Gran Canaria looks small on a map, but it's round, mountainous and nearly 2,000 metres high in the middle. The GC-1 motorway makes the east and south coasts quick and easy; the interior and the west are a different story, with winding roads that take longer than any app suggests. Choosing the right way to get around depends mostly on one question: will you stay on the coast, or explore the island?
This guide covers every realistic option — hire car, Global buses, taxis, the airport, the ferry to Tenerife and cycling — with the details that changed recently, from the bus lines at the airport to the new V-16 beacon rule. If you haven't chosen where to stay yet, start with our Gran Canaria south vs north guide.
Quick Guide: Which Option Fits Your Trip?
Match your plans to the best way of getting around.
Explore the Island
The only practical way to see the interior and the west at your own pace.
Coast on a Budget
Frequent, cheap buses between the airport, Las Palmas and the south.
LPA to Your Hotel
Which bus line to take, what a taxi costs and when to book ahead.
No Car Needed
See Roque Nublo and the interior with transport included.
All the Options Compared
| Option | Best for | Cost | Coverage | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hire car | Interior, west, multi-region trips | €€ | Whole island | Mountain roads, parking in Las Palmas |
| Global buses | Airport, Las Palmas, southern resorts | € | Main towns; sparse inland | Few services to villages |
| Taxis | Short trips, late nights | €€€ | Wherever roads go | Long trips add up |
| Guided tours | Interior without driving | €€ | Fixed routes | Less freedom |
| Ferry | Adding Tenerife | €€ | Agaete, Las Palmas | Rental cars usually not allowed |
| Bicycle | Road cycling as a sport | €€ | Whole island | Steep climbs, traffic |
Hiring a Car
For most visitors who want to see more than one resort, a hire car is still the best decision. The GC-1 motorway links the airport, Las Palmas and the south coast as far as Puerto de Mogán, and the GC-2 runs along the north coast towards Agaete. Off the motorways, mountain roads such as the GC-60 through Fataga, the GC-15 up to Tejeda and the spectacular GC-200 along the west coast are well surfaced but narrow and full of hairpins — allow more time than your GPS suggests, and expect to share them with cyclists.
Book before you travel rather than at the airport desk, where prices rise in high season. Driving in central Las Palmas is the least pleasant part: one-way streets, busy traffic and paid parking. If you're staying in the city, consider hiring a car only for the days you leave it.
Before you sign. Check the insurance excess (it can exceed €1,000 on basic cover), the fuel policy — full-to-full is usually cheapest — and whether the car can leave the island. Most rental contracts don't allow cars on inter-island ferries without written permission. And fill up before heading inland: petrol stations are scarce in the mountains and on the west coast.
Global Buses: The Island's Network
Gran Canaria has no train, but its interurban buses — run by Global and known locally as guaguas — are frequent, modern and cheap on the main routes between the airport, Las Palmas and the southern resorts. The main hub in Las Palmas is the San Telmo bus station, with a second stop at Santa Catalina, near Las Canteras. Inland villages get only a few buses a day, and the wild west coast has almost none.
| Line | Route | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Airport – Las Palmas (San Telmo, Santa Catalina) | Arriving in Las Palmas |
| 66 | Airport – San Agustín – Playa del Inglés – Maspalomas lighthouse | Arriving in the south |
| 91 | Las Palmas – Airport – Arguineguín – Puerto Rico – Playa del Cura | The south-west resorts |
| 1 | Las Palmas – Airport – Maspalomas – Puerto Rico – Puerto de Mogán | The whole south coast, slower |
| 30 | Las Palmas – Playa del Inglés – Maspalomas lighthouse | Las Palmas to the south |
| 50 | Las Palmas (San Telmo) – Maspalomas lighthouse, direct | The fastest city–south link |
| 5 | Las Palmas – Airport – Maspalomas lighthouse, at night | Late arrivals |
| 18 | Maspalomas lighthouse – Fataga – Tejeda, plus the Roque Nublo shuttle | The summit without a car |
You can pay the driver in cash, and many services now accept contactless cards; regular users can save with a rechargeable travel card. Timetables change, so check the line on the Global website or app before you travel, especially for early, late and weekend journeys. Inside Las Palmas, the yellow city buses (Guaguas Municipales) are a separate network with their own tickets. For Roque Nublo's shuttle and reservation rules, see our Roque Nublo guide.
Taxis and Transfers
Licensed taxis are plentiful in Las Palmas, at the airport and in the southern resorts, with regulated, metered fares. As a guide, expect around €30–35 from the airport to Las Palmas and roughly €45–60 to Playa del Inglés or Maspalomas; night, weekend and holiday rates are higher. Taxis are the easy answer for late nights and short hops, but long trips add up quickly.
Ride-hailing is not an option yet: Uber launched in south Tenerife in August 2026 and has announced plans for Gran Canaria, but as of October 2026 it isn't operating here. Book a taxi through the ranks, by phone or with a local taxi app.
Arriving at Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)
Gran Canaria Airport, also called Gando, sits on the east coast roughly halfway between Las Palmas and the southern resorts — around 25 minutes by car to either, and about 45–50 minutes to Puerto de Mogán. Car hire desks, the taxi rank and the bus stops are all a short walk from arrivals; the bus stops are reached across the walkway on the departures level.
To Las Palmas
Bus line 60 (or 91 and 1). Taxi around €30–35, 20–30 minutes.
To Playa del Inglés & Maspalomas
Bus line 66 (or 1 and 5 at night). Taxi roughly €45–60, 25–30 minutes.
To Puerto Rico & Mogán
Bus line 91 to Playa del Cura, or line 1 to Puerto de Mogán.
Arriving late? Bus frequencies drop at night, and some car hire desks close before the last flights land. Check your desk's opening hours when you book, and look up the night bus or pre-book your ride if you land after about 10pm.
Ferries to Tenerife
If Tenerife is part of your trip, the ferry is often more practical than flying. The fastest crossing leaves from Agaete, in the north-west, to Santa Cruz de Tenerife: about 1 hour 20 minutes, with several sailings a day operated by Fred. Olsen Express and Naviera Armas. Naviera Armas also sails from the port of Las Palmas, with a longer crossing. Agaete is around 40 minutes by car from Las Palmas, so allow for the drive.
Taking a hire car? Most rental companies don't allow their cars on inter-island ferries without written permission, and insurance usually doesn't cover the crossing. Ask before you book — it's often simpler to travel as a foot passenger and hire a second car in Tenerife. Book ahead in summer and at holiday weekends. Our island hopping guide covers every route.
Cycling
Gran Canaria is one of Europe's favourite winter training bases for road cyclists, thanks to mild weather, smooth tarmac and climbs that rise from sea level to nearly 2,000 metres in a few dozen kilometres. As a sport, it's superb; as everyday transport, it isn't — distances are long, roads are narrow and there's little dedicated cycling infrastructure outside a few stretches near Las Palmas. Bike rental shops in the south and in Las Palmas offer quality road bikes.
Driving Rules in 2026
Spanish traffic law applies, and one important rule changed this year.
V-16 Beacon
Since 1 January 2026, a connected V-16 beacon has replaced warning triangles. Rental companies must supply it — check it's in the car.
Speed Limits
120 km/h on motorways, 90 km/h on other roads, 50 km/h in towns and 30 km/h on single-lane urban streets, unless signed otherwise.
Alcohol
The limit is 0.5 g/l of blood (0.3 g/l for drivers with under two years' experience). Safest is not to drink at all.
Phones & Cameras
Holding a phone while driving is banned. Fixed and mobile speed cameras operate, especially on the GC-1.
Licence
Drive on the right. EU licences are valid; check whether your non-EU licence needs an International Driving Permit.
Parking
Central Las Palmas uses paid blue-zone parking and car parks. Never park on yellow lines or at bus stops.
Seeing the Island Without a Car
If you don't want to drive mountain roads, guided day trips with pick-up cover the interior comfortably. From Las Palmas, the summit day trip combines Pico de las Nieves, Roque Nublo, Cruz de Tejeda, Teror and Bandama. From the south, the full-day interior tour with lunch covers the mountain villages, and the tour with Guayadeque adds the island's cave ravine. Our best excursions guide reviews them all.
Where to Stay Without a Car
Without a car, stay close to the main bus routes. In Las Palmas, the Santa Catalina area puts you by Las Canteras beach and the Santa Catalina bus stop for lines 60, 91 and 1 — the NH Imperial Playa is a good-value choice, and Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel the most characterful. In the south, Meloneras and the Maspalomas lighthouse are at the end of lines 30, 50 and 66, with the beach, the dunes and the promenade on foot: Lopesan Costa Meloneras for a full resort, or Hotel Faro for adults only. More options in our best hotels in Gran Canaria guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Verdict
If you're staying on the coast, you can manage perfectly well with Global buses and the occasional taxi — line 60 or 66 from the airport, and line 30 or 50 between Las Palmas and the south. If you want to see the real Gran Canaria — the summit, the cave villages, the north-west and the west coast — hire a car for at least a couple of days, or book a guided day trip. Whatever you choose, check that your rental car carries a V-16 beacon, and allow extra time on mountain roads.