Where to stay in Gran Canaria? Which area or resort to choose if you’re traveling here for the first time? Where is the best place to vacation with kids and family? Here’s an overview of the most popular regions and examples of hotels and apartments for different budgets.
We’ve explored the whole island and are sharing our knowledge in the best guide to the regions of Gran Canaria.
A Brief About Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is the third-largest island in the Canary Islands archipelago. The island attracts 5 million tourists annually, making it one of the best-performing Spanish resorts.
Gran Canaria boasts beautiful sandy dunes, volcanic formations, natural pools, mountains, wine-making and fishing villages, golden sandy beaches, historical towns, hiking and driving routes, and a lively nightlife.
The island has excellent infrastructure and its own airport, making it easy to get to and move around between interesting spots. It’s a great island for independent travel.
Due to its diverse landscapes and rounded shape, Gran Canaria is often called a mini-continent.
Check it out for yourself! The north of the island is greener, covered with dense pine and laurel forests, while the south resembles a desert with the famous Maspalomas sand dunes stretching right to the ocean. The north is more mountainous, while the south is flatter.
Gran Canaria has 235 kilometers of coastline. Beaches range from golden sand to black volcanic sand in the north, pebbly and rocky beaches. There are more than 80 different beaches to suit every taste.
The most popular beaches and beach spots are Playa de Mogán, Las Canteras, Amadores, Playa Guayedra, Las Maspalomas, Aguadulce, Guigui, or Sardina del Norte.
Main Resorts of the Island
The main tourist centers are in the south of the island — Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas, Meloneras, and San Agustín, Las Palmas. Focus on these areas when choosing a place to stay.
Below, I’ll briefly go over the best regions of Gran Canaria and give recommendations on where to stay, with examples of hotels and apartments.
The central part of Gran Canaria features mountainous areas with hiking and driving routes. There are many cozy villages perfect for a short stopover and a 1–2 day rest.
The northern part of the island has the port of Agaete, where ferries from Tenerife arrive. This area is more natural, with rocky terrain, and is interesting for a day or two, especially if you’ve been to Gran Canaria before.
The capital of the island, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is a great place for a vacation with beaches, lots of attractions, and city life.
The center of nightlife is the tourist capital of the island, Playa del Inglés. It somewhat resembles Las Américas in Tenerife but is a bit different.
The famous Maspalomas dunes are a center of LGBT tourism and a nudist hub. In any case, it’s worth visiting to admire the sand dunes. Just ignore the naked people. No one will force you to undress at the beach, but some bars will only let you in without clothes. Keep this in mind when planning your vacation.
When to Visit Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is a year-round resort island, with the peak season at the end of summer and early autumn. We spent a whole month in the Canaries during winter and think the best time to visit is in winter, late autumn, and spring when there are fewer people.
The weather is pleasant year-round without extreme heat, with summer temperatures between 25–29°C and winter temperatures between 18–25°C. You can swim in the ocean all year round. There are calm beaches with still waters and open beaches with waves. The water temperature is around 20–22°C all year, thanks to a warm current that creates this unique climate.
The annual pride event (LGBT parade) is held in Maspalomas during the second week of May, so consider this when planning your trip.
How to Get to and Around Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria has its own airport (LPA), located in Bahía de Gando, 19 km south of the capital, Las Palmas.
You can get to Gran Canaria via direct flights from many major European cities, as well as from Africa. We search for tickets on this site. Popular airlines like WizzAir and Ryanair fly here.
Gran Canaria is connected by ferry to other Canary Islands. The ferry port is located in Agaete and the capital, Las Palmas.
Getting around the island is best done by car, which we rent from this site. No complaints about the service or prices!
There are also buses, but they are inconvenient as you lose a lot of time and can’t reach all destinations.
Where to Stay in Gran Canaria
The most popular area for living and vacationing in Gran Canaria is Playa del Inglés. Everything here is tailored for tourism, with many beaches and various tourist activities. Besides, the Maspalomas dunes are very close.
If LGBT community spots or nudist beaches are your priority, choose the Maspalomas area. Here, nightlife and a perpetual party await.
If you seek luxury, choose the Meloneras area.
Other excellent areas for vacationing in Gran Canaria are Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arguineguín, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Puerto de Mogán, Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, Agaete, Telde, Taurito, and Sardina. My top picks are only the best.
Below, I provide a brief description of the best areas in Gran Canaria with examples of hotels and apartments.
Playa del Inglés
Playa del Inglés, or “PDI” for short, is a tourist town located on the southern coast of Gran Canaria. It is considered part of the Maspalomas region, known for its wide 3-kilometer beach with golden sand, and is the oldest resort on Gran Canaria. It was planned as a resort at the turn of the 1960s and 70s.
All tourist life, including accommodation, is centered around this beach. There are vacation options for every taste, and the population of Playa del Inglés also depends on the section of the beach.
The southern part is wilder, dominated by surfers, kite surfers, and bodybuilders.
The opposite, urban part of Playa del Inglés is perfect for a quiet family beach holiday.
Playa del Inglés has a very lively nightlife, with many bars, restaurants, cafes, shops, and shopping centers. Some clubs stay open until dawn, so boredom is not an option.
In the southern part, the resort borders the Maspalomas dunes. I recommend visiting them; they are impressive.
Playa del Inglés is well connected to other areas of the island infrastructure-wise. If you don’t plan to travel much around the island, you can manage without a car.
Gran Canaria Airport is located about 30 km northeast of the city center.
Recommended hotels:
- Santa Monica Suites Hotel 4*— Optimal choice for a vacation in this area. Fantastic location in the dunes by the ocean. Delicious food in the hotel restaurant. Excellent service at the reception.
- MUR Apartamentos Buenos Aires Gran Canaria — Best budget place to stay in this area of Gran Canaria.
- Hotel Riu Papayas – All Inclusive — Luxury vacation in Gran Canaria in a great location. You don’t have to think about anything; everything is already taken care of in the best way.
Maspalomas
Maspalomas is a tourist area in the south of Gran Canaria. Officially, it includes areas like Playa del Inglés, Meloneras, and Sonnenland. But in practice, Maspalomas refers to the area west of Playa del Inglés. These two resorts border each other.
Maspalomas is the capital of gay tourism and nudists not only in Gran Canaria but also in all of Europe. Yes, the scale is that large.
Here, all infrastructure caters to the interests of the gay community, including nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and other public spaces.
A traditional visitor might come here to admire the dunes and the ocean, which is what we did. Staying here if you’re not part of the gay community doesn’t make much sense.
Maspalomas has gay beaches, a nudist beach, and traditional beaches.
Besides gay culture, the main attraction of Maspalomas is the Maspalomas Dunes, declared a natural park and protected by the state. Another attraction is the Maspalomas Lighthouse.
From Maspalomas, it’s easy to get to other parts of the island and the airport by car or bus. The airport is 30 km away.
Recommended hotels:
- Palm Oasis Maspalomas — Optimal choice for a vacation in this area. Quiet hotel in a tropical garden with views of the Maspalomas dunes.
- Bungalows Cordial Sandy Golf — Budget hotel with the best price-quality ratio.
- Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia – Gran Lujo — Luxury accommodation in Maspalomas with great reviews.
Meloneras
Meloneras is a tourist town on the southern coast of Gran Canaria. It is located west of Maspalomas. Here you’ll find the Maspalomas Lighthouse and the Maspalomas Dunes within walking distance.
Meloneras has the best 4* and 5* hotels and villas on the island. Overall, it’s a great area for a quality beach vacation. It’s very cozy and luxurious. Don’t expect to find cheap accommodation here — there isn’t any.
The town’s highlight is a picturesque promenade that connects the coastline from the Maspalomas Lighthouse to Meloneras Beach.
Pros of Meloneras:
- Maspalomas Dunes within walking distance
- Many quality hotels and resorts
- Excellent beaches and a quiet, peaceful atmosphere
Recommended hotels:
- Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort & Spa 5* — Top choice among hotels in this area of Gran Canaria.
- Hotel Riu Palace Oasis — The best hotel within walking distance to the beach with high-level service.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the capital and largest city of Gran Canaria, and here it’s simply called Las Palmas. It is located on the northwest coast of the island. Las Palmas was founded by the Spanish in 1478 and is one of the oldest cities in the region.
On the northern edge of the city is the famous Las Canteras Beach — 3 km of golden sand. Within the city, there are also several other beaches — Las Alcaravaneras, La Laja, and El Confital.
Las Palmas has well-developed public transportation — buses, and ferries from other islands of the archipelago arrive here. Las Palmas Airport (LPA) is about 20 km from the city.
Advantages of vacationing in Las Palmas:
- Infrastructure of a big city
- Ferry and cruise port
- Cultural attractions
- Wide range of accommodation for any budget
Recommended hotels:
- Boutique Hotel Cordial La Peregrina — Very cozy hotel with a rooftop pool and bar, spacious modern rooms. Great price and central city location! Highly recommended.
- Apartamentos Colón Playa — Best budget option right on the great Las Canteras Beach.
- Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel — Top choice among luxury hotels in Las Palmas.
San Agustín
San Agustín is a tourist town on the southern coast of Gran Canaria. This pleasant resort town borders the well-known Playa del Inglés. However, it’s much quieter here. I recommend staying here if you don’t like tourist crowds and hustle.
San Agustín has a great city beach stretching 600 meters with calm water and almost no currents.
The main beaches in this area are Las Burras, San Agustín, El Aguila, Bahia Feliz, and Tarajalillo. All beaches have clean golden sand and small waves.
I consider this area the best for family vacations on Gran Canaria. Nearby is the Sioux City Park San Agustín, a Wild West-themed amusement park.
San Agustín is well connected by bus to Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas, the capital Las Palmas, and the airport. Travel time by bus between Las Palmas Airport and San Agustín is about 30 minutes.
Recommended hotels in this area:
- Bull Costa Canaria & SPA – Only Adults — Great location near the ocean and beach, stylish light spacious rooms, beautiful territory. Good price. No drawbacks. Optimal choice in this area.
- Grupotel Playa Feliz — Simply luxurious option for a ridiculous price, 60 euros for a double room, pool, close to the ocean, excellent service. The price depends on the season, but in any case, it’s a very good price for such a place.
- Paradisus by Meliá Gran Canaria – All Inclusive — All-inclusive, 5*, luxury option in this area that I recommend.
Puerto de Mogán
Puerto de Mogán is a picturesque fishing village and marina located in the municipality of Mogán. This place is incredibly beautiful, situated at the mouth of a steep ravine on the southwest coast of Gran Canaria.
In my ranking, Puerto de Mogán is higher than Playa del Inglés. It has a charming historic center, a fishing port, and a marina. I really love places like this.
The main beach, Playa de Mogán, is protected by the port, so there are no high waves here. The very comfortable entry into the water and calm water make this beach ideal for family and children’s vacations.
The coastline with picturesque cliffs is another plus. Swimming with such beautiful views is doubly pleasant.
Naturally, the beach area and the small promenade near the port and marina are dotted with restaurants, cafes, and bars. Plus, the atmosphere of a fishing village and a few historical landmarks.
Accommodation here is mostly mid-range or high-end, with very few budget tourist apartments.
Recommended hotels and apartments:
- Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa — Spacious rooms, excellent breakfasts, close to the beach and promenade. Optimal hotel in this area.
- Apartamentos Cordial Mogán Valle — Best budget apartments, suitable for couples and families with children, pools on-site, close to the beach.
- Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Gran Canaria Mogan — Top business class, the best hotel in this area.
Arguineguín
Arguineguín is a traditional fishing town in the municipality of Mogán on the southeast of Gran Canaria. It’s less touristy and perfect for those seeking a more authentic local atmosphere without crowds of tourists.
Main beaches in this area:
- Playa de las Marañuelas, with dark sand and about 400 meters long, protected by breakwaters from the nearby fishing port. The beach is fully equipped and suitable for families with children.
- Beaches and natural pool of Santa Águeda, located a few kilometers to the south.
Arguineguín has many 3*, 4*, and 5* hotels and apartments. Many new accommodation options have been built in recent years.
Recommended hotels and apartments:
- Bull Dorado Beach & SPA 3* — Optimal choice in this area, responsive staff, well-suited for family vacations, including with small children.
- Calypso Family — Budget option with a pool, large rooms, terrace, and city views.
Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria
Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria is a tourist town located on the southwest coast of Gran Canaria. This town was planned and built in the 1960s specifically to meet the growing demand for tourism.
Puerto Rico has a unique microclimate as it is situated between the ocean and the mountains. There are almost no winds because the mountains protect it from the trade winds coming from Africa.
Puerto Rico has two main beaches. One is in the city center with a promenade, restaurants, and terraces. To the west is another beach, Playa de Amadores, separated from Puerto Rico by a mountain promontory.
You can get to this area by renting a car on the GC-1 highway. There is also bus service to the island’s capital and the airport.
There’s plenty of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. I highly recommend this cozy and beautiful place in Gran Canaria.
Recommended hotels and apartments:
- Bahia Blanca 3* — Both optimal and budget-friendly choice in Puerto Rico, with a gorgeous ocean view from the open pool, located on a hill. You’ll have to walk a bit to get to the beach, but it’s not a big deal. Food and drinks are available at the poolside bar.
