Gran Canaria, located off the northwest coast of Africa, is the most populated of the Canary Islands. Gran Canaria is an island full of charming villages, stunning natural areas and beautiful monuments. There is so much to see in Gran Canaria, so we have selected the places you can’t miss on the island.
Moreover, Gran Canaria is one of the most visited and exploited islands in terms of tourism. But it also hides corners, landscapes and authentic treasures that are worth discovering. Let yourself be surprised by the different faces of the island, and get a taste of the soul and essence of Gran Canaria.
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Things to do in Gran Canaria, Spain
Maspalomas Lighthouse
The lighthouse of Maspalomas is part of the landscape of the south of Gran Canaria. It is virtually impossible to miss its distinctive and beautiful silhouette from anywhere along the coast. Also, this iconic 1890s lighthouse with beautiful sunset views has a museum inside. You can visit the Maspalomas lighthouse even though its tower is still in operation; the interior of the annex building is a cultural and exhibition space.
Maspalomas Dunes
The Special Nature Reserve of the Maspalomas Dunes is one of the best places to see in Gran Canaria. It is a beautiful protected natural area with a salt lagoon and a palm grove covering more than 400 hectares. Walking through the grove is one of the things you should not miss when in Gran Canaria, because it is one of the most picturesque landscapes of the Canary Islands. In addition, it is the island’s typical postcard picture, one of the island’s must-see landscapes.
The village of Tejeda
Tejeda is a village in the very centre of the island. Also, Tejeda is ideally located and offers extraordinary panoramic views of the landscapes of the interior of the island, a viewpoint to see the natural monuments of the island such as Roque de Nublo. Furthermore, this small village with its whitewashed houses and wooden balconies embodies traditional Canarian architecture. It is a place to spend the day and discover the secrets of the island’s gastronomy.
Roque Nublo
Roque Nublo is one of the most representative and important natural areas to see in Gran Canaria. It is a large volcanic rock that has been declared a natural monument and is the third highest point on the island. This spectacular volcanic rock is 80 metres high, and 1,800 metres above sea level. You can hike to this symbolic monument through the Nublo Natural Park. Moreover, this landscape is one of the images that represent Gran Canaria so it is a sight not to be missed. This natural environment will make you connect with the essence of the island and its unique charm.
Port of Mogán
Puerto de Mogán is a small and charming coastal town in Gran Canaria. It is one of the most romantic stops on the island that you cannot miss. Appreciate the beauty of this picturesque fishing village as you stroll through its streets, decorated with whitewashed houses, and colourful flowers and arches. Protected between mountains, the beach of Puerto de Mogán is the perfect place to disconnect and enjoy a carefree day.
The salt flats of Agaete
Agaete is, without a doubt, one of the best places to see in Gran Canaria to enjoy an unbeatable sunset. The salt flats are excellent natural pools, protected from the open sea by unique concrete pylons, creating a quiet space where you can swim with the family. These pools are connected by volcanic tubes and offer great views of the northwest coast of the island.
This beautiful coastal landscape is another of Gran Canaria’s symbolic backdrops, making it the ideal place to watch the sunset over the sea. Moreover, these salt pans are easily accessible from the port of Agaete, which is very close by, and can be reached either on foot or by car, as there is a car park.
Sardina Lighthouse
This is a beautiful lighthouse located in the northwest of Gran Canaria, Spain. It is one of the best places to admire the sunset, as it is the point where the sun goes down. It has a beautiful silhouette dominated by a red façade. This is a place you have to see in Gran Canaria both for its beauty and for the peaceful atmosphere it creates.
El Balcón viewpoint
Going to this spectacular viewpoint is one of the things to do in Gran Canaria. It is on a cliff that drops vertically down to the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean. The Mirador del Balcón is very close to the village of La Aldea de San Nicolás, and can be reached by car from Agaete towards La Aldea. At this point, it is impressive to look at the horizon to distinguish the line of coastal cliffs with zigzagging peaks. Moreover, from this viewpoint, you can also see the La Arena ravine and the valley of La Aldea de San Nicolás.
Town of Teror
Teror is one of the most unique villages in Gran Canaria, Spain. It is a beautiful place that invites you to stroll around calmly and enjoy its beauty. The most outstanding feature of this town is its historic quarter. The most important monument in the town is the Basílica de la Virgen del Pino. But you can’t miss one of the main picturesque streets in Teror, Calle Real de la Plaza. It also has some incredible hiking trails and landscapes.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Best beaches to see in Gran Canaria, Spain
Güi Güi Beach
Also known as Güi Güi beach, it is part of the municipality of La Aldea de San Nicolás and is one of the most inaccessible beaches on the island. It is an unspoilt territory with a wild touch that makes it special. Güi Güi is actually divided into two long beaches: Güigüi grande and Güigüi chico. It is best to visit them at low tide. Only at low tide can you walk from one to the other and enjoy them at their best. Access to this beach is apparently simple, but it is quite tiring due to the 2.5 hour walk.
Maspalomas Beach
This is one of the most beautiful beaches to see on the island, situated next to the impressive Maspalomas dunes. This spectacular beach has 3 kilometres of uninterrupted sand that starts next to the Maspalomas Lighthouse and joins up with the English beach. You can access it from both ends, or from the Dunes Information Centre.
Dedo de Dios Beach
We go from golden dunes to the deepest volcanic black. Located in Puerto de las Nieves, this beach of volcanic origin is one of its most beautiful and iconic beaches. This beach will not leave you indifferent, and is located very close to Agaete. It is the perfect place to complete your visit of this town and its salt flats.
Tufia Beach
This is one of the most hidden places in the area, but it is an image that radiates beauty wherever you look. Tufia beach is a small cove of pebbles and black volcanic sand. It is located at the foot of the village of Tufia itself, a charming town made up of small white houses.
Behind it is the beach of Aguadulce. The landscape of this beach is the total opposite, but just as beautiful. You are welcomed by golden sand and a sea of crystal clear waters. Between the two beaches lies an important archaeological site, the ruins of the prehistoric settlement of Tufia, which is very interesting to see if you are in the area.
Las Palmas
The capital of Gran Canaria is one of the main attractions in Gran Canaria. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a large city with a multitude of symbolic places to see, including the Vegueta neighbourhood. It is a neighbourhood dominated by colourful streets, beautiful corners and unique monuments such as the Cathedral of the Canary Islands, considered the most important religious monument in the Canary Islands.
What to see in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?
Plaza Santa Ana and the Cathedral of the Canary Islands
In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the main attraction is the famous Plaza de Santa Ana, which according to legend, it was Santa Ana herself who indicated to Juan Rejón where the city was to be founded. Among the buildings in the square, the Cathedral of the Canary Islands, Catedral Basílica de Santa Ana, stands out in the historic centre both for its height and the colour of the stone of its façade. It was the Catholic Monarchs who ordered its construction in 1497.
Vegueta Market
The Vegueta market is the oldest market in the whole of the Canary Islands, and opened in 1858. It is a place full of life, colour and local products, mainly fruit of all kinds. Also, it represents the energy and atmosphere that pervades every corner of this Canary Island. In addition, it is one of the places you have to go if you visit the city of Las Palmas.
Triana neighbourhood
This was the neighbourhood where the merchants settled and this is noticeable in its buildings, as the ground floor was used as a shop. This neighbourhood is home to the most popular shopping street, the Calle Mayor de Triana. It is the place to stroll and look for gifts for your trip.
Walk to the Confital beach
In Las Palmas we find a path that starts from the Paseo Marítimo de las Palmas towards La Isleta. This path takes us to the Confital beach area. An almost virgin beach and well known for being a nudist beach. El Confital beach and its bay are considered a Special Area of Conservation and is next to the neighbourhoods of La Isleta and Las Coloradas. Moreover, it has the best view of Las Canteras Bay, the main urban beach of Las Palmas, in the city.
What to see in Gran Canaria in 4 days?
The island of Gran Canaria is a place where you can spend time and enjoy at your leisure. With four days you will be able to visit most of the important and iconic points of Gran Canaria, and enjoy the magic of the island. Take into account the distances of the island when organising your daily route, as this is the largest island in the Canary archipelago and many of the places of interest are on opposite sides of the island. Therefore, in this suggested itinerary we have had to leave out some of the important stops on the island.
- First day: Maspalomas Dunes, Maspalomas Lighthouse, and Maspalomas Beach.
- Second day: Tejeda village, Nublo Natural Park, and Roque de Nublo.
- Third day: Dedo De Dios beach, Salinas de Agaete, and Mirador El Balcón or Faro de Sardina lighthouse.
- Fourth day: Playa de Tufia, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
What to see in Gran Canaria in 5 days?
Travelling to Gran Canaria in 5 days is the perfect amount of time not to miss anything important and to be able to admire all the impressive landscapes of the island. Here is a 5-day itinerary for you to use as a reference for your trip.
- First day: Maspalomas Dunes, Maspalomas Lighthouse and Maspalomas Beach.
- Second day: Tejeda village, Nublo Natural Park, Roque de Nublo, and Teror village.
- Third day: Dedo De Dios beach, Agaete salt flats, and Sardina lighthouse.
- Fourth day: Puerto de Mogán, Playa de Güi Güi, and Mirador El Balcón.
- Fifth day: Playa de Tufia, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Itinerary from our community
Why not check out this itinerary created by user @worldtraveller for more inspiration for your trip?
How to create your itinerary of what to see in Gran Canaria?
If you have doubts about how to get organised before you leave home, and you don’t quite know how to plan your travel itinerary, read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter. You can use this post as a reference and combine it with the suggestions on the Passporter App. There you will find a wide variety of ideas and inspiration of what to see and what to do on the island.
Thanks to the App you can:
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.
If you have doubts, check out our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter
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