Gran Canaria is an island of microclimates and big personalities. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, founded in 1478, blends colonial facades with a golden urban beach, while the south unfurls into Sahara-style dunes and turquoise bays. Christopher Columbus paused here en route to the Americas—today, travelers linger for the trade winds, easygoing rhythm, and deeply flavorful Canarian cuisine.

Expect year-round mild weather, breezy Atlantic sunsets, and a dramatic volcanic backbone. Highlights include the pale sands of Las Canteras Beach, the UNESCO-listed feel of Vegueta’s cobbled lanes, the sculpted Maspalomas Dunes, and the pastel marina of Puerto de Mogán. Inland, caldera rims and almond valleys reveal a wilder, time-sculpted island.

Practical notes: the currency is Euro; tap water is generally desalinated and many visitors prefer bottled. Reserve popular restaurants in advance on weekends, and bring reef-safe sunscreen and a windbreaker for evenings. Buses are reliable, driving is straightforward, and day tours make reaching remote viewpoints effortless.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Base yourself first in the island’s capital for a winning trio: culture in Vegueta, shopping in Triana, and soft-sand swims along Las Canteras—often ranked among Europe’s best city beaches. Surf schools dot the promenade, and the reef (La Barra) calms the water at low tide, creating natural pools.

Don’t miss the Catedral de Santa Ana, the shady patios of the Casa de Colón, and the 19th-century Mercado del Puerto for pintxos and seafood. Evenings hum along Calle Cano and the beachfront, where sunset colors pour across the bay like molten gold.

• Top sights: Vegueta Old Town, Las Canteras Beach, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Bandama Crater, Jardín Botánico Canario.
• Dining notes: try papas arrugadas with mojo, grilled vieja (parrotfish), gofio desserts, and local volcanic wines from Bandama.
• Where to stay: For beach life choose Las Canteras; for history choose Vegueta/Triana.

Stay here: Browse apartments and hotels near Las Canteras or Vegueta on VRBO or Hotels.com.

Getting there: Fly into Gran Canaria Airport (LPA). Nonstops from Madrid/Barcelona take ~2.5–3 hrs; from many European hubs, 4–5 hrs. Compare fares on Omio (flights) or, if traveling from outside Europe, also check Kiwi.com. Ferries from Tenerife or Fuerteventura are options too—search routes on Omio (ferries).

Day 1 — Arrival, Las Canteras golden hour

Afternoon: Land at LPA and transfer to Las Palmas (25–30 min by taxi; 35–45 min by bus). Check into your Las Canteras or Vegueta base, then stretch your legs along the 3-km Paseo de Las Canteras. For a pick‑me‑up, grab flat whites and banana bread at Café Regina (Triana or Mesa y López) or a tropical smoothie at Amelie Green by the beach.

Evening: Watch surfers carve at La Cícer as the sun sets over El Confital. Dinner at La Marinera at La Puntilla for grilled cherne and limpets with mojo, or at Amigo Camilo, a beloved fish joint steps from the surf. Cap it with maracuyá sorbet from Heladería Peña La Vieja right on the promenade.

Day 2 — Vegueta, Triana, and a flight over the city

Morning: Coffee and tostada with tomato at Café Regina Triana, then a self‑guided wander through Vegueta: Plaza de Santa Ana and the cathedral terraces, Casa de Colón’s courtyards, and the Mercado de Vegueta for fruit tastings. Pick up artisan cheese and local honey for snacks.

Afternoon: Feel the trade winds from above on a tandem glide.

Paragliding Tandem Flight in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (from ~€90–120, ~2 hrs total; flights ~20 min). Takeoff is near Los Giles, soaring over coves and the capital with a certified pilot.

Evening: Tapas-hop in Triana: Allende Triana for octopus carpaccio and croquetas, then Deliciosa Marta (book ahead) for slow-cooked beef cheeks and elevated Canarian flavors. Toast the night with Malvasía volcánica wine at a cozy wine bar off Calle Cano.

Day 3 — Botanic valley and volcanic rim

Morning: Join a guided excursion that stitches together two island icons—Spain’s largest botanical garden and a crater with sweeping views.

Las Palmas, Botanical Garden & Bandama Crater tour (typically half‑day; from ~€40–60). Explore dragon trees, endemic laurel forests, and the circular Bandama Caldera overlook.

Afternoon: Return to Las Canteras for a siesta on the sand or a relaxed swim behind La Barra at low tide. Snack on tuna poke or papas arrugadas at the Mercado del Puerto kiosks.

Evening: Dinner in Vegueta’s Casa Montesdeoca, a romantic courtyard spot known for Canarian-meets-Mediterranean plates, or El Equilibrista 33 for creative small plates. Finish with a stroll under the palm-lined lights of Parque Santa Catalina.

Consider a tailor-made day: If you prefer a custom route and times, a private guide will mold the day around markets, miradores, and villages you care about.

Private Tour Guide in Gran Canaria (from ~€220–400 per group, 6–8 hrs).

Maspalomas (South Coast)

Shift south for a change of tempo: a honey-colored desert by the sea, palm gardens, and resort promenades that glow at sunset. The Maspalomas Lighthouse anchors the scene; behind it, winds sculpt the protected dunes into ripples that look borrowed from the Sahara.

Nearby Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán offer calm coves, snorkeling, and small‑group boat trips along rugged cliffs. Evenings here invite terrace dining, seaside cocktails, and starry walks by the surf.

• Top sights: Maspalomas Dunes Nature Reserve, Faro de Maspalomas, Puerto de Mogán marina, Anfi del Mar bay.
• Dining notes: fresh-caught vieja and moray fritters, goat cheeses from the interior, and tropical fruit from the south’s plantations.

Stay here: Search for dune‑adjacent stays and pool villas on VRBO or beachfront hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting from Las Palmas to Maspalomas: Morning transfer on Day 4. Bus 30 from Las Palmas (San Telmo) to Maspalomas/Playa del Inglés takes ~50–60 min (~€7–9); intercity taxis take ~40 min (~€45–60). If you’re connecting from the airport, dedicated airport buses take ~25–35 min.

Day 4 — Transfer south, dunes and camels

Morning: Depart Las Palmas after breakfast and ride the coast to Maspalomas. Check in, then walk the wooden boardwalks into the Maspalomas Dunes—keep to marked paths to protect this fragile reserve.

Afternoon: Experience the desert sway on a short, heritage-listed safari.

Camel Safari through the Dunes of Maspalomas (~30–40 min, from ~€15–25). A fun photo-friendly way to see the dunes’ scale.

Evening: Sunset by the Faro de Maspalomas, then dinner at 360° Restaurant (Bohemia Suites) for tasting menus with ocean views or La Palmera Sur for modern tapas and Canarian produce. For something casual, El Senador on the sand serves grilled fish and chilled sangría with the surf as soundtrack.

Day 5 — South coast by boat and Mogán’s pastel marina

Morning: Head to Puerto Rico or Puerto de Mogán for a small-group cruise along the volcanic cliffs. Expect swim stops and easy snorkeling in clear coves.

4 Hour Boat Tour with Snorkeling from Puerto Rico and Mogán (max ~12 guests; from ~€65–85, snacks included).

Afternoon: Explore Puerto de Mogán’s canals and bougainvillea lanes. Families love the underwater perspective:

SUBMARINE ADVENTURE - Submarine Excursion in Puerto de Mogán (~45 min, from ~€38–45). Watch shoals weave between reefs and a sunken hull from your porthole.

Evening: Dinner options span casual to Michelin: Casito Mediterráneo for seafood pasta on the marina, Cofradía de Pescadores for the day’s catch, or Los Guayres (Cordial Mogán Playa) for refined Canarian cuisine. Bus back to Maspalomas takes ~35–45 min (~€4–6).

Day 6 — Choose-your-adventure: parasail, beach-hop, or inland villages

Morning: Ride the thermals above the south coast:

Parasail in Taurito Mogán or Playa del Inglés (from ~€50–70; 10–15 min in the air; boat time ~1 hr). Panoramas sweep from Anfi del Mar to the dunes.

Afternoon: Beach-hop: swim the calm aquamarine of Anfi del Mar, then grab poke bowls or paella at a beachfront chiringuito. Alternatively, head inland to Fataga’s whitewashed lanes for almond pastries and valley views.

Evening: Reserve Samsara (near the lighthouse) for Asian‑Mediterranean fusion served in a lantern-lit garden, or keep it local at a San Fernando grill for papas, chistorras, and cold Dorada beer. Stroll the Meloneras promenade under a canopy of stars.

Day 7 — Slow morning and departure

Morning: Last swim at Maspalomas or coffee and avocado toast at a beach café. If it’s market day in Arguineguín (Tuesdays), browse stalls for woven baskets and island spices.

Afternoon: Check out and transfer to LPA (20–30 min by taxi). If flying within Europe, compare late‑day options on Omio (flights); for long-haul connections, also check Kiwi.com. Hasta pronto.

Practical Transport Notes

• Las Palmas ↔ Maspalomas: Bus 30 ~50–60 min (~€7–9). Taxi ~40 min (~€45–60). Driving ~40 min; parking garages are common near Las Canteras and Meloneras.
• Airport transfers: Airport ↔ Las Palmas buses ~25–35 min; Airport ↔ Maspalomas ~25–35 min. Taxis meter; cards widely accepted.
• Ferries: From Tenerife (Santa Cruz–Agaete) ~1h20 fast ferry; from Fuerteventura ~2–3 hrs. Search schedules on Omio (ferries).

Included Activities Recap (Viator)

• Paragliding Tandem Flight in Las Palmas
• Las Palmas, Botanical Garden & Bandama Crater tour
• Private Tour Guide in Gran Canaria
• Camel Safari through the Dunes of Maspalomas
• 4 Hour Boat Tour with Snorkeling from Puerto Rico and Mogán
• Submarine Adventure in Puerto de Mogán
• Parasail in Taurito/Mogán or Playa del Inglés

In one week, you’ve traced Gran Canaria’s many moods—from cathedral spires and urban surf in Las Palmas to dunescapes and cliffy coves in the south. With sun-warmed days, ocean adventures, and soulful plates of mojo and grilled fish, this itinerary balances culture, relaxation, and just enough adrenaline to make every sunset taste sweeter.