Gran Canaria holidays

Located on the south-west coast of Gran Canaria, the beachfront at Playa del Cura offers dark yet fine sands, and a fantastic view of the nearby hillside villages. Sports are the name of the game here, with a volleyball court on the beach, and watersports facilities, too. There’s a small supermarket within walking distance, and it’s possible to take a flat 25-minute stroll to the neighbouring beach of Playa de Tauro.

Sunny and scenic is how you’d sum up the beach at Meloneras on Gran Canaria’s south coast. The beach is long, soft, and sandy, and has achieved Blue Flag status. It’s often a little quieter than its neighbours, Playa del Cometa and Playa de las Mujeres, but it’s still got plenty to offer. Located in one of the island’s most exclusive resorts, you’ll find high-end beach bars and upmarket stores along the promenade.

While the north doesn’t have quite the same reputation as the south when it comes to beaches, there’s still a fair few worth visiting. Playa de las Canteras is located right in the heart of Las Palmas. There's a natural reef here offering great snorkelling opportunities. And if you venture over to the islet, you’ll find Playa del Confital. This is a rocky, natural, and dramatic-looking beach that’s popular for barbeques and picnics.

It doesn’t matter where in Gran Canaria you stay, you’ll find that weekends were made for browsing the local flea markets and craft markets. You can pick up anything and everything at these places, including souvenir bottle openers, postcards, and fridge magnets. And if the kids have some holiday money to spend, you can also find little gifts and trinkets at supermarkets like Carrefour, HiperDino, and Spar.

If you’re missing your favourite stores back home, you’ll be pleased to hear that there are two Primarks in and around the Las Palmas area. In terms of souvenirs, head to Las Palmas’ Mesa y Lopez, which is one of the best shopping districts on the island. You can buy paintings, jewellery, perfume, handbags, and pottery handcrafted from local volcanic ash.

While you’ll find some excellent stores in big resorts like Las Palmas, such as Spanish clothing brand Zara, Meloneras is definitely a hotspot for designer shopping. You’ll find brands like Mango and Espirit on the main high street leading away from the lighthouse. Boulevard el Faro is one of the most exclusive shopping centres on the island. Here, you can shop at Emporio Armani, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ralph Lauren.

Nightlife in Gran Canaria isn’t all about pubs and clubs. In fact, if you’re staying in or near Meloneras, one of the best things to do after dark is head to the Moonlight Cinema. Grab a seat under the stars, cosy up under a blanket, and watch a movie. Afterwards, you can check out Meloneras’ sophisticated cocktail bars and high-end restaurants. In other areas, consider family-friendly hotel bars with entertainments for the little ones. Try the casino bars if you’re travelling without kids. And for a more local experience, the towns of Arguineguin and San Agustin offer a low-key, laidback atmosphere.

Las Palmas offers a typical city centre night out, with a mix of students and the after-work crowd. Down in Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles, there’s a bigger tourist population, and a more international scene. You’ll find everything in these resorts, including Irish pubs, discos, beach bars, and nightclubs that stay open until morning. Boat parties are also hugely popular. These allow you to sip cocktails and dance as you sail along the Gran Canarian shoreline. The big tourist resorts in the south are very relaxed and very welcoming, so you’ll find that there’s plenty of LBGTQ+ friendly venues which are inclusive of all.

No matter where you travel to in the Canary Islands, you’ll always find papas arrugadas on the menu. These Canarian potatoes are boiled in salty water, causing the skins to wrinkle. They’re best served with the Canary Islands’ unofficial condiment, mojo sauce. There are two varieties, herby green and spicy red.

If you like fish, you’ll be pleased to hear that fresh seafood is a big part of the local cuisine in Gran Canaria. Fish soups, stews, and casseroles made from salt cod and sea bream are hugely popular. Grilled sardines are a well-loved snack here. They’re mainly caught off the coast of Sardinia on the north tip.

Across the Canary Islands, gofio flour is used to thicken savoury dishes such as soups and stews. However, it can also be added to a number of desserts. Be sure to try gofio ice cream, and gofio mousse. Or if you’re not a fan of desserts, you may prefer a glass of local honey rum after your meal.

There’s only one coffee plantation in Europe, and it’s right here in Gran Canaria. The Los Berrazales plantation is located towards the north of the island, a 40-minute drive from Las Palmas. You can visit the plantation, and sample the Arabica coffee and local wines that are both grown and produced here.

There are two types of red wine that are considered to be local specialities in Gran Canaria. The first is Tinto del Monte, which is grown exclusively in the central mountain region. The second is made from Listan Negro grapes. This is one of the more powerful wines produced on an island typically known for its light and bright flavours. That's because many Canarian wines are enjoyed young, without ageing.