After travelling around Gran Canaria for a few weeks, I made this list of things to do, see and experience on the island. I also included some things to avoid and not do to ensure you have a great holiday in Gran Canaria. I provide (affiliate) links for more details, prices and bookings.
Visit Agaete and Puerto de las Nieves
Away from all the busy touristic destinations, you will find Agaete and Puerto de las Nieves. A bit of truly authentic Gran Canaria. There are excellent swimming options. You can choose from a beautiful beach or the more original “Las Salinas” salt pools. After your swim, you can enjoy some delicious fresh seafood nearby at very affordable prices compared to the more touristy destinations on Gran Canaria. The lunch deals are outstanding here.
Ride a camel in the desert
Most of us won’t make it to an authentic camel safari somewhere in the desert, but Gran Canaria offers the next best thing. A camel ride in the Maspalomas dunes is a unique experience (especially for the little ones) and, at around 10 euros, a fair value as well.
Visit one of the zoo’s
There are 2 zoo options on Gran Canaria. The Cocodrilo Park and Palmitos Park. While the Palmitos Park is the easiest to reach for most people staying in Gran Canaria, Cocodrilo Park is a bit further away and cheaper. I can advise a visit to Palmitos Park with its spectacular shows and beautiful setting. The Cocodrilo Park I have not been to so far, but many people speak very well about it.
Go shopping in Las Palmas
Las Palmas is the capital of Gran Canaria but is quite a surprise. There are lots of markets here but also some sizeable air-conditioned shopping centres. A visit here to do some shopping is much better than buying clothes in the touristy resorts of Gran Canaria. On a Las Palmas shopping tour, you will find everything at much better prices.
Here you will also find the Playa de las Canteras. This is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful beaches in Gran Canaria. Together with some shopping before or after this can make for a great full day out.
Restaurant Oliva
I do not often advise restaurants as the quality can change quickly, especially if they change owner. But one place in Gran Canaria I can recommend is the Restaurant Oliva next to the Playa de Tasarte. It is not easy to get here, but after a little drive through the mountain landscape, you are suddenly greeted by this little restaurant in the middle of nowhere.
It looks like not much from the outside, but it is in a beautiful, peaceful and quiet location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Not a big place, the menu on offer isn’t either, but all dishes are served with dedication and a friendly smile.
Boat trip and dolphin watching
From Puerto Rico and Maspalomas, there go many boat trips with a variety of things to do. Some of these include dolphin watching. You might even see some whales, but this is not always guaranteed. So make sure to go with one of the better boat trips to avoid disappointment.
Don’t fall in the timeshare trap
Especially in winter and around Playa del Ingles, Maspalomas and Puerto Rico, you will find many people handing out cards or lottery tickets. They always have a great price to win. The catch is, you have to go collect it in a nearby hotel, where you will have to sit through a timeshare presentation. I would not advise this as it can waste your entire day if you are lucky. If you are not, you might end up with a timeshare you don’t want.
Rent a car with TopCar
Gran Canaria has some of the lowest prices in Spain when it comes to renting a car, mainly because cars can be rented out all year because of the good weather they have in Gran Canaria. Whereas in other places in Spain most cars are only rented out in summer.
Because of this, you can find cars often for around 10 euros a day with all-inclusive, fully comprehensive insurance. However, if you are ok with just the basic insurance, you can find them for about 5 euros a day, especially if you are travelling outside of the more busy periods in Gran Canaria. To make sure you have a good car rental experience, please look at my car rental guide first.
Visit Poema del Mar aquarium (on a rainy day)
Poema del Mar is one of the newest attractions on Gran Canaria and a giant size aquarium. It is worth a visit every day. Especially if you are passing or visiting Las Palmas. If you notice there might be a rainy day during your holiday, this is a great option to do on those days.
Go on a buggy, jeep or quad tour
Going on a buggy, jeep or quad tour in Gran Canaria can be great fun because of its rough landscape and great off-road possibilities. However, one word of advice, read reviews before booking. Don’t just take your reps word for it. Many companies on the island offer this kind of excursion, but while some tours are great, others are not. The difference is in the equipment you get provided and the amount of time you spend offroading. The lesser companies primarily drive on concrete roads and will bill you extra for helmets and dust protection. So make sure you go with the best buggy tour on the island.
Don’t go on excursions that are promoted to you on the street
Especially in the bigger resorts, you will often find people handing you tickets or flyers to “cheap excursions”. Sometimes they are also just located on a bench near bus stops or the beach. In any case, if you see any of these flyers, just let them be. Often they offer cheap excursions, but half of the day is taken up by a timeshare presentation or another type of sales presentation. These excursions are not worth your time even tho they are cheap.
Dining in Puerto de Mogan
Puerto de Mogan is a pretty nice place, but since it is so well known and popular, it can get very busy during the daytime. Especially during market days, it can get a little bit overwhelming. However, I can advise going here later afternoon or evenings. You can browse some stores or chill on the beach and later finish off with a great dinner in the local harbour area. There is lots of choice from different restaurants but all in a very picturesque and relaxing setting.
Visit some of Gran Canarias beaches
Especially if you are staying in Playa del Ingles, Maspalomas or Puerto Rico, you might find that the beaches here in summer can get very crowded. This is the case mainly in the high season months. However, there are many beaches in the south within walking distance or a small drive away by bus or car. You can find all of the beaches worth visiting in Gran Canaria here.
Cool down in the mountains
If you are visiting in summer Gran Canaria can feel scorching some days. However, if it gets too hot, you can always escape into the mountains, where it is much cooler. It does not matter where you go since there are many tiny villages to explore but make your overall destinations Pico de las Nieves. From here, you have a great view over the entire South of Gran Canaria, and you might be even able to spot where you are staying.
Visit Teror and Vegueta… but don’t detour for it
Teror and Vegueta are the places that pop up in many holiday guides about Gran Canaria as must-visits. And while they are nice, they are not mind-blowing. So my advice would be, if you are passing here, have a look around. But unless you are really into churches, culture and history… these places might not appeal to you.
Also, Teror is very touristic, so it has somewhat lost its appeal because of its many visitors. However, if you drive around the mountains, there are many tiny villages that, in my opinion, are much more authentic.
Vegueta is the “old town” of Las Palmas, and if I had to advise one of the 2, Vegueta would be the one I would pick.
Puerto de Mogan market on Friday
Friday is the market in Puerto de Mogan, and if you like markets, this is a must. You can go here by public transportation, coach, or even boat trip from many of the resorts in Gran Canaria.
Don’t buy any electronics in Gran Canaria
A lot of people think that Gran Canaria has cheap electronics. Yes, because of taxes, they are cheaper, but the difference is not very big. Still, you find many shops, especially in Maspalomas and Puerto Rico, offering insanely cheap deals. However, when you look into it, you find the internet scattered with complaints about these stores—reaching from upselling to hard-selling, selling fake brands, double billing credit cards and much more. So if you don’t need to buy any electronics urgently in Gran Canaria… don’t!
Visit Las Palmas at night
Las Palmas has a very chilled and relaxed vibe at night for being a major city. Therefore, I can advise you to visit. You can shop here till late in the evening, walk along the beach promenade, explore the centre of the town square with its lovely little terraces or have a nice dinner in the harbour area at the end of the Playa de las Canteras beach.
Pick the right time to go
While almost everything in Gran Canaria is open all year round, Gran Canaria does change a lot depending on the time of year you go. If you go in winter expect nice weather but bring a jacket just in case. In summer, it can get scorching. In winter, one thing to keep in mind is that many of the resorts on Gran Canaria are also less busy and visited by an older generation. If you come here to party or go clubbing it is best to stay in summer or during school, college and university holidays. Here is a complete guide to when to visit Gran Canaria.
Make sure you choose the right hotel and resort
Gran Canaria has a lot of very different resorts. Picking the right resort for you in Gran Canaria is very important to have a great holiday here. While some are very crowded and busy, others are more chilled and relaxed. If you want to find the best hotel and don’t care about the surrounding resort too much, have a look at my “Best hotels in Gran Canaria” guide.
