Sand dunes, beaches, mountains, villages… would you like to discover the magic of Gran Canaria?
Here’s our advice on how to get around Gran Canaria, with or without a car, depending on your needs: rental cars, organized tours, cabs, buses and bicycles.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
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Getting around Gran Canaria – short answers
Travel time to Gran Canaria
The first thing is to understand the size of the island and the driving times required between the various towns.
The island is round. There’s a fast-track circular road almost all the way round. So it’s easy to get around between the main cities.
As soon as you get inland, however, the roads become winding mountain roads, and you need to allow more time.
See our guide to choosing where to stay in Gran Canaria.
Best option, depending on what you want to do
- If you want to explore as much of the island as possible
- We recommend renting a car. Prices are reasonable and driving is fairly easy. See car offers and prices
- If you’re planning to enjoy mainly the beach and pool, and just see a few well-known sights, we advise you to choose the organized tours – see the options – our favorites are listed later in the article.
- If you’re looking to travel as cheaply as possible and enjoy exploring cities, buses may be all you need.
How to get to your hotel in Gran Canaria from the airport
The first solution is to go to your hotel.
Car rental
If you choose to rent a car, we recommend you do so directly at the airport, as this is where you have the most choice, and saves you the cost of a cab.
Hotel shuttle
If you don’t plan to rent a car, ask your hotel if they have an airport transfer shuttle.
Alternatively, there’s a cab rank just outside the airport.
Cab
Cabs are readily available from the airport. It lies halfway between the capital Las Palmas and the seaside resorts in the south of the island.
Public transport
Buses are also available. There are buses from the airport to most resorts.
- Airport and Maspalomas / Playa del Ingles / Meloneras (Line 66 and 90)
- Airport and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Lines 60 and 91)
- Airport and Puerto de Mogan (line 91)
Two bus companies operate GuaGuas (yellow buses) and Global Bus (blue buses).
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:
Gran Canaria by car – tips for renting and driving
Our preferred option is to rent a car. This gives you the most freedom to discover Gran Canaria’s most beautiful landscapes.
Prices are reasonable for an island and driving is easy.
A small car is enough, but you can take any size you like, as there are no narrow streets and parking spaces are fairly wide.
The platform we personally use (since we discovered them) is Discovercars.
As soon as we decide on a destination and dates, we look at their offers and the types of cars available.
After research, they often have the best offers for our needs.
It is one of the highest rated comparison sites in the market.
See their current car rental offers in Gran Canaria.
And read all our tips for renting a car in Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria without a car: on organized tours
If you don’t feel like renting a car, as you’ll be spending a lot of time relaxing by the pool or on the beach, organized tours are the best option.
They allow you to visit the most famous places without worrying about organization, and what’s more, the guide will share lots of information to help you discover Gran Canaria’s treasures.
Our favourite excursions include:
- Dolphin watching and water sports tour by speedboat – see program and availability
- A tour of the island, including Los Azulejos (more on this below) and Gran Canaria’s most beautiful towns, such as Puerto de Mogán – see program and availability.
- The emblematic Roque Nublo island rock and the magnificent Pico de las Nieves viewpoint – see program and availability
Read our guide to the best excursions (coming soon).
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
Gran Canaria by cab
If you’re not traveling too far from your hotel, you can also choose to visit a place by cab.
Cabs are fairly reasonably priced, but it’s still a cost of availability.
What’s more, in Gran Canaria, you can take advantage of tourist cab offers.
It takes you on a tour with defined stops, for a predefined price.
This gives you a little more flexibility than organized tours, but without having to rent a car and drive.
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!
If you’d like to be notified when our guide to the Canaries is published, please subscribe:
Gran Canaria by bike
Cycling in Gran Canaria is a popular activity thanks to the diversity of the terrain and the favorable year-round climate. The island offers challenging routes such as the famous Valley of Tears, a steep 12.4 km climb with an average gradient of over 11%, and the picturesque ascent of Pico de Las Nieves, the island’s highest point.
Maspalomas is an excellent starting point for cyclists, with numerous bike rental facilities.
Gran Canaria by bus / public transport
Gran Canaria’s bus network is well-developed between the main towns.
You have fewer options once you want to get into the mountains.
However, it will not be possible to reach more remote areas. And when there is a bus, the frequency is often very low.
Two bus companies operate GuaGuas (yellow buses) and Global Bus (blue buses).
Prices range from 2 to 10 euros.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there Uber in Gran Canaria?
The last time we checked our app, Uber was not present in Gran Canaria.
But cabs are easy to find in the main resorts.
How easy is it to get around Gran Canaria without a car?
It really depends on what you want to see. Between the main towns, it’s easy: you have a choice of cabs and buses. To visit the island’s main attractions, it’s best to consider organized tours. But the car offers many more possibilities.
Getting around Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas is not the easiest city to visit on foot.
You can easily visit certain areas on foot: Playa de Las Canteras on one side and the old town on the other.
But to get between neighborhoods, the city is all lengthy, with an expressway in the middle.
However, there are plenty of cabs and buses to get around. Or you can rent bicycles.
See the best attractions in Las Palmas.
Getting around Maspalomas
Maspalomas is fairly large, with several neighborhoods: Playa del Ingles, the center, Meloneras and San Agustin. But unlike other southern cities, it’s quite flat. So it’s easy to get around on foot, but it’s also very spread out.
And there are plenty of cabs and buses to get around.
See the best attractions in Maspalomas.
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
