submarine if you're travelling with children. Be back in your hotel by mid-afternoon — tonight is the trip's highlight.
- 08:00Pick-up in the southGuided trip with a one-way boat ride from Puerto Rico.
- 10:30Puerto de MogánThe canals, the harbour and, on Fridays, the market.
- 14:30Back to the hotelRest before the evening.
- 19:10Sunset and stargazingSunset above the clouds at Pico de las Nieves, then telescopes in the summit area.
The Premium Experience: Sunset and Stargazing
If you book one special experience on this trip, make it this one. Watch the sun set above the clouds at the Mirador del Pico de las Nieves with a glass of cava, often with Mount Teide on the horizon, then look at planets, galaxies and star clusters through powerful telescopes with certified Starlight guides at a remote site in the summit area — with a laser-guided constellation tour and an astrophotography portrait of your group. It has a perfect 10 out of 10 score from its reviews.
With children, the Puerto de Mogán submarine is a great addition. See our Puerto de Mogán guide.
Day 5The Green Interior: Guayadeque, Firgas and Fataga
Your last day explores the island's least-known side. Pass through Agüimes, with its old quarter, to the Barranco de Guayadeque, a dramatic ravine of cave dwellings and cave restaurants. Learn about aloe vera at a plantation, stroll through Firgas with its stepped water cascade, then cross the mountains through pine and almond forests, past Roque Nublo, and back down through Fataga, the "valley of a thousand palms".
- 08:00Pick-up in the southA full-day tour by air-conditioned bus with a guide.
- 09:30Agüimes and GuayadequeThe old quarter and the cave ravine.
- 12:30FirgasThe water cascade and traditional streets.
- 15:00The summit roadPine and almond forests and views of Roque Nublo.
- 16:30FatagaThe valley of a thousand palms, then back to the coast.
Prefer a slower last day? Spend it at the beach and add a 2.5-hour dolphin-watching cruise from Puerto Rico. For other hidden places, see our hidden gems of Gran Canaria guide.
Before You Go
Getting There
Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) is around 25 minutes from Las Palmas and 30 from Maspalomas.
Between Your Bases
Under an hour on the GC-1 by car or express bus. See our getting around guide.
Do You Need a Car?
Optional — useful on Day 3 to cross the interior: compare car hire.
Weather
Las Palmas is cooler and cloudier than the south; the mountains are cold at night. Pack layers.
The Beaches
From Las Canteras to Amadores: best beaches in Gran Canaria.
More Excursions
All the island's best tours: best excursions in Gran Canaria.
Which Island?
Still deciding? See Tenerife vs Gran Canaria.
Staying Connected
A Yesim eSIM keeps maps and bookings working everywhere.
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Final Thoughts
Five days is the ideal amount of time for Gran Canaria: enough to discover a real Spanish city, the island's volcanic summit and green interior, the dunes and Puerto de Mogán — and still enjoy a few hours by the sea every day. Split your stay, book the one experience that matters most each day, and don't skip the night under the stars.