Want to leave enough time to discover the best of the region?
Here’s our advice on how many days to spend in Gran Canaria, based on your expectations.
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
How many days to Gran Canaria: quick answers
- Minimum for an overview of either the north or south of the island: 3 days
- Number of days to see all the most famous places: 5 days
- Ideal number of days to really enjoy it, in our opinion: 7 to 10 days
- But in two weeks with beach periods, we don’t think you’ll have time to get bored.
- If you just want to spend some time at the beach… it depends on the number of days you have available and your budget.
There’s no universal answer to this question. It depends on many criteria. We’ll give you more details in the article to help you make your decision.
Number of days to see the highlights
In our opinion, the must-see places are..:
- The old town of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Puerto de Mogan, Little Venice and its archaeological site
- Roque de Nublo and the center of the island
- Northern villages: Arucas, Teror…
- The Maspalomas dunes
- Village of Aguimes and its canyons
- Dolphin watching boat tour
- Agaete, its cliffs and natural pools
We think that in 5 days, you can cover the most famous places.
Find out more in our article on Gran Canaria’s top attractions.
Size and travel time
Gran Canaria is not a very large island. If you’re staying at one end of the island, some excursion days will be longer than others, but that’s manageable.
However, if you want to enjoy different atmospheres on the island, you can choose accommodation in Las Palmas and another on the south coast.
From Las Palmas in the north to the southernmost town, Maspalomas, 45min drive.
The longest route is up the mountain roads in the center of the island.
Here’s a map with the main driving times to give you an idea:
3, 4, 5, 7 or 10-day itineraries
To get an even better idea of what you can see, take a look at our itinerary suggestions:
- 3-day itineraries in Gran Canaria (coming soon)
- 4-day itineraries (coming soon)
- 5-day itineraries (coming soon)
- 7-day itineraries (coming soon)
- 10-day itineraries (coming soon)
Criteria for deciding how long to stay in Gran Canaria
Budget
Estimate how much you can afford in total, so you know how many days you can stay.
- Find out more about car hire in Gran Canaria and see the best deals
- See our articles on where to stay in Gran Canaria or our article on the best hotels to discover prices (coming soon).
Hotel price ranges vary enormously between hostels, aparthotels, rentals, 5-star hotels, luxury villas… We can’t give you an exact price, so please check the prices for your type of accommodation.
Your desires, interests and goals
Spending time at the beach? Hiking? Visiting cultural sites?
Your desires have an impact on the time you need to enjoy your destination.
For example, a cultural immersion may require more days than a quick beach getaway.
In Gran Canaria, the offer includes:
- Number of beautiful beaches: moderate
- Quantity of different landscapes: high (sandy beaches, cliffs, canyons, mountains, volcanoes, rock formations…). It’s the Canary Island with the widest choice of landscape types.
- Number of cultural venues: moderate (museums on artists, archaeology, Gran Canaria history…)
- Number of charming villages: high, we loved doing all of these very different villages
- Number of interesting boat trips: moderate (dolphins, catamaran, ferry to Tenerife)
- Number of hikes: moderate
WHERE TO STAY IN Gran Canaria
Our independent picks for the accommodation of your dreams:
- Where to stay in Gran Canaria
- Our favorite: Marina Suites Hotel
Select by hotel type:
- 5-star hotels
- Best boutique-hotels
- Best adults-only hotels (coming soon)
- Best all-inclusive hotels (coming soon)
- Best hotels for families
Select by city:
Visa
If your passport is outside the Shengen area, the traditional tourist visa authorizes you to travel within the area, including Spain, and therefore Gran Canaria, for a maximum of 90 continuous days.
Personal circumstances
Take into account your own schedule, including work commitments and personal responsibilities. This will help you realistically assess how much time you can devote to the trip.
Weather, conditions, events
There are no specific conditions that may affect the duration of your trip.
But if you’re wondering when to go to Gran Canaria, read our article (coming soon).
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.
Frequently asked questions
Are 4 days enough in Gran Canaria?
With 4 days you can see either the north of the island, or the south, or both, but at a very accelerated pace and with an important choice.
Is 5 days enough in Gran Canaria?
With 5 days, we think you can see all the best-known places on Gran Canaria, but without a beach break, making excursions every day.
Is 7 days too long in Gran Canaria?
No, it’s not too long. The island is rich in varied landscapes and charming villages. There are lots of different places to see and visit. With 7 days, you can see all Gran Canaria’s most famous sights and relax on the beaches.
Is 10 days too long in Gran Canaria?
No, 10 days is not too long. The island has plenty to keep you busy: beaches, mountains, hiking, museums, villages, canyons, archaeological sites… The island is very varied, and you’ll never get bored.
