Gran Canaria holidays combine big-hitting beach resorts and poster-worthy scenery with all-night party vibes. Ready for it?
Classic holiday vibes
Gran Canaria’s the third largest Canary Island, so you already know the coastline has a lot of clout. The beaches here have been bringing in us Brits for decades – Playa del Ingles and Puerto Rico are firm faves, thanks to their clear waters, watersports scenes and golden sands that back onto bars and restaurants. Both places were purpose-built for holiday lovers, so you’ll find everything you’d want for a day in the Spanish sun. Shopping malls and hotels sit behind the beachfronts, but when the sun sets, Playa del Ingles is where you want to be for the island’s best nightlife.
Something for everyone
For everything it offers in the way of partying, Gran Canaria’s just as accomplished in the relaxation game. Peaceful resorts like Playa Taurito and Amadores have a go-slow vibe, and the hotel-clad hills of Puerto Rico slope down to beachside arcades and restaurants. Meloneras is arm’s length from the biggest theme park on the island, while traditional San Agustin lands you close to the flumes of the Aqualand waterpark.
The culture capital of the Canaries
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has the energy of a Latin American city, with half the travel time. Days are sunny and set to a soundtrack of Reggaeton, courtesy of Juanfran – the island’s homegrown pop superstar. Fiestas spring up year-round, and you can catch the biggest singers on the beach when the festival season ramps up in the summer. If the music scene doesn’t move you, strolling the city’s time-worn streets is sure to spread joy. Veguetta, the oldest quarter of the city, has a huge dose of handsome historic monuments, and colour-splashed houses sit side by side with tasty tapas bars.
Green and gold filter
Switch to explorer mode and you’ll see there’s more to this place than lounger-loaded beach resorts. A big chunk of the island’s been made a biosphere reserve, due to the unique plants and micro-climates that crop up in the centre. Its other natural calling card needs little introduction – the golden sand dunes of Maspalomas are something of a local celeb in the Canary Islands. At first glance, this nature reserve looks like a mini version of the Sahara Desert. Cameras at the ready…
Best time to go to Gran Canaria
A Gran Canaria holiday is a sure-fire option for sun-seekers, thanks to its close-to-Africa setting. The island really shows off in summer, with temps hitting 30°C. A few cooling spots of rain are common around this time, too. In winter, you’ll see the mercury settle at around 16°C, so hibernation’s off the table.
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