Gran Canaria is a beautiful and diverse island in the Atlantic Ocean. With a diameter of only roughly 50 km (31 mi), the island is relatively small. But don’t let its size fool you! Gran Canaria is a hugely diverse island, with many different and incredible landscapes to explore. From green ravines to rocky deserts and caves and from black sand beaches to white-washed traditional towns hidden in the hills. Gran Canaria is full of amazing things to do and explore. Here are 25 of them.
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Table of Contents - 25 amazing things to do in Gran Canaria
- Admire las Dunas de Maspalomas
- Head up to Roque Nublo
- Visit the island’s 2nd highest point Pico de las Nieves
- Visit Puerto de Mogán
- Explore the island’s capital Las Palmas
- Laze on one of many beaches in the South of Gran Canaria
- Visit Las Tobas de Colores (Barranco de las Vacas)
- Explore the town of Teror
- Visit a local farm
- Eat or sleep in a cave
- Swim in a natural pool
- Wander around Firgas – the city of water
- Head up to Artenara, the highest town on the island
- Eat delicious almond goodies in Tejeda
- Explore Tamadaba Natural Park
- Look down into a volcanic crater
- Try the local cuisine
- Hike to Guïguï beach
- Visit a banana plantation
- Visit Santa Brígida
- Marvel at the landscapes from spectacular viewpoints
- Visit a cave
- Go dolphin and whale watching
- Explore Arucas
- Admire the colors of Los Azulejos
1. Admire las Dunas de Maspalomas
These sand dunes (or dunas in Spanish) are arguably the most iconic place in Gran Canaria. The dunes were formed by sand blowing toward the coast from what is now the bottom of the ocean when it was exposed during the last ice age.
Enjoy the views from the boulevard, or walk through them along one of the official trails.
The most popular time of the day to visit the dunes is for the sunset. While the sunset here is definitely beautiful, it also gets very crowded. Visit during to skip the crowds, and consider visiting at sunrise if you would like to see them at the golden hour.
2. Head up to Roque Nublo
Roque Nublo is another very iconic sight of Gran Canaria. This huge 80 m (262 ft) tall rock can be seen from various places around the island. Roque Nublo was formed by a combination of volcanic activity and erosion, leaving only the most robust rock.
It’s also possible to visit Roque Nublo itself. Due to its popularity, restrictions had to be put in place to protect this area. If you want to visit Roque Nublo between 09.00 and 17.00 on any given day, you must make a reservation here. There will be 60 slots available per hour and the area will be limited to 300 visitors during this time.
There is no parking available close to Roque Nublo anymore. You can drive to either Tejeda or Cruz de Los Llanos and take a shuttle bus from here. Find the current timetable here.
If you are traveling by public transport, you can take bus 18 from Maspalomas here directly, or travel via San Mateo and Cruz de Tejeda if you’re coming from Las Palmas.
Note that the buses will drop you off about 1.5 km from Roque Nublo and you will need to hike there from the bus stop. It’s not a very challenging hike, but it’s about 20 minutes uphill on a rocky path which does mean it’s accessible for everyone. Everyone can enjoy views over Roque Nublo from several points on the island, however, of which I will point several out in this article.
3. Visit the island's 2nd highest point Pico de las Nieves
Pico de las Nieves (Snow Peak) is traditionally considered the highest point of the island. The real highest point of Gran Canaria is the neighboring Morro de la Agujereada, which stands 6 meters taller. But don’t let this stop you! Pico de las Nieves is very easily accessible. Contrary to Roque Nublo, you can (still) drive up here and no hike is needed. It’s a great alternative for those who cannot visit Roque Nublo. Plus, you get great views over Roque Nublo from here, and often you can also see Tenerife’s Teide in the background.
4. Visit Puerto de Mogán
Puerto de Mogán is Gran Canaria’s most picturesque town. With its picture-perfect white-walled houses and colorful details and flowers, it is a very pretty town. But it’s also very touristy. Busloads of people from all over the island and visiting cruise ships visit this tiny little town every day and the pretty white “houses” are not homes to people, but souvenir shops, restaurants, hotels, and AirBnBs.
It’s still a very pretty town to visit, and it’s worth coming here as part of a bigger trip exploring the south of the island. But if it’s traditional towns and local culture you’re after, you might want to visit one of the other towns mentioned in this guide.
5. Explore the island's capital Las Palmas
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, or Las Palmas in short, is the capital of Gran Canaria, and a visit to this city cannot be missing in any guide to the best things to do in Gran Canaria.
Spend a day wandering the streets of Vegueta, the historic center of Las Palmas, and visit Las Canteras beach. Even if you don’t want to go to the beach itself, it’s worth going for an enjoyable walk along the boulevard and enjoying a drink or ice cream in one of the countless cafés and restaurants along it.
6. Laze on one of many beaches in the South of Gran Canaria
While the whole island is dotted with all kinds of different beaches, for a beach day the southern part of Gran Canaria is your best choice. Due to the island’s geography, the south is generally much sunnier and a little warmer than the north.
There are plenty of beaches to choose from and which one is the best for you really depends on the kind of beach you’re looking for.
Anfi and Amadores are generally considered the most beautiful beaches in Gran Canaria. These artificial beaches do indeed have the whitest sand of the beaches on the island, and the water is incredibly clear. Behind the beach there are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants for anything you’d need and you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach.
If it’s less touristy and more virgin beaches you’re looking for, Tauro is a very nice beach. There is not much here except for a small restaurant a little hidden away. If you do need to buy something, you can always head over to neighboring Playa de Cura.
For something in between the beaches of San Agustin and Arguineguin are great. The towns offer all you need and the beaches are less busy and touristic than Anfi and Amadores.
7. Visit Las Tobas de Colores (Barranco de las Vacas)
Gran Canaria is full of barrancos (ravines in English), but Barranco de las Vacas (cow’s ravine) is the only one of its kind on the island. And no, not because of the cows. There are no cows at all in Barranco de las Vacas. But because of a little section of this ravine called Las Tobas de Colores. This section is smooth brown/orange and slightly resembles the famous canyons in the USA.
Las Tobas de Colores is only small and a visit won’t take up much of your time, so you can easily combine it with a visit to one of the other things to do in Gran Canaria mentioned in this guide.
8. Explore the town of Teror
Teror is a pretty town in the north of Gran Canaria. It’s famous for its colonial architecture and local style chorizo. The chorizo made in Teror is more like a paste than a sausage and makes for a delicious “bocadillo” (sandwich).
On Sundays, there is a great market where you can buy local produce and/or souvenirs.
For those of you who enjoy hiking, you can also explore the Barranco, which is very lush by Gran Canarian standards. If you want to do a short walk you can just do the Barranco, but it’s also easily combined with other trails for a longer hike.
9. Visit a local farm
Gran Canaria is full of all types of local farms. From goat farms to Aloë vera and from spicy chilies to coffee. Many farms offer guided tours and there are even farms that offer cheese-making workshops.
10. Eat or sleep in a cave
Natives of Gran Canaria lived in caves, and so can you! Well, in a more modern and comfortable cave. The area of Guayadeque is especially known for “cave hotels”, but there are other areas where you can stay at an accommodation built in a cave as well.
If sleeping in a cave is not quite your thing, you could also opt for just having a meal in one. Tagoror and Vega are cave restaurants in Guayadeque that offer local cuisine. La Cuevita Ayagaures is a great cave restaurant in the south.
11. Swim in a natural pool
While some beaches of Gran Canaria are located in calm bays, a lot of the beaches here have quite wavy waters. Natural pools are the perfect solution for this “problem” and one of the perfect things to do in Gran Canaria. There are many different ones on the island to choose from. From the well-known ones in Agaete and Aguineguin to the local ones in El Agujero (Galdar) and Castillo del Romeral. Wherever you are and whatever kind of natural pool you’re looking for, there is the perfect one for you.
12. Wander around Firgas - the city of water
The city of Firgas is all about water. Its most iconic feature is the artificial waterfall in the center. Firgas is also home to the oldest still working water fill in Gran Canaria. The mill is now a museum and can be visited in the mornings.
Firgas is also well known for the maquettes of the 7 islands and the emblems of the Canarian towns, which can be found in the same street as the waterfall: Paseo de Canarias.
13. Head up to Artenara, the highest town on the island
Artenera is another traditional white village tucked away in the mountains of Gran Canaria. Considering it’s the highest town on the island, it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of viewpoints to explore. Those interested in the Indigenous culture can learn more about it in the interpretation center.
14. Eat delicious almond goodies in Tejeda
Tejeda is another very pretty traditional town in Gran Canaria which is worth a visit. Tejeda is surrounded by many almond trees and is known for its traditional almond cookies and other almond goodies. The perfect place to grab a coffee and an almond pastry and enjoy the views over Roque Bentayga right in front of the town.
15. Explore Tamadaba Natural Park
Tamada Natural Park is one of the most natural areas in Gran Canaria. Enjoy a lovely hike in the pine forests, or just admire the natural beauty of the island from one of the viewpoints. There is a campsite and a picnic area as well.
16. Look down into a volcanic crater
Before you get carried away, there are no active volcanoes in Gran Canaria. You won’t see any lava here. But there are various craters (calderas in Spanish) on the island which you can visit. The Tejeda crater is the biggest one but doesn’t have the typical round shape. For a more iconic round crater, head to Caldera de Bandama, Caldera Los Marteles, or Caldera de Pino Santo.
17. Try the local cuisine
Papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) with mojo sauce, fried cheese with jam, croquetas, padrones, and gambas with garlic are all typical tapas-style dishes of the Canary Islands. They are commonly ordered as starters to share, but you can also order them as side dishes or just make a complete meal out of them. Make sure to order a serving of bread and aioli too, no canarian meal is complete without it. Some more local places will bring it to your table even if you didn’t order it and will need to say no if you don’t want it.
In the mountains, goat meat is very common, and they make delicious stews with it. “Ropa vieja” is another traditional Canarian meal with meat, chickpeas, and vegetables. Along the coast, there is plenty of fish to be found.
18. Hike to Guïguï Beach
Guïguï is a gorgeous natural beach surrounded by cliffs. It is known as an off-the-beaten-path destination and many blogs will tell you you’ll likely be the only one there. But worth has gotten around and it is quite a common destination these days.
The only way to reach Guïguï beach is by car + a 2-3 hike (one way). This difficulty in reaching the place does stop it from being super crowded, but the days that you’ll be the only one there are gone. There were plenty of people around and the parking spot was full when we arrived about 10.30 am.
19. Visit a banana plantation
Gran Canaria is full of banana plantations. Especially in the north, but also in the area around La Aldea de San Nicolas there are lots and lots of banana plantations. At Hacienda la Rekompensa you can visit one of these plantations on a guided tour.
20. Visit Santa Brígida
Santa Brígida is another traditional town worth a visit. This town is known for the traditional way of building houses with visible stones in the walls.
During the weekend there is a local market where farmers offer their produce. The area of Santa Brígida is also great for hiking. A visit is easily combined with a hike around the Caldera de Bandama which lies just outside of town for example.
21. Marvel at the landscapes from spectacular viewpoints
With so many different and gorgeous landscapes it should come as no surprise that Gran Canaria is full of spectacular viewpoints. Many of these can be visited on hikes, but if you prefer a road trip, there are still plenty of beautiful viewpoints to be visited. Some well-known examples are Pico de las Nievas and Mirador El Balcon. But El Degollada de la Yegua and Veneguera are also epic viewpoints not to be missed.
22. Visit a cave
There are many, many caves dotted around Gran Canaria. From the museum Cueva Pintada, to La Fortaleza where the Indigenous people surrendered to the Spanish. Cueva de las Cuatro Puertas site close to Telde is a great site to explore as well and free to enter.
23. Go dolphin and whale watching
Dolphins and whales live in the waters around the Canary Islands year-round. This means it’s an awesome place to go on a dolphin and/or whale-watching tour. Tours generally leave from Puerto Rico in the south of Gran Canaria and last for about 2 hours.
Make sure to pick an agency that offers guaranteed sightings! This means that if you are unlucky and don’t see any, you will either get your money back or a free ticket for the next day. It’s highly unlikely that you won’t see any though, but better safe than sorry. They are wild animals after all.
24. Explore Arucas
Arucas is another very nice town in Gran Canaria which deserves a visit. The Cathedral is the most iconic sight. But there is more to do in this town besides the typical wandering the streets and visiting the main church. Arucas is home to the Arehucas rum distillery, which offers interesting guided tours. You can also walk or drive up to the Mirador de la Montaña de Arucas for views of the town and surroundings or go for a stroll in the beautiful Jardín de la Marquesa.
25. Admire the colors of Los Azulejos
Ok, Los Azulejos is not quite like the colorful mountains in South America. If you expect something like the ones in Salta and Jujuy in Argentina, or Rainbow Mountain in Peru, you will be disappointed. Los Azulejos is more like the little brother of Rainbow Valley in San Pedro de Atacama. The colors are due to the different minerals found in the volcanic rock.
Simply admire Los Azulejos from several viewpoints along the road or go for a hike to the waterfall and waterhole. Be aware that the hike to the waterhole is quite steep and doesn’t always have water. So I’d only recommend it if you want to do a hike and seeing water would be a bonus.
This was: 25 amazing things to do in Gran Canaria
If you’re wondering how to fit all these places into your itinerary, don’t worry I’ve got you covered. In the upcoming post, I will give you some example itineraries for Gran Canaria.
