Best things to do in Gran Canaria—ranked based on my own experience
How much time do you need in Gran Canaria?
Trip plan: the ultimate 7-day Gran Canaria itinerary
Visiting Gran Canaria: Quick tips for your 7-day Gran Canaria Itinerary
My list of things to do in Gran Canaria | One week in Gran Canaria
1. Maspalomas Dunes and Beaches
5. Cactualdea and Playa de la Aldea
I’ve traveled all over the Canary Islands, and there are tons of things to do in Gran Canaria! It’s cool how much contrast you can find here, and it’s that variety that makes Gran Canaria attractions feel so diverse, from beaches to canyons to mountain villages in a single day. You’ll almost get whiplash!
One of my favorite places, if not my favorite, is the Dunas de Maspalomas—massive sand dunes that reach all the way to the sea... it’s possible I might even still have sand in my shoes from exploring the dunes.
Also, the “Island of Eternal Spring” honestly delivers some of the most ideal weather I’ve ever experienced in my travels—not too hot, not too cold—just right for my almost middle-aged bones.
There are endless things to do in Gran Canaria, which is why I took it upon myself to create a list of the spots I liked best to help you plan your own trip. And I’ll tell you exactly how to do it, too.
Read more from my Canary Islands travel blog.
Map of Gran Canaria’s top things to do
Here is the ranking of my favorite things to see and do in Gran Canaria:
Happy me exploring many different things on just one smallish island
Gran Canaria is like a miniature continent. I felt like I was moving through different landscapes all the time, which explains why there is such a wide variety of things to do in Gran Canaria.
It often felt more like Africa in nature and Europe in culture. The north is greener, wetter, and even reminded me of Peru in places, while the south is dry, sunny, and full of resorts. The contrast makes it so diverse and full of things to see, even just from short drives between regions... it makes complete sense that tourism is the main breadwinner, as there are so many things to do in Gran Canaria.
It’s all in the numbers: Gran Canaria is the third largest island by area in the Canary Islands, attracting over 3 million tourists a year. Around 47% of the island is officially protected, and it’s also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Good to know: It’s also a family-friendly destination with plenty of Gran Canaria attractions for kids.
Rocks everywhere one moment, trees everywhere another. That’s Gran Canaria for you
You can see a good amount of Gran Canaria in about 7 days, with an optional day 8 if you want to slow down or add extra stops to make sure you see all the Gran Canaria attractions.
What I like about my 7-day Gran Canaria itinerary is that it’s completely flexible; you can do it in any order. Gran Canaria is a circular island, so day 1 can easily be day 3. I structured it on the location of the hotels I stayed in, not a fixed route.
Top tip: If you’re short on time and only have 3 days, I’d do Maspalomas, Pico de las Nieves, Roque Bentayga, and a mountain village thrown in for good measure.
Gran Canaria takes you from Arrakis to the Middle Earth (Maspalomas Dunes -> Pico de las Nieves)
Day 1–The South
Day 2–The North
Day 3–The Middle
Day 4–The Middle and North
This itinerary lets you enjoy the beauty of small towns and natural lakes, too
Day 5–The Southeast
Day 6–The Southwest
Day 7–The West
Day 8–Optional: The Northwest
Driving down the roads in Gran Canaria is seriously a delight
I stayed at The Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Gran Canaria, Mogan. This 5-star hotel in Puerto de Mogán had it all, and I mean ALL. The best way to describe it is a waterfront sanctuary.
Here’s your Gran Canaria bucket list with details on how to visit and why I liked each place.
Keep reading to see what to do in Gran Canaria in one week.
Maspalomas is nothing but stunning
I loved the Maspalomas Dunes (Dunas de Maspalomas), a large nature reserve on the south coast of Gran Canaria, where I felt like I’d wandered into a desert that accidentally took the wrong turn and ended up by the ocean.
I saw wild, desert dunes that met the sea—Mother Nature for the win! I still daydream about this day at the Maspalomas Dunes.
The dunes are larger than they look in photos. I’ve seen bigger dunes during my travels in places like Namibia, but these somehow felt completely out of place in the Canaries.
Don’t miss: The Maspalomas Lighthouse on the west side of the dunes.
Maspalomas beach complements the city really well
Maspalomas Beach is beautiful, but I’m not a huge beach person—shocking, I know—but I do know a good one when I see one. It’s beautiful with its 3 km (1.9 mi) of golden sand, dramatic dunes, and that iconic lighthouse.
The beach was very clean, which shocked me as it was so busy. I thought, wow, I guess my fellow Europeans aren’t that messy in public places. Who knew?
Have a look at my 3-day itinerary for Maspalomas.
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Pico de las Nieves took my breath away
I did the Pico de las Nieves hike, starting from a decent-sized parking lot near Llanos de la Pez—no stress parking, which already felt like a win. It’s a 4 km (2.5 mi) circular hike with about a 270–300 m (886–984 ft) ascent, depending on where you start, and since it’s a volcano, of course, it’s right in the middle of the island, like it owns the place. So cocky.
The trail is well-maintained and very stupid-proof signposted, for fools like me, which saved me from going somewhere random. And even though it’s “only” 1,949 m (6,394 ft), I definitely felt it. A big part of the hike goes through pine forests, and I appreciated the shade.
The view of the landscape was a nice reward for the hike
At the top, since it’s the highest point in Gran Canaria, you get 360° views. If there’s no haze, you can see the sea and even Pico del Teide.
Of course, as my life goes, it was hazy, but I still saw Teide, and it lined up nicely with Roque Nublo. I also saw Roque Bentayga, and the whole landscape felt like Arizona or Utah. Teide is about 2000 m (6,562 ft) higher, but it looked like the same height from here.
The peak was full of tourists, which annoyed me and made it less awesome, but what could I really do? I know there are so many things to do in Gran Canaria... why was everyone at de las Nieves at the same time? At the summit, it was neat; I could see how half of the island is very dry and desert-like, and the other green.
Good to know: There is a small parking lot close to the summit, but it was packed. I did the hike from Llanos de la Pez. Be like me and walk off all the tasty food I consumed on the island.
Hike rating: I’d rate it easy to moderate difficulty for people in good shape. Wink wink. I’ll see you at the gym tomorrow… or maybe I’ll sleep in and then eat pancakes. Life is all about balance.
Top tip: Make sure to take proper hiking shoes with traction, as it can get very slippery during bad weather.
The panorama made Roque Bentayga an absolute must-visit
Good to know: Parking is free but very limited, maybe only 10 cars.
Roque Bentayga is a 14-million-year-old volcanic monolith, and the views from the area are mind-blowing. You can either hike up or drive to the parking lot. Definite Grand Canyon vibes, with Roque Nublo on one side and Pico del Teide on the other.
The surrounding cliffs are massive, and so is the valley—a perfect backdrop for Wild West films.
Top tip: I connected it with Tejeda, Artenara, and GC-210, drove through the Valley of Tears, then finished with an epic drive on the GC-60.
Caldera de los Marteles was a nice way to spice up the trip
The non-active Caldera de los Marteles was one of those stops where I suddenly felt like I was on another planet. It’s a forested area in a million-year-old caldera that is about 500 m (1,640 ft) wide and 80 m (262 ft) deep. AMAZING.
I hiked around the rim and went down into the crater. Do the same, because how often does one get to explore a non-active caldera? Proper cool stuff here.
What was really neat is that it was cloudy, and things just disappeared while I was in the caldera. It felt otherworldly.
Good to know: The viewpoint on the GC-130 offers perfect views if you don’t have time to explore on foot.
Cactualdea has a really impressive collection
Cactualdea is one of the biggest cactus gardens in Europe. I like cacti even though I don’t know much about them. I was even able to identify some of the prickly friends I have at home on my windowsill, just here they were monster-sized.
The setting is awesome—a lot of really tall cacti surrounded by mountains. Gran Canaria has the best climate for cacti, and I can say that this prickly park really made that fact hit home.
What I found a bit annoying was the lack of information about the cacti there… I did, however, learn about some rare species that they have there. The overall vibe was very serene. I spent a good hour there.
Top tip: Don’t be lazy. The higher up, the more flowering cacti you’ll see. I’d put this Gran Canaria attraction among the best things to see in Gran Canaria.
Peace, quiet, and pebbles—that’s Playa de la Aldea for you
I found Aldea, a 19th-century fish harbour, to be charming. It has one of the prettiest beaches on Gran Canaria. It’s a pebble beach, which didn’t bother me as I kept my shoes on and enjoyed the fact that it wasn’t busy. Beach goers don’t usually go to pebble beaches, do they?
There’s a nice promenade for walking and a cool tunnel at the end of the beach. If the weather is good, you can see Tenerife and Pico de Teide—I unfortunately saw haze.
Mirador del Balcón truly deserves a spot in your Gran Canaria itinerary
Mirador del Balcon is the mirador in Gran Canaria you can’t miss. The observation deck hangs over a cliff where land meets the sea, and it all had me feeling quite poetic about life. I felt the views were worth it.
The sea cliffs are nicknamed the “Dragon’s Tail” and I’m not sure I actually saw anything resembling a dragon, but the longer I stared, the more it started to actually take shape. Or maybe I was feeling a little lightheaded from the sheer drop into the sea?
Tamadaba Natural Park might smell like a car air freshener, but it's still very cute
I walked through Tamadaba Natural Park, and wow. So many pine trees. They are everywhere, tall and proud (like me), very impressive and peaceful (unlike me), and the scent of the pine was very strong.
The nature reserve has the island’s best-preserved pine forests, rugged cliffs (don’t get too close), proper views, and a lot of hiking trails. I thought I was doing an easy hike, but halfway through, my knees were angry with me and looking for a place to sit down. I was tired, but this was still one of the best things to do in Gran Canaria.
Who knew Teror could be so nice?
What a great name for a city, “Teror”. I wonder if there’s a twin city called “Fear”. Probably somewhere in America with all this current political BS. Anyway, I digress… Teror is one of the prettiest towns I saw in the whole of the Canary Islands.
The colonial buildings spread out across rugged mountains. It reminded me of Peru, very similar to Cusco… actually, it felt even more Peruvian than Peru itself, if that makes sense.
The old town center is nice with its cathedral and a Cistercian monastery—you know, all the South American stuff… but wait, it’s the Canary Islands!
Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino was the highlight for me. It was very atmospheric inside—I’m not a religious guy, but this place moved me.
It’s also interesting to note that the Teror Miracle occurred here in 1481 AD. Apparently, the icon of the Virgin Mary appeared on a giant pine tree in the town. Now I don’t believe in such things, but I do, however, find people who do downright “fascinating”.
Good to know: The streets are super steep. Get ready for a workout.
Top tip: There’s a parking lot just in front of the town hall.
Tejeda is a very nice spot to visit, if you can find good parking
Tejeda and Cruz de Tejeda—now this was a proper mountain situation. I drove for about 15 minutes before I reached Cruz de Tejeda, which is 500 m (1,640 ft) higher and offers amazing views of Bentayga and Roque Nublo. Really, the scenery up there made me stop talking mid-sentence (which is saying something) and just stare.
The charming village of Tejeda itself is cool. It sits at about 1060 m (3,478 ft) above sea level, and its white houses kind of cling to the mountains. It slightly reminded me of the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Maybe that’s a stretch? That’s what I saw, though.
Good to know: It’s hard to find a parking spot in both places, as it’s very touristy. I went in the evening because the light is beautiful… and so did everyone else.
The cliffs and beach near Puerto de Mogán, aka Little Venice
Puerto de Mogán is known for its cliffs and little old town area, which is oddly enough, called “Little Venice”. Little it is, but nothing about the buildings or vibe reminded me of Venetian architecture.
It is very pretty, though, as far as coastal towns go. It felt more like Mexico with its colonial architecture. Maybe someone had too much rum and named it after Venice. Who knows?
The area is also a good base for loads of tours. I considered whale watching or a submarine trip, but decided to do one next time.
Good to know: Cañada de Los Gatos, an archaeological site from the Middle Ages, is close. If you have extra time, it’s fairly interesting.
Top tip: Climb up to the old town viewpoint for the good views.
Roque Nublo is a delight for hiking lovers such as myself
Oh, Roque Nublo. You’re a pretty tall rock formation at 80 m (263 ft) high. I loved visiting this old hunk of stone… at 3.5 million years old, it made me feel quite young. The setting around the area is a mix of juniper forest and Grand Canyon-style desert.
Parking was very limited, so I arrived early. In fact, parking is prohibited at the closest point, so I needed to park at a designated area and walk about 50 minutes (there is also a shuttle bus). The hike itself is 2 km (1.2 mi) each way, starting at around 1600 m (5,249 ft), and yes, it was much colder than by the sea, at least 10 degrees less, so I was happy I had a jacket.
Roque Nublo is accessible 24/7, but the main trail requires a free mandatory QR code reservation. Even Mother Nature requires a QR code these days. You can also book a tour guide, I recommend this one.
Good to know: I’d skip the walk in bad weather—there are other things to do in Gran Canaria. The rocky path gets slippery, and you’re mostly walking along a cliff edge without rails.
Mirador de Veneguera is a very honorable mention
The miradores, or lookout points, along GC-200 are some of the most scenic drives I’ve ever done. The desert-like climate with canyons full of wildflowers and cacti, and views that feel like the Grand Canyon… just so good! I had a few moments with a weak GPS signal, though, just to point that out.
Top Tip: Make sure to take car sickness medicine. The roads are all zig-zags! I was okay, luckily. The last thing I wanted was to feel drugged.
My stops:
Good to know: Views get even better just above Los Molinos toward GC-606, but go early as the road is very narrow and traffic jams happen.
Poema del Mar is not only pretty but also educational—loved it
The capital city of Las Palmas. What can I say? Driving was absolutely mental in Las Palmas. Like the worst I’ve ever experienced. The drivers never let me in; they were speeding everywhere and cutting me off constantly. I just put myself in the right mindset, put my driving gloves on, and hoped for the best.
By the port in Las Palmas is the Poema del Mar, which is the largest aquarium in Europe, belonging to the Loro Parque group. I have to say that it was brilliantly done and easy to navigate, as it was split into areas like tropical and Mediterranean, starting with Mexican cenotes.
The aquarium offered interactive tablets, trilingual info, and loads of endangered species like axolotls and other amphibians. Tons of carnivorous fish, including tigerfish. I could tell a lot of money went into this place.
The highlights for me included a kids’ Nemo tunnel, a huge water column, and a shark tank with bull sharks and tiger sharks.
This genuinely feels like a shot from the Nemo movies
Nearby is Las Canteras beach, which is often called the longest urban beach in Europe, but this seems to be hotly debated. It felt like Miami Beach, lively with a lot of restaurants. The Alfredo Kraus Auditorium at the end of the beach looked like a lighthouse, a strange architecture.
If you look closely, you’ll see the cave dwellings
I drove along the famous GC-103 to reach the Guayadeque canyon. The cliffs are massive, with cave dwellings carved right into the rock. It’s a deep gorge and much greener than the others. I felt noticeably colder even in the middle of the day. The short rim walks were easy, and the cave dwellings, which locals still use as cottage-style homes, were pretty cool.
Top tip: There are some good restaurants, with the majority being situated in the dwellings, so I’d save a meal for here. It can be surprisingly touristy; it’s on everyone’s list of things to do in Gran Canaria, so arrive early or late.
El Bufadero was so fun
El Bufadero—there was a parking lot nearby, which was already a win in my book. On this side of Gran Canaria, I saw massive waves smashing into and filling this large hole in a cliff and then emptying. The hole is carved into basalt and other lava rock.
It was cool and quite hypnotic to watch, and it reminded me of a cenote in a way.
The water surface can change by 2–3 meters depending on the swell, which is pretty wild to watch, especially considering it’s so close to the highway.
The visit can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on how long you end up staring at waves as I did. Definitely worth a quick stop.
Great aesthetics and cool alcohol—itinerary approved
I visited the Parroquia de San Juan Bautista de Arucas church in Arucas, which is quite majestic as far as churches go. The old town area is small with a few streets and a nice park, but otherwise, the main attraction here was rum and bananas.
The Arehucas Rum Distillery was my main stop. I got to sample four different rums at the end of the tour, and I was a happy man.
Another highlight of the town, if you’re into bananas, is Hacienda La Rekompensa, also known as the Mundo del Plátano, which is basically a banana plantation. I didn’t go. I like rum more.
I suggest visiting in the evening for a more atmospheric time and fewer crowds.
Parking Tip: There’s a lot near the motorway and free parking at the local McDonald’s.
Playa de Guigui can turn into quite the adventure if the tide turns
Playa de Guigui is a remote natural beach with no official opening or closing hours, but trust me when I say you have to time it correctly—you absolutely need to go during daylight hours.
I arrived earlier in the day and started heading back in the late afternoon. It’s a stunning, wild beach, very much worth the physical effort. The hike itself was no joke; I walked around 2 to 2.5 hours each way.
Top tip: You absolutely don’t want to be doing a questionable cliff hike in the dark, so make sure you time it well.
Important!! It’s tide-dependent. The beach disappears at high tide, so check tide charts. Mother Nature is in charge.
I feel like a picture of Cenobio de Valeron could trigger somebody’s tripophobia
Cenobio de Valerón is an ancient archaeological site in Gran Canaria. It reminded me of a giant honeycomb… and really, that’s what it is, a huge complex of interconnected grain storage caves that were carved in the rock by the island’s indigenous people.
It was neat to learn more about the island’s past. And it was cheap. I love a good ole cheap time!
I also loved the views from the site, which honestly might end up being the highlight for a lot of people who have this on their list of things to do in Gran Canaria.
Agaete Piscina Natural was cool (literally)
The Agaete Piscina Natural swimming pools were cool with the ocean crashing nearby. The water felt slightly warmer than the sea, and it had to be the safest opportunity for swimming in Gran Canaria.
The water was cool, though—I tried one pool and then got out. I preferred the hotel pool for swimming as the sea in that area is usually only about 20°C (68°F) anyway. The natural pools were pretty, but a bit meh for me.
Good to know: During big waves, the pools go from nice to dangerous. Gotta respect Mother Nature.
Who wouldn’t love to spend some time with a couple of friendly crocs
Cocodrilo Park has a lot of reptiles and snakes, but my favorite thing I saw was the Nile crocodiles and alligators. Some of them were huge. It operates mainly as a rescue center, so the animals seem well cared for, even if some of the habitats felt small and outdated.
I saw a show where they fed the crocs... in broken English, but never mind, I was there for the croc visuals, plus I speak Spanish. I don’t think the crocs cared.
Fun fact: Crocodiles can dive up to 30 meters and stay underwater for 2 hours. See, it was educational!
Good to know: Parking is free in a huge parking lot. No stress.
Gran Canaria definitely earned its spot as my favorite Canary Island
Absolutely yes!! There are so many things to see in Gran Canaria, and it was very easy to fill up an entire 7-day Gran Canaria itinerary. The landscapes on the island are incredible, and I saw the most beautiful towns full of lively vibes and great restaurants. I loved it and would have to say it was my favorite out of all the Canary Islands... so many things to do in Gran Canaria! Book your flying ticket today and thank me tomorrow!
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Best things to do in Gran Canaria—ranked based on my own experience
How much time do you need in Gran Canaria?
Trip plan: the ultimate 7-day Gran Canaria itinerary
Visiting Gran Canaria: Quick tips for your 7-day Gran Canaria Itinerary
My list of things to do in Gran Canaria | One week in Gran Canaria
1. Maspalomas Dunes and Beaches
5. Cactualdea and Playa de la Aldea
Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
If that sounds like your kind of journey, hop on board, and let’s explore the world together!
I started this blog after realizing how tough it can be to find reliable, authentic travel info. You wouldn’t believe how many “travel bloggers” never even visit the places they write about! On Next Level of Travel, you can count on my full honesty and insights drawn from my firsthand experiences.
Here’s the deal: not every destination is all superlatives and unicorns. I’ll let you know if a tourist attraction isn’t worth your time, like skipping overrated stops in my 2-week Spain itinerary. And when I find something truly special—like the perfect mix of culture and nature in Cape Town—you can trust that it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
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