Things to do in Gran Canaria

Whether you’re hoping to soak up some winter sun, are looking for a more active break or ways to fill the time between lounging by the pool, we’ve picked the best things to do in Gran Canaria.

A stone’s throw from two of the island’s busiest resorts, you can find one of its most unspoiled and wild corners in the Maspalomas dune system. Stretching for 400 hectares, this protected area mixes desert and oasis, so it’s a fascinating place to explore.

The towering golden dunes are the most famous aspect, with the trade winds pushing sand inland by as much as five metres per year. Follow one of the trails through the reserve and there’s even the chance to climb up these sand mountains. But you’ll also discover a lagoon and palm grove within the endless dunes, as well as Maspalomas beach itself, all a short distance from Playa del Ingles and the quieter neighbouring resorts like San Agustin.

With around 37 miles of coastline, you won’t be short of beaches to discover, although it’s worth knowing that many have nudist areas. With everything from the manmade white sand crescent of Amadores Beach to the peaceful golden sands of San Agustin, the long expanse of busy Playa del Ingles, the volcanic sand of Melenara and completely unspoiled little coves, there’s somewhere to suit everyone.

Plenty of beaches are in easy reach of the island’s various resorts and towns too, such as Mogan beach near pretty Puerto de Mogan, nicknamed the Venice of the Canary Islands for its small canal network. And if you’re visiting island capital Las Palmas, there’s fantastic snorkelling in the marine reserve off Las Canteras beach, protected by a lava rock reef.

Las Canteras beach

If you want a more active beach day than lounging on the sand, Gran Canaria is a great watersports destination too. The conditions at Pozo Izquierdo make it a world-class windsurfing destination that’s also popular with surfers, with lessons if you’re hoping to learn. You’ll also find good surfing along the south coast for beginners, and more challenging breaks in the north.

Divers will love Sardina del Norte, which is home to angel sharks and rays, as well as some impressive fish, but there are 15 dive sites around the island, including the dramatic Hole in the Wall on the east coast.

Or head out in a kayak or stand-up paddleboard, with calmer coves around the south for a more relaxed experience.

The Canary Islands are a hotspot for whales and dolphins, with around a third of the world’s species found here, and Gran Canaria is no exception. Sperm whales and short-finned pilot whales are often sighted near the coast, but you could even spot blue whales if you’re lucky.

Whales are found year-round, but the peak season to see them is from April to October, including humpback whales during the summer months. Fin whales, sei whales, and blue whales are more likely to be seen during the cooler winter migration season from November to February.

Caldero Bandama

If you love getting outdoors, Gran Canaria has a fantastic variety of walks for different levels, whether you’re hoping for a leisurely ramble or a more challenging hike. Visit during spring and autumn for some of the best weather, and you can spot anything from lava fields to rugged mountainous peaks, plunging gorges carpeted with trees, coastal views and tiny villages tucked away on little back roads.

The west coast is home to vast pine forests around the Agaete Valley and Tamadaba Natural Park, while in the north, Los Tilos de Moya is one of the few remaining examples of laurisilva, the subtropical rainforest which once covered much of southern Europe and North Africa.

Or if you head into the mountainous interior, marvel at the Barranco de Guayadeque, a dramatic gorge with a path leading along the valley floor, or tackle Roque Nublo and the island’s highest point of Pico de las Nieves in Tejeda National Park, two of the best volcanic peaks on Gran Canaria.

Step back through the centuries in some of Gran Canaria’s national parks, where you can discover historic caverns, some still used as dwellings to this day. In Guayadeque National Park, Guayadeque itself is known as the village of the caves, with many converted into houses, a restaurant and even a church.

Or in Tejeda National Park, there are various archaeological sites where caves were once used as rooms and for storage, with carvings and cave paintings remaining from centuries past. Roque Bentayga is the best place to visit, also home to burial caves, along with sacred sites where offerings were given to the gods.

Discover more about Gran Canaria’s history with a look at the life of the Guanche, the island’s original inhabitants. Mundo Aborigen open-air museum features more than 100 life-sized figures in scenes of everyday life around 2,000 years ago.

You can find everything from domestic settings to farmers sowing seed, as well as gorier sights such as a convict being executed. The site also has a small archaeological museum with more background.

Set just outside the capital Las Palmas, the island’s botanic gardens are a fantastic place to learn more about local flora, with around 500 different plants, trees and flowers from the Canary Islands, as well as the rest of Macaronesia, including the Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde.

You can also find more species from across the world tucked away in the 27-acre gardens, the largest botanic gardens in Spain.

The Canary Islands were an important stopping point on the way from Spain to the New World as Christopher Columbus set off on his voyages to the Americas. And in Las Palmas, you can step inside Casa de Colon where he stayed.

This colourful colonial house was home to one of the island’s first governors, and now houses exhibitions on Columbus’s visits to Gran Canaria, plus displays on pre-Hispanic culture.

Discover our holidays to Gran Canaria, or find out what other holidays we offer in the Canary Islands