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Things to do in Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is one of the Canary Islands, situated in the Atlantic Ocean, 93 miles off the coast of north-west Africa. Gran Canaria is the second biggest island in the Canaries after Tenerife, and it is often referred to as a mini-continent due to its diverse climate and landscapes.
Gran Canaria is a relatively small island but it offers visitors a huge choice of things to do and places to visit. Museums, cultural events, camel riding, lazing on the beach, plus a range of sports amenities and facilities make Gran Canaria one of the best holiday destinations in the Canaries.
Most tourists to Gran Canaria visit the south of the island as it tends to be warmer and sunnier than then north. The east coast of Gran Canaria is flat and dotted with beaches, while the western coast is rockier with mountains. Palmitos Park is one of the most popular attractions in the south of the island, which is a huge bird park, and the main resort towns include: San Agustin, Playa del Inglés, Sonnenland, Maspalomas and Meloneras.
Gran Canaria attractions
In addition to the famous Palmitos Park in Maspalomas, which is home to 1,500 species of birds, 4,000 species of fish and 160 species of cactus, there are plenty of other fabulous attractions in Gran Canaria for all the family. Enjoy a camel ride through the dunes of Maspalomas and the Valley of Fataga in the southern region of Gran Canaria. The Aqua Sur Water Park at Maspalomas is another firm favourite with families, and the park is the biggest of its kind on the island. Perfect for ages, the water park has small slides for young children and thrilling kamikaze slides and foam slides for the more adventurous. You can also find a range of restaurants and even mini-golf at the water park, and there are plenty of attractions to keep visitors entertained all day. The Crocodile Park is also a popular attraction for families, and besides the crocodile show, visitors can also see tigers and chimps. The Sioux Western Theme Park at San Agustin, near Playa del Inglés offers western style entertainment including cowboy shoot-outs and an authentic saloon bar. Puerto de Mogan, west from Playa del Inglés is a charming village with a vibrant market on Fridays, and a choice of excellent fish restaurants.
Flights to Gran Canaria
First Choice, Thomas Cook, Monarch, Britannia, British Airways all fly to Gran Canaria Las Palmas Airport from most major airports in the UK and the flight time from London to Gran Canaria is 4 hours and 30 minutes. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Gran Canaria, take your time to shop around as there are plenty of low-cost flights available from the UK, even during the summer months.
Gran Canaria Carnival
The residents of Gran Canaria know how to enjoy themselves, and if you are looking for a wild time during your holiday, with street processions, colourful parades and live entertainment until the small hours, book your holiday during carnival time on the island. Carnival in Gran Canaria is celebrated around every corner, and the liveliest carnival celebrations are held at Las Palmas, San Bartolomé, Maspalomas, Aguimes, Agaete and Telde. Some carnivals start as early as the end of January and partygoers from around the world flock to the island to enjoy the spectacular shows, parades, processions and live entertainment that light up the streets. Activities and festivities continue until the early hours, and carnival dancers mingle with tourists and locals to create an electric atmosphere. The last carnival is usually just before Ash Wednesday, and music groups, song contests and comedy shows compete for star prize.
Accommodation in Gran Canaria
Whether you are looking for luxury hotels, budget hotels or family-friendly hotels in Gran Canaria, you will find it all within easy reach. Most of the larger hotels have babysitting services and kids clubs, and usually enjoy excellent locations close to the beach. Other resorts, including Playa del Inglés are primarily considered to be gay and adult destinations, and may not be suitable for children. Small hotels in Gran Canaria and boutique hotels on the island are springing up everywhere, and most offer superb accommodation at a fraction of the price of package hotels. If you want to make the most of Gran Canaria small hotels, book a cheap flight, take advantage of cheap airport car hire at Gran Canaria and book a small hotel to reduce costs. From 5-star hotels to basic bed and breakfast accommodation and hostels in Gran Canaria, there are plenty of places to suit all tastes and budgets.
Nightlife Gran Canaria
Nightlife in Gran Canaria can be as varied as the weather, and you can find all sorts of late night entertainment in the main resorts on the island. Nightlife is generally lively, noisy and fun, and many of the clubs don´t get going until about 2am, and usually stay open until around 6am. If you are staying in Las Palmas, take a trip to the Plaza de España in the Mesa y Lopez district where most of the livelier bars and clubs are situated. Along the south coast of Gran Canaria, you will find a massive range of late night entertainment in Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas, including live music venues, comedy clubs, cocktail bars and dance clubs.
Golf Gran Canaria
With so much sunshine and mild year-round temperatures, Gran Canaria is the ideal destination for golfers from northern Europe, and most of the courses are open 365 days a year. Some of the best golf courses in Gran Canaria include: the Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas, Las Palmeras Golf in Las Palmas, El Cortijo de Campo in Telde, Oasis Golf in Telde, Maspalomas Golf, Salobre Golf near Las Palomas and Anfi Tauro Golf in the municipality of Mogán. Every club has ample facilities including bar/restaurants, and most also have driving ranges so golfers can practice their swings before teeing off. Green fees vary, depending on the time of year, but they are considered reasonable compared to prices in the UK and other comparable courses throughout Europe.
Restaurants in Gran Canaria
You can find a wealth of restaurants in Gran Canaria to suit all tastes. Cuisine from India, Italy, Spain, Africa, England, France, Thailand, China and even Indonesia can be found in the scores of international restaurants in the main Gran Canaria resorts, but if you want to try traditional Canarian food, you won´t be disappointed. Canary Islands cuisine is a combination of traditional Spanish recipes with African and Latin American twists. Local cuisine usually includes a range of fresh vegetables, fruit and fish, and meat is usually served as part of a casserole or barbecued steaks.
Gofio is an essential part of the diet in Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands, and it consists of a stoneground flour made from toasted barley, maize and wheat, which can be used to thicken soups and sauces. Gofio ice cream and gofio mousse are delicious local specialities, and both are well worth a try. Also try the potatoes with mojo spices and herbs - similar to patatas bravas which are served in mainland Spain. Fish soup and fish casseroles are also served in most restaurants by the sea, and home made watercress soup is a favourite among vegetarians.
Car hire in Gran Canaria from €69 per week
Car hire in Gran Canaria from €69 per week is available when you pre-book online before you travel. Every major car hire firm has offices at Gran Canaria Las Palmas Airport, including Hertz, Avis and Helle Hollis, plus other local firms are also represented, which means you get the cheapest car hire available in Gran Canaria by booking with us. Compare prices from over 50 car hire firms in Gran Canaria in just seconds and secure your booking online to guarantee an easy pick up when you arrive. By arranging special car hire deals, including low price car rentals offers and promotions which are exclusive to us, you will find cheap car hire at Gran Canaria Airport, which is not available elsewhere.
Gran Canaria weather
The weather in Gran Canaria changes rapidly, depending where you are on the island and the northeast regions are usually cooler and wetter than the southwest area, as the mountains trap the winds. During winter there can be snow on the Pico de las Nieves mountains, while temperatures on the sand dunes in Maspalomas can reach 20ºC. Summer is hot and sunny and average temperatures top 24ºC, and peak at around 26ºC in August. There is never usually any rainfall between June and August, although September can see some violent thunderstorms, as can October and November. Winter stretches from December to April, and temperatures are still surprisingly warm with cool nights. January temperatures range from around 14ºC-21ºC.
Gran Canaria map
If you want to travel around the island of Gran Canaria, hire a car from the airport and pick up a free map from the car hire office. Car rentals is cheap and reliable at Gran Canaria Airport, and you can navigate your way around the island with a useful road map, highlighting major towns and places of interest. You can also pick up a Gran Canaria map from any tourist information office or from hotel reception. Gran Canaria has a good road network, linking all the main towns and resorts, and the most economical and comfortable way to get around the island is to pre-book car hire from the airport before you travel.
Gran Canaria offers superb accommodation, lively nightlife, excellent restaurants and a wealth of things to see and do for all the family. Wherever you decide to stay in Gran Canaria, you will not be far from the main attractions and places to visit.
