A guide to holidays in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is a very popular holiday destination in the Canary Islands. Being the third largest island in the Canaries, it is famous for its beaches but offers a varieties of things to see and do for holidaymakers.

Gran Canaria holiday guide

Long beaches, sunny subtropical climate and warm winter temperatures attract crowds of visitors to Gran Canaria. North Europeans flock here, especially during the winter months, when daytime temperatures stay around 23°C. Gran Canaria is the most populated of the Canary Islands and its capital, Las Palmas, belongs to the biggest cities in Spain. The island is most famous for its beach resorts, and the majority of the big resorts can be found in the Southern part of the island. Most tourists head to the hotels around Maspalomas. The lively Playa del Inglés is one of the most popular destinations in Gran Canaria and is famous for its beaches and its nightlife. The easiest way to book a holiday to Gran Canaria is to book a flight and hotel package. Many flights to the Canaries are charter flights and if you book early, you can often find some good package deals. Gran Canaria has accommodation for all budgets and all tastes. Most visitors stay in hotels near the beaches in Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas. Special golf holidays are offered in the golf resorts around Maspalomas.

Things to do in Gran Canaria

Most visitors come to the Canaries for its beaches. The beaches around Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés form a long stretch of sand which is very popular with tourists and locals. The beaches can get crowded in the busiest holiday times but there is always a lot to do, from swimming and sunbathing to a variety of water sports. Gran Canaria is popular with surfers and there are surf schools in the resorts. There are several interesting places to visit in the interior parts of the island and many tourists hire cars to tour around. The mountainous areas in the middle of Gran Canaria make good destinations for day trips. Valsequillo is a pretty area with pine forests, rock formations and palm groves. The city of Las Palmas has plenty of shopping, restaurants and entertainment. Bicycles are available for hire too, and there are good mountain biking trails for all levels of experience. The hills and mountains are perfect for hiking and walking. Many international car hire companies have offices in the tourist areas, especially in Playa del Ingles. Public buses connect Maspalomas to the other parts of the island.