The 13 best things to do in Gran Canaria

At 250 square metres, Poema del Mar has the largest curved aquarium window on the planet

From the Christopher Columbus connection in Las Palmas, to the hike and bike trails of the interior, Gran Canaria is an explorer’s dream. 

The island’s dramatic interior hides ancient cave communities, archaeological ruins and chocolate-box hamlets where time stands still, while the waters provide a depth of curiosities accessible through snorkelling, diving, and whale and dolphin watching trips. For those who prefer their attractions more sedentary, there are 37 miles of beaches around its 90-mile coastline. From city culture to natural wonders, and from historical ruins to aquariums and amusements, Gran Canaria packs it all in.

Find out more below, or for more Gran Canaria inspiration, see our guides to the island’s best hotels, restaurants and beaches.

Find things to do by area:

• North
• Interior
• South

The north

Casa de Colón

Explore the explorer

Set in a creaking colonial mansion within the historic Vegueta quarter of Las Palmas, the Casa de Colón offers a glimpse into the world of one of history’s most famous explorers. It’s said that Christopher Columbus stayed here during a provisions stopover on his transatlantic discovery voyage. Its ornate courtyards and galleries also showcase early Canarian life, more the nobility’s than the serf’s. Make sure you visit the often-overlooked map room upstairs for an insight into how the evolving world was believed to look in the Columbus era.

Price: £

Delve into the voyages of one of history’s most famous explorers at Casa de Colón - Maremagnum

Las Palmas Casino

Flirt with a fortune

Whether you’re a penny punter or a seasoned pro, put on your finest glam for an evening of wheel- (and heart-) spinning fun at Las Palmas Casino, situated within the confines of the grand Hotel Santa Catalina. Try your luck at roulette, poker, blackjack or the slot machines, then take a break in the Casino Restaurant or the shaken-not-stirred lounge bar. Don’t forget to take some form of official ID to register for entry and keep an eye out for the special events when you can combine gaming with live music and themed nights.

Price: ££

Poema del Mar

Get up, close and personal with the water world

Boasting a 250 square metre (2,700 sq ft) curved viewing window (the largest curved aquarium window on the planet), the three “worlds” of the modern Poema del Mar aquarium showcase over 2,000 species of weird and wonderful marine life from the jungle, the tropics and deep ocean. Some of the highlights include a shark tunnel, 30ft-high glass tubes, and a life-size model of a megalodon’s mouth guaranteed to give the kids nightmares for weeks to come. Allow around two to three hours to complete the circuit, and visit first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds.

Price: ££

Spend all day watching over 2,000 different species of weird and wonderful marine life drift by at Poema del Mar

Cueva Pintada

Be part of the history

The Cueva Pintada Museum and Archaeological Park in Gáldar is a veritable living time machine for literally stepping into the island’s pre-Hispanic past. Preserved beneath a huge canopy, you walk across glass pathways to glance down into island life as it was centuries ago, then step down to wander through the remains of a prehistoric village, complete with intricate cave paintings. For the best experience, join a guided tour. It’s free and gives you much more insight into early Canarian life and the caves; English-language tours only take place once a day, at 12.30pm.

Price: £

Discover the story of the former inhabitants of the island, the Canarii - Aliaksandr Mazurkevich / Alamy

Mercado Vegueta

Stock up with the locals

Second only to plucking your own food from the earth, the best way to get an authentic taste of Gran Canaria is to visit one of its many food markets, and the Mercado de Vegueta is one of its finest. Colourful stalls are packed with fresh local produce from a kaleidoscope of vivid tropical fruits to wheels of Canarian cheeses, and jars of organic preserves to the island’s famous mojo sauces. Keep an eye out for the occasional cooking demonstrations so you can impress your friends when you get back home.

Price: Free

Opening times: Open every day except Sundays and holidays. Monday to Thursday from 6.30am to 2pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 6.30am to 3pm.

Mercado Vegueta is exploding with tropical colour and the freshest Canarian produce - Jose A. Bernat Bacete

Playa de Las Canteras

Take in the sun, sand and city

To visitors, Playa de Las Canteras might just be a beach, and a very long one at that, but for Las Palmas residents it’s a dynamic urban escape, where they can surf, paddleboard, snorkel or just chill on the two-mile crescent of sand – whether that be for a day, a weekend or just for an hour over a lunch break. It can get busy, so if you want more towel space head to the part known as La Cícer at the northern end, where the surfers congregate but the crowds don’t.

Price: Free

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Interior

Roque Bentayga

Trek into the past

Lace up your walking boots and hike the pathways of the rugged Roque Bentayga trail to discover ancient carvings and cave houses hidden in the rock face of this sacred area. The phenomenal views over the heart of the island and the iconic Roque Bentayga volcanic plug are a bonus, but it’s the evidence of centuries-old rituals that really inspires such awe. It’ll all make more sense if you take time to visit the interpretation centre at the beginning of the trail to understand more about the original inhabitants’ world and why this area held so much spiritual value.

Price: Free

Hike up the pathways at sunset for unbeatable technicolour views of the unmistakeable Roque Bentayga - Jan Wlodarczyk/Alamy

Picos de las Nieves

Get a heavenly view

At 1,949 metres (6,394ft), the Picos de las Nieves (Snow Peaks) is the second highest point in Gran Canaria; the neighbouring Morro de la Agujereada actually tops it by six metres (20ft), but the Snow Peaks are more accessible. On a clear day Tenerife’s Mount Teide volcano pokes into the blue, but even when it’s dull, the views are spectacular looking down onto a sea of clouds. In winter, the peak occasionally gets covered in snow. If the roads aren’t closed, grab the opportunity to take a photo to surprise those back home with your “sub-tropical” holiday snaps.

Price: Free

Tejeda

Take a journey inward

Typifying the rural charm of the island’s interior, the whitewashed village of Tejeda clings to a mountain in the central region and draws a plethora of hikers, bikers and day-trippers to its cobbled lanes and leafy plazas. In spring, the village is splodged in colour like a Jackson Pollock painting with the pink and white blossom of almond trees covering the village like giant confetti. Don’t miss out on one of the almond-based pastries and biscuits made and sold at the family-run Dulceria Nublo patisserie set just off the church plaza.

Price: Free

Take a mid-hike break at family-run venture Dulceria Nublo in Tejeda and refuel on their delicious almond-based pastries - Sebastian Luigs / Alamy

Guayadeque Ravine

Visit the valley that time forgot

Allow half a day to explore the surreal Guayadeque Ravine, a community of cave houses, restaurants and a souvenir shop carved into a steep-sided valley. The caves used to be inhabited by the island’s indigenous canarios but now locals have turned them into homes featuring all the mod-cons. Several years ago, there was only one small cave bar that served simple tapas, now there are five eateries calling themselves “cave restaurants” although in truth, most of the seating is on outside terraces. For the ultimate immersive experience book a night in one of the ravine’s two rural houses for rent.

Price: Free

Fataga

Put the brakes on

Fataga is another Canarian Shangri-La, this time situated in the gorgeous Valley of a Thousand Palms. A million miles from the hustle and bustle of the southern resorts, the people of this idyllic village still go about their day as if all the clocks stopped a century ago. With the speed dial set on sedentary, it’s almost impossible to not feel utterly chilled as you sip an espresso with the locals on a tree-shaded plaza surrounded by green mountains. To slip deeper into the slow-travel vibe, spend some me-time in the tiny Hermitage of San José chapel.

Price: Free

Slow down time in Fataga and The Valley of a Thousand Palms, sheltered from the fuss of the outside world - Iryna Shpulak/iStockphoto

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The south

Maspalomas Dunes

Get lost in the desert

No visit to Gran Canaria is complete without visiting the sprawling mass of sand coating its most southern tip. The Maspalomas Dunes nature reserve is an ever-changing landscape of shifting sands popular with families and naturists; sometimes there’s an accidental overlap, much to the horror of startled parents. Twitchers should hang around the saltwater lagoon to catch sight of migratory birds, while Instagrammers could do worse than climbing to the top of the highest dune to capture the play of light and shadow. Lawrence of Arabia wannabes can take a camel tour of the dunes.

Price: Free

Get lost in the otherworldly shifting dunes at Maspalomas - Marco Bottigelli/Moment RF

Puerto de Mogán & Puerto Rico

Ride with the dolphins

Many pleasure boats and catamarans offer whale and dolphin watching trips from the southern ports of Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán. Spotted dolphins and pilot whales are the most frequently seen, but other species have been observed too, including bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales and even the mighty blue whale on occasions. Sightings are all but guaranteed, with some boats offering a complimentary second sailing if you’re one of the unfortunate few. If you’re prone to motion sickness, opt for an early-morning excursion when the ocean tends to be a lot calmer.

Price: ££

Bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales and even the mighty blue whale can be spotted off the Canarian coast - Lillian Tveit / Alamy

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How we choose

Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.

About our expert

Author and travel writer Joe Cawley lives in the Canarian hills with his family and other wildlife. He moved there from Bolton in 1991, when, for want of anything else to do, he bought a bar and restaurant before becoming a full-time author and travel writer. He loses no sleep over this.

Telegraph Travel’s Gran Canaria expert, Joe Cawley - Phil Crean

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