Canary Islands · Spain · 1,560 km²
Gran Canaria
A continent in miniature — golden dunes and Atlantic surf in the south, a volcanic interior of peaks and cave villages above the clouds, and a real Spanish capital in the north.
Best Time to Visit
Year-Round
Peak comfort Feb–Apr & Oct–Dec; lively Carnival in February
Vibe
Miniature Continent & Vibrant
Cosmopolitan capital meets untamed interior
Key Landscape
Dunes · Caldera · Colonial Towns
Roque Nublo (1,813 m) — sacred volcanic monolith
Getting There
LPA
Gran Canaria Airport — direct from London, Madrid, Frankfurt
Capital
Las Palmas de GC
Population 380,000 — largest city in the Canary Islands
Must-See
The Essentials of
Gran Canaria
From an ocean of golden sand to a highland caldera that was sacred to the island's first inhabitants — four Gran Canaria experiences that will stay with you.
01
Maspalomas Dunes Nature Reserve
Around 400 hectares of golden dunes at the island's southern tip, protected as a nature reserve between Playa del Inglés and the Maspalomas lighthouse. Despite the popular story, the sand isn't blown in from the Sahara — most of it comes from the sea. Walk in at dawn or dusk and the dunes feel entirely wild: wind-sculpted crests, the La Charca lagoon and the 19th-century lighthouse where the land ends.
Nature Reserve · Dunes · Iconic Read our Maspalomas Dunes guide →
02
Roque Nublo & Tejeda Highlands
Around 67 metres of volcanic rock standing on a plateau at about 1,800 metres, Roque Nublo is the symbol of Gran Canaria and was a sacred place for the island's pre-Hispanic inhabitants. Since 2025, access between 9:00 and 17:00 needs a free reservation and the trailhead car park is closed to cars. Around it, the Tejeda caldera — the geological heart of the island — is ringed by white villages, almond groves and some of the best hiking in the Canaries.
Volcano · Sacred · Hiking Read our Roque Nublo guide →
03
Puerto de Mogán
Gran Canaria's prettiest harbour earns its nickname "Little Venice" with canals, small bridges and whitewashed houses draped in bougainvillea. It's a real fishing port with a sheltered beach, a marina full of restaurants and a busy Friday market — and at its best in the evening, when the day-trippers have gone.
Harbour · Village · Beach · Dining Read our Puerto de Mogán guide →
04
Vegueta Historic District
The founding quarter of Las Palmas, laid out after 1478 and protected as a historic site since 1973. Its cobbled streets lead to the Cathedral of Santa Ana and the Casa de Colón, where, according to tradition, Columbus stopped on his first voyage to the Americas in 1492. Merchant mansions, museums, markets and tapas bars make it feel genuinely Spanish, not touristic.
Colonial · Culture · History Read our Las Palmas city guide →Where to Stay
Best Hotels in Gran Canaria
Three of our favourite places to stay on the island, all in the sunny south. For every budget and family option, see our full Gran Canaria hotel guide and our luxury hotels guide.
Beachfront Luxury
★★★★★
Hotel Faro, a Lopesan Collection Hotel — Meloneras
An adults-only five-star right beside the Maspalomas lighthouse, where the promenade meets the dunes. Light-filled contemporary rooms, a rooftop pool with sweeping sea views and the restaurants of Meloneras on the doorstep make it the most complete couples' address in the south.
Adults Only
Rooftop Pool
Beachfront
Golf Nearby
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Beachfront Retreat
★★★
Corallium Beach by Lopesan Hotels — San Agustín
Directly on the sand in San Agustín, the quieter neighbour of Playa del Inglés, this adults-only hotel pairs genuine beachfront access with an all-inclusive plan. Two pools, balconies in every room and a calm, grown-up atmosphere a short drive from the Maspalomas dunes.
Adults Only
On the Beach
All-Inclusive
Two Pools
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Intimate Boutique
★★★★
Hotel Nayra — Playa del Inglés
Just 46 rooms in two low-rise buildings, each with its own heated pool, private terraces and a garden bar with Balinese beds — an intimate hideaway with some of the best guest ratings on the island, a short walk from the centre of Playa del Inglés.
Adults Only
Heated Pools
Private Terraces
Garden Bar
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Plan Your Trip
Flights to Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) sits on the east coast, around 25–30 minutes from Maspalomas and Meloneras and about 20 minutes from Las Palmas. Compare fares from your city below.
Curated Experiences
Top Tours & Activities
in Gran Canaria
Three experiences that show Gran Canaria beyond the sunlounger. For every tour on the island, see our best excursions guide.
Nature · Iconic · Family
Maspalomas Dunes by Camel, E-Bike or Scooter
Cross the protected dunes on a camel, an e-bike or a two-seater electric scooter with a local guide, past the La Charca lagoon and the lighthouse to the Meloneras promenade. Rides stop in strong winds, so mornings and late afternoons are best.
Check Prices on Expedia
Volcano · Guided · Cultural
Roque Nublo Guided Hike
A local guide leads the short, well-made trail through the pine forest to the base of Roque Nublo, circling the rock for views over the Tejeda caldera, Roque Bentayga and, on clear days, Mount Teide on Tenerife — with a picnic, water and trekking poles included, and the access logistics handled for you.
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Ocean · Wildlife · Family
Dolphin & Whale Watching from Puerto Rico
A 2.5-hour cruise along the south-west coast in search of dolphins and pilot whales, which live in these waters all year, with morning and afternoon departures from Puerto Rico\'s marina. Sightings are never guaranteed, but they\'re frequent.
Check Prices on ExpediaPlan Your Trip
Gran Canaria Travel Guides
Where to Stay
Best Hotels in Gran Canaria Best Hotels in Gran Canaria South Best Luxury Hotels in Gran Canaria Best Adults-Only Hotels in Gran Canaria Gran Canaria South vs NorthTravel Tips
Essential Info for
Gran Canaria
Getting to Gran Canaria
- Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) — 18 km south of Las Palmas
- Direct flights from London, Manchester, Berlin, Amsterdam and most major European cities
- Flight time: around 4–4.5 hrs from the UK and about 2 hrs 45 min from Madrid
- Ferries to Tenerife from Agaete (about 1 hr 20 min) and to the other islands with Fred. Olsen and Naviera Armas — see our island hopping guide
Getting Around
- Hire car strongly recommended for interior, Mogán and north coast
- Global buses (guaguas) link the airport, Las Palmas and the south — lines 60 and 66 from the airport. See getting around
- Las Palmas has good urban transport — taxis and bus for the city
- The GC-1 motorway links airport, Las Palmas and Maspalomas quickly
Insider Tips
- The Maspalomas Dunes are at their best at sunrise or sunset, when the sand is cooler and the paths are quiet
- Las Palmas Carnival (usually February) is one of the biggest in Spain — book accommodation months ahead
- The north of the island is dramatically different to the south: greener, wilder and cooler
- Tejeda's almond blossom festival (late January–February) is one of the most beautiful sights in the Canaries