With its 379,925 inhabitants, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the largest city in the Canary Islands. The name means “the palm trees” and dates back to 1478. The name originated from the first settlements in the oldest part of the city, Vegueta (translated: the meadow). This meadow was surrounded by palm trees and thus the city was named Las Palmas. Along with Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it is one of the two capitals of the Canary Islands. The nearest municipalities include Santa Brígida, Telde, Arucas and Teror to the west. The city stands out for its cruise port. Puerto de la Luz is the largest port in Spain and is a key point in Gran Canaria. It is one of the most important economic factors in Gran Canaria. In addition, the sandy beaches and duty-free shopping are very special. Due to the pleasant climate all year round, the Canary Island of Gran Canaria is a popular destination at any time of the year. Las Palmas attracts numerous holidaymakers every year, as the city has many interesting things to offer. The city beach Playa Las Canteras makes it possible to combine a bathing holiday with a city holiday. The city also has a lot to offer culturally with its numerous museums and festivals. In the various quarters of the city, it is possible to experience the typical Canarian flair at first hand.
Places of interest in Las Palmas
The Casa de Colón (Columbus House) and the ethnographic Museo Canario take tourists into the city’s historical past. Historical finds from the island’s indigenous people can be viewed there. Religious objects are exhibited in the Museo de Arte Sacro. The Columbus House is an important building in the city. The famous navigator Christopher Columbus lived in this house. From here he planned several voyages by ship and shortly afterwards discovered a new continent – America.
One of the most popular districts is Vegueta. It is home to impressive buildings and the most important museums. In the centre is the Santa Ana Cathedral, built in the 16th century. From the cathedral, the old town lies almost in a circle around it. From the central square, the alleys branch off in all directions. To the south is the former city boundary – the Avenida Eufemiano Jurado. In the north, at the farthest point, is the Castillo de Mata fortress. Adjacent to the cathedral is the Plaza Santa Ana, surrounded by historic buildings. The Casas Consistoriales town hall was built in neoclassical style and is one of the most important buildings. The Episcopal Palace Palacio Episcopal with its beautiful balcony from the end of the 17th century and the Casa Regental are also of great importance. It is now the seat of the Supreme Court of the Canary Islands. The church of Santo Domingo is also in Vegueta. The Plaza del Espiritu Santo with its stone fountain and the Vegueta market hall are further highlights.
Furthermore, the district of Triana with its popular shopping street Calle de Triana is of great importance. Surrounded by beautiful buildings of artistic and historical value, it is a tourist magnet. The Teatro Pérez Galdós with its Italian influences and music, ballet and theatre programme welcomes guests all year round. Plaza Cairasco is also easily accessible from here. The Hotel Madrid and the Gabinete Literario are next door and feature the most modernist elements in the neoclassical style. Another highlight is the Casa Museo Pérez Galdós, which exhibits many important documents by Spanish writers. In the centre is the Parque Doramas, which is an ideal place to admire various native plants. Nearby are the Hotel Santa Catalina, the Museo Néstor and the Pueblo Canario. The Pueblo is a complex and Canarian village. Opposite the Hotel Santa Catalina is the Avenida Marítima harbour. Here tourists can admire the large and impressive yachts and go to the small restaurants. Especially at night, the lights and the yachts offer a special atmosphere. The harbour is the starting point for the annual Atlantic crossing to the Caribbean island of Santa Lucía. In November, more than 200 yachts set off.
The Tafira district offers ideal opportunities to admire native plants and Canarian architecture. The Viera y Clavijo botanical garden is only about 7 kilometres from the city centre and is home to endemic plants of the Canary Islands. Not far away is the Caldera de Bandama volcanic caldera, whose crater is 200 metres deep and 100 metres wide. The Bandama golf course is also nearby.
Fiestas and festivals
In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, tourists who prefer cultural celebrations and festivals also get their money’s worth. The district of La Isleta with its popular parks is ideal for this. Parque Santa Catalina is the venue for annual events such as the carnival and the international WOMAD music festival. The carnival, which is celebrated between January and February, was named Fiesta de Interés Turístico Nacional in 2017. Carnival has been celebrated since the 16th century and can be traced back to a masquerade ball in 1574. The WOMAD (World of Music, Art & Dance) usually takes place in November.
Other cultural events are held at the Edificio Elder, Museo de la Ciencia and Edificio Miller. The Alfredo Kraus Auditorium has been the venue for the annual Festival Internacional de Cine Las Palmas de Gran Canaria since 2000. The highlight here is the stars and handprints of international artists such as Faye Dunaway, Alain Delon, Catherine Deneuve, Omar Sharif or Mia Farrow.
The international dance festival Masdanza was founded in 1996 and now serves as a tourist magnet. Since 2021, it has been held almost exclusively on stages and in public squares in Las Palmas.
Las Palmas most beautiful beaches and harbours
One of the most popular beaches is Las Canteras in Gran Canaria. The three-kilometre-long sandy beach is adorned with a promenade, bars, pubs, clubs and ice cream parlours. Since 1989, the beach has been awarded the blue flag by the EU. A natural limestone reef offers bathers calm bathing conditions.
El Confital beach is known for the “best right wave in Europe” among surfers and is located at the foot of the mountains. There is also Las Alcaravaneras beach, which offers many sports clubs. In the Real Club Náutico and Club Marítimo Varadero there is the possibility to practice various water sports.
Is a visit to Las Palmas Gran Canaria worthwhile?
The various districts, festivals and beaches of Las Palmas attract numerous tourists to the Canary Island of Gran Canaria every year. Many tourists on holiday in other areas nevertheless visit the capital Las Palmas. Whether shopping trips or museum visits – everyone will find what they are looking for in this city. The cultural festivals offer a unique experience and remain in the tourists’ memories. The fact that Las Palmas has two large beaches makes it special. Apart from Rio de Janeiro, no city can match this aspect. To see all the sights in one holiday, double-decker buses are the way to go. A city tour is particularly enjoyable in the sunshine and with a cool breeze.
In the northern part of the island, the sky is cloudier than in Maspalomas, for example. However, the weather here is pleasant all year round. In summer the maximum temperatures are 28 degrees and in winter 20 degrees. The lowest temperatures during the day are 19 degrees in summer and 15 degrees in winter. The number of rainy days is also low throughout the year and ideal for a holiday in Gran Canaria. In these weather conditions it is possible to do all kinds of activities in the water and on land.
The beaches offer many opportunities to relax or surf the waves. They are very well known and popular among surfers, as the requirements are ideal for learning to surf. For this reason, there are also several surf schools in Gran Canaria that teach tourists how to surf. So if the desire is there, Las Palmas is not only ideal for a beach holiday, but also for a surfing holiday. In general, it can be said that Las Palmas is the perfect holiday destination for various desires.
