Things to do in Gran Canaria
Long sandy beaches, desert mountains, sand dunes, rich seabeds, historic villages… Don’t worry, there’s plenty to keep you busy!
Here’s our selection of the best things to do in Gran Canaria, with photos to help you choose!
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
1. Playing in the Maspalomas dunes: a must!
The Maspalomas dunes are one of the island’s must-see attractions.
You can admire them or have fun riding on them!
The two best places to admire them are from Maspalomas beach, with access from the lighthouse, and from the promenade around the Mirador de las Dunas, on the Playa del Ingles side.
We advise you to admire them at sunrise or sunset, so that the colors and shadows stand out more.
2. Dolphin watching
We love the whale and dolphin watching tours. We were very hopeful, and were lucky enough to see some dolphins. A wonderful experience with Gran Canaria’s landscapes in the background.
Sightings are never guaranteed, but in this corner of Gran Canaria, the chances are excellent!
There are tours in catamarans, speedboats and more traditional boats. Departures are mainly from the port of Puerto Rico in the south of the island.
See boat tour options.
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:
3. Visit archaeological sites
Gran Canaria offers a multitude of archaeological sites testifying to the history and culture of the ancient Canary people, the Guanches.
Archaeologists believe they arrived on the islands between the 5th and 2nd centuries BC, probably from North Africa. They were organized into tribes and lived by farming, herding and fishing.
If you only need to visit 3 to get different aspects of the culture, we recommend:
- Cenobio de Valeron, the most surprising site on a mountainside
- Canada de Los Gatos to see the structure of a village
- Maipés archaeological site (if you prefer landscapes) or (Cueva Pintada if you like ancient paintings)
To find out more, see our article on the best archaeological sites in Gran Canaria.
4. Climb to Pico de las Nieves viewpoint
The mountains of Gran Canaria offer many beautiful viewpoints. With deep valleys, there are often beautiful views of the ridgelines opposite.
The best-known viewpoint is Pico Nieves
It stands at an altitude of 1949m, with breathtaking views of Roche Nubio and the island of Tenerife in the background. And even if the view isn’t unobstructed, the experience can be well worth it as it’s often above the sea of clouds!
On the other hand, you should know that it’s popular, but the parking lot isn’t very large.
The view is to the west. This is where you can watch the sunset. But for the best view of Roche Nubio and Tenerife, it’s best to avoid facing the sun.
5. Visit the village of Aguïmes
Agüimes is our favorite village on Gran Canaria (see our complete list ).
We loved the colorful traditional houses, the alleyways to explore, the camel statue and also the small local museum.
It doesn’t often come first in lists of the most beautiful towns and villages, but we’ve totally fallen under its spell.
We strongly recommend that you include it in your program.
Read more about it.
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.
6. Hiking at Roque Nublo
Roque Nublo is one of the island’s best-known and most easily identified spots. It’s a landmark in the middle of the mountains.
It’s not the highest point on the island, but its shape stands out from the viewpoints all around.
You have to hike 1.5km to reach its base, and we highly recommend it.
There are no technical difficulties on the way.
But 3 things you need to know:
– Come early in the morning or late in the day for parking!
– There are no toilets in the parking lot or on the path.
– Trails may be closed due to fire hazards. Watch for alerts.
Prepare your hike with our article.
7. Enjoy Gran Canaria’s most beautiful beaches
The island is also known for its magnificent golden and black sand beaches.
Some are in seaside resorts with all services and facilities, while others are much more isolated and wild.
Our favorites include:
- Playa de Maspalomas, superb for long walks with your feet in the sand
- Playa de Amadores for its shape and colors
- Playa de Mogan, for its charm and cliffs
- …
To find out more, see our selection of the best beaches in Gran Canaria.
8. Swimming in natural pools
If you’ve had enough of sandy beaches, you can also choose to swim in natural pools. You’ll find quite a few, especially on the north coast. Some are more constructed, others more natural.
In our opinion, the most beautiful are clearly those at Agaete(Las Salinas), with beautiful views of the cliffs and wild coastline.
But we also love the Piscines de la Laja, not far from the capital.
See our selection of the best natural swimming pools.
FUN in Gran Canaria:activities
Dolphin watching
Buggy / Quad
Snorkeling
Kayaking in the Mogan caves
But also: Canyoning, Horse riding, Via Ferrata, Coasteering… See all options
9. Admire the cliffs at Mirador del Balcon
The west of Gran Canaria has very few buildings, as the cliffs drop sheer into the sea. The road between Agaete and La Aldea is very beautiful, and we recommend you drive it.
To the south, near La Aldea, a short detour takes you to the Mirador del Balcon, a viewpoint with a glass structure to better appreciate these cliffs and their geological features. The line of cliffs to the south is called the “Tail of the Dragon”, and it’s easy to see why!
10. Stroll through Puerto Mogan, Gran Canaria’s Venice
Puerto de Mogan is a truly surprising place.
It’s not your typical Canary Island town. It is often referred to as the “Little Venice of the Canaries”.
Around the port and canals, the narrow streets are full of charm, with white houses with colorful features, and lots of plants.
It’s a romantic spot that appeals to couples, but everyone should enjoy strolling through its narrow streets.
See our article on Puerto de Mogan attractions.
10. Biting into Cactualdea
If you prefer plants to old stones, Gran Canaria has some beautiful gardens.
In the north of the island, you’ll find the botanical garden
And to the south, we particularly enjoyed Cactualdea: the mix of different cacti and the views of the surrounding mountains. A relaxing walk (if you’re wearing good shoes…).
A LITTLE MORE patience
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11. Admire the colors of Rainbow Rocks
This place, and the next two, will make you think you’re in the Great American West. We were very surprised. We didn’t expect to have such a great experience in Gran Canaria, and we’re delighted!
First up is Los Azulejos, also known as Rainbow Rocks.
On the magnificent road between Puerto de Mogan and La Aldea, you’ll come across some very colorful walls. It’s easy to stop and admire the different layers of minerals and their colors. We felt as if someone had painted the mountain!
12. Driving in the Valley of Tears
The site is well worth a visit, with a winding, narrow road to reach the mill and its viewpoint. But the Mirador del Molino is one of our favorite views of Gran Canaria. The shades of orange and brown are superb!
The road up is GC210, which runs from La Aldea in the south-west up towards the center of the island. Its nickname is the Valley of Tears.
The mountain slopes are very arid and the reservoir very narrow. One of the most beautiful landscapes on the island (unless you’re someone who likes greenery…).
This is one of the most beautiful roads in Gran Canaria. See our list.
13. Think you’re in Utah in the Barranco de las Vacas
If you’ve been dreaming of going to Utah to visit the canyons, but haven’t had the chance yet, check out the Barranco de Las Vacas. The curves created by the water give you a tiny glimpse of the beauty of such landscapes.
If, on the other hand, you’ve already visited the canyons of Utah, you should know that it’s very small.
Access is along the Gran Canaria-550 road, in the southeast of the island. Nothing is indicated. There’s a small area where 3 cars can park, and 200m further on, another area where a few cars can park.
Go down for 2 minutes and you’re immediately in a canyon shaped by water.
Read more about it.
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14. Fun at the many theme parks
Gran Canaria also offers a good choice of theme parks for families:
- Aqualand Maspalomas, the great water park – book your skip-the-line tickets
- Holiday World Woodland, for thrill rides – reserve your tickets
- Angry Birds Park, with games for younger children – reserve your tickets
- The famous Poema del Mar Aquarium – book your tickets now
- Mundo Aborigen, find out more about the Guanche people – book your tickets now
- Palmitos Park, the zoo – book your tickets
- Sioux City, for Western fans
- Lago Taurito, the world’s smallest water park – book your tickets now!
To find out more, see our article on Gran Canaria’s best theme parks (coming soon).
15. Visit the historic center of Las Palmas
The old center of the capital Las Palmas has a lot of charm, even if our photo above doesn’t do it justice. Many of the buildings are typical of Canarian architecture.
And at its heart, the cathedral is well worth a visit. Don’t forget to look up to admire the magnificent ceiling!
Find out more about the best attractions in Las Palmas.
16. Museums to visit in Gran Canaria
In addition to the museums associated with the archaeological sites seen earlier, you can also discover the lives and works of local artists, the island’s geology, the history of villages, Canary Island architecture…
Among our favorite museums:
- Museo Canaria in the capital
- Barranco de Guayadeque Interpretation Centre
- Casa de Colon
To find out more, see our article on the best museums in Gran Canaria.
17. Up the Barranco de Guayadeque
One of Gran Canaria’s great ravines is Guayadeque. It offers one of the most beautiful roads on the island, and it’s not very long. We recommend combining your visit to the village of Aguïmes with this canyon. And once you’re there, be sure to visit the interpretation center at the beginning and walk around the village at the end.
Admire the colors of the rocks and vegetation.
It’s easy to see why the aborigines chose to settle here!
18. Hiking… Roque Bentayga and more
The best-known hike is Roque Nublo, which we listed earlier in the article.
But if you like hiking, there are many other options with different levels of difficulty.
For example, you can
- the short road to vertigo at Roque Bentayga
- access to the wild Guï Guï beach
- numerous paths on the peaks around Pico de las Nieves
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.
19. Caldera de Bandama crater
If you like volcanoes, Gran Canaria may not be the right destination for you: Lanzarote and Tenerife have much more to offer.
But you can still climb to the north of the island to see the Bandama crater from the peak at 575m above sea level.
And if you’re brave enough, you can go hiking in it.
20. Visit other villages: Fataga, Teror, Aruca…
What we love most about Gran Canaria is its diversity.
Whether in terms of landscapes or cities, you can admire many different styles.
We mentioned the village of Aguïmes, Puerto de Mogan and the old town of Las Palmas earlier in the article, but we recommend you visit them too:
- Terror and its colorful houses with iron balconies
- Artenara and its collection of viewpoints
- Arucas and its impressive cathedral
- …
See our selection of the most beautiful towns and villages.
21. Sunset walk on Playa de Maspalomas
Next to the dunes, Maspalomas beach stretches for several kilometers, with the lighthouse as a landmark.
For those who love long walks with their feet in the water and sand, this is the ideal place!
With its lighthouse at the far end and views to the southwest, it’s an ideal spot for a long sunset walk. A relaxing and magical moment!
Frequently asked questions
Things to do in Gran Canaria with children
With children, there’s no shortage of attractions:
- Beautiful sandy beaches, some with plenty of play equipment
- Natural pools
- The many theme parks
- The village of Aguïmes with its statues and labyrinthine setting
- The science museum
- …
Things to do in Gran Canaria when it’s too hot
If it’s too hot, go for a swim in the natural pools, or visit the island’s museums: ethnology, geology, art…
And if you climb to higher altitudes in the center of the island, you should suffer less from the heat.
Things to do in Gran Canaria when it rains
The rain shouldn’t last, so you can just wait. Otherwise, we recommend you visit the island’s museums: ethnology, geology, art…
It’s also the perfect time to take advantage of the water parks. It’ll be less crowded, and you’ll already be wet!
Otherwise, take a look at the weather forecast: with the mountains in the middle, it may not rain on the whole island, so check out the other side.
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
