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Things to do in Gran Canaria

Voted as the place with the best climate in the world by a Harvard climatologist, Gran Canaria is the perfect escape away if you are based in Europe. A few hours away by plane, this place is heaven on earth!

Thanks to the coastal villages, the mountains and its capital, Las Palmas (it counts around 350.000 inhabitants), there are many things to do in Gran Canaria!

This island has something for everyone 🙂

How to get around gran canaria

The best way to get around Gran Canaria is by car. I highly recommend renting one from the airport by using Rentalcars as it is as easy as booking a hotel on Booking.com.

Don’t go for the cheapest company (been there, done that), it is not worth it! You can find amazing deals and pay a bit more being sure you won’t be charged extras when you get the car or drop it off.

For sure I can say that my experience of the island would have not been the same without a car; I would have probably been stuck in one of the villages and do one or two day trips and it would have been tiring. But the car gave us the freedom we needed and let us explore the beauty and the varied landscape this amazing place has to offer 🙂

Where to stay

CIW Hostel (Centro Internacional Windsurf)

We paid 114 euros for a large twin room with views on the ocean for 3 nights. The room was not en suite but the bathroom and showers were on the same floor. The hostel has a swimming pool, a shared kitchen and various chill spaces with views on the ocean. Nothing was trouble for the staff at reception and the hostel was extremely clean too.

Special mention to the close-by Bar Pozo for the fantastic food, atmosphere and staff. Had fresh fish while observing locals chatting and fishing just outside.

What to do in gran canaria

Day 1

From Vecindario to Maspalomas for a walk on the stunning dunes. Lots of adrenaline if you play climbing the dunes up and down! I had the best fun!

From Maspalomas drive up to Puerto de Mogán, also called Little Venice because of its little bridges. Lots of flowers and impressive rocks. The drive was amazing too. Not great for eating in my opinion as very touristic and conventional.

Day 2

Drive up to Roque Nublo through the breathtaking village of Santa Brigida.

After a nice walk on Roque Nublo, drive to Tejeda for lunch in a proper mountain village in Gran Canaria.

This may have been one of the best lunch in my life! Imagine a small square with an old cathedral filled with locals, tapas in a terrace with this view, sunshine, what else?

From Tejeda drive to Teror for one of the most authentic villages with original balconies.

Day 3

Drive to Las Palmas and park your car just before the neighbourhood of Vegueta. From there, walk in the narrow street of this neighbourhood which brings you back on time. You can then continue the walk to Triana, where all the high street shops are and continue on the promenade along the ocean. It is a long walk to Playa de Las Canteras, but a very pleasant one too, especially when the sun is warm and the wind is blowing, not an exception in Gran Canaria.

Day 4

Drive to Arinaga for a gentle stroll and a coffee. Then drive up to the Jardin Canario, the Botanic Garden of Gran Canaria.

What to eat in gran canaria

• Papas con mojo – boiled potatoes with typical red sauce
• Fish, fish, fish – any!
• Ron – in Canary Islands they produce their own rum with honey, have you ever tried it?

For more road trips travel ideas, have a look at my posts here 🙂

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Road trip in California