Gran Canaria, Spain

Canteras Beach in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain (cc)

Gran Canaria Travel Guide

Introduction

Gran Canaria is a long way from Spain as the crow flies – 1,350 kilometers (838 miles). Still, it is Spain. And in Spain's Canary Islands, it is the centerpiece, with a little in it of every other Canary island: dunes like those found on Fuerteventura; green swaths like those that characterize San Miguel de La Palma; volcanic segments like the ones on Lanzarote; and a no-holds-barred entertainment circuit like that of Tenerife. Which really gives it nothing uniquely its own, yet infuses it with everything that is unique to the Canary Islands.

Location

Gran Canaria is situated in the Atlantic Ocean amid the group of Canary Islands, some 94 miles (150 km) west of the northwest coast of Africa. It is the second-most visited of the Canary Islands.

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Neighborhoods

How to Get Around

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Where to Party

Essential Information

Nearby Destinations

How to Get There

Gran Canaria can be reached by ferry or air from the other Canar Islands and cities in Spain.

Sightseeing

Gran Canaria is a circular sort of island that rises from the coasts like a cone to peak in the center at Pico de las Nieves, elevation 1,949 meters (6,393 feet). The west of the island is humid, the east more arid and more populous, particularly Las Palmas, which is located on the northeastern tip of the island and has more than half of the island's population. Las Palmas is actually both the capital of Gran Canaria and that of the Canary Islands. It is has all the trappings of a modern metropolis, as well as a charming old section, the historic Vigueta Barrio, which has well-preserved treets and a good dose of traditional Canary-construction buildings. There are several visitor draws in the city, as well as good restaurants and accommodations, and a crop of in-city beaches.

Main Neighborhoods