Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Holidays

Located on the island’s lesser visited northern coast, Las Palmas is Gran Canaria’s original resort and the largest city in the Canary Islands. Las Palmas is basically what happens when you combine a proper Spanish city with one of Europe's best urban beaches, then add year-round sunshine and prices that won't require you to remortgage your house to enjoy a whopper of a holiday!

☀️ Holidays to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 2026

• ☀️ Year-round sunshine with summer highs of 26°C and mild winters around 21°C — officially one of the best climates in the world

• 💶 Proper city prices — around €3-4 for a pint and €10-15 for a main course. Much cheaper than the tourist resorts down south

• 🏖️ Las Canteras beach stretches over 3km right through the city centre — protected by a natural reef called La Barra, making the water beautifully calm for swimming

🌟 Highlights

• 🏛️ Vegueta — the UNESCO-listed old town founded in 1478, packed with cobbled streets, colonial architecture and the Casa de Colón where Columbus stopped off on his way to the Americas

• 🎭 Carnival — one of the biggest and most spectacular carnivals in Spain, with the famous Drag Queen Gala, Grand Parade and weeks of street parties

• 🍽️ The food scene — from Michelin-starred restaurants and Canarian tapas bars to fresh seafood on the harbour. Try papas arrugadas with mojo, sancocho canario and ron miel

• 🛍️ Triana — the main shopping district with a gorgeous pedestrianised boulevard, local boutiques, international brands and some of the city's best bars and restaurants

🏨 Best Hotels in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas has a brilliant range of city hotels, from beachfront classics to boutique boltholes in the historic quarter. Most are clustered around Las Canteras beach and the Santa Catalina area, putting you within walking distance of everything.

Couples

• 🏨 Bull Reina Isabel & Spa 4-star Right on the Las Canteras seafront with a rooftop pool, spa and the eighth-floor Fiesta Bar — one of the best sunset spots in the city. The Roma Restaurant does a brilliant buffet breakfast overlooking the beach, and guests get their own reserved section of Las Canteras with complimentary loungers.

• 🏨 NH Imperial Playa 4-star Steps from Las Canteras with 162 modern rooms, some with Atlantic-facing terraces. Great location right by Parque Santa Catalina for the Carnival buzz, and the sister hotel's fitness centre is free for guests.

Families

• 🏨 Hotel Concorde 4-star A recently restored 126-room hotel just 50m from Las Canteras beach with a great central location surrounded by restaurants and shops. Originally designed by architect Fabregas in 1969, it's a solid family base with spacious rooms and 24-hour reception.

• 🏨 Occidental Las Palmas 4-star About 20 minutes from the airport — one of the quickest transfers on the island. Family rooms and junior suites available, plus a rooftop pool with 360-degree views. The Insay Café does a cracking breakfast with local ingredients.

Luxury

• 🏨 Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel 5-star GL The grande dame of Las Palmas, open since 1890 and set in gorgeous tropical gardens. Two Michelin-starred restaurants (Poemas by Hermanos Padrón and Muxgo by Borja Marrero), a rooftop bar, infinity pool, and a wellness centre with Turkish baths. Suites get exclusive rooftop pool access. This is Gran Canaria's most prestigious hotel.

Budget

• 🏨 Hotel Aloe Canteras 3-star Just 80m from Las Canteras with a rooftop terrace and panoramic cocktail bar. Modern rooms, a decent breakfast buffet and coworking spaces if you fancy doing a bit of remote working between beach sessions. Brilliant value for the location.

• 🏨 EXE Las Palmas 3-star A contemporary city hotel just 40m from Las Canteras with a rooftop pool and terrace. The rooms come with next-generation latex mattresses and a pillow menu, so you'll sleep like a dream. No on-site restaurant but the Macaroni beachfront restaurant is three minutes' walk away.

The Urban Beaches That Breaks All the Rules

Las Canteras - the cities main beach is absolutely incredible - a 3-kilometer stretch of golden sand right in the city center that's protected by a natural reef, creating perfect swimming conditions and waves that are brilliant for surfing. It's like someone took a contender for best urban beach and then made it even better by adding palm-lined promenades, excellent beach bars, and that infectious local atmosphere where families, surfers, and sun-worshippers all happily coexist.

Playa de las Alcaravaneras is also a popular pick with families owing to its calm waters, while those who prefer their beaches on the wilder side can head to the nearby secluded cove of El Confital.

Food & Drink for your Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Holidays

Much like the remainder of the island, typical Canarian cuisine can be found in Las Palmas, with a dash of international influence. The wide variety of restaurants available ranges from local and Spanish to Mediterranean and even Asian flavours! Expect tapas, delicious seafood and the Canaries’ signature wrinkly potatoes. And be sure to try the local “ron miel” liqueur, made with delicious Canarian rum and honey.

Culture That Doesn't Feel Like Homework

The historic Vegueta quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage site and absolutely fascinating - think beautiful colonial architecture, cobbled streets, and the house where Christopher Columbus supposedly stayed (though half of Spain claims this, so take it with a pinch of salt!). The Cathedral is stunning, and the Casa de Colón museum is actually interesting rather than just educational (although, sadly, it doesn’t mean “The House of Colon museum” as Rob from accounts thought it did!)

Nightlife That Locals Actually Use

The nightlife here is fantastic because it's where the locals come to go out! The Triana district comes alive at weekends with traditional tapas bars, and cocktail venues that stay open until dawn. You'll practice your Spanish, learn about local culture, and probably have some of the most memorable nights of your holiday while spending half what you'd pay in tourist areas! Popular clubs include The Fortuni, The Paper Club and Bravia.  

🏄 Holidays to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Travel Guide 2026 / 2027

Families

• 🏖️ Las Canteras beach is a dream for families — the La Barra reef creates a natural lagoon of calm, shallow water perfect for little ones. There are lifeguards, beach bars and parasol hire all along the 3km stretch

• 🐠 Poema del Mar aquarium near the Santa Catalina cruise port has deep-ocean tanks, a tropical jungle zone and interactive exhibits that'll keep kids fascinated for hours

• 🎡 A day trip to Holiday World Maspalomas (about 45 minutes south) has a bowling alley, go-karts, escape rooms and a funfair — a proper full day out

• 🏊 Playa de las Alcaravaneras on the city's east side is another family-friendly beach with calmer waters, plus sailing and kayaking from the nearby nautical club

Couples

• 🍷 Explore the wine bars and tapas restaurants of the Vegueta old town — start at the Mercado de Vegueta for local produce and pintxos, then lose yourself in the cobbled backstreets

• 🌅 Walk the full length of the Las Canteras promenade at sunset, stopping at one of the beachfront bars for a glass of Canarian wine or a ron miel cocktail

• 🎭 Catch a show at the stunning Teatro Pérez Galdós in Triana, or time your visit with the Opera Festival for world-class performances in a gorgeous setting

• 🛍️ Browse the boutiques on Calle Mayor de Triana, the city's pedestrianised shopping boulevard, then grab dinner at one of the tapas bars tucked into the side streets

Groups & Culture

• 🏛️ The Vegueta walking tour is a must — the Cathedral de Santa Ana, Casa de Colón (Columbus museum), and the Canarian Museum all cluster within a few streets. The Corpus Christi flower carpets in June are spectacular

• 🏄 Las Canteras is a brilliant surf spot, especially around La Cícer at the north end of the beach where the reef breaks create consistent waves. Several surf schools hire boards and offer lessons

• 🍺 The nightlife centres around two areas — Triana for cocktails and tapas, and the Parque Santa Catalina/Mesa y López area for clubs and late-night bars. Check out The Paper Club and Fortuni for dancing

• 🚢 The port area around La Isleta is fascinating — an old fishermen's quarter with street art, the 16th-century Castillo de la Luz fortress, and some of the most authentic local restaurants in the city