Gran Canaria Holidays

Holidays to Gran Canaria promise a mix of great weather, friendly locals and delicious food and drink. The mix of popular and lesser-known beaches and a handful of attractions make this Canary Island a no brainer when it comes to fun-filled family holidays.

Beaches
With over 60km of coastline, Gran Canaria is practically made up of beaches. The largest and most popular of these is Maspalomas beach; its vast size means it rarely feels crowded. Playa del Ingles beach is also particularly popular, being over 6km long and boasting calm water and huge sand dunes.

Culture
Gran Canaria pulls out all the stops when it comes to holding its annual carnival. Taking place in Parque de Santa Catalina, Las Palmas, the celebration continues for a number of weeks, including live music, fancy dress and a parade. An annual film festival also takes place at the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus in Las Palmas. The event lasts for 10 days and shows over 100 films including the acclaimed The Vanished Dream, The Visit and A Minute of Glory.

Food & Drink
The cuisine of Gran Canaria consists of fresh fish such as seabass and sargos, fruit including bananas and papayas and home-grown vegetables such as Canarian potaoes. Famous dishes include Sancocho, a dry and salty fish stew served with sweet potatoes and truchas, a small pie flavoured with almond and cinnamon. Finish your meal with a glass of the local red wine, Tinto del Monte.

Nightlife
Plaza de Espana in Las Palmas is the most popular area with the 18-30 crowd as clubs such as Tres x Uno remain open until the early hours. Resorts on the south of the island are just as lively with popular resorts such as Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles boasting hundreds of bars, pubs and clubs.

Important Information
Flight Time: 4h40
Time Difference: +0
Currency: Euro
Official Language: Spanish