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Kategori: Out and about

See and Do in Las Palmas

Las Palmas rewards visitors who explore it as a city rather than treating it merely as the location of their hotel.

Its attractions range from beaches and historic quarters to museums, shopping streets, parks and dramatic coastal scenery.

  • Use Las Palmas as a base for Gran Canaria

    The city can also serve as a base for exploring the rest of the island.

    Gran Canaria is compact, but its landscapes change dramatically. Travel inland from Las Palmas and coastal development quickly gives way to villages, mountains, deep ravines and pine-covered highlands.

    Teror, with its traditional Canarian architecture and important basilica, makes an attractive excursion. Arucas, north-west of Las Palmas, is another easy destination and is known for its historic centre and imposing church.

    Travelling further into the mountains reveals an entirely different Gran Canaria.

    This is one of the strongest arguments for spending more than a weekend in Las Palmas. Four or five days allow visitors to enjoy the city at a relaxed pace while still reserving time for an excursion into the interior of the island.

  • Explore beyond the centre

    Las Palmas also contains several attractive green spaces.

    Parque Doramas and the surrounding Garden City area provide a quieter side of the capital, while the Viera y Clavijo Botanical Garden on the outskirts of the city introduces visitors to the extraordinary plant life of the Canary Islands. Both are included among the city’s principal places of interest by the official tourism organisation.

    Another worthwhile excursion is the Bandama area. The volcanic landscape around the Caldera de Bandama provides viewpoints over the surrounding countryside and helps visitors appreciate that Gran Canaria is far more mountainous and geologically dramatic than the urban coastline might initially suggest.

  • Continue to La Isleta and El Confital

    At the northern end of Las Canteras rises La Isleta.

    Continue beyond the dense city streets and the landscape gradually becomes much more rugged. El Confital offers rocky coastline, Atlantic views and a striking contrast with the developed beachfront only a short distance away.

    This is one of the best examples of how quickly Las Palmas can change character.

    One moment you are surrounded by apartment buildings, cafés and beachgoers; the next you are looking across volcanic terrain and open ocean.

  • Visit Poema del Mar and the science museum

    Families have several good options in the northern part of the city.

    Poema del Mar is a large aquarium close to the port and Santa Catalina area, while the nearby Elder Museum of Science and Technology provides interactive science exhibits.

    Both attractions are conveniently placed for visitors staying near Las Canteras and can be useful alternatives on days when beach weather is less inviting.

  • Walk through Triana

    After Vegueta, continue into Triana.

    Calle Triana is one of the city’s main pedestrian shopping streets, with historic façades, local shops, Spanish and international brands, cafés and restaurants.

    The wider neighbourhood contains attractive Modernist architecture as well as several cultural venues.

    Triana is particularly pleasant in the late afternoon and early evening, when shopping gradually gives way to dinner and drinks.

  • Discover Canarian history

    Nearby, Museo Canario offers a much deeper journey into the history of the islands.

    Its collections focus particularly on the indigenous inhabitants of Gran Canaria before the Castilian conquest.

    For visitors who have previously thought of the Canary Islands primarily as beaches and holiday resorts, this is an important reminder that the archipelago has a far more complex history.

    Combined with Vegueta, Casa de Colón and the cathedral, the museum can easily form part of a full cultural day in the historic centre.

  • Visit Casa de Colón

    One of the most popular cultural attractions in Vegueta is Casa de Colón – Columbus House.

    Christopher Columbus stopped in the Canary Islands during his Atlantic voyages, and Las Palmas maintains strong historical connections with the era of exploration and trade between Europe and the Americas.

    The museum explores Columbus, navigation and the relationship between the Canary Islands and the Americas.

    Even for visitors who are not especially interested in maritime history, the building itself and its location make it a natural part of a walk through Vegueta.

  • Walk through Vegueta

    To understand the history of Las Palmas, begin in Vegueta.

    The neighbourhood was the original centre of the city following its foundation in 1478. Today, its narrow streets and squares contain many of Las Palmas’ most important historic buildings.

    Plaza de Santa Ana is the obvious focal point.

    The Cathedral of Santa Ana dominates the square and was constructed over several centuries, resulting in a mixture of architectural styles. The famous dog sculptures at the entrance to the square have become symbols of the city.

    From here, simply wander.

    Vegueta is at its best when visitors allow themselves to explore side streets, courtyards and smaller squares rather than moving directly from one attraction to another.

  • Spend a day at Las Canteras Beach

    Las Canteras is the city’s great outdoor living room.

    The beach extends for around three kilometres and is remarkable not simply because of its size but because it is fully integrated into the city. Apartments, hotels, shops and restaurants begin immediately behind the promenade.

    A natural rock formation known as La Barra runs offshore along much of the beach, creating more sheltered water in several sections and providing habitat for marine life. Other parts of Las Canteras are much more exposed to Atlantic waves.

    This creates different experiences along the same beach.

    Some areas are ideal for swimming and snorkelling, while La Cícer towards the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium is particularly popular with surfers.

    You do not have to spend the whole day sunbathing. Walk the promenade, stop for coffee, swim, have lunch and return in the evening for sunset. Las Canteras works as much as a social space as it does as a conventional beach.