Trips to Gran Canaria: Things to Do and Attractions

If you only have a few days, the island's best-known attractions fall into three groups: volcanic landscapes, ancient Canarian sites and the coast. Bandama Caldera, a mountain and crater in the Santa Brígida area, is the easiest way to grasp the island's volcanic origins. Nearby, the Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo in Tafira Alta is a botanical garden given over to the island's plant life.

For history, the Painted Cave at Gáldar and Cuatro Puertas near Telde are both protected cultural sites, and the Barranco de Guayadeque near Agüimes is a ravine listed as an archaeological site. On the coast, Maspalomas Lighthouse anchors the southern resorts, while Punta Sardina Lighthouse marks the far north-west near Gáldar. Between them, these are the things to see in Gran Canaria that most travellers remember long after the tan fades.

In the south, Maspalomas gathers the lighthouse, the beach at Meloneras and Palmitos Park. Inland from the resorts, the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana holds the Riscos de Tirajana natural monument and Pilancones Natural Park, while Mogán, behind Puerto de Mogán, has the protected area of Inagua and the mountain of Montaña de Tauro. These suit a day of walking away from the coast.

The east and centre are close to the airport. Agüimes, 6 minutes from LPA, is the gateway to Barranco de Guayadeque; Telde, 7 minutes away, has Cuatro Puertas; Santa Brígida, about 14 minutes, covers Bandama Caldera and the botanical garden. Further north, Teror is home to the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino, and Arucas and Firgas make easy additions on the same day.

The north-west and west feel wilder. Gáldar has the Painted Cave and Punta Sardina Lighthouse, and San Nicolás gives access to Tamadaba Natural Park and Güigüi, a beach within a protected area. If you are wondering what to visit in Gran Canaria beyond the resorts, this side of the island is where to start, ideally with car hire.

Palmitos Park is the obvious family choice: a zoo and garden near Maspalomas, so it fits around time on the beach in the southern resorts. The lighthouse at Maspalomas and the promenade beach at Meloneras are other easy outings with younger children.

The Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo and the rim of Bandama Caldera work well for school-age children who enjoy being outdoors, and both are close to Las Palmas. The archaeological sites, such as the Painted Cave at Gáldar, tend to appeal more to older children with an interest in history. In July and August, when Maspalomas reaches 31 to 33°C, plan the outdoor sights for the morning.

You can compare tours and tickets for Gran Canaria on this page using the See tours and tickets button, alongside car hire if you prefer to explore the north and west independently. Twelve towns across the island have activities listed, from Maspalomas and Mogán in the south to Gáldar and Teror in the north.

Most British travellers come on a package with flights, hotel and transfers, and you can compare Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach deals here before adding excursions. Weather is rarely a reason to postpone: Maspalomas sees only one rain day in January, and the island is good for sightseeing in every month except the hottest weeks of August. School holidays are busier, so book popular tours early if your dates fall then.