Choose from 14 Fun Things to Do in Gran Canaria
ShowingFilter 1-14 of 14 listings.
Calle Triana
Calle Triana (and the district surrounding it) has become the main commercial center of Las Palmas. The pedestrian street running through its heart is lined with trendy boutiques, old-fashioned shops, international brand retailers and lovely cafes for a bit of post-shopping refreshment.
While some of the shops might be modern, the street itself is among the oldest on the island, dating back to the sixteenth century. Shops and banks began moving into the area in the mid- nineteenth century, and much of the architecture dates back to the same period.
Swing by Calle Triana, 35, where you’ll notice an electric clock dating back to 1868. The clock, built by famous clockmaker Juan Pflüger, reminds passers-by to take their time and enjoy the day.
Practical Info
Calle Triana itself is where you’ll find many of the big brand retailers. Explore the smaller side streets to find smaller boutiques and restaurants.
Address: Calle Triana, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands 35002, Spain
From $ 90
Elder Museum of Science and Technology (Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnologia)
Satisfy your scientific curiosities with a visit to Gran Canaria's Elder Museum of Science and Technology. Located in a 19th-century shipping warehouse in harbor-side Parque Santa Catalina, the museum and its four levels are now packed with modern-day interactive and didactic marvels that bridge the gap between science and people.
The museum features a variety of themed areas ranging from math to
physics, art, biology and engineering. In doing so, it allows visitors multi-
sensory experiences via highlights such as a flight simulator, planetarium, 3D movie theater, and robotic-arm-driven Robocoaster ride, among many other engaging activities. From the replica of a space station to the thermal imaging exhibit, there's discovery to be had around every corner here.
Practical Info
While the museum does not have a cafe or restaurant, you are permitted to enter and exit the premises throughout the day by using your ticket. The
museum is closed on Mondays.
Address: Parque Santa Catalina, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria 35007, Spain
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Closed Mondays
Admission: General: €6; reduced: €3; children under 6: free
From $ 23
Teatro Perez Galdos
This 1,000-seat theater in Las Palmas leaves no one indifferent; be it for its prestigious shows or its splendid façade, visitors always enjoy themselves at Teatro Perez Galdos. Built in 1890 and completely renovated in 2007, it is now one of the most modern theaters in all of Spain, and the permanent home of the Opera Festival of Las Palmas. The theater was named after famed Spanish realist novelist and playwright Benito Perez Galdos, which was the leading literary figure in 19th-century Spain and, incidentally, was born in Las Palmas. But the celebrated playwright wasn't all that enthused about the theatre's arrival, which, according to him, was too extravagant. It even inspired Galdos to write satirical poems about the building...only to have it named after him a few years later. Speaking of famous connections, the theatre is also home to the Saint-Saëns room, in honor of the French composer who spent quite a bit of time on Gran Canaria, composing numerous symphonies. The lavishly ornate room is a marvel of architecture and is the crown jewel of the theater; the main concert hall, however, is not to be overlooked, with its splendid ceiling and perfectly symmetrical pavilions.
Practical Info
Teatro Perez Galdos is located on Plaza Stagno in southeastern Las Palmas on Gran Canaria. It can be reached by car Avenida de Canarias or by bus via routes 54, L1, 9, 12 and 25.
Address: Plaza Stagno, 1, Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
Hours: Hours vary
Admission: Pricing varies
From $ 23
Mercado del Puerto
Often considered to be the finest example of iron architecture in Gran Canada, the Mercado del Puerto is one of the main food markets in the city of Las Palmas. Its modernist, strikingly stern appearance is due to its contrasting structure, which clashes against the typically earth-colored Canarian properties. This bold architectural choice has been attributed to the socioeconomic evolution of Las Palmas over the past two centuries, as modernism and mercantilism were slowly implanted in the notoriously slow-paced Canarian lifestyle. Built in 1891, the market features exceptional wrought iron works as well as Art Nouveau touches with the thoughtful inclusion of glass among other ornamental elements. Nestled between the harbor and the beach, Mercado del Puerto is cosmopolitan and relaxed compared to other markets in the city and quite hospitable because of its rather small size, with just 40 stalls. Far from being just a produce market, the building houses several tapas bars, flower shops, hairdressers, wine shops, coffee shops and many others. It is most busy in late afternoons, especially on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Practical Info
Mercado del Puerto is located in Las Palmas’ peninsula, on Calle Albareda just north of Puerto de la Luz. The market can be reached by car via Calle Gral Balmes from downtown Las Palmas, as well as by bus via half a dozen routes. Admission is free. The market has undependable working hours, however it is always open late in the evenings.
Address: Mercado del Puerto de la Luz, Calle Albareda, Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
Hours: Vary
From $ 59
Santa Catalina Park (Parque de Santa Catalina)
Found in the heart of Las Palmas, the Santa Catalina Park is alive with activity from both locals and visitors. It is lined with cafes and shops, and often holds street markets and pop-up festivals. Large palm trees and colorful flower beds add to the beauty of the public square, which is a great place to simply sit and watch people go by. At night the park is also bustling — it’s a nightlife hub of bars, clubs, and discos during the evening hours.
The park is also home to the Museo de la Ciencia (Science Museum) and the Edificio Miller (Miller Building.) Carnaval and the Dance and Theatre Festival are celebrated here during summer.
There’s also a small playground that’s suitable for small children. The park is a central transportation hub and meeting spot from which many tours depart.
Practical Info
The park is nearby to the port of Las Palmas. There is a tourist information office at the park’s edge, as well as many restaurant options.
Address: 35007 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
Hours: Mon-Fri from 10am–1pm and 5–8pm, Sat-Sun from 10am–1pm
From $ 23
Sioux City
In the sun scorched surrounds of Gran Canaria island lies a recreation of the American Wild West with cowboys and Indians, gunfights and saloons, and even a petting zoo for the kids.
Originally built as a stage set for 'A Fistful of Dollars' starring Clint Eastwood, Sioux City has since found fame as a popular theme park. Keep your wits about you as you meander along the dusty streets, past the sherrif's office, bank, and general store, for you could get caught in a shoot out. Bank robberies, saloon fights, cattle stampedes, rodeos, and gunfights are all part of everyday life at Sioux City!
If you visit Sioux City on a Friday, stick around for a Wild West BBQ (extra charge), stunts, gunfights, and cancan dancers. It's a wild day out for the whole family!
Practical Info
Sioux City is on Gran Canaria's south coast, about a 40 minute drive from the capital.
From Las Palmas, catch bus 50 to Faro Maspalomas, where you can catch a taxi or bus 29 directly to Sioux City.
If going by car, follow the GC-1 highway south-east from Las Palmas and look for signs to 'Sioux City' when you pass Tarajalillo (49kms/30.5mi, approximately 40mins).
Address: Lugar Cañón del Aguila (near Playa del Aguila), San Bartolome de la Tirajana, Spain
Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday
From $ 25
Mundo Aborigen
Mundo Aborigen is a reconstruction of an ancient Canarian village inhabited by the Guanches (the orginal population of the Canaries).
Located in a scenic area overlooking the Barranco de Fataga, the island’s biggest gorge, Mundo Aborigen recreates the lives of the Guanches through life-size figures depicted in various scenes of domestic life.
Following a trail through the park, visitors learn about the guanches culture and religion as well as their everyday activities such as growing crops, tending to animals and taking part in rituals.
Mundo Aborigen is between San Fernando (Maspalomas) and Fataga and is best reached by car or taxi from Maspalomas on highway GC-60.
It's located just before the lookout (mirador), which has stunning views over the beautiful valley of Fataga.
Address: Macizo de Amurga, Spain
Hours: Open daily
From $ 12
Casa-Museo Perez Galdos
Visiting the house where famed author Benito Perez Galdós was born and lived until 1862 is like taking a journey into his work and times; the Casa-Museo Perez Galdos holds valuable pieces of furniture and various personal belongings"”including a private library and never-published drawing and manuscripts"”that once belonged to the writer, all of which is cleverly set in the context of Galdós' 19th-century Spain. The house showcases a few of Galdós' lesser-known sides, like his political allegiances and artistic affinities for drawing, playing the piano, painting and furniture designing. In addition to being highly significant as far as Galdós' is concerned, the house is also an extremely well preserved example of 18th-century Canary architecture. And although Benito Perez Galdós is not by any means a famous author in the English literary world, he played a major role in Canarian and Spanish cultures and his novels are often described as remarkable and influential.
Practical Info
Casa-Museo Perez Galdos is located on Calle Cano in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. It is easily accessible from the port via route GC-1 and Avenida Rafael Cabrera, or by bus via a dozen different routes. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, with guided visits starting at the top of the hour. Entry costs €3 per person.
Address: Calle Cano, 6, Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, with guided visits starting at the top of the hour.
Admission: €3 per person
From $ 35
Pueblo Canario
Pueblo Canario (Canarian Village) is a complex of traditionally built island houses around a large central square set in the green surrounds of Parque Doramas, Las Palmas.
Part of Pueblo Canario is Museo Nestor, dedicated to the life and works of the modernist artist Nestor de la Torre, who, along with his brother, Miguel, designed the Pueblo in the 1930s. Highlights here include Nestor's eight murals illustrating his Poema del Mar (1912-1923).
There is a museum, a restaurant and craft shops within the complex, as well as regular folklore shows, all designed to promote a deeper understanding of Canarian culture and cuisine.
Pueblo Canario is in the heart bustling Las Palmas overlooking Doramas Park. To get there, walk inland from the marina down Muelle Pantalan.
Address: Calle de Francisco González Díaz, Parque Doramas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 35005, Spain
Hours: Closed Monday
From $ 23
Catedral de Santa Ana
As the seat of the Diocese of the Canaries in the Roman Catholic Church, the Catedral de Santa Ana is one of the most prominent monuments of Canarian architecture. Construction was initiated in 1500 on orders of the Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, after Gran Canaria was conquered in 1478. It was completed on the eve of Corpus Christi in 1570, although substantial renovations were made over the following centuries—which explains the disparity in some of the architectural details. Designed in the purest Gothic tradition with touches of Neoclassical and even Baroque, the structure consists of two campaniles, an ornate nave with double aisles as well as a sanctuary. The cathedral’s interior is famous for its palm tree-like piers and for its twin towers, one of which is accessible to tourists on a quest for unobstructed views of Gran Canaria. The south wing of the cathedral also features the Sacred Art Museum and its valuable collection of sacred artifacts, sculptures and works of art.
Practical Info
Catedral de Santa Ana is located on Plaza de Santa Ana in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. It is easily accessible from the port via route GC-1 and Calle Juan de Quesada, or by bus via routes 54, 7 and 70. The cathedral is open to visitors from 10am to 4:30pm on weekdays and from 10am to 1:30pm on Saturdays. Entry costs €3 per person.
Address: Plaza de Santa Ana, 13, Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
Hours: Open to visitors from 10am to 4:30pm on weekdays and from 10am to 1:30pm on Saturdays.
Admission: €3 per person
From $ 11
Jardin Botanico Canario Viera y Clavijo
A staple of Gran Canarian and Spanish culture, the botanical garden was named after pioneering Spanish cleric and scholar José Viera y Clavijo. It opened in 1959 after seven years of landscaping. And although it is intrinsically linked to the island’s history, the garden was technically the life work of Swedish-Spanish botanist Eric Ragnor Sventenius, who devoted a number of years of his life to optimizing and expanding the site. The garden, which spreads over 27 hectares and is officially Spain’s largest, comprises of 500 plant species endemic to the Canary Islands scattered in several divisions, like the "Garden of the Islands", the "Garden of Cacti and Succulents" and its 10,000 succulents, the "Laurel-leaved Forests", the "Fountain of the Wisemen," the "Macaronesian Ornamental Garden” as well as the “Hidden Garden” and its sublime greenhouse. It now houses plants from all over the world and a research laboratory.
Practical Info
Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo is located on Carretera Nueva San Lorenzo in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. It is located roughly 7 kilometers southwest of city center but easily accessible from by car via Carretera del Centro. It is accessible by bus via routes 301, 302 and 303. The garden is open every day from 9am to 6pm. Admission is free.
Address: Ctra. Nueva San Lorenzo, Km 2, Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
Hours: Open daily, 9am to 6pm.
From $ 49
Vegueta
The entrancing old barrio at the heart of Las Palmas on Gran Canaria, UNESCO World Heritage site Vegueta has its origins back in the 15th century. It is centered around the Plaza Santa Ana, a cobbled piazza surrounded dominated by the twin-spired, heavily ornate Cathedral of Santa Ana; it was the island’s first church, consecrated in the 15th century following the island’s capture by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain in 1478. It is a delightful mixture of Gothic and Renaissance flourishes, surrounded by an array of highly decorative townhouses reflecting architectural styles from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
Among the spider’s web of cobbled backstreets and atmospheric squares in Vegueta are several Baroque churches and the Museo Canario (Canary Island Museum), which showcases the world’s foremost collection of tools, jewelry and pottery utilized by the Guanches, the indigenous island population who were displaced with the arrival of their Spanish occupiers. Another architectural highlight of the district is the ocher-colored Casa de Colón (Columbus House), where Christopher Columbus reportedly stayed on his way to discover the New World in 1492. Its ornate façade is covered with elaborately carved wooden balconies and the interior houses relics of the great Spanish explorer.
However, half the charm of a visit to Vegueta is simply wandering the historic streets, relaxing in sidewalks bars, rummaging in the weekend markets or sampling Canarian tapas and honey rum.
Practical Info
Vegueta is the ancient center of Las Palmas on Gran Canaria.
Cathedral of Santa Ana on Plaza Santa Ana opens Mon–Fri 10am–4.30pm, Sat 10am–1.30pm. Admission is adults €2.40, children go free. Museo Canario is at Doctor Verneau, 2, and opens Mon–Fri 10am–8pm, Sat–Sun 10am–2pm. Admission for adults is €4, seniors & students €2.40, children under age 12 free. Casa de Colón is found at Calle de Colón, 1. Admission is free and it is open Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–3pm.
Address: Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, Spain
From $ 52
Casa de Colon
Charming Casa de Colon was reportedly a rest-and-repair stop for Christopher Columbus and his ship, La Pinta, en route to the New World in 1492.
Originally belonging to the Governor of the Canaries, Casa de Colon was one of a small number of houses that became Las Palmas' first settlement, marking the beginning of the city in 1478.
As you might expect, displays at Casa de Colon have a strong nautical theme and include a replica of a ship's cabin that belonged to Columbus’ fleet, navigation instruments, nautical maps, charts and paintings related to voyages made by the famous navigator. The site's ornate doorways, latticed balconies and chocolate-box-like exterior make it one of Las Palmas’ most eye-catching buildings. If its pretty facade doesn't make you want to discover more about the building's history and Columbus's visit here, the interesting and well-run museum inside will.
Here you’ll find multilingual exhibits that explain the connection between the Canary Islands, Columbus and his great voyages that led him to discover and establish trading links with the new world.
Practical Info
Casa de Colon is in the historic Vegueta district, approximately 10km (6.2mi) south-east of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. To get there by car from Las Palmas, follow the GC-1 highway along the coast in a south-easterly direction. To get there by bus (guaguas) head to the main bus station, estación de Guaguas de San Telmo, south-east of the city.
Address: 1 Calle Colón, Vegueta, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 35001, Spain
Hours: Daily Monday-Friday 9am-7pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-3pm
Admission: Free
From $ 11
Roque Nublo
The Roque Nublo is a unique rock formation on Gran Canaria that truly is a sight to behold. At 70 meters tall, the red basaltic monolith is the most dramatic formation on the island. Translated it means “cloudy rock” and after a short hike visitors are rewarded with panoramic views of surrounding nature. The rocky landscape is dotted with pine trees and shrubbery and drops off into cliffs.
The rock was formed by volcanic eruption on the island about 4.5 million years ago, and today is an icon of the island and is protected as a national monument. On a clear day it is possible to even see the Teide volcano in the distance. Often though, the rock will disappear into or appear out of dense fog and clouds (hence the name.) It is one of the tallest natural crags in the world, and is also a climbing destination. Trekking tours to the rock are available to those who preferred a guided hike.
Practical Info
The Roque Nublo is about a twenty minute drive from Las Palmas. You can get there via the GC-600 Road between Ayacata and Degollada de las Arenas. There is a free parking lot at the site, and you’ll need to walk a short distance to reach the rock. It is best to arrive earlier in the day if possible, as it tends to get crowded in the afternoons.
Address: GC150, 35368, Gran Canaria, Spain
Hours: Open 24 hours
From $ 41