Things to do in Gran Canaria

Our first ever sun holiday as a couple was in the Canary Islands a few years back. We heard amazing things about Tenerife and Gran Canaria, so it’s no surprise we wanted to experience the laid-back island life, delicious fresh food and mile-long sandy beaches. What is great about these islands is that none of them is short in mountain hiking and biking trails, shopping and nightlife spots, restaurants and bars. This makes the Canary Islands a versatile destination which can tick various boxes for many travellers. We are soft adventure lovers who love pursuing culinary activities, so the Canary Island seemed perfect for us.

Our first Canary island destination was Tenerife. We loved hiking in Tenerife and discovering amazing things to do on the island. Since we loved Tenerife so much, there is no surprise that we decided to enjoy a Gran Canaria holiday next and have yet another great travelling experience.

Gran Canaria Holiday

Getting to Gran Canaria

There are lots of daily flights from mainland Spain as well as many other European countries. There are various cheap airline companies which, if booked in advance can cost less than £100 per person return. You must hold a valid passport or visa depending on what country you live in, the duration of your visit and your reason for travelling, e.g. tourism, work or study.

The airport in Gran Canaria is located 25 km from tourist destinations and only 18 km from the capital, Las Palmas. There are various shuttles which you can prebook, or you can rent a car so you can better explore the island at your own leisure.

When to visit Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is a year-round destination. Although the winter might not offer as many hours of sunshine or bathing in the ocean, the temperatures are still higher than in the rest of Europe. Summers are the most popular and the warmest. Winter has the most attractive ticket prices, so if you are in it for a bargain, then make sure to check your options from November to February.

When to visit Gran Canaria cactus

Customs and Traditions in Gran Canaria

If you are interested in the cultural side of Gran Canaria, then the island is wonderful as it has many fiestas and carnivals throughout the year. During fiestas, locals dress up in colourful costumes, sell handicraft items and play various games to keep the young ones entertained. Of course, there would be no fiesta without food and drinks which are plentiful. The main carnival is held every year between January and February in Las Palmas. It starts with street parties, known as verbenas del mogollón.

Things to do in Gran Canaria

There are so many awesome things to do in Gran Canaria. It all depends on the type of traveller you are and the sort of activity you are interested in. Are you a beach person, foodie traveller, adventure seeker? Gran Canaria has something for everyone.

Beaches

Are you a beach lover? Know that Gran Canaria has 230 kilometres of coastline with all sort of beaches, which come in all shapes and sizes. Perhaps the most beautiful sight is the Maspalomas sand dunes. Here you’ll find a 2,000-hectare strip of land with 17 km of coastline with sand dunes, wide sandy beaches, shallow waters and an excellent all-year-round climate. Are you in love already?

If you fancy something a little more popular, lined with restaurants and bars, then Playa del Inglés is the go-to-place. A bit of a romantic? Check out Playa de Amadores (Lovers’ Beach) or seek some quiet on the Playa Taurito or San Agustín. To best experience the island, rent a car and drive around it so you pick your favourite beach. Which one is it going to be?

Beach Gran Canaria

Cultural activities

Once you got an amazing tan and explored some of the island’s ancient trails, head over to Las Palmas and immerse yourself in the local culture. Go to morning markets, engage with locals and visit various museums which can be found all around the island. In Gran Canaria, people love to celebrate festivals whether they are of religious or cultural nature. There is always something going on, which makes Gran Canaria an ideal place for culture lovers. The islands are also home to some internationally renowned festivals, including International Film Festival of Las Palmas, the Festival de Música de Canarias (Canarian Classical Music Festival) and the Festival de Ópera.

Walking and hiking

We love walking and hiking and wouldn’t miss experiencing a little of Gran Canaria’s beautiful and mountains terrain. The island has many ancient paths, covering 66,000 hectares of protected lands. Some of these walks are on newly-built paths and there are some challenging ones with serious climbs, but there are also a series of relatively short and easy walks. Please remember that conditions in the mountains are very different than on the coastline, so make sure you pack waterproof and hiking gear. You can check some trails here and start planning your hiking activities.

Hiking Gran Canaria

Sports

Hey, sports lovers, we didn’t forget you! The brilliant weather in Gran Canaria is exceptional for sports, including cycling, diving, water skiing and sailing. We especially love scuba diving. I still remember my first ever dive in the Seychelles. Pretty crazy! Nowadays, I can’t wait to simply explore the depths of the oceans. Gran Canaria has some crystal clear waters, full of incredible marine life waiting to be discovered.

As we love a bit of adventure, we are keen on mountain biking, and we can assure you, with its diverse terrain, Gran Canaria sure is the perfect place for it.

Nightlife

Gran Canaria is traditional and versatile, but with an influx of international travellers, comes the demand for vibrant nightlife. The island isn’t short on bars and nightclubs which cater for party souls. It’s good to remember that little happens before midnight. Nightlife in Gran Canaria is lively, starts late and goes on all night with most bars open until 2 AM and clubs keep up with the party people until 6 AM. What better way to end a night out, then heading to the beach and admiring a beautiful sunrise?

Gran Canaria is a wonderful destination which caters for a range of travellers. It is in a unique position whereby it can accommodate budget seekers, whilst being home to opulent options for luxury travellers. It has beautiful beaches, gorgeous mountains, it is culturally alive and offers a variety of bars and restaurants which serve fresh and delicious food. It is easy to see why Gran Canaria should be on your destination list.

Cactus Gran Canaria

What do you think? Are you ready for a trip to Gran Canaria? Leave a comment below and tell us what type of traveller you are and what excites you most about Gran Canaria.

Thank you, Deal Checker for sponsoring this post and reminding us how incredible Gran Canaria really is. The information provided in this article is 100% real and down to Earth and is entirely reflects our opinions only. We hope you will love Gran Canaria just as much as we did.

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Cory from You Could Travel entering Senso-ji in Tokyo, Japan

Cory Varga – Cory Varga is a Tokyo-based licensed travel agent and published travel writer. Her main expertise is writing about Japan, where she happily lives with her husband.
Cory published her first book on Japanese customs and manners because she’s obsessed with everything Japan and wants to share more about the local customs with the rest of the world.
While Cory has visited hundreds of destinations and has lived in 7 different countries, Japan remains her favorite place to live and write about. Cory is multilingual, and she lives in Tokyo, Japan with her husband.

Comments

4 responses to “Things to do in Gran Canaria”

  1. Eldin van der Dussen Avatar
    Eldin van der Dussen

    Truly Gran Canaria is a perfect paradise. Blessed with a diverse topography, the third largest island in the Canaries is also surrounded by 236 kilometers of coastline, dunes to the lush pine forests and dramatic volcanic landscape. There are also plenty of things to do in Gran Canaria.

  2. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    Well, I really love about Gran Canaria is cycling tour. It is a perfect place for it. The roads and the scenery is so wonderful. Especially if you are in a group, cycling is so wonderful.

  3. jessica Avatar
    jessica

    Grana Canaria is the gem in entire Canaries, the island features plenty of beaches, water sport activities and historical sites. This is an unusual post, providing valuable information and impressive pictures of this island.

  4. Andres Avatar
    Andres

    Really nice post! We went hiking in Gran Canaria and i recommend this hikes:
    -Roque Faneque
    -Roque Nublo and Pico de las Nieves

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