Must visit places on Gran Canaria
Get ready to explore the beautiful island...
Arucas
Impressive black stone cathedral, old town center with charming bars and restaurants, and the Arehucas rum factory, which is open to visitors (including tastings).
Caldera de Bandama
Spectacular crater hike (approx. 1.5 hours) or descent into the caldera (approx. 2 hours). Sturdy, non-slip footwear is recommended. The blue bus L311 departs from San Telmo to Caldera Bandama.
Teror
A very pretty little town with architectural highlights and excellent restaurants (specialty: “Morcilla de Teror,” Canarian blood sausage). Sunday is market day, with numerous stalls offering regional specialties and handicrafts.
Agaete and Agaete Valley
A small, pretty town with a small botanical garden (unfortunately closed in 2025) and a necropolis that can be visited. The very fertile Agaete Valley has coffee plantations that can be visited and is a very good starting point for beautiful hikes, e.g. from San Pedro to El Hornillo (7 km), or the Great Tamadaba Loop (21 km). Ferries to Tenerife depart from Puerto de Agaete. The small harbor town has numerous fish restaurants and a popular stone beach.
Barranco de Guayadeque
The Barranco de Guayadeque ravine is another gem of the island, tucked away halfway between the mountain villages of Agüimes and Ingenio in the east of the island. At the end of the road that winds its way up the green and breathtakingly beautiful gorge, past cave dwellings, some of which are still inhabited today, you reach a small settlement with three very good restaurants, a museum, and a few inhabited cave houses. From there, you can go on hikes, e.g., to the Caldera Los Marteles (approx. 2 hours).
Barranco de Las Vacas
Also located near the beautiful town of Agüimes is Barranco de Las Vacas. It is a popular photo spot because the gorge looks like the little sister of the famous Antelope Canyon in Arizona (USA).
Tejeda and Artenara
These two beautiful mountain villages in the center of the island are a must-see for every visitor. Enjoy lunch in one of the excellent restaurants and let yourself be enchanted by the breathtaking views of the mountains of Gran Canaria. In Artenara, a visit to the cave museum (Muséo Etnográfico de las Casas Cuevas de Artenara) is highly recommended.
It is recommended to make the trip by car to be flexible. Not only are the two mountain villages worth visiting, but hikes, e.g., to Pico de las Nieves, are also spectacular. But be aware: the villages can only be reached via roads that are sometimes very steep and winding. There are many routes, all of which offer spectacular views. Global buses also run from Las Palmas to Tejeda and Artenara, but the journey takes some time.
Maspalomas (Melonares and Playa Inglés)
A very touristy seaside resort in the south of the island with guaranteed sunshine, a wide sandy beach, and famous dunes. The south is often 10 degrees warmer than Las Palmas. So if it's cloudy or rainy in Las Palmas, you can be lying on the beach in Maspalomas in an hour, getting your tan on.
Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés have a very lively LGBTQ+ scene, and twice a year (May and November), one of the largest Gay Pride events in Europe takes place there. Another major event celebrated in style is Carnival in the spring (March/April).
Puerto de Mogán
An idyllic and tourist-friendly fishing village in the south with a beautiful marina, good restaurants, colorful and lush flowers, and a pretty sandy beach. If you want to discover the underwater world from a yellow submarine or go on a boat trip to watch dolphins and whales, you'll find plenty of opportunities here.
West coast
The west coast is rather rugged and not yet fully developed for tourism. Nevertheless—or perhaps because of this—the west has beautiful areas and attractions that are well worth visiting. For example, the colorful rocks “Azulejos de Veneguera,” which can be reached by taking the GC-200 from Mogan towards Agaete, and the Cactualdea Park in San Nicolás de Tolentino, where you can experience the overwhelming diversity of the cactus world. Don't touch it!
Construction work on the highway that will connect the northwest with the southwest is already well advanced, and some sections have already been completed. Soon it will be possible to circumnavigate the island entirely on highways.
