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10 Best Things To Do In Las Palmas: Itinerary

Las Palmas is a lively city in the north of Gran Canaria! We were lucky enough to call this place home for 2 months as we slowly explored the island whilst working. So after living in the city, we’re now sharing our best things to do in Las Palmas with you!

Even though Las Palmas is the capital of the island , it’s not the most popular place for tourism. Most travellers arriving in Gran Canaria opt for spending a week in the south such as Maspalomas. We do love Puerto de Mogan but feel that Las Palmas is definitely overlooked!

Las Palmas has one of the best urban beaches in Europe and on a sunny day, you’ll see why! Whether you’re interested in relaxing, exploring or learning, we’re confident you’ll find the best places to visit in Las Palmas in our travel guide.

We’ve also created a 1 day Las Palmas itinerary, although we recommend spending two days in the city to soak up it’s bustling charm and the surrounding area.

This post may contain affiliate links. We will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no additional cost to you .

10 Best Things to do in Las Palmas

Table of Contents (Skip to a section!)

So now we’ll jump right into our list of the best things to do in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. Here are a few tips you’ll need if you’re visiting from outside of Spain !

Need a sim in Spain? Grab an easy E-sim here on Airalo . Planning on renting a car in Las Palmas? Find rental car prices on DiscoverCars . ➤ Also check out the best things to do in Gran Canaria, Spain !

1. Relax on Las Canteras

One of the best places to visit in Las Palmas is the incredible Las Canteras (Beach). You honestly can’t miss the long stretch of golden sand.

We spent so much time chilling at Las Canteras it has some of the best sunsets! If you’re lucky you’ll get to see the impressive Mt Teide in Tenerife (we also have a Tenerife itinerary).

Las Canteras is the main area in Las Palmas and you’ll find a large amount of sunbeds on the beach in dedicated areas or you can bring your own towel and grab a spot! The weekends can get pretty busy if it’s a nice day but there’s always enough space for all.

Most areas are suitable for swimming but the temperatures are moderate as it’s the Atlantic Ocean. There’s also lots of marine life in the reefs! Go Scuba Diving or join a Snorkeling Trip .

They have rules in place to ban smoking and loud music in order to keep everyone happy. The beach is always clean, we’ve never found any rubbish around!

If you’re staying on the east side, check out Playa de Las Alcaravaneras. A hidden gem in Las Palmas! I’m sure all the locals know about this beach but before visiting we only knew about Las Canteras. Playa de Las Alcaravaneras is beautiful but a lot smaller and with a view of the cargo ships.

2. Discover the Old Town

Vegueta, (the Old Town) is one of the most popular areas to visit in Las Palmas! You’ll notice the Canarian architecture throughout with wooden balconies, colourful buildings and European cobblestone streets.

The Old Town is right next to San Telmo where you’ll find lots of accommodation in Las Palmas. It’s a bus ride away from Las Canteras but definitely worth a visit! Here’s a few things to do in Vegueta, Las Palmas:

• Casa de Colon – visit the history museum known as Columbus House to learn about life before the colonial period. There’s a small fee to enter.
• Santa Ana Cathedral – in the heart of Old Town you’ll find a stunning large colonial cathedral. For a small fee, you can have a look inside and climb to the rooftop for beautiful views of the old town!
• Plaza de Santa Ana – also check out the plaza right next to the cathedral. There’s a few benches and it’s the perfect spot to admire the area.
• Mercado De Vegueta – a lovely market bursting with colour! It’s hard to resist buying some fruit here.

There are many places to eat in the old town of Las Palmas with outdoor seating. Our favourite is

Restaurante El Patio de Enmedio for their Canarian cuisine. Make sure you try Papas Arrugadas (Canarian potatoes with red sauce) and Pimientos de padrón (fried green peppers) before leaving Gran Canaria!

3. Viewpoints in Las Palmas

Las Palmas is filled with many viewpoints! We’ll show you a few of our favourites in the city.

Visit Mirador de San Roque for beautiful views of the colourful houses in Gran Canaria! This viewpoint is close to Vegueta, but you may need a car to get there. You can also visit Mirador Casas de Colores.

Another one of our favourite viewpoints in Las Palmas is the Mirador de la Cruz , we’re going to cover this in our El Confital section, but it’s a lovely short hike with an impressive view.

You can see the views of Mt Teide and Tenerife from Las Canteras on a clear day which is pretty cool!

We also like the views from La Cornisa, Cuatro Cañones, Schamann and Las Torres but they’re more general.

4. Visit the Caldera de Bandama

The Las Palmas area spreads out pretty far and it means you can explore some of the most beautiful hikes on the island by local bus.

And if you love hiking or nature, one of the best things to do in La Palmas is to visit the Caldera de Bandama !

Caldera de Bandama is the largest caldera in Gran Canaria. At first, we didn’t know what the word caldera meant but it turns out a caldera is a collapsed volcano. A pretty unique thing to do on your Las Palmas trip.

The caldera is a huge crater-looking hole in the ground that was once a volcano. You can now hike around the edges walking on volcanic rubble. We loved it! There’s also a hiking trail at the bottom of the caldera and a viewpoint overlooking the surrounding area.

How to get to the Caldera de Bandama from Las Palmas city centre? Head to San Telmo bus station and take the 311 Global bus. There are buses once an hour. Alternatively, you can take a rental car if you’re planning on exploring more of the Las Palmas area. and the hike will take around 2 hours.

We’ve written a guide on how to hike to the Caldera de Bandama and a better breakdown of the trails you can find here! It’s a unique area to hike in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria!

➤ Join Gran Canaria’s Best Wineries and Views Tour and explore a winery alongside Bandama.

5. Visit Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo

Close to the Caldera de Bandama is a beautiful Canarian Botanical Garden. It’s a good idea to rent a car and visit these places on the same day. Although you can get to this botanical garden by bus from the city centre.

If you’re looking for free things to do in Las Palmas, then this botanical garden is the perfect option. There is no entrance fee which surprised us considering it’s the biggest botanical garden in Spain.

Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo is home to a huge amount of plant species including native Canarian plants! As Las Palmas has a subtropical climate it was really interesting to see the different plants here compared to the UK.

We highly recommend visiting whilst exploring Las Palmas, even if it’s a little out of the way. You can join a Botanical Gardens and Bandama Volcano Tour to get around stress-free! Book here .

6. Surfing, Volleyball & Ultimate frisbee

Las Palmas is full of activities and you’ll find outdoor ball games at Las Canteras. The volleyball scene at the beach is awesome and it’s even possible to join in and learn. There’s a volleyball meet-up at 5 pm every Sunday (subject to change).

There’s also a meet-up every Wednesday to play Ultimate Frisbee . We’ve been using our own frisbee to play casually but this sounds pretty cool too!

One of the best things to do in Las Palmas is go surfing at Las Canteras Beach! You can even go Boogie Boarding! There are so many surf rental shops near La Cícer (Las Canteras), it’s the place to be when surfing!

We recommend these surf companies in Li Cicer (Las Canteras):

• Mojosurf Hurley Surfcamp & Surf School – €40 for a lesson / €20 for a rental
• Buen Surf School – €40 for a lesson / €20 for a rental
• Oceanside | Surf Camp and Surf School Quiksilver – €40 for a lesson /10€ per hour

Alternatively, you can book a Surf Lesson on GetYourGuide ! Locals also like Playa de la Laja surf, but it’s a little further away in Las Palmas.

Also check out our 7 Day Tenerife Road Trip Itinerary !

7. Shop in Las Palmas

As Las Palmas is the main city in Gran Canaria, there are a lot of shops here. If you’re on holiday, shopping may not be the first thing on your mind. But we love the surf shops around Las Canteras and browsing in malls is a great way to escape the hottest part of the day!

Triana is known as the shopping district of Las Palmas (in San Telmo) with a huge number of shops along the main street. We personally prefer the malls, but Triana is lovely to explore after visiting the Old Town.

The shopping malls in Las Palmas aren’t huge but they do have a lot of variety if you know where to look. Here’s a few malls around the city:

• CC Las Arenas – the biggest mall in Las Palmas with many options! it’s right next to the surfing area of Las Canteras!
• El Corte Inglés – there are lots of options here and a fancy grocery store on the bottom level. this mall is in the heart of Las Palmas city centre.
• Centro Comercial El Muelle – there are a few shops here but we only come here for Hiper Dino.
• Alisios – a modern shopping centre quite far outside of the city centre.
• Centro Comercial Las Ramblas – a mall with great food court options!
• Commercial and Leisure Center 7 Palmas – a decent mall with an amazing cinema! We watched a movie here and had recliner seats.

8. Explore Museums in Las Palmas

Just like any city in the world, one of the best places to visit in Las Palmas is the museums around the city. These are great if you have more than 1 day in Las Palmas but if it’s a rainy day, you may find yourself inside anyway! Here’s a few museums you can find in the city:

• Museo Canario €5 – Archeological museum with pre-colonial history
• Casa de Colon €4 – Located in Vegueta, this history museum lets you discover the pre-colonial when Christopher Columbus journeyed to the Canaries.
• CAAM (free) – An Art Gallery in Vegueta.
• Elder Museum of Science and Technology €6 – Explore the science museum in Las Palmas and learn about space.

9. Walk along the promenade

When it comes to wondering what to do in Las Palmas, you can never go wrong with a walk along the promenade (unless there’s a wind warning)! From end to end, it will take almost an hour of walking which is quite impressive.

Most of this walk is filled with restaurants, cafes, hotels and a few souvenir shops but the view of Las Canteras is the main highlight. The chocolate gelato at Chelado is hands down our favourite ice cream on the promenade and it’s vegan!

We’ve honestly lost count of how many times we’ve walked this route. Almost every day for two months? It’s a super nice walk. Our favourite part is in La Isleta near El Confital.

10. Explore El Confital

El Confital is one of our favourite areas in Las Palmas. It has a beautiful viewpoint, a small rocky beach and a wooden promenade. It’s an awesome place for wave-watching. Spend some time exploring the area, relaxing and hiking.

Hike to Mirador de la Cruz

Mirador de la Cruz is a lovely and rewarding hike in Las Palmas, offering incredible views of Las Palmas and the Atlantic Ocean. On a clear day, you can also see Mount Tiede over in Tenerife!

You can start this hike from anywhere in Las Palmas, but the official starting point is El Confital in the La Isleta neighbourhood. We recommend starting in the north on the promenade leading to the hike.

There are lots of viewpoints to admire when walking along the coastline of Las Palmas, but the Mirador de la Cruz (Viewpoint of the Cross) has the best views in our opinion!

1 Day Las Palmas Itinerary

☀️ Morning – Caldera de Bandama & Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo

On the morning of your one day in Las Palmas, fuel up for the day with a traditional Canarian breakfast from papas con mojo (potatoes with spicy sauce) or churros with chocolate.

Spend the rest of the morning soaking up the views of the Caldera de Bandama in Las Palmas and then wander around the beautiful botanical garden. You may want to bring a packed lunch for this, or there is a restaurant at the caldera!

🏤 Afternoon – Vegueta

Head to Old Town and visit the Casa de Colon, Santa Ana Cathedral, Plaza de Santa Ana and Mercado De Vegueta. Grab some fruit for the market for an afternoon pick-me-up!

If you have time explore the Jardines del Hotel Santa Catalina and Parque Doramas before heading over to El Confital.

🌴 Evening – El Confital & Las Palmas

Explore El Confital and the beautiful views of the city before walking over to Las Canteras along the promenade. Watch the sunset as you eat dinner at one of the beachfront restaurants.

If you have more time in Las Palmas, you can visit charming towns such as Teror and Arucas. Here’s our list of the best things to do in Gran Canaria to plan the rest of your trip!

Where to stay in Las Palmas

Las Palmas looks small on a map, but it’s pretty spread out. The best area to stay in Las Palmas is Las Canteras (Beach) and this is where you’ll find beachfront restaurants, hotels and little shops.

However, Santa Catalina and San Telmo are also great places to stay with the best transport links around the island. You can always rent a car if you need to get around worry-free!

We lived in La Isleta for 2 months and always kept our eye out for beautiful accommodations, but Booking.com is the platform we recommend using to book your stay! Here are our recommendations:

• KYO Surf Hostel – very affordable place to stay in the heart of the surf area on Las Canteras, they have private rooms and dorms – Book your stay !
• Chez Abel – beautiful apartments minutes away from Las Canteras – Find it on Booking.com here !
• Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel – One of the most luxurious places to stay in Las Palmas, located near the marina – Find prices here !

How to get around Las Palmas

Can you walk around Las Palmas? Yes! Las Canteras is the main area you’ll want to visit in the city and there’s a lovely promenade to walk down. However, if you’re staying near Las Canteras you’ll want to get a bus to Vegueta as it’s too far to walk.

Local Buses – The local yellow buses in Las Palmas cost €1.40 per journey no matter how far you go. Contactless is the best way to pay or you can use cash with the exact change.

Global Buses – If you’re travelling to a region outside of the Las Palmas city centre, you may pay a higher price. Our bus to Teror from San Telmo costs €2.30 and Maspalomas can cost around €5. These buses are separate and you’ll have to pay twice if you need two buses.

One of the best ways to get around Gran Canaria is to rent a car and explore yourself, but you really don’t need one in Las Palmas. The city is always so busy with traffic, it’s better to use buses or walk.

Best Tours in Las Palmas

These activities are all from Las Palmas and will take you to amazing places all over the island. Here’s a few of the best tours from Las Palmas:

• Sunset & Night Sky Guided Astronomy Hiking Tour – Visit Roque Nublo and Tejeda at night and see the stars!
• Pico de las Nieves & Roque Nublo Full-Day Trip – Explore the highest points of Gran Canaria
• Gran Canaria Island Highlights Tour – See the highlights of the island from hiking to beaches.

Best Time to Visit Las Palmas

We recommend visiting Las Palmas during January and March although any time of year is great to visit!

Las Palmas has a subtropical climate which makes it the perfect place to visit all year round. The weather in Las Palmas stays warm even throughout the winter season, so it’s the best escape from dark European winters!

Visiting Las Palmas in winter – experience mild weather from 19°C up to 27°C and some windy days.

Visiting Las Palmas in summer – the weather during July to August doesn’t usually get higher than 30°C (lower than some other areas in Europe in summer) so it’s possible to visit Gran Canaria during the summer season but it will be hot!

Las Palmas will experience wind all throughout the year which brings the best breeze on sunny days. We lived in the city from February to April and had amazing weather! We had to wear suncream pretty much every day.

Where to eat in Las Palmas

Surprisingly we didn’t eat out a lot during our two months in Las Palmas. We cooked at home a lot and grabbed a few snacks here and there. Here’s a few places with vegan options in Las Palmas that we visited and would recommend:

• Vegetopia Experience – affordable Canarian cuisine and international food all plant-based!
• Hi Bubble Tea – dreamy bubble tea and vegan cakes in Las Palmas
• Organic Jungle – amazing Balinese-inspired brunch restaurant with breakfast, lunch and dinner! Their smoothies are incredible!
• De Francesco – a lovely Italian restaurant serving vegan meatballs and pasta!
• NOPAL – Mexican food a minute away from Las Canteras, with great vegan options!
• A Raices – a vegan restaurant serving Canarian cuisine!

There are also tonnes of Poke Bowl restaurants all over Las Palmas, especially near the surfing area of Las Canteras. There’s Poke Poke and Tasty Poke Bar to get you started. There’s also Oakberry, Mr Kale, Momoland, Hi! Burger that we never got to try.

How many days in Las Palmas?

Although Las Palmas is the largest city in Gran Canaria, you only need 1 or 2 days in Las Palmas to experience the main highlights and chill on the beaches.

As we based ourselves in Las Palmas for 2 months, we were busy working and relaxing but we always made sure to explore each week. There’s lots of activities to do if you’re staying longer like we did.

Is Las Palmas in Gran Canaria worth visiting?

Yes! If you’re in Gran Canaria, Las Palmas is worth visiting. As most people stay in the south, it doesn’t get as much tourism, but there are lots of amazing things to do in Las Palmas to keep you busy.

The beautiful old town of Vegueta is definitely worth a visit if you don’t have time to make it to Las Canteras.

Have the best time in Las Palmas Find us on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below! Check out our other Spain travel guides :

• Best Things to do in Gran Canaria, Spain
• Hiking the Caldera de Bandama, Gran Canaria
• 7 Day Tenerife itinerary
• Where to stay in Tenerife
• 22 Things to do in Tenerife
• Browse more of Spain !

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Amy & Dan are the founders of The Sunrise Dreamers. They are travellers from the UK who have been on the road since 2017 whilst living in places like England, Canada, Thailand and the Canary Islands. They share their knowledge of travelling the world with detailed travel guides and tips. They're experts in vegan travel and show their audience how to travel on a budget.

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Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas has a mainland-Spain feel, spiced up with an eclectic mix of other cultures, including African, Chinese and Indian, plus the presence of container-ship crews, and the flotsam and jetsam that tend to drift around port cities. It’s an intriguing place, with the sunny languor and energy you would normally associate with the Mediterranean or North Africa. The hooting taxis, bustling shopping districts, chatty bars and thriving port all give off the energy of this city, which is Spain’s ninth-largest.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Casa-Museo de Colón

This fascinating museum documents Columbus’ voyages and features exhibits on the Canary Islands’ historical role as a staging post for transatlantic…

Catedral de Santa Ana & Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro

The spiritual heart of the city, this brooding, grey cathedral was begun in the early 15th century, soon after the Spanish conquest, but took 350 years to…

Playa de las Canteras

The fine 3km stretch of yellow sand is magnificent, and is considered by many to be one of the world's best city beaches. There’s an attractive seaside…

Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnología

This 21st-century museum is full of things that whir, clank and hum. In a revamped green-painted 19th-century dockside warehouse in Parque Santa Catalina,…

Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno

The city’s main modern art museum is housed in a tastefully rejuvenated 18th-century building. There are no permanent collections but the galleries,…

Calle Mayor de Triana

This pedestrianised street has long been the main shopping artery in Las Palmas. In between purchases, look skyward to enjoy some real architectural gems,…

Parque San Telmo

This lovely paved park shelters beneath a canopy of shade provided by a lovely group of huge, mature magnolias. The Iglesia de San Telmo is a charming…

Gabinete Literario

Dating from 1844, this ornate historical building is a national monument. It was the island’s first theatre and retains an old-world display of faded…

Live it up, Las Palmas!

The Yellow City Buses In Las Palmas de GC – Guaguas Municipales

The primary mode of public transportation in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the yellow city buses, known as Guaguas Municipales. In this article, we’ll cover all you need to know about these buses, including how much they cost, the types of tickets you can get, and some handy tips for a smooth ride. Fare…

The primary mode of public transportation in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the yellow city buses, known as Guaguas Municipales. In this article, we’ll cover all you need to know about these buses, including how much they cost, the types of tickets you can get, and some handy tips for a smooth ride.

Fare Structure

When you’re traveling around Las Palmas de Gran Canariausing Guaguas Municipales, it’s essential to understand the fare structure. Payment for a single bus ride costs €1.40 if paid in cash/card. However, if you opt for a more cost-effective approach, using a buscard is the way to go, as it reduces the fare to a mere €0.85 per ride. Keep in mind that it’s advisable to have coins or small notes (€10) on hand when paying in cash, as bus drivers may have limited change available. Importantly, the fare is the same regardless of the distance you travel, whether you’re on the bus for just one stop or a more extended journey.

The “Bono Guagua Sin Contacto” Buscard

For those looking to make the most of their travels on Guaguas Municipales, the Bono Guagua Sin Contacto buscard is a fantastic option. This card can be purchased at various locations across the city; you can acquire a Bono Guagua Sin Contacto card at small kiosks and the major bus stations, such as Santa Catalina and San Telmo. To locate a nearby kiosk, simply use Google Maps and search for “estanco.” The initial cost for the buscard is €10, and this includes ten rides at the reduced rate of €0.85 per journey. See this page for a full list of resellers . For residents there are even better deals available. Check the website from the Guguas Municipales for more information about all the different options. If you’re just visiting, the Bono Guagua Sin Contacto is your best option.

How to Use the Buscard

Using the Bono Guagua Sin Contacto buscard is straightforward and convenient. When boarding a Guaguas Municipales bus, you only need to scan the card once as you enter. If you’re traveling with friends or family, you can scan the card multiple times to pay for their fares as well. For example, you can scan the card twice to cover the cost for a friend or three times to pay for yourself and two additional passengers. This flexibility makes the buscard an excellent choice for group travelers.

Access to Real-Time Information

Staying informed about the schedules and routes of Guaguas Municipales is made easier through various digital resources. Google Maps provides reliable information about local buses, ensuring that you can plan your journeys with accuracy. Additionally, Guaguas Municipales offers a dedicated app available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. This app provides real-time data about your bus and bus stops, enabling you to track your bus’s location and estimated arrival time.

Recharging Your Buscard

To ensure uninterrupted travel with your Bono Guagua Sin Contacto buscard, it’s essential to keep it topped up. Recharging your card is a straightforward process and can be done through the official Guaguas Municipales website. Additionally, you can visit the kiosks at the major bus stations to add credit to your card conveniently.

In conclusion, the Guaguas Municipales, or yellow city buses, are a reliable and cost-effective way to explore the beautiful city of Las Palmas. By understanding the fare structure, utilizing the Bono Guagua Sin Contacto buscard, and making use of available digital resources, you can ensure a seamless and efficient experience while discovering all that Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has to offer. Website Guaguas Municipales

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CRUISE PORT GUIDES

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – Spain

Las Palmas cruise port – fast facts:

– Cruise ships usually dock at Santa Catalina Pointe in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. – The Las Palmas cruise dock is right in front of the city center. – The cruise dock is next to a big shopping mall El Muelle. – Lots of transportation options are offered at the cruise terminal like: hop on hop off bus, taxi and public transport.

Travel information Canary Islands

Official currency – Euro Accepts Us dollars – generally not Creditcards – are often accepted

Drives on the – right Timezone – UTC +1

About Spain

Inhabitants – 46 million Official language – Spanish Capital city – Madrid

Kingdom of Spain Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Spanish language

Good day – buen dia How are you? – ¿como estas? Thank you – gracias Cruise ship – crucero Port – puerto

Also visit our cruise port guides for:

Santa Cruz de Tenerife – Spain Lanzarote – Spain Funchal – Madeira Lisbon – Portugal Casablanca – Morocco

Cruise Port Guide Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – Spain: docked

The cruise ships usually dock at Santa Catalina Pointe. This cruise facility has quite some capacity. At most 5 cruise ships dock here at the same time. There is no terminal building and limited facilities available on the dock. There is usually a tourist information representative that comes to the pier. You will find a car rental and taxi stand at the cruise port. When you walk out of the port area you will automatically come across shopping mall El Muelle. This shopping mall has lots of places with wi-fi and nice shops. It is a great facilities to have so close to the cruise dock. Walk a little bit further and this is where you will see the actual tourist information booth (see map above). This is where cruise independents can arrange all kind of things. Take horse carriage ride, hop on the sightseeing bus, take the local transportation or grab a taxi. If you are not quite sure what to do it is wise to go by this booth to make a plan.

Cruise docking location in Las Palmas

The docks are right in front of the city centre of Las Palmas. As soon as the exit the port you are in the heart of Las Palmas. The old town, Vegueta, is 6 km to the south. To get here use bus 12 or taxi.

Taxis in Las Palmas

The official taxis are white and they have a meter. For a ride from the dock to the old town you could expect a price of 6 euro (if you can make him run on the meter). Taxis at the Las Palmas cruise port are also experts in giving taxi tours. Expect the taxi price is between 25 and 30 euro per hour. City tours cost around 80 euro and a taxi tour around a part of the island of 4 hours should cost about 100 euro. No need to plan ahead what you want to see, they have fixed taxi tours itinerarys on display on the sign in the port and any taxi driver in Las Palmas knowns the good places.

Public transport on Gran Canaria

The public transport on Gran Canaria is rather good and you can use it to go over the whole island. The main bus station is at San Telmo. This is about 6 km south of the cruise dock. Get to the San Telmo bus station using bus 12 (see its bus stop marked on the map above) or take a +/- 6 euro taxi. Take the following lines to the following destinations: Teror = line 216, goes once per hour Acuras = line 205 Bandama = line 311 Maspalomas = line 30 Book your shore excursions Great value shore excursions, prices lower than the cruise lines

Hop on hop off bus

This service is available in Las Palmas. It is offered in front of the Muelle Shopping Mall. Keep in mind this bus just stays in Las Palmas.

Distances from the cruise port

Las Palmas city centre = 1 km / 0,5 mile to the west Las Palmas old town Vegueta = 6 km / 3,5 miles to the south Arucas = 15 km / 9,3 miles to the west Bandama Crater = 18 km / 11 miles to the south Teror = 23 km / 14 miles to the south west Aguimes = 37 km / 23 miles to the south Fortaleze de Ansite Fort = 54 km / 34 miles to the south Maspalomas = 58 km / 36 miles to the south

Find your port of call:

• Mediterranean
• Norway – Cruise port guides
• Baltic & Scandinavia
• British isles
• Western Europe
• French Polynesia
• North America
• Central America
• Southeast Asia
• North Africa
• Middle East

At the port of Las Palmas you will find an Avis car rental at the terminal. It is wise to prebook something online to make sure you have something waiting for you on arrival.

Avis car rental in port

58 km to the south of the cruise port in Las Palmas you will find the famous Maspalomas beach. The dunes form an amazing landscape that will make a perfect day for an adventures hike, camel ride of day at the beach.

The dunes of Maspalomas

Dunas de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

15 km west of the port we find the small town of Arucas. In the middle of the banana plantation we find this charming village. Find lots of tiny boutiques and quaint streets here. The eye catcher or the town has to be the church of San Juan. When you look at this cathedral you can’t help but wonder if Gaudi had anything to do with it. The answer is no. Although it is worth to learn about its history inside the church.

Arucas, Gran Canaria

The cruise ships all arrive in the new town of Las Palmas. The old town is about 6 km to the south of the dock. The old town is what we call Vegetal. Find all kind of historical sites and a beautiful neighbourhood here. Visit the Columbus Museum or Santa Anna church for example.

Plaza de Santo Domingo, 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

Bus 12 is the bus to use to either get to the old town or to get to the bus station where you can catch the bus to go further afield. See on the map above where to catch bus 12.

Bus 12 to old town and bus station

The Las Palmas cruise port is the main cruise port for the island of Gran Canaria. You will find lots of facilities at the cruise dock and the nearby area. Read our full Las Palmas de Gran Canaria cruise port guide for all the information you need when going on cruise to the Canary Islands.

Las Palmas cruise dock

Las Palmas cruise dock, Las Palmas

You will find this shopping mall in front of the cruise docks. Find wi-fi and lots of stores here. It is open 7 days a week.

El Muelle Shopping Mall

Muelle Sta. Catalina, s/n, 35008 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

Visit the Bandama Crater just south of Las Palmas. From here you will have incredible views over the island and you pick up your local souvenirs here.

Bandama crater

Caldera de Bandama, Gran Canaria

This museum is dedicated to religion and religious art on Gran Canaria. It houses all kinds of work from the 15th century onwards. It is located in the south wing of the Santa Ana Cathedral in old town Las Palmas. About 6 km away from the ship.

The Diocese museum of Sacred Art

Calle Espíritu Santo, 20, 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

There is a tourist information booth at the exit of the port (see map above). Visit the representatives here for any kind of information or brochures. From here you can start your journey on the island.

Tourist information Las Palmas

This house is a museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus. It claims it was the very house that Christopher Columbus stayed in while one of his ships was being repaired back in 1492. Inside you will find 13 permanent exhibition room, a library and study centre.

Colombus museum

Calle Colón, 1, 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

This is one of the 3 beaches in Las Palmas. It is a 3 km long beach that is absolutely well though out. It is one of the most popular beaches on the island and it attracts numerous tourists and residents. Take a walk along the beautiful promenade here, watch the people, admire the art work and go for a nice drink.

Las Canteras beach

Las Canteras, Las Palmas

If you are planning on visiting the old town in Las Palmas be sure to visit the Santa Ana Cathedral and do not miss out on the elevator ride to the top. This is where you get panoramic views like this over the city of Las Palmas.

Santa Ana Cathedral

Plaza de Santa Ana, 13, 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

Rum distilling is one of the most important industries on Gran Canaria. The factory is now partly a museum where you get to follow the whole process from A to Z and also get to taste the many different rums they have. Find the distilleries 16 km west of the dock.

Rum Factory and Museum Arehucas

Arehucas Rum Distillery, Gran Canaria

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