The best things to do in Gran Canaria are walking the golden Maspalomas dunes, climbing to the sacred rock of Roque Nublo, exploring the old town of Las Palmas and its city beach, and heading inland to the mountain villages of Tejeda and Teror. Nicknamed a "continent in miniature", Gran Canaria squeezes desert dunes, pine-clad peaks, whitewashed harbours and a proper Spanish city into one round island. Here is our ranked pick of the highlights, each linking onward to the full guide, so you can plan the ideal trip to Gran Canaria.
The best things to do in Gran Canaria, ranked
1. Walk the Maspalomas dunes
The rolling golden Maspalomas dunes are Gran Canaria's signature sight: a protected sea of Saharan-looking sand rising and falling behind one of the island's great beaches, complete with a palm oasis and a historic lighthouse at its edge. Walking barefoot across the ridges at sunrise or sunset, with the dunes glowing gold and the Atlantic beyond, is unforgettable. Stick to the marked crossing paths to protect the fragile ecosystem, and carry water, as it is hotter and further than it looks.
2. Climb to Roque Nublo
High in the island's volcanic heart, Roque Nublo is an 80 m monolith left standing by erosion and revered by the ancient Canarians. The walk up from the roadside car park takes around 45 minutes on a well-made path and rewards you with jaw-dropping views across a sea of peaks to Mount Teide floating on the horizon over Tenerife. Go early to beat the heat and the coaches; it is the finest short walk on the island and the perfect centrepiece to a day exploring the interior.
3. Explore old Las Palmas: Vegueta and Las Canteras
The capital, Las Palmas, is a real working Spanish city and a highlight in its own right. Wander the cobbled Vegueta quarter, the historic old town where Columbus is said to have stopped en route to the Americas, with its cathedral, the Casa de Colon museum and buzzing tapas streets. Then head to Las Canteras, a magnificent three-kilometre golden city beach protected by a natural reef, lined with a lively promenade of cafes and restaurants. Together they make Las Palmas one of the best city-and-beach combinations in the Atlantic.
4. Escape to the mountain villages: Tejeda and Teror
Inland Gran Canaria is a revelation. Tejeda is a whitewashed village draped over a ridge amid almond groves and pine forest, officially one of Spain's prettiest villages and a natural base for the Roque Nublo walks. Teror, with its handsome wooden-balconied houses and the island's most important basilica, hosts a famous Sunday market where you can buy local chorizo, cheese and honey rum. Both give you the green, cool, traditional side of the island that day-trippers from the beach resorts rarely see.
5. Spend a family day at Palmitos Park
Palmitos Park, set in a lush subtropical valley behind Maspalomas, combines a botanical garden with an impressive collection of birds, big cats, dolphins, aquariums and a butterfly house, plus daring bird-of-prey and parrot shows. It is a well-run, shady day out that works brilliantly with children and pairs naturally with a beach morning down at the coast.
6. Soak up the harbour at Puerto de Mogan
Often called "Little Venice", Puerto de Mogan in the sunny south-west is the island's prettiest resort: a low-rise tangle of flower-draped white houses, small canals and a working fishing harbour turned marina. It is a lovely spot for a long seafood lunch, a browse of the Friday market or a boat trip, and a welcome contrast to the bigger, brasher resorts to the east.
7. Drive into the Barranco de Guayadeque
The Barranco de Guayadeque is a deep, green ravine in the east where people still live in houses carved into the rock, including a couple of atmospheric cave restaurants and a cave chapel. Rich in ancient Canarian history and lined with palms and endemic plants, it is an easy and fascinating half-day drive inland, ideally finished with a plate of Canarian country cooking eaten inside the mountain.
8. Relax on the beaches
Beyond Maspalomas and Las Canteras, Gran Canaria's south coast is a string of golden, sheltered, family-friendly bays, from the resort beaches of Puerto Rico and Amadores to quieter coves further west. For the full run-down of where to swim, snorkel and sunbathe, see our guide to the best beaches in Gran Canaria.
Fitting it all in
Gran Canaria divides neatly into the sunny, purpose-built resort south (Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles, Puerto Rico, Mogan) and the greener, cooler, more Spanish north around Las Palmas, with the dramatic mountains in between. Most beach holidaymakers base themselves in the south and take day trips up to Roque Nublo, Tejeda and Teror, which is easily done with a hire car; a city break in Las Palmas is a different but equally rewarding option. For a full breakdown of the resorts and which suits your holiday, read our guide to where to stay in Gran Canaria.
Combine coast and cumbre. The classic Gran Canaria day pairs a morning in the mountains (Roque Nublo, Tejeda or Teror) with an afternoon back on the beach. The winding central roads are slow, so set off early, pack a jumper for the cool heights, and enjoy the astonishing change of scenery in a single day.
The bottom line
If your time is short, walk the Maspalomas dunes, climb Roque Nublo, give a day to old Las Palmas and Las Canteras, and drive up to Tejeda or Teror for the mountain villages. That quartet captures the "continent in miniature" in full, from desert sand to pine-clad summit to Spanish city. Add a few lazy days on the southern beaches and you have a wonderfully varied holiday. Start planning with our complete guide to Gran Canaria.