Where to stay in Gran Canaria to make the most of the island? Which city to choose? North or south?
Here’s our guide comparing the best places to stay in Gran Canaria:
- Map with cities to stay,
- The criteria for choosing each location, with our own photos,
- Our selection of the best hotels to stay in,
- …
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Content
Where to stay in Gran Canaria: map and summary
Map of towns to stay in Gran Canaria
Most of the towns to stay in are on the south coast. To help you find all the places we mention in this article, here’s a map.
For all these places, we’ll explain below why to choose them, what to do and our favorite hotels.
Clarifications:
We’ve split the capital Las Palmas into 2 zones, as they offer very different experiences.
The name Maspalomas can refer to different areas.
Maspalomas is a town that includes a city center and neighborhoods along the beaches: Meloneras and Playa del Ingles. In the case of this article, we’ve separated the 3 because they offer different experiences.
Where to stay in Fuerteventura to explore the whole island?
Unfortunately, there’s no central city for easy exploration. And there are attractions to the north, south and center!
If you’re more interested in old towns, natural swimming pools and archaeological sites, choose to stay in Las Palmas (see top-rated accommodations).
If you’re more interested in long sandy beaches, dunes and amusement parks, choose a central location on the south coast like Meloneras (see top-rated hotels) or Puerto Rico (see top-rated accommodations).
Where to stay in Fuerteventura for the best beaches?
It all depends on what kind of beach you’re looking for.
- For a long, sandy beach ideal for strolling, choose Meloneras (see top-rated hotels).
- For a family-friendly beach, choose Puerto Rico (see top-rated accommodations) or Amadores (see top-rated accommodations).
- For an urban beach with easy access and plenty of restaurants and activities, choose Playa de las Canteras in Las Palmas (see top-rated accommodations).
Where to stay in Fuerteventura with young children?
If you’re traveling with young children, the south of the island is more suitable. You can opt for:
- Maspalomas with all theme parks (see top-rated accommodations)
- Puerto Rico with beach and dolphin tours (see top-rated accommodations)
- Anfi del Mar, with a convenient beach for young children and play areas (see top-rated accommodations).
Where to stay in Fuerteventura for couples (romantic)
After visiting all the places on the island, we find that the most romantic destinations are..:
- Meloneras with lighthouse and dunes (see top-rated accommodations)
- Puerto de Mogan with Little Venice (see top-rated accommodations)
- Las Palmas old town (see top-rated accommodations)
- Agaete, for those seeking greater peace and quiet (see top-rated accommodations)
Other criteria:
- For peace and quiet, choose Agaete or the mountain villages
- For hiking, choose a mountain village like Tejeda
- For luxury, choose Meloneras
- When it comes to partying, choose Playa del Ingles
- For the LGBTQ+ community, choose Playa del Ingles
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Gran Canaria
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- If you’re planning to explore the mountains, don ‘t take the smallest cars. A more powerful engine will be more comfortable.
- But don’t take too big a car either, as some roads are narrow.
- There’s a lot of demand and it’s an island, so book early.
Where to stay in Gran Canaria: best hotels
You can also choose where to stay according to your hotel preferences. Here are our favorites, based on our experiences:
2 best Boutique-hotels in Gran Canaria
- Hotel Cordial Plaza Mayor de Santa Ana
in Las Palmas, with high ceilings and a roof terrace.
See prices, pictures and availability - TenSuites Hotel
in Meloneras, just off Playa de Maspalomas
See prices, pictures and availability
Read our article with all our favorites (coming soon).
2 best 5-star hotels in Gran Canaria
- Hotel Lopesan Costa Meloneras
in Méloneras, with its many swimming pools
See photos, prices and availability - Santa Catalina Hotel
in Las Palmas, an iconic and majestic location
See prices, pictures and availability
Read our article with all our favorites (coming soon).
2 best hotels for families
- Maspalomas Princess Hotel
in Maspalomas, with 6-10 year-olds
See prices, pictures and availability - Radisson Blu Hotel
in Puerto de Mogan, with toddlers
See prices, pictures and availability
Read our article with all our favorites (coming soon).
2 best all-inclusive hotels
- Barcelo Margaritas Royal Level Hotel (adults-only)
in Maspalomas
See prices, pictures and availability - Hotel Gloria Palace Amadores
in Playa Amadores
See prices, pictures and availability
Read our article with all our favorites (coming soon).
A LITTLE MORE patience
All the photos, maps, information and addresses you need to make your stay in the Canaries a success will soon be available in a single ebook!
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City 1: Meloneras
Why stay in Meloneras?
We fell in love with Meloneras because we love open spaces. We really felt like we could breathe.
Here you’ll find the great Maspalomas beach, the dunes and the wide seafront promenade.
This is where you’ll find the highest concentration of 5-star hotels on the island.
Beach types
Meloneras’ main beach is Playa de Maspalomas. It’s not right opposite the hotels, but you just have to walk 5 or 10 minutes on level ground (no cliffs here).
It’s a very large sandy beach at the foot of the dunes. There’s room for everyone.
Further from the center, there are two other beaches, but they are less beautiful: Playa de las Mujeres and Playa de la Meloneras.
See our article on Maspalomas’ most beautiful beaches (coming soon).
What to do in Meloneras
- Visit the lighthouse and its museum
- Enjoying Playa de Maspalomas
- Fun in the dunes, especially at sunset
- Stroll along the waterfront (and discover a tiny archaeological site)
- Shopping
- Enjoy the many restaurants
- …
See our article on the best attractions in Meloneras (coming soon).
Where to stay in Meloneras – Hotels
Among our favorites:
- Boutique-Hotel: TenSuites with pool-access rooms
See photos, prices and availability - 5-star: Hotel Lopesan Costa Meloneras, with its many swimming pools
See photos, prices and availability - Trendy: Hotel Faro, right at the foot of the lighthouse
See photos, prices and availability
See our article on the best hotels in Meloneras (coming soon).
City 2: Puerto Rico
Why stay in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is one of the island’s most popular destinations, as it is the sunniest city and a lively but not overly large seaside resort.
It’s known for its pretty beach with calm waters, boat excursions and accommodation to suit all budgets.
It’s easy to explore the center of town, although you should be aware that it’s a valley and the hotels on the charque side can be well above beach level.
Beach types
Puerto Rico has one main beach. It’s a beautiful cove of fine sand, protected from the rough sea.
It’s ideal for swimmers.
Sun loungers are available.
It’s known for being the sunniest but also the most crowded of all Gran Canaria’s beaches.
Best things to do in Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rico offers the widest choice of dolphin-watching boat tours! See options.
- Enjoy the beach
- For children, the Angry Bird Park
- Minigolf
- And you’re only a 10-minute drive from Maspalomas with its dunes and amusement parks.
- …
See our article on Puerto Rico’s top attractions (coming soon).
Where to stay in Puerto Rico – Hotels
Among our favorites:
- Hotel de Charme: Hotel Marina Suites Gran Canaria, with its seaside pool
See photos, prices and availability - Boutique-hotel: Hotel Villa Magna
See photos, prices and availability - Aparhotel: Apartamentos Monte Verde, very well located with no access slope
See photos, prices and availability
See our article on the best hotels in Puerto Rico (coming soon).
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City 3: Puerto de Mogan
Why stay in Puerto de Mogan
Puerto de Mogan is one of Gran Canaria’s best-known towns. Tourists have nicknamed it Gran Canaria’s “Little Venice” because part of the town around the port has a few canals.
The atmosphere of this town is quite unique on the island. We really enjoyed wandering around, admiring the white houses with their colorful borders and the perspectives in the alleyways. What’s more, this part of town is very well kept with bougainvillea and other flowers.
There are many restaurants here, creating a lively atmosphere in the evenings.
Beach types
There are 3 beaches in the Puerto de Mogan area
- Playa de Mogan, a beautiful cove of golden sand
- Caleta de Mogan, a small beach with large pebbles at the foot of the cliff.
- Playa de Taurito, in the neighbouring valley, another fine sandy beach, but with less charm.
Best things to do in Puerto de Mogan
- Visit Little Venice
- Climb to the Mirador
- Board a boat to watch dolphins – See availability and make a reservation
- Visit the Los Gatos archaeological site in Canada
- Admire the sunset
- …
See our article on the best attractions in Puerto de Mogan.
Where to stay in Puerto de Mogan – Hotels
Among our favorites:
- 5-star: Radisson Blu Hotel
See photos, prices and availability - Resort: Hotel Cordial Playa Mogan
See photos, prices and availability - Apartamentos Billy’s Marina
See photos, prices and availability
See our article on the best hotels in Puerto de Mogan (coming soon).
City 4: Playa de Amadores
Why stay at Playa de Amadores
For those looking for a beach holiday with a convenient, full-service beach, we recommend Playa de Amadores.
The whole valley revolves around the beach.
You won’t find any other activities here.
But the beach is beautiful, with plenty of protection thanks to the two dikes.
Beach-loving families particularly appreciate this destination.
What to do in Playa de Amadores
- Enjoy the beach
- Fun in the inflatable play area on the water
- Stroll along the waterfront
- …
Where to stay in Playa de Amadores – Hotels
Among our favorites:
- Boutique-Hotel: Villas Serenity Amadores
See photos, prices and availability - 5-star Holiday Club Playa Amadores, on the lower part of town
See photos, prices and availability - With views: Hotel Gloria Palace
See photos, prices and availability
See our article on the best hotels in Puerto Rico (coming soon), as this is considered a Puerto Rico neighborhood.
City 5: Playa del Ingles
Why stay in Playa del Ingles
The seaside resort of Playa del Ingles is popular with people who want to combine the beach with typical seaside activities: shopping, bars, mini-golf…
Its main attraction is the 3 km-long beach, where everyone can find a little space.
The area is also known for its lively nightlife. This is the place to party.
The city also has a strong LGBTQ+ culture, with some dedicated hotels.
Beach types
Playa del Ingles beach is 3km long, which is very pleasant if, like us, you like long walks with your feet in the sand.
But you should know that access is not flat. You have to climb down the cliff to reach the beach from the hotels.
Depending on the section, you’ll find sun loungers, dunes, water sports…
What to do in Playa del Ingles
- Admire the dunes from the viewpoint
- Enjoy the beach
- Party time
- Shopping in the malls
- Minigolf
- Maspalomas amusement parks such as Aqualand – book your tickets in advance
- …
See our article on the best attractions in Playa del Ingles (coming soon).
Where to stay in Playa del Ingles – Hotels
Among our favorites:
- Views: Santa Monica Suites Hotel, above the dunes
See photos, prices and availability - 5-star: Hotel Riu Palace Palmeras, right next to the viewpoint
See photos, prices and availability - Charming: Hotel Parque Tropical
See photos, prices and availability
See our article on the best hotels in Playa del Ingles.
Town 6: Maspalomas center
Why stay in Maspalomas
The Maspalomas resort has 3 distinct zones. Meloneras West Beach and Playa del Ingles East Beach, which we’ve already listed above, and the city center.
Staying in the city center gives you access to numerous shopping centers, restaurants and activities. You can find good-value accommodation because you’re not on the waterfront, but you’re not far away all the same.
Beach types
From the center of Maspalomas, you can go to:
- Playa de Maspalomas à Méloneras, the wildest one
- Playa del Ingles, 3km with lots of activities
- Playa el Veril, smaller
See our article on Maspalomas’ most beautiful beaches (coming soon).
Best things to do in Maspalomas
- Fun on the sand dunes
- Enjoy the thrill rides at Holiday World Woodland – reserve your tickets
- Cool off at Aqualand water park – book your skip-the-line tickets
- Play miniature golf
- Enjoy the many bars and restaurants
- …
See our article on the best attractions in Maspalomas (coming soon).
Where to stay in Maspalomas – Hotels
Among our favorites:
- Boutique-Hotel: Hotel Nayra
See photos, prices and availability - Resort: Hotel Barceló Margaritas
See photos, prices and availability - Family: Maspalomas Princess hotel with waterslides
See photos, prices and availability
See our article on the best hotels in Maspalomas (coming soon).
City 7: Las Palmas, Playa de las Canteras
Why stay at Playa de las Canteras?
We’ve split the capital Las Palmas into 2 zones, as they offer very different experiences.
Let’s start in the north-west, along Playa de las Canteras. It’s a lively area where everyone has easy access to the long urban beach.
There are many restaurants, bars, museums…
It’s an ideal neighborhood for those who want to combine city and beach.
Type of beach
It’s a long urban beach of golden sand with several sections. In fact, it’s often listed as one of Europe’s best urban beaches.
And it’s easy to see why: it offers plenty of space, lots of amenities and all the bars and restaurants of the waterfront right next door.
We loved the atmosphere on this beach, whether it was the lively end-of-day entertainment or the calm of the early morning wake-up call.
See our article on the most beautiful beaches in Las Palmas (coming soon).
What to do in Playa de las Canteras
- Enjoy the beach
- Walk along the seafront promenade
- Enjoy the many restaurants
- Visit the famous Poema del Mar Aquarium – reserve your tickets
- Castillo de la Luz and its museum
- Museum of Science and Technology
- …
See our article on the best attractions in Las Palmas (coming soon).
Where to stay in Playa de las Canteras – Hotels
Among our favorites:
- 5-star: Hotel Cristina by Tigotan, on the seafront
See photos, prices and availability - Aparthotel Canteras Urban Beach
See photos, prices and availability - Boutique-Hotel: Hotel Maresia Canteras Urban
See photos, prices and availability
See our article on the best hotels in Las Palmas.
City 8: Old town of Las Palmas
Why stay in Las Palmas Old Town?
We fell in love with the old town of Las Palmas and its hotels.
If you’re looking for refined boutique hotels and a sense of time travel, this is the place for you, in the Vegueta and Triana districts.
You’ll be surrounded by excellent restaurants and museums.
On the other hand, no easy access to a beach.
Best things to do in Las Palmas
- Explore the narrow streets and admire the architecture
- Visit the cathedral
- Visit the Museo Canario to learn more about the island and its history
- Visit Casa de Colon and admire the ceilings
- Discover excellent restaurants such as Restaurant Bevir
- …
See our article on the best attractions in Las Palmas (coming soon).
Where to stay in Las Palmas – Hotels
Among our favorites:
- Boutique-Hotel: Hotel Cordial Plaza Mayor de Santa Ana, magnificent rooms with high ceilings.
See photos, prices and availability - 5-star: Hotel Santa Catalina, a little less central but iconic and magnificent.
See photos, prices and availability - Modern: Hotel Cordial La Peregrina
See photos, prices and availability
See our article on the best hotels in Las Palmas.
City 9: Agaete
Why stay in Agaete
If you’re looking for a little more peace and quiet, and love cliffs and natural pools, Agaete is a great option.
We really enjoyed discovering this small town, divided into an area close to the sea and a village further up the valley.
The views from the waterfront are superb!
Beach type
You have two options for swimming in Agaete:
- The beach at Puerto de las Nieves has mainly pebbles.
- The famous Las Salinas natural pools, surrounded by lava rock (Gran Canaria’s most beautiful natural pools – see our list).
See our article on Agaete’s most beautiful beaches (coming soon).
Best things to do in Agaete
- Admire the views over the cliffs
- Swimming in natural pools
- Visit the archaeological site of Maipes, one of the most fascinating on the island(see our list).
- Up the Agaete Valley
- Take the ferry to Tenerife
- …
See our article on the best attractions in Agaete.
Where to stay in Agaete – Hotels
There aren’t many hotel options in Agaete
- Hotel Occidental Roca Negra, in the hills
See photos, prices and availability - Hotel Puerto de Las Nieves, close to the sea
See photos, prices and availability
City 10: San Agustin
Why stay in San Agustin
San Agustin is another district of Maspalomas, and it’s so different that we think of it as another town.
If you’re looking for a quieter area but not far from all the parks and activities, this is an excellent option.
We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the waterfront and the long sandy beach ideal for a sunset walk.
Beach type
2 long, wide sandy beaches: Playa de Sna Agutin and Playa de las Burras.
Access to the beaches is easy, but there are some steep climbs.
Deckchairs, Kayak rental…
What to do in San Agustin
- Relaxing
- Enjoy the beach
- Walk along the seafront promenade
- Visit Sioux City, for Western fans
- …
Where to stay in San Agustin – Hotels
Among our favorites:
- 5 stars: Hotel Paradisus Gran Canaria
See photos, prices and availability - Resort: Hotel Corallium Beach by Lopesan, feet in the sand
See photos, prices and availability - Boutique-hotel: El Yate
See photos, prices and availability - Family: Hotel Abora Interclub Atlantic, with waterslides but less close to the beach
See photos, prices and availability
See our article on the best hotels in San Agustin (coming soon).
Other towns to stay in Gran Canaria
Town 11 – Anfi del Mar
Anfi del Mar is another ideal destination for families who want to spend their days by the sea.
Situated between Puerto Rico and Aguineguin, this small seaside resort has a beautiful protected cove, with sand and a gentle slope.
City 12 – Arguineguin
Arguineguin is a mix of a traditional town with locals and a seaside hotel zone.
There are several sandy beaches, with varying degrees of accessibility.
- Radisson Blu Resort Gran Canaria Hotel, 5 stars – See prices, photos and availability
- and many affordable apartments in the less touristy part of town.
City 12 – Teror
Teror has a charming historic center with cobbled streets and whitewashed, colorful houses. There are also many wooden balconies, typical of the Canaries.
Its basilica is also very beautiful and well worth a visit. It is an important pilgrimage site on the island.
If you’re looking for a holiday with a more local and historical flavor, this is an original option.
Town 13 – In the mountains
If you’re looking for an active vacation with lots of hiking, we recommend staying directly in the mountains to avoid the hour or hour-and-a-half drive up to the center of the island.
Tejeda is a fairly central village.
City 15 – La Aldea
And here’s one last option for a very quiet vacation. No big hotels, no resorts. You’ll find charming apartments close to magnificent landscapes.
Frequently asked questions
Gran Canaria: North or South?
It all depends on what you’re looking for:
If you’d like to discover the island’s more historical side, with museums, old towns, archaeological sites, and if you like natural pools, choose the north.
If you’re looking for beautiful beaches, seaside resorts and plenty of outdoor activities, choose the south.
See our article comparing north and south (coming soon).
Maspalomas or Las Palmas or Puerto Rico?
Again, it depends on what you’re looking for.
All 3 destinations offer beautiful beaches. Please select:
- Las Palmas if you want to combine the beach with museums, and if you don’t take the car
- Maspalomas, if you want access to numerous theme parks and activities
- Puerto Rico, if you want a smaller resort with lots of boat tours.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Gran Canaria
- Best of
Best things to do in Gran Canaria
Most beautiful landscapes
Most beautiful towns and villages
Most beautiful beaches
Best natural pools
Archaeological sites
Best museums
Best boat tours (coming soon)
Secret places, off the beaten track
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Gran Canaria
When to go?
How to get around
How to rent a car in Gran Canaria
Driving tips
Best excursions (coming soon)
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 6 days – 7 days – 10 days
- The must-dos
Las Palmas and its historic center
Dolphin watching in Gran Canaria (coming soon)
Maspalomas dunes
Puerto de Mogan (Little Venice)
Agaete and its natural pools
The magnificent town of Agüimes
