Things to do in Gran Canaria Maspalomas: sights and beaches
Resort · Canary Islands · Gran Canaria · Spain
Ask me about things to do in Gran Canaria Maspalomas and I will start close to your sunbed. The Maspalomas Botanical Garden is in the resort itself, the Maspalomas Lighthouse stands about 2 miles away, and the beaches of Meloneras, Playa de las Mujeres and Playa del Hornillo sit at a similar distance. Go a little further and you reach Mundo Aborigen, an open-air museum, and Palmitos Park, a zoo and garden around 5.5 miles out. With winter highs of 23°C, dry Julys and Augusts, and an airport 24 minutes away with direct flights from the UK, it is a resort where days out are easy to fit around the beach.
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- Maspalomas Lighthouse and the Botanical Garden are both within about 2 miles of the resort centre.
- Palmitos Park and Aqualand Maspalomas give families two big days out within 6 miles.
- Winter highs of 23°C in January make the beaches usable when Britain is cold and grey.
Top sights in Maspalomas
Ranked by how well known they are.
1lighthouse
2botanical garden
3beach
4museum
5botanical garden
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in Maspalomas can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)The sights worth your time
The Maspalomas Lighthouse is the landmark most visitors head for first, roughly 2 miles from the centre and easy to pair with a walk along the seafront at Meloneras. Closer still, the Maspalomas Botanical Garden sits right in the resort and makes a gentle morning when you want shade and greenery rather than sand.
For something with more substance, Mundo Aborigen is an open-air museum about 4 miles away, and Palmitos Park, a zoo set among gardens, lies around 5.5 miles out. Between them they give you a proper break from the beach without a long drive.
What to see, area by area
In and around the resort, the Botanical Garden is on your doorstep, while the Lighthouse, Aqualand Maspalomas and a cluster of beaches all sit about 2 miles away. Meloneras is the name to know here: it is both a small town and a beach area, with Playa de Meloneras, Playa de las Mujeres and Playa del Hornillo all at roughly the same distance, so you can move between them in a single afternoon.
A little further out, around 4 miles away, you will find Mundo Aborigen and the quieter Playa de las Carpinteras. Palmitos Park is the furthest of the main sights at about 5.5 miles, and worth giving the best part of a day. If you fancy seeing more of the island, the port at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is about 29 miles from Maspalomas, and car hire makes that kind of outing simple.
Days out with children
Aqualand Maspalomas, a waterpark around 2 miles from the resort, is the obvious choice on a hot day, and Palmitos Park's animals and gardens tend to win over all ages. Mundo Aborigen suits curious older children who enjoy a museum they can walk around outdoors.
Mind the calendar: July and August bring highs of 31°C and 33°C with no rain to speak of, so plan waterpark and beach time for those months and keep zoo or museum visits for early in the day. From October to June, highs mostly sit between 23°C and 28°C, which is far kinder for walking around.
Booking tours and tickets
There are 114 categories of activity listed for the resort, so it pays to settle your Gran Canaria Maspalomas things to do list before you fly. You can see tours and tickets on this page and compare options for the attractions above, alongside car hire if you want the freedom to reach Palmitos Park or Las Palmas at your own pace.
Most British travellers come on a package from Gran Canaria airport, which has direct UK flights and a transfer of about 24 minutes to Maspalomas. You can compare package deals from several providers here, then add days out once your dates are fixed; school holidays are when demand, and usually prices, are highest.
Best experiences
Next steps
Questions people ask
How far is Maspalomas from Gran Canaria airport?
Gran Canaria airport (LPA) is about a 24-minute drive from Maspalomas, and it has direct flights from the UK. That short transfer means you can be by the pool or on the beach not long after landing.
What are the best things to do in Maspalomas with children?
Aqualand Maspalomas, a waterpark about 2 miles away, and Palmitos Park, a zoo and garden around 5.5 miles out, are the big family days. Mundo Aborigen, an open-air museum, and the nearby beaches round things out.
When is the best time to visit Maspalomas for sightseeing?
Almost any month works. January to June and September to December offer highs of roughly 23°C to 28°C, comfortable for walking around. July and August reach 31°C to 33°C, better suited to the beach and waterpark.
Which beaches are close to Maspalomas?
Playa de Meloneras, Playa de las Mujeres and Playa del Hornillo all sit about 2 miles from the resort, close to the town of Meloneras. Playa de las Carpinteras is a little further, around 4 miles away.
Does it rain much in Maspalomas?
Very little. July and August are typically completely dry, and even the wettest months, such as November with around five rain days and March with about 33 mm, still see plenty of sunshine between showers.