Gran Canaria Holidays - Compare Prices & Departure Dates

Gran Canaria is the third of the seven Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. Described as a ‘continent in miniature’, Grand Canaria is one of the most popular islands for tourists as it really does have something for everyone, whether you want to laze on the beach, go bike riding along the coast, hiking in the mountains, explore villages or try some water sports.

The capital of the island is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the north east of the island and is one of Spain’s largest cities. The south coast area of the island, Maspalomas, is the main area for holidaymakers with beaches and watersports galore.

The currency on Gran Canaria is the euro and the time is the same as the UK. The official language is Spanish, although many locals speak the Canario dialect. In tourist areas many also speak English and German. UK nationals do not need a visa to visit Gran Canaria.

The island has one airport which is one of the busiest in Spain. Gran Canaria International Airport (IATA code LPA) is also known as Las Palmas airport or by its former name of Gondo Airport.

Flag carriers, scheduled, low cost and charter airlines all fly in to Gran Canaria from all corners of the UK and Ireland, with many operating year round timetables as the island is a popular winter sun destination too.

The vast majority of people arriving at the airport do so as part of package holiday deals, so the onward transportation to accommodation is all arranged. If arriving independently, there are all the usual hire car companies at the airport and having a car is particularly useful if you plan to explore the whole island. It will take you about 30 minutes to drive south to the Maspalomas area.

Although there are no trains on Gran Canaria, buses link all corners of the island with an efficient public transport system. You will find routes to take you from the main areas such as Playa del Ingles northwards to the Atlantico shopping centre or Las Palmas itself run frequently.

Flight times from the UK are around three hours and 45 minutes from London Gatwick and around four hours from Manchester.

Holidaying in Gran Canaria isn’t just about the beaches, but it’s true to say there are some fabulous long, sandy beaches to enjoy. Most popular are the beaches in the south of the island. The longest are Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas beaches at about 4km. Between the areas of Playa del Ingles and Meloneras is a nudist beach. Other beaches to check out in the Mogan area include Amadores, Anfi del Mar, Puerto Rico and Playa de Mogan.

Along with the beaches, the waves of the Atlantic Ocean offer great surfing and the areas around Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles and Argouineguin are known as the ‘Hawaii of the Atlantic’ with good swell. If you’ve never tried surfing before, this is the place to have a go as there are lots of surf schools ready to teach you to catch those waves.

There are also loads of other watersports on offer such as jetskiing, wakeboarding, waterskiing and scuba diving. Again, there are lots of schools who can take you on beginner dives to get up close and personal to coral reefs in the clear blue seas.

Inland, two wheelers will love Gran Canaria as there are loads of mountain bike trails for all levels of rider and sweeping coastal roads ideal for road bikers. Hikers will also love the island for the paths and trails in the pine forests of the central mountains, around the lakes and exploring coastal caves and coves.

Top places to visit include Cenbio de Valeron with over 290 caves to explore, Palmitos Park which is an animal and exotic plants park and Roque Noblo a natural rock formation at around 8m high which has become something of a symbol of the island. Talking of nature, there are some six nature reserves, two natural parks and 10 natural monuments all officially protected on Gran Canaria.

If you fancy a wander around a cute village, try Aguimes in the east of the island, which is a restored traditional Canarian town with narrow streets and even cave dwellings to discover. You can also head to Cueva Pintada which is an archaelogical park and make sure to visit the lighthouse at Maspalomas.

If you head to the capital city Las Palmas de Gran Canaria there is lots to see and do. Somewhat surprisingly, the city has a beach right in the centre at Les Canteras. Also worth a visit are the cathedral, the plaza del Espiritu Santo and the city’s museum. The city also holds a huge carnival with parades, music and events throughout the city streets.

Back to sport, golfers will also be very happy on Gran Canaria, with no less than nine top-notch golf courses, mostly in the southern area of the island.

If you want to splurge, you can head to Tarajalillo for a pleasure flight to get an aerial view of Gran Canaria from a light aircraft.

There is plenty of accommodation to choose from in Gran Canaria. Most people holiday on the island as part of an holiday package, so accommodation is already included and mostly in mid-range hotels and apartments in the souther parts of the island around Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas.

As for budget, there is something to suit all pockets, from family run guesthouses and B&Bs to stylish five star deluxe hotels and spas.

Shopping is a very popular past time in Gran Canaria, especially as the island is a duty free haven, so you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the price of goodies such as electrical gadgets, alcohol, clothes and accessories.

As for souvenir shops there are boutiques on every corner, so plenty of opportunity to buy those Gran Canaria souvenirs, trinkets and t-shirts to remember your holiday by.

The main shopping centre in the north of the island is called Atlantico and offers everything from supermarket shopping to stylish boutiques. Another popular choice for shopping and partying is the Yumbo centre just outside Playa del Ingles. Home to over 200 bars, restaurants and shops the Yumbo hosts big club nights from the likes of Heaven and is very popular with gay holidaymakers.

Being a major tourist destination, you can eat around the world with Italian, Chinese, Indian, Thai and all the fast food takeaways and full English breakfast places you can hope for.

If you get the chance to try some more local flavours, you’ll find fresh fish features a lot on the menus, especially calamari and octopus with vinegar, accompanied by dishes such as Papas arrugados con mojo which is salted potatoes with a spicy mix. There are also traditional Canarian meat dishes too, but it’s really all about the fish. Try the coastal restaurants around Les Canteras and El Confital in the La Isleta area for the best addresses.

As for drinks, there is San Miguel and and Sangria (of course!) but also lots of good Spanish rioja wines to enjoy too.

Gran Canaria enjoys a reputation as a year round destination. The sub-tropical climate means temperatures are usually between 28 and 33 in July and August, especially in the Maspalomas area. The temperatures then drop to around 21-24 degrees at night.

In the winter temperatures are on average around 23 degrees, dropping to 16 at night. Between mid-October and March can be rainy and cold, with the Pozo de las Nieves area in the mountains often seeing a frost as temperatures dip below zero.

The island can also suffer Saharan winds, which means temperatures can climb to a sweltering 40 degrees.

• Anyone wanting a holiday with a mix of beach, activities and light sightseeing on offer
• All year round sunshine and temperate climate

• Those wanting to avoid all the Brits and Germans on holiday!
• Peace and quiet – it can be very busy in peak school holiday periods

Gran Canaria Info – a useful magazine/blog website with events and news
Gran Canaria blog – an interesting look at Gran Canaria with news and comments
Official Gran Canaria – the official website from Gran Canaria tourist office

The island of Gran Canaria offers something for everyone wanting a classic summer or winter sunshine holiday, boasting brilliant beaches, a wide range of accommodation and enough activities and sightseeing to keep everyone happy too.