What to do in Gran Canaria
Obviously, as Canarians (whether by birth or by adoption), we'd recommend exploring the island from north to south, taking in typical Canarian beaches and landscapes, and trying the local food. For this, the best option is to hire a car; CICAR is the company us Canarians use on any of the islands, they tend to have the best prices and the service is good. The city also has plenty to see and do, and you can easily get around by bus.
What to do in Gran Canaria
Obviously, as Canarians (whether by birth or by adoption), we'd recommend exploring the island from north to south, taking in typical Canarian beaches and landscapes, and trying the local food. For this, the best option is to hire a car; CICAR is the company us Canarians use on any of the islands, they tend to have the best prices and the service is good. The city also has plenty to see and do, and you can easily get around by bus.
What to do in Gran Canaria
Obviously, as Canarians (whether by birth or by adoption), we'd recommend exploring the island from north to south, taking in typical Canarian beaches and landscapes, and trying the local food. For this, the best option is to hire a car; CICAR is the company us Canarians use on any of the islands, they tend to have the best prices and the service is good. The city also has plenty to see and do, and you can easily get around by bus.
So you don't miss a thing,
save these spots to your Google Maps.
A long weekend in the city
A long weekend in the city
For those coming for the wedding weekend or staying for a long weekend, we recommend strolling through the historic neighbourhood of Vegueta and its colonial buildings, the Santa Ana Cathedral, the Perez Gáldos Theatre, and the commercial street of Triana. This area is ideal for a bite to eat or a drink, so save the Google Maps lists above. For those who want to learn about the history of the capital, a free tour is a great plan.
If the weather is nice or you simply want to see the sea, you can take a stroll along Las Canteras beach. Watching the sunset with a beer on one of the auditorium's terraces or sitting on the rocks of La Puntilla (the other end of the beach), with a bit of luck, are some of the best plans.
For those coming for the wedding weekend or staying for a long weekend, we recommend strolling through the historic neighbourhood of Vegueta and its colonial buildings, the Santa Ana Cathedral, the Perez Gáldos Theatre, and the commercial street of Triana. This area is ideal for a bite to eat or a drink, so save the Google Maps lists above. For those who want to learn about the history of the capital, a free tour is a great plan.
If the weather is nice or you simply want to see the sea, you can take a stroll along Las Canteras beach. Watching the sunset with a beer on one of the auditorium's terraces or sitting on the rocks of La Puntilla (the other end of the beach), with a bit of luck, are some of the best plans.
Day trips around the island
Day trips around
the island
We'd recommend hiring a car to explore the island, as the intercity buses aren't the most reliable. Here are a few routes to get you started. If you're feeling more adventurous and fancy doing some trekking, just ask us and we'll happily share what we know :)
Tufia
Agüimes
Barranco
de las vacas
Tufia - Guayadeque Caves - Agüimes - Las Vacas Ravine
Tufía is a volcanic sand cove surrounded by little white houses, typical of a fishing village. If it's not too busy and the tide is low, it's perfect for a swim. From there, you can head to Cuevas de Guayadeque for lunch, then take a stroll around the historic old town of Agüimes. Finally, we wouldn't skip a visit to Barranco de las Vacas. To get there, you'll need to walk a short trail (no more than 20 minutes, and fairly easy).
Tufía is a volcanic sand cove surrounded by little white houses, typical of a fishing village. If it's not too busy and the tide is low, it's perfect for a swim. From there, you can head to Cuevas de Guayadeque for lunch, then take a stroll around the historic old town of Agüimes. Finally, we wouldn't skip a visit to Barranco de las Vacas. To get there, you'll need to walk a short trail (no more than 20 minutes, and fairly easy).
Mirador
del Balcón
Agaete
Arucas
Playa del Risco
Tamadaba - Agaete - Arucas
On this route, take your time enjoying the road and the landscapes of Tamadaba on the way to Mirador del Balcón. From there, you can see the cliffs on one side and, if it's clear, Teide in the distance. If you fancy a dip, head to Playa del Risco; if not, head back to Agaete, a fishing village we'd recommend for lunch if you're a fan of good fish. If you're not, we'd wait until you reach Arucas, where Casa Brito is our pick for the meat-lovers among you. Afterwards, you can walk off lunch with a stroll round the historic old town of Arucas, taking in its colonial-style buildings and church, and grabbing a drink on the 'Emblemática' terrace.
On this route, take your time enjoying the road and the landscapes of Tamadaba on the way to Mirador del Balcón. From there, you can see the cliffs on one side and, if it's clear, Teide in the distance. If you fancy a dip, head to Playa del Risco; if not, head back to Agaete, a fishing village we'd recommend for lunch if you're a fan of good fish. If you're not, we'd wait until you reach Arucas, where Casa Brito is our pick for the meat-lovers among you. Afterwards, you can walk off lunch with a stroll round the historic old town of Arucas, taking in its colonial-style buildings and church, and grabbing a drink on the 'Emblemática' terrace.
Maspalomas
Puerto de
Mogán
Puerto de Mogán - Maspalomas
Puerto de Mogán is a small fishing area with canals and bridges, definitely worth a stroll.
From there, you can head to Maspalomas for a day at the beach. We'd recommend entering from the Faro (lighthouse). On the beach, you'll have the dunes behind you, and the sunset there is one of our favourites on the island. For those who'd rather skip the beach, from the RIU Palace Maspalomas you can go up to Mirador de las Dunas to see the sea behind the vastness of the sand.
Puerto de Mogán is a small fishing area with canals and bridges, definitely worth a stroll.
From there, you can head to Maspalomas for a day at the beach. We'd recommend entering from the Faro (lighthouse). On the beach, you'll have the dunes behind you, and the sunset there is one of our favourites on the island. For those who'd rather skip the beach, from the RIU Palace Maspalomas you can go up to Mirador de las Dunas to see the sea behind the vastness of the sand.
Teror
Tejeda
Firgas
Firgas - Teror - Tejeda
This route takes in inland villages with colonial style, surrounded by typical Canarian vegetation, and a visit to one of the island's landmarks, Roque Nublo. Firgas is known for its promenade with a waterfall and ceramic mosaics. Teror is full of traditional houses with Canarian balconies, and is home to the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino, the island's patron saint. Tejeda is considered one of the prettiest villages in Spain. From there, you can head to Cruz de Tejeda, a lookout point with views of Roque Nublo.
For those who enjoy walking, you can reach Roque Nublo via an easy 1.5km route from the car park. For those who simply want to catch a good sunset, we've saved a few spots on our Google Maps list ;)
This route takes in inland villages with colonial style, surrounded by typical Canarian vegetation, and a visit to one of the island's landmarks, Roque Nublo. Firgas is known for its promenade with a waterfall and ceramic mosaics. Teror is full of traditional houses with Canarian balconies, and is home to the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino, the island's patron saint. Tejeda is considered one of the prettiest villages in Spain. From there, you can head to Cruz de Tejeda, a lookout point with views of Roque Nublo.
For those who enjoy walking, you can reach Roque Nublo via an easy 1.5km route from the car park. For those who simply want to catch a good sunset, we've saved a few spots on our Google Maps list ;)
