Gran Canaria holidays

• Yumbo Centrum opened in 1982 and has grown into a major shopping and entertainment complex in Playa del Ingles. It has nearly 200 outlets, including shops selling fashion, electronics and jewellery, as well as cafes, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The centre is also a well-established hub for LGBTQ+ nightlife and hosts events including Maspalomas Pride by Freedom.
• The Maspalomas Dunes form part of a protected nature reserve covering around 1,000 acres. Wind and sea continually shape the dune system, with sand moving inland from Playa del Ingles and across the reserve. Visitors should keep to the eight-kilometre network of marked paths and trails to help protect this fragile landscape. Nearby, the 55-metre tall Maspalomas Lighthouse overlooks the coast, while Maspalomas Lagoon provides an important resting place for migratory birds travelling between Europe and Africa.
• Maspalomas Beach is one of Gran Canaria’s best-known beaches, with a long stretch of golden sand beside the protected dunes and Maspalomas Lighthouse. Parts of the beach are popular with naturists, with designated nudist areas between the lighthouse and Playa del Ingles. Public parking is available around 200 metres from the lighthouse, and the beach is also accessible by public transport.
• Gran Canaria has more than 100 beaches, with 15 holding Blue Flag status for the 2026–2027 season. They range from sheltered coves to larger beaches with plenty of facilities. Playa de Amadores has white sand, calm water and a good range of shops and restaurants, while Puerto Rico offers a livelier setting and golden sand. Puerto de Mogan has a smaller, quieter beach, and Playa del Ingles combines a long stretch of sand with lively nightlife. In Las Palmas, Las Canteras is a three-kilometre urban beach protected in part by a natural rocky reef. Further north, Sardina has a sheltered golden-sand beach, while Hoya del Pozo is one of the island’s current Blue Flag beaches.
• For a smaller beach resort, head to Playa de Taurito, a 160-metre stretch of dark volcanic sand set at the foot of a steep-sided ravine. Gentle waves reach the shore, while a promenade lined with shops and restaurants runs alongside the beach. Just behind it, Lago Taurito Water Park offers pools and water slides for families.

• Maspalomas is a lively resort area on Gran Canaria’s south coast, with restaurants, shops and family attractions including Aqualand Maspalomas and the amusement park at Holidayworld Maspalomas. The protected Maspalomas Dunes are one of the area’s best-known natural landmarks, with marked paths through the reserve. For shopping, El Tablero has fashion brands including Zara, Pull&Bear and Stradivarius. Stay at Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia, where you can dine on a spacious restaurant terrace with views towards the dunes.
• Near Maspalomas, Meloneras is a coastal resort area close to Gran Canaria’s southern tip, with five-star hotels, spa facilities and designer shopping around the seafront. Stay at Lopesan Costa Meloneras, Resort & Spa, which has six restaurants, six bars and extensive landscaped gardens where you can enjoy the resort’s relaxed surroundings.•
• Puerto Rico and Amadores are purpose-built resorts on Gran Canaria’s south-west coast. Puerto Rico climbs the steep sides of the valley around its bay and has a lively waterfront, while nearby Amadores offers a quieter setting around its white-sand beach. Stay at Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso & Hotel, set between the two resorts, with panoramic Atlantic views and a large thalassotherapy centre with seawater pools and hydrotherapy facilities.
• Playa del Ingles is one of the liveliest resort areas on Gran Canaria’s south coast. Known for year-round sunshine, it’s a popular winter-sun destination, with nightlife centred around Yumbo Centrum. By day, the area has shops, cafes and terrace bars. Stay at Bohemia Suites & Spa, where the spa offers a thermal circuit, vitality pool, saunas and a range of treatments.
• Las Palmas is the largest city in the Canary Islands and Spain’s ninth most populous provincial capital. Cultural highlights include the restored Perez Galdos Theatre and the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium, a landmark concert venue overlooking Las Canteras Beach. For shopping, head to pedestrianised Triana Street, one of the city’s main historic shopping areas. Stay at Santa Catalina A Royal Hideaway Hotel, set amid the greenery of Doramas Park.

British citizens can visit Spain without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. EU passport holders do not need a visa to enter Spain. If you hold a passport from another country or territory, visa requirements depend on your nationality. You can find out more about visa requirements for all the countries we fly to at the IATA Travel Centre.

Gran Canaria works well across much of the year, but the best time depends on the holiday you’re planning. Winter is popular for escaping colder weather, particularly in the warmer, drier south, while spring and autumn are comfortable for combining beach days with hiking and exploring inland. Summer brings hotter weather for days by the sea. Remember that Gran Canaria has several microclimates, so conditions can differ noticeably between the sunny south, greener north and mountainous interior.

Gran Canaria is known for its diverse terrain and contrasting microclimates. Within a relatively small island, you can move from the sand dunes of Maspalomas to the greener north and mountainous interior. It works well for a straightforward beach break, but there’s plenty to explore beyond the main resorts. The combination of coastline, inland scenery and city culture – from Maspalomas and Roque Nublo to Las Palmas – gives the island plenty of variety.

Five to seven days gives you time to combine Gran Canaria’s main beach resorts with some exploration beyond the south coast. With three to four days, you can focus on the beaches and nearby attractions, while a longer stay leaves more time for the mountainous interior and greener north, including historic towns such as Galdar and Arucas. The island’s relatively compact size makes it practical to explore several different areas in one trip.