On the Canaries' third-largest island, Bahia Feliz holidays combine days on the beach with the buzz of nearby Las Palmas.

Bring it to the beach

With a pick 'n' mix of beaches in and around Bahia Feliz, this low-key town on Gran Canaria's south coast is a hotspot for sun-seekers. Azure waters lap against dark sand-and-shingle shores. Lively neighbour Playa del Ingles sweeps down the coast, and the rolling sand dunes at nearby Maspalomas are well worthy of a daytrip.

Low-key and local

Away from the seaside, locals and visitors gather at the eating and drinking spots around Bahia Feliz's pedestrianised square. Raise an al fresco glass of 'arehucas' – the local sugar-cane rum – to unrushed, tropical evenings. Then check out one of the stylish restaurants for traditional tapas and freshly caught seafood.

A capital idea

Pick up the pace in cosmopolitan Las Palmas, a 40-minute drive away. It's a heady mix of shops and buzzy bars, colonial buildings and narrow streets, an active harbour and a rich maritime history. All that's set against a cheerful backdrop of colourful houses and sky-reaching palm trees.

At a Glance

  • Sample local sugar-cane rum al fresco
  • Join the sunbathers at Playa del Ingles
  • Swan about in the village square