Things to Do in Gran Canaria: Best Attractions, Beaches & Activities

Gran Canaria covers a lot of ground for a small island, with landscapes that shift dramatically from one side to the other. Golden dunes roll along the south coast, pine forest and volcanic peaks fill the interior, and a working city sits up north in Las Palmas, all within about an hour’s drive. 

Beach days at Maspalomas suit one kind of trip. A hike up to Roque Nublo suits a different one. Most visitors end up doing a bit of both by the end of a week. This guide runs through the best of what the island has to offer, organised by attraction first and then by travel style.

Why Visit Gran Canaria?

People call Gran Canaria a “miniature continent,” and the nickname holds up once the scenery starts changing every few kilometres. Under 50km across, the island somehow fits in desert-like dunes, laurel forest, volcanic craters and a genuine city in Las Palmas. The weather stays mild and sunny nearly all year. Direct flights from Ireland run under five hours, and package hotels cover most budgets.

Best Things to Do in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria packs beaches, mountains, a historic old town and even a volcanic crater onto one island under 50km across, so deciding where to start can be the hardest part. Here’s the shortlist first — ten highlights worth building a visit around, from golden dunes to mountain sunsets — then the full write-up on each one below, whether that’s a single afternoon or a full week of Gran Canaria sightseeing:

1. Visit Maspalomas Dunes
2. Explore Vegueta
3. Hike Roque Nublo
4. Visit Puerto de Mogán
5. Explore Tamadaba
6. Watch dolphins
7. Relax at Playa del Inglés
8. Walk Bandama Caldera
9. Visit local markets
10. Visit Pico de las Nieves

Relax on Maspalomas Beach & Sand Dunes

Maspalomas is the reason a lot of people book Gran Canaria. Three kilometres of golden sand back onto a real dune system, with a nineteenth-century lighthouse marking the western end, and the beach stays free and open around the clock. Walk further into the dunes and you’ll find it gets quiet fast. Among the best beaches in Gran Canaria, this one’s worth building a full day around.

Explore Las Palmas Old Town (Vegueta)

Vegueta is the historic core of Las Palmas, laid out in the fifteenth century and still walkable in an afternoon. Santa Ana Cathedral anchors the district, surrounded by small museums and courtyards built for slow wandering. Thursday means tapas, plates for around a euro each. Las Canteras beach sits close by too.

Visit Roque Nublo

Roque Nublo isn’t just a photo stop — it’s Gran Canaria’s most recognisable landmark, an 80-metre volcanic monolith formed roughly three and a half million years ago. Getting to the base takes a moderate hike, about two kilometres each way. Rocky in places, no railings near the top. Entry is free, though a QR-code system now caps visitor numbers during peak hours.

Discover Puerto de Mogán

Puerto de Mogán earns its “Little Venice” comparison honestly, small canals and bridges cutting through a marina lined with bougainvillaea in season. Fishing boats share the harbour with cafes and boat trip operators. Friday turns the harbour into a large open-air market. Worth the drive — you’ll want the full day.

Hike Through Tamadaba Natural Park

Tamadaba protects one of the largest surviving stands of Canary pine on the island, free to enter and open at any hour. Trails wind through forest before opening onto ridge lines with coastal views, suiting most fitness levels. Hire a car; public transport doesn’t reach most trailheads.

Go Dolphin & Whale Watching

Boat trips from the southern harbours regularly spot dolphins. Pilot whales too, living in these waters year-round, so sightings are likely rather than lucky. Most tours run around two hours, pairing wildlife watching with a swim stop. Morning departures mean calmer seas. Most boats leave from a short drive from the main resorts.

Enjoy Water Sports at Playa del Inglés

Playa del Inglés sits right next to Maspalomas but feels livelier and more built-up. Reliable wind and steady swell make it a solid base for windsurfing, kitesurfing and paddleboarding, with several schools renting equipment by the hour. Wide and gently sloping, the beach suits complete beginners.

Visit Bandama Caldera

A short drive from Las Palmas, Bandama Caldera is one of the easiest Gran Canaria day trips, formed when a volcano erupted here around two thousand years ago. A walking path rings the crater, with views down into the floor. The full loop takes ninety minutes to two hours, and oddly, a golf course occupies part of the caldera itself. For those planning Gran Canaria holidays, it’s an easy way to add a little adventure and scenery to the itinerary. 

Experience Local Markets & Cuisine

Local markets give a more grounded look at the island than the resort strips do. Arguineguín’s Tuesday market: fruit, cheese, leather goods, souvenirs — all cheaper than anything near the resorts. Papas arrugadas, small wrinkled potatoes doused in mojo sauce, turn up on nearly every menu, alongside gofio, a toasted grain flour. Fresh seafood’s easy to find too.

Watch the Sunset at Pico de las Nieves

Pico de las Nieves sits close to the island’s highest point, just under 1,950 metres up, with one of the widest views in the Canary Islands on a clear evening. Cloud often sits below the summit — visitors end up looking down on white instead of grey. Bring a jacket; it gets cold fast up here, even in summer.

Things to Do in Gran Canaria by Travel Style

Which of these to prioritise for a Gran Canaria itinerary usually comes down to who’s travelling. Here’s a quick breakdown.

For Families

Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés both offer calm, shallow water and space for kids to wander without losing sight of a sunbed. Camel rides across the dunes are a popular add-on for younger children. Puerto de Mogán’s flat, compact layout also suits a stroller.

For Couples

Puerto de Mogán’s harbour restaurants make for a simple, good evening out, especially with a table facing the water as the boats come in. Sunset at Pico de las Nieves works too, quieter and away from the resorts. Vegueta’s old streets suit an unhurried wander.

For Adventure Lovers

Roque Nublo and Tamadaba both reward a proper hiking day — pairing the two makes for one of the better full days on the island. Playa del Inglés covers the water sports side, and whale and dolphin watching adds an easy half-day between hikes.

Wherever a trip lands on this list, Travelodeal puts together Gran Canaria holidays with flights and hotels together, so turning it into a booked trip doesn’t take much.

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