Playa del Inglés holidays: Gran Canaria resort guide
Resort · Canary Islands · Gran Canaria · Spain
Playa del Inglés holidays put you on the southern coast of Gran Canaria, right beside Maspalomas, which lies about half a mile away. Gran Canaria airport has direct flights from the UK and is roughly 24 minutes away by road, so the journey from runway to sunlounger is short. The weather is the draw: daytime highs sit around 22 to 23°C even in January and February, and July and August pass with no recorded rain. Within a few miles you have the Maspalomas Lighthouse, the Botanical Garden, Aqualand and Palmitos Park, plus a string of beaches towards Meloneras. Below, Robin sets out where to base yourself, when to go and what you can compare and book here.
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Why go
- Winter highs of around 23°C in January and December, with just one or two rain days.
- Gran Canaria airport, with direct UK flights, is only about 24 minutes away by road.
- Maspalomas Lighthouse, Aqualand and Palmitos Park all sit within about six miles of the resort.
Package holidays to Playa del Inglés
Flights, hotel and transfers together, ATOL protected, from UK airports.
Jet2holidays
Flights to LPA and hotel together, ATOL protected, from regional UK airports.
TUI
Package holidays in Playa del Inglés with TUI's own flights and reps.
loveholidays
Mix-and-match flights and hotels in Playa del Inglés, with low deposits.
On the Beach
Beach holidays in Playa del Inglés: flights, hotel and transfers in one booking.
Resorts and towns near Playa del Inglés
Ranked by what there is to see and book. Each has its own page.
MaspalomasProvincia de Las Palmas · 0 miles from Playa del Inglés
10 sights · 24 min from LPA · on the coast
Compare hotels (opens Booking.com in a new tab)
Top sights in Playa del Inglés
Ranked by how well known they are.
1lighthouse
2botanical garden
3beach
4museum
5botanical garden
When to go to Playa del Inglés
January to June and September to December: daytime highs between 22°C and 28°C with little rain.
- 23°CJan5 mm
- 22°CFeb17 mm
- 25°CMar33 mm
- 26°CApr7 mm
- 25°CMay9 mm
- 26°CJun15 mm
- 31°CJul0 mm
- 32°CAug0 mm
- 27°CSept6 mm
- 28°COct12 mm
- 27°CNov29 mm
- 23°CDec15 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Full weather page: today, the 10-day forecast and every month
Getting to Playa del Inglés from United Kingdom
Gran Canaria (LPA) has direct flights from the UK, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton and Manchester.
Gran Canaria (LPA)
About 24 min by road to the nearest resortdirect flights from the UK
What kind of place it is
Playa del Inglés is a coastal resort on the south of Gran Canaria, effectively running into Maspalomas, its larger neighbour about half a mile away. It is a place built for warm-weather holidays: beaches, sunshine through most of the year, and a handful of family days out within a short drive.
The closest sight is the Maspalomas Botanical Garden, around half a mile away. A little further, about 2 miles, you reach the Maspalomas Lighthouse and the beach area of Meloneras, while Mundo Aborigen, an open-air museum, lies around 4 miles off. For a British traveller wanting reliable sun without a long transfer, it is one of the more straightforward picks in the Canaries.
Where to base yourself
Most visitors choose between Playa del Inglés itself and neighbouring Maspalomas, which is close enough that the two feel like one stretch of coast. Maspalomas, a town of around 36,000 people, is where many of the nearby sights and beaches are listed, so staying on either side keeps them within easy reach.
If beaches are the priority, Playa de las Mujeres and Meloneras are around 2 miles away, with Playa del Hornillo and Playa de Meloneras at roughly 2.5 miles. Playa de las Carpinteras, about 4 miles off, is a little further along. Families tend to look towards the attractions: Aqualand Maspalomas, a waterpark around 2.5 miles away, and Palmitos Park, a zoo and garden about 6 miles inland.
When to go for the weather
This is a year-round destination, and every month except August counts as a good time to visit. Winter is the classic escape from a British January: highs of 23°C with lows of 17°C, and only one rain day in the month. February is the coolest, at around 22°C by day and 15°C at night.
Spring and early summer settle at 25 to 26°C. March is the wettest month on paper, with around 33mm of rain, though it falls over just four days. July and August heat up to 31 and 32°C with no rain at all, which some will love and others will find too hot. Autumn is a good compromise, with September at 27°C and October at 28°C, while November brings a few more showers. School-holiday weeks are the busiest and generally the dearest to book, so term-time dates give more choice.
Getting there from the UK
Gran Canaria airport (LPA) is the gateway, with direct flights from the UK. The drive to the Maspalomas side of the island takes around 24 minutes, so transfers to Playa del Inglés are among the shorter ones in the Canaries.
If you fancy combining islands, ferries leave from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, about 29 miles away. Tenerife is reachable by sea too, with Santa Cruz de Tenerife at around 63 miles and Los Cristianos at about 72 miles from the resort.
Packages, hotels and days out
Most British travellers book this resort as a package: flight, hotel and airport transfer in one booking, usually with a choice of board basis such as self-catering, half board or all inclusive. On this page you can compare package deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach side by side.
If you prefer to arrange things yourself, you can check hotel prices and compare car hire here, which is handy for reaching Palmitos Park or Mundo Aborigen. There is also a good range of tours and tickets to browse, from waterpark entry to excursions around the island.
Playa del Inglés by interest
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Questions people ask
How far is Playa del Inglés from Gran Canaria airport?
Gran Canaria airport (LPA) is roughly a 24-minute drive from the Maspalomas side of the island, where Playa del Inglés sits. It is a short transfer, which suits families and anyone arriving on a late flight from the UK.
Can you fly direct from the UK?
Yes. Gran Canaria airport has direct flights from the UK, and package holidays typically bundle the flight with your hotel and the transfer to Playa del Inglés, so there is no need to arrange onward travel separately.
What is the weather like in winter?
Mild and mostly dry. January reaches around 23°C by day with lows of 17°C and just one rain day, while December is similar at 23°C. February is the coolest month, at around 22°C.
Is August too hot for Playa del Inglés?
August is the hottest month, with highs around 32°C and no recorded rain, and it is the one month not listed among the best times to go. July is similar at 31°C. Spring and autumn are gentler.
How far is Maspalomas from Playa del Inglés?
Very close: Maspalomas lies about half a mile away, and the two resorts run into each other. The Maspalomas Lighthouse is around 2 miles from Playa del Inglés and the Botanical Garden about half a mile.
What is there to do nearby with children?
Aqualand Maspalomas, a waterpark, is around 2.5 miles away, and Palmitos Park, a zoo and garden, is about 6 miles away. Mundo Aborigen, an open-air museum, lies around 4 miles from the resort.