What to do on Gran Canaria

In the old town of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the north of the island, is the beautiful colonial building known as the House of Columbus. Open to the public every day, this mansion offers three exhibition halls dedicated to the history of the Canary Islands and its relationship with America. It is the best place to discover Canary and American culture from before the arrival of Europeans; but also to discover in person what the life of these adventurers and their sea voyages was.

Las Dunas de Maspalomas is a unique nature reserve in the Canary Islands because of its beauty. The protected area by the government of the Canary Islands is a special nature reserve, the 400 hectares include a beautiful beach, living dunes of organic sand, a palm tree forest and a lagoon with brackish water. This mixture of desert and oasis is located on the coast in the far south of Gran Canaria and is surrounded by the famous hotels of the large tourist core Maspalomas.

In the central municipality of Tejeda, on the island of Gran Canaria, the Rock of Nublo occupies a special place for the islanders, as one of the most beautiful natural rock formations in the world. The rock of volcanic origin rises eighty meters high from the landscape. The entire area around it has been declared a protected nature reserve. Its impressive presence in the landscape is surpassed in height only by the peak of Las Nieves, with its 1949 meters the highest point in Gran Canaria.

The northern route ends in Agaete, which is located 30 kilometers from the capital on the coast. The village center is only 43 meters high. Further inland, Agaete's topography is characterized by steep slopes and deep valleys. The three main cymbals are; El Risco, Guayedra and Agaete, which inland reaches an altitude of 1180 meters in the mountain area with the pine forest 'Pinar de Tamadaba'.

Pico de las Nieves is the highest mountain in Gran Canaria. The Pico de las Nievas, with its 1,949 meters, is the literal highlight of the island. You can cycle or walk to the Pico de las Nieves, but if you don't feel like walking, you can also reach the top of the Pico de las Nieves by car. On top of the mountain, you have the best views of Gran Canaria and El Teide on Tenerife.
 

Visit the largest botanical garden in Spain, Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo. A walk through the 27 hectares allows you to discover the varied flora. You will find exotic plant species and more than 500 native plants here. The garden has several areas, one of which is Jardin de las Islas. An area of ​​1,000 square meters filled with pine, dragon and palm trees. A paradise for real nature admirers. 
 

Risco Caído is located at the highest point on Gran Canaria. Risco Caído is also called "paisaje cultural de Risco Caído y las montañas sagradas". It is a pre-Hispanic cave-dwelling archaeological site, with settlements and temples with astronomical elements set in caves. A unique place to visit!
 

One of the most famous urban beaches in Europe: Las Canteras. The beach owes this honor not only to its natural charm, but also to the quality of its service and the lively boulevard in the center of the city. At Las Canteras you can enjoy a pleasant climate and calm waters all year round. The characteristic dam acts as a natural breakwater and offers several zones full of marine flora and fauna, ideal for snorkeling.

Playa de Mogán is an artificial beach in the southwest of the island of Gran Canaria. Embedded in breathtaking scenery, the sandy beach offers incredible views in all directions. When you look at the sea, you almost feel that there is a lake in front of you. Because the water for the golden brown sand is calm and clear, the palm-lined boulevard invites you to shop, party and walk.

That is a good start of the holiday. The quiet bay of Tauro is located between Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán. In the small center you will find a supermarket and a few restaurants and bars. From Tauro, the sandy beach of Tauro Beach is within walking distance.

A well-known beach on Gran Canaria is Amadores. Amadores beach is located on the South West coast of Gran Canaria. It is a beautiful white beach with clear blue water. You will not be bothered by waves and ocean currents on this beach, so you can swim and snorkel nicely here. It is also an ideal beach for families with (young) children.
 

Do you want to go to a more quiet beach? Then you should definitely visit the beach Tufia. This beach is located in the east of the island. It is a small beach of black lava sand. Tufia is beautifully situated between the white houses and you will mainly meet the locals here.
 

One of the most popular day trips from Maspalomas is Aqualand. This water amusement park is a family-friendly attraction and offers plenty of splashing fun for young and old.

Palmitos Park is the ideal trip for the whole family. Palmitos Park is located in the south of the island in Maspalomas. The park originally started as a bird park, but nowadays you can find everything there. They have a dolphinarium, amphitheatre, beautiful birds and also exotic plants such as orchids and cacti.
 

The theme park Mundo Aborigen is located in the south of Gran Canaria. The park is surrounded by the ravine of Fataga and is located in the middle of the natural park Ayagaures. In this park, you will find a reconstruction of an old Canarian village, where they recreate the daily scenes of the original inhabitants. This takes you back in time and you can experience how the original inhabitants of the island lived.
 

The island of Gran Canaria has a variety of golf courses.

Golf club Salobre

You will find Salobre Golf, one of the newest 18-hole golf clubs in Gran Canaria in a breathtaking setting with gorges and typical of the south of the island with volcanic landscapes. The lush greenery of the golf course contrasts sharply with the surroundings. The resort has a golf school, training area, driving range, green, club rental, hydromassage, professional shop and a restaurant with terrace.

Anfi Tauro Golf

You can find Anfi Tauro Golf in the municipality of Mogán, on the south side of the island. With a 9-hole Pitch & Putt, opened in 2001, and a recent 18-hole, this golf club is located in beautiful surroundings.

The golf courses feature spectacular lakes with crystal clear water and a wide variety of plants and flowers. In addition, you have a beautiful view of the mountains. In addition to a green and a practice area, there is a cafeteria and a driving range.

In Gran Canaria you can rent a boat in different places.

Take a look at Gran Canaria from the water, a whole new world will open up to you. Put your boat anchored and take a nice dip in the clear water in between. Tip: Take snorkel gear with you, because underwater it is almost even more beautiful.

Walking hotspots Gran Canaria:

1.Give yourself a scent as a gift with the hiking paradise Parque Natural de Tamadaba. Fresh smelling pine trees and beautiful viewpoints (our favorite: El Balcón).

2. The dazzlingly tall monolith Roque Nublo rises lonely from the volcanic landscape. The five-kilometer mountain hiking route also gives a view of impressive dams.

3. You are probably not the only hiker in the dunes around the tourist resort of Maspalomas. What does it matter? You imagine yourself in the middle of a desert and that is quite special on a Spanish island

Windsurfing or kite surfing are both popular in Gran Canaria. You can practice all water sports here at various places along the coast and on the beach. Rent pedal boats or go on the banana behind the speedboat.

Gran Canaria offers many different possibilities for diving enthusiasts. The most beautiful locations for diving are located along the entire coast of Gran Canaria. One of the most beautiful places to dive is at Pasito Blanco beach. Only 5 minutes from the beach is a cliff formed of solidified lava. Around this cliff you can see the most beautiful things underwater, with a little luck you can even discover sharks or rays. The bay of El abron near Arinaga is also recommended.
 

If you are a cycling enthusiast then Gran Canaria is the perfect island for you! The island offers endless different routes. There are several routes of varying difficulty. You can make a beautiful trip to the wooded area in the interior, but you can also discover the spectacular coastal roads. The mild climate allows you to make beautiful trips all year round.
 

The restaurant Wapa Tapa is located in Playa del Ingles. If you are looking for delicious traditional tapas then you have come to the right place at Wapa Tapa. At Wapa Tapa also offers vegetarian and vegan options. Enough choice for everyone!
 

Green Conga is located in the capital Las Palmas. At Green Conga you can go for vegetarian and vegan dishes. They use 100% organic products. There is even a shop at the back where you can buy their organic products!
 

The restaurant El Apartamento is located in the north of the island near the city of Las Palmas. As the name implies, this is a place that makes you feel at home! This restaurant feels like a modern apartment full of trendy furniture, magazines and a relaxed atmosphere. You can taste flavours from all over the world at El Apartamento during a nice brunch or dinner. Besides that, you could also go there to drink a nice cocktail.
 

If you are looking for a special, gastronomic experience, Ákara is highly recommended. This restaurant is located in the luxury hotel Baobab de Costa Meloneras and is the only restaurant on the island where you can eat African food. You can taste exotic flavours such as pili-pili shrimp, toasted banana and wildebeest and antelope meat.

Tip: make sure to book in advance.
 

The tapas bar La Olivia is located in the north of the island on Las Canteras, one of the nicest beaches in Gran Canaria. There are still fishermen that go here to do their catch of the day. La Oliva is, therefore, a perfect place to eat fresh fish, squid rings or shrimp. But! Don't forget to leave a spot for dessert... The restaurant is famous for its homemade desserts!
 

Puerto de Mogan a picturesque harbor town designed by the artist Ralph Neville, is located in the most western part of the south of Gran Canaria. Puerto de Mogan is actually the beach, marina and fishing port of the municipality of Mogán and about 180 years old. This seaside resort is located directly on the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by mountains. As a result, the tourist fishing village with cozy shops is located in a valley.

Teror is a small but very beautiful municipality on the holiday island of Gran Canaria. It is situated inland in the north of Gran Canaria. Agriculture, livestock farming and tourism provide the income. Steep slopes and deep valleys adorn the location of Teror. Teror has a lot of architecture and is known to pilgrims all over the world. During the summer months, the temperature can get high, while during the winter the temperature can drop sharply. As the oldest village, it is certainly worthy of your visit.

Agüimes is located south of Barranco de Guayadeque. It is one of the villages behind the busy tourist part in Gran Canaria. In the old centre (casco historico) there are numerous narrow alleys, attractive squares and terraces that together create an "Andalusian look".
 

If you are in Gran Canaria, a visit to the capital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, cannot be missed. Las Palmas is located in the northeastern part of the island. The city was founded in 1478 and you will find numerous historical and cultural sights here. The oldest part of the city, Vegueta, is definitely worth a visit. Here is the Santa Ana Cathedral, the first church on the Canary Islands.
 

Agaete is one of the most special and beautiful villages on Gran Canaria. The village is best known for its coffee. The village is located in the northwest of the island, half an hour drive from the capital Las Palmas. Here you will also find the only place in Europe with coffee plantations between the green hills of the valley. Due to the extremely fertile soil, mangoes, papayas, avocados, oranges, lemons and even grapes grow here in addition to coffee.