Gran Canaria
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Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is more than just one of the world's most celebrates beach destinations. Get active at one of the island's many locations for diving, surfing, and hiking - you can even scale Roque Nublo, Gran Canaria's iconic "Cloud Rock". With such diverse landscapes, it's no wonder this island has been dubbed "The Little Continent".Find your trip
Gran Canaria's largest water park boasts over 40 slides and attractions. It's fun for all the family, from infants up to grandparents. A visit to Aqualand is not just an activity — it's a full day of aquatic adventure and excitement.
Bird species from every continent, a 20-hectare botanical garden, exotic flora and spectacular shows await you at this Gran Canaria icon. To save money, you can buy a combined park ticket, which also gives you access to Aqualand Maspalomas.
Also known as the Jardín Canario, this botanic garden is a great place for a stroll. Start from the bottom and work your way up or the other way around. Whichever way you choose to explore, you'll easily spend a couple of hours here. You'll find a rich collection of plants endemic to the Canary Islands and Macaronesia, a section dedicated to cacti and succulents, as well as a greenhouse the “Hidden Garden” (El Jardín Escondido).
Get up close and personal with nature at the paradise that is Guayadeque ravine. Here, you will find almost 2,000 different plant species and many historical remains of cave houses, including a hermitage. Some of these caves now host restaurants. Start your exploration at the visitors centre.
A visit to the iconic Maspalomas lighthouse, followed by a leisurely stroll along the beach and through the charming local shops, makes for a delightful evening. Try to catch the sunset and enjoy the view with a leisurely drink or bite to eat.
Over 800 years ago, the ancient Canarians crafted the Caves of Valerón, a remarkable granary within Montaña del Gallego's volcanic landscape. Utilising natural geological formations, they skilfully created more than 350 storage cavities across several levels. Today, the cave "monastery" of Valerón is one of Gran Canaria's most visited sights, easily reached off the GC-2 superhighway.
The dunes of Maspalomas have been protected as a nature reserve since 1987. The protected area encompasses a stunning beach, a field of natural sand dunes, a palm grove and a brackish lagoon. This unique oasis is encircled by the famous hotels of the major tourist hub of Maspalomas. Lose yourself in their sheer immensity of the sand.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has everything you'd expect in a capital city. Bright and light, there's a very definite buzz. Visit Mesa y López for high-street shopping. For boutiques, try Triana. History buffs will prefer a stroll around Vegueta, the original Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Beach bums flock to Las Canteras, truly one of the world's great urban beaches.
Gran Canaria's largest water park boasts over 40 slides and attractions. It's fun for all the family, from infants up to grandparents. A visit to Aqualand is not just an activity — it's a full day of aquatic adventure and excitement.
Bird species from every continent, a 20-hectare botanical garden, exotic flora and spectacular shows await you at this Gran Canaria icon. To save money, you can buy a combined park ticket, which also gives you access to Aqualand Maspalomas.
Las Cumbres Mesón del Cordero is the place to go for succulent and tender roasted lamb, usually paired with delicious potatoes and onions to soak up all the flavour.
El Novillo Precoz is often referred to as the best steak restaurant on the island. It's not often you pay over 30 Euro for a steak in the Canary Islands, but don't be deterred — El Novillo Precoz will offer you an extraordinary taste experience.
Casa Martell is a great restaurant on the north side of the island, located in El Madroñal, between the towns of San Mateo and Santa Brigida. The space used to be a shop, but now you can try exquisite, traditional Canarian food with excellent wine pairings.
You'll certainly enjoy the view at Mirador Cuevas Bascamao. The local flower cheese (queso de flor) makes a triumphant appearance on the menu of this Guía grill restaurant.
Restaurante Calma Chicha is Playa del Inglés at its most gentrified. Try their posh cup-a-soup, a savoury cappuccino, which offers a gateway to their nouveau take on traditional Spanish cuisine.
Do you need to follow a gluten-free diet? Arinaga's Restaurante Ca' Miguel offers celiac-friendly versions of every item on their menu, including the Canarian staple, pulpo frito (fried octopus).
A gateway into the flavours and fragrances of Southeast Asia in the heart of Playa del Inglés. The British chef/proprietor David Gibson's regular visits to the Far East make for some authentic renditions of classic Asian dishes.
Whilst El Churrasco's original location in the capital city is well worth a visit, this newer Meloneras branch allows you to dine Argentinian al fresco. The speciality at this restaurant located inside the Lopesan Costa Meloneras resort is the Aberdeen Angus steak.
Las Cumbres Mesón del Cordero is the place to go for succulent and tender roasted lamb, usually paired with delicious potatoes and onions to soak up all the flavour.
El Novillo Precoz is often referred to as the best steak restaurant on the island. It's not often you pay over 30 Euro for a steak in the Canary Islands, but don't be deterred — El Novillo Precoz will offer you an extraordinary taste experience.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's main high street is where the locals like to do their shopping. It's also where they like to have a coffee, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy a drink. Expect to find lots of bars, cafés and restaurants, along with a plethora of shops.
As well as bars, restaurants and a cinema, there are free activities to keep the kids entertained at this shopping centre in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. This is the last shopping centre you'll encounter before leaving the capital on the GC-2.
Enjoy Atlantic views along with a budget supermarket and Primark at El Mirador. You'll find everything you could need for your beach vacation, as well as a variety of cafes and restaurants.
If you're a cruise ship passenger, El Muelle will be the first shopping centre you'll see in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It's also handy if you're travelling in by bus to the capital, since it's located above the Parque Santa Catalina bus station.
Head to Siete Palmas for a modern shopping experience. There are regular exhibitions and concerts here to transform your shopping into something out of the ordinary.
Bargain hunters can take their pick from the various outlets offering brand-name labels at discounted prices. Adrenaline chasers, meanwhile, can get their fix at this ocean-side shopping centre's go-kart track.
Dedicated followers of fashion will like perusing the latest trends at the upmarket boutiques within this classy shopping centre in Meloneras. There are also jewellery stores if you're looking to find a special gift.
El Tablero is a largely residential area above Maspalomas. The eponymous shopping centre offers a great reason to visit this commuter town. Shop, dine at fine restaurants on the top floor and admire the views.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's main high street is where the locals like to do their shopping. It's also where they like to have a coffee, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy a drink. Expect to find lots of bars, cafés and restaurants, along with a plethora of shops.
As well as bars, restaurants and a cinema, there are free activities to keep the kids entertained at this shopping centre in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. This is the last shopping centre you'll encounter before leaving the capital on the GC-2.
You'll find the Aeropuerto de Gran Canaria (LPA) roughly halfway between capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the island's southern resorts. It's 24km south of the capital city and 30km north of Playa del Inglés. There's a taxi rank at the airport plus Global bus stops.
You can get to more or less anywhere on the island by Global bus (www.globalsu.net). The capital has two bus stations, in Parque San Telmo and Parque Santa Catalina. If you're travelling around Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, look out for Guaguas Municipales' yellow buses to cut journey times.
Taxis are generally inexpensive with fixed rates for longer distances. There's a rank at the airport, as well as outside Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's two bus stations. Although you never have to wait long to see one on the capital's streets.
The main post office is in Avenida Primero de Mayo 62, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The post office is the place to buy stamps for the postcards you buy at souvenir shops, as well as to send larger packages home.
From the largest city to the smallest village, it's generally not a problem to find a chemist. However, it can be trickier to locate one open out of hours. Nevertheless, each pharmacy displays the information on which particular chemist is open 24 hours on that particular date.
You'll find the Aeropuerto de Gran Canaria (LPA) roughly halfway between capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the island's southern resorts. It's 24km south of the capital city and 30km north of Playa del Inglés. There's a taxi rank at the airport plus Global bus stops.
You can get to more or less anywhere on the island by Global bus (www.globalsu.net). The capital has two bus stations, in Parque San Telmo and Parque Santa Catalina. If you're travelling around Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, look out for Guaguas Municipales' yellow buses to cut journey times.
