Where to look
Beach & Sun Seekers
Beach lovers · Sun worshippers · Dune explorers · Winter sun seekers The south coast of Gran Canaria is where Europe goes for guaranteed winter sunshine. The Maspalomas dunes — a UNESCO-protected natural reserve of Saharan-origin sand extending for over 4km along the coast — are genuinely one of the world's great beach landscapes. Walking into the dunes away from the beach, the horizon disappears and you are suddenly in an African desert. The beach in front of the dunes is wide, long and faces the Atlantic with reliable swell for bodyboarding. Puerto Mogán, 30km west of Maspalomas, offers a completely different beach character — a small, perfectly calm bay behind a picturesque marina of bougainvillea-draped fishing boats and whitewashed bridges. The beach here is sheltered, the water is almost always flat, and the town has excellent seafood restaurants and a genuinely Mediterranean atmosphere. Puerto Rico, midway between the two, has the most reliably calm water on the south coast.
Families with Children
Families · Young children · Parents wanting calm water and entertainment Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria is the best family beach base on the island. The crescent-shaped bay is entirely protected from swell and the water is reliably calm year-round — essentially a large sheltered lagoon. The beach itself is golden sand, gently shelving, and surrounded by restaurants and shops. Watersports schools, banana boat rides and glass-bottom boat tours depart from the harbour daily. Maspalomas is better for families who want the full resort experience — water parks (Aqualand Maspalomas), a camel safari through the dunes, Palmitos Park (botanical garden and bird show), and a long, wide beach. Meloneras, immediately west of Maspalomas by a pleasant seaside boardwalk, is calmer, quieter and more upscale, with excellent hotels and a good promenade. All three areas are within 10km of each other.
City, Culture & Carnival
Urban explorers · History buffs · Carnival visitors · Food lovers Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is one of the most underrated cities in Spain — a genuine, working Canarian city with a beautiful old quarter (Vegueta, a UNESCO-listed district), the magnificent Casa de Colón (Christopher Columbus museum), excellent beaches right in the city (Playa de Las Canteras, one of the best urban beaches in Europe), and a food scene that ranges from traditional Canarian papas arrugadas to inventive contemporary restaurants. Las Palmas' carnival (February/March) is the second largest in the world after Rio de Janeiro — a genuinely spectacular event with weeks of parades, costumes, drag shows and street celebrations. Staying in Las Palmas rather than the south coast resorts gives access to the real Gran Canaria — local markets, neighbourhood bars, the city museum, the historic quarter and the kind of authentic experience the all-inclusive hotels in Maspalomas cannot offer.
Nature Lovers & Hikers
Hikers · Cyclists · Volcanic landscape fans · Active travellers Gran Canaria's interior is one of the most dramatic and least-visited landscapes in the Canary Islands. The island rises from sea level to 1,949m at Pico de las Nieves, and the slopes are scored by deep ravines (barrancos) carved by ancient volcanic forces. The E7 trans-island hiking route passes through pine forests, ancient Guanche sites, terraced valleys and mountain villages. Roque Nublo — a 90-metre volcanic monolith rising from the central plateau — is the island's most iconic natural landmark. The Caldera de Bandama, 15km south of Las Palmas, is a perfectly circular extinct volcanic crater 200m deep, with a farm on the floor and a hiking trail around the rim with views over the entire north of the island. Tamadaba Natural Park in the northwest has ancient laurel forest, coastal cliffs and a campsite. The road from Cruz de Tejeda (the island's geographical centre) to Agaete on the northwest coast passes through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Spain.
Party & Nightlife
20s–40s crowd · LGBTQ+ travellers · Club and bar lovers Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas have a vibrant nightlife scene centred around the Yumbo Centre, a four-storey complex of bars, clubs and restaurants that has been a legendary LGBTQ+ venue for decades. The area around the Yumbo is one of Europe's most famous LGBTQ+ destinations, particularly during Maspalomas Pride (May) which attracts tens of thousands of visitors. The broader resort area has every type of bar and club. Las Palmas has a more authentically Spanish urban nightlife — late dinner at 10pm, cocktail bars on Calle Perdomo, live music in Mesa y López, dancing until 5am at clubs in the Las Canteras area. The city attracts a 25–40 crowd who want a real city night out rather than a resort bar crawl. Puerto Rico is livelier than most south coast resorts and has a good mix of UK-oriented bars and more international options.
Romantic Couples
Couples · Honeymoons · Special occasions · Scenic sunset seekers Puerto Mogán is the most romantic setting on the south coast. Known as the 'Little Venice of the Canaries', the fishing harbour is draped with bougainvillea and connected by small white bridges, with a colourful and genuinely charming atmosphere that stands apart from the large resort developments. The beach is calm and clear, the restaurants excellent, and the town small enough to feel personal. The mountain village of Tejeda, in the heart of the island, offers a completely different romantic setting — stone houses, almond orchards, views of Roque Nublo and silence. A two-night stay in a rural guesthouse in Tejeda, followed by a return to the coast, is one of the best ways to experience the island's full range. Agaete on the northwest coast is equally beautiful — a small fishing village with natural pools, excellent local wine and almost no mass tourism.
Budget Travellers
Backpackers · Students · Cost-conscious winter sun seekers Las Palmas is by far the cheapest base on Gran Canaria with the best access to facilities, the best urban beach (Las Canteras), and the most affordable restaurants. The city has a student population that keeps prices realistic. Self-catering in a Las Palmas apartment, eating at the covered market and in local Chinese-Canarian restaurants, is extremely good value. Playa del Inglés has enormous competition between apartment complexes that drives prices down significantly outside peak season (January–March and July–August school holidays). Self-catering apartments in Playa del Inglés are available for less than €40/night in June and October. The whole south coast runs summer promotions in June–September when demand drops from Northern Europe.
🏖️ Maspalomas / Playa del Inglés
Iconic sand dunes (UNESCO), longest beach on the island. Huge resort area. LGBTQ+ hub (Yumbo). Very sunny, excellent infrastructure. Beach · Party · LGBTQ+ · Families
⛵ Puerto Mogán
'Little Venice of the Canaries'. Bougainvillea harbour, calm beach, excellent fish restaurants. Most romantic south coast location. Romance · Couples · Beach
🌊 Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria
Sheltered harbour beach. Calmest water on south coast. Very family-friendly. Lively promenade with bars and restaurants. Families · Beach · Active
🏙️ Las Palmas (city)
Capital city. UNESCO Vegueta quarter, Casa de Colón, Playa de Las Canteras urban beach. Real Canarian city life, best value. Culture · Budget · Urban · Authentic
🏡 Meloneras
Quiet western extension of Maspalomas. Upscale hotels, seafront boardwalk, calm beach. Better than Maspalomas for families wanting peace. Families · Upscale · Relaxed
🌋 Tejeda / Interior
Mountain heart of the island. Roque Nublo, almond orchards, dramatic ravines. Rural guesthouses. No beach — pure nature and culture. Nature · Romance · Authentic
🏊 Agaete (northwest)
Small fishing village with natural sea pools. Local wine (Vino de Agaete). Far from south coast resorts but genuinely beautiful. Authentic · Romance · Nature
Tips for booking
- The Maspalomas natural reserve dunes are free to walk. You can walk directly from the beach into the dune reserve — there are no entry fees. Early morning (before 9am) or late afternoon, the dunes are magnificent and nearly empty. Walking to the lighthouse at the tip of the dunes is one of the island's best experiences.
- Puerto Rico's harbour beach is the calmest swimming in Gran Canaria. The natural bay completely blocks Atlantic swells. The water is so calm it is almost like swimming in a pool — perfect for young children or non-swimmers who want to be in the sea without any worry about currents or waves.
- Las Palmas Carnival (February) requires booking 4–6 months ahead. The city fills to capacity for the main events, especially the drag show (Drag Gala) and the Gran Coso parade. If carnival is your goal, book your accommodation the moment dates are announced.
- Tejeda village is the best inland base for hiking. At 1,050m altitude in the geographical heart of the island, Tejeda has spectacular views of Roque Nublo and Roque Bentayga, excellent rural guesthouses, and the famous almond blossom festival in February when the entire mountainside turns white.
- Maspalomas Pride (May) is one of Europe's largest Pride events. It has grown to attract 80,000+ visitors over several days. Hotels in the Maspalomas/Playa del Inglés area book out completely — reserve 6+ months ahead if this is your reason for visiting.
- Puerto Mogán's fish market opens Friday morning. The fresh-catch market combined with the harbour atmosphere and a breakfast at one of the harbour cafes is one of the most enjoyable mornings you can have on the island. Book a harbour-view apartment if possible.
- Las Palmas has a proper urban beach — free and no sun lounger charges. Playa de Las Canteras is one of the best urban beaches in Europe: 3km long, calm behind its natural reef, free to access, and lined with local fish restaurants rather than tourist traps. It is genuinely better than many resort beaches and entirely free.
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