Holiday Gran Canaria
Things to know about Cran Canaria
Gran Canaria, probably the best known island of the Canary Islands with its 14 small climatic zones, offers an extraordinary variety of landscapes and an extremely pleasant climate.
Below we would like to give you an overview of the island of Gran Canaria with all the important sights, possible sports activities, events and other interesting facts. The team of Canary Islands 24 has summarized the most important facts about the island of Gran Canaria, so that you can enjoy your holiday on the beautiful Canary Island from the first day to the fullest.
The island of Gran Canaria is located in the Atlantic Ocean and between the island of Fuerteventura to the east and Tenerife to the west. It is the third largest island of the Canary Islands and about 210 km from the West African coast at the height of southern Morocco.
Gran Canaria has a round shape and a diameter of about 50 km with a beautiful coastline that stretches for 236 km. Among the 21 villages and towns, the capital Las Palmas is located in the north of the Canary Island. Due to its 14 small climatic zones and the extraordinary diversity of its landscape, fauna and flora, the island of volcanic origin is often called a mini-continent.
From the centre of the island, the so-called barrancos (dry valleys) lead to the coast, which turn into torrents during extensive, but extremely rare, downpours. These dry valleys are a true paradise for hiking.
Gran Canaria's year-round mild climate is popular with tourists in both summer and winter. The maximum temperatures usually oscillate between 20 and 26 degrees, while the water temperatures, on the other hand, are constant between 19 and 23 degrees.
We would like to make special mention of the different types of vegetation that can be found on the island of Gran Canaria. In the humid north you will find mostly laurel forests, formed by Canary laurel and tree heath, as well as the well-known Canary bellflower. In the desert-like south of the island, on the other hand, you will discover shrubby plants, as well as prickly pears and the Canary Island spurge.
In the high mountain regions of Gran Canaria - the highest mountain in the centre of the island is the "Pico de las Nieves" with its 1,949 metres - pine forests dominate, such as the Canary Island pine. Likewise, dragon trees, subtropical plants and many palm trees mingle with the varied nature of Gran Canaria.
Also history lovers do not come short on the island of Gran Canaria. Native inhabitants of the Canary Island were the Guanches, who lived partly in caves or in small round stone houses. Some ruins can still be visited. Already at the beginning of the 15th century Gran Canaria was conquered by the Spaniards and has been Spanish territory since then. In 1982 the Canary Islands were declared an autonomous region and have been a member of the EU since 1992.
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Travel Guide Gran Canaria
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Frequently asked questions
Since the sun shines virtually all year round in Gran Canaria, the best time for a holiday on the island depends on your needs. The high season on Gran Canaria starts at the end of November and ends in February. At this time, many holidaymakers escape the cold weather in Germany and spend the winter on the sunny island at an average of 20°C.
Prices also increase once again during school holiday periods due to higher demand. At this time, prices for accommodation are significantly higher than in the low season.
Below we would like to show you time periods for a Gran Canaria holiday depending on the activity:
- Surfing: Beginners get their money's worth here all year round. The advanced surfers like to use the higher waves in the months of October to March.
- Active holidays: March to early June & October to late November, as there are far fewer tourists on the island at this time.
- Bathing holiday: Theoretically, you can swim in the sea all year round. However, the water temperatures are most pleasant from May to October, which is why many families with children spend their holidays in Gran Canaria at this time.
Always worth a visit in Gran Canaria is its capital Las Palmas with its market hall and the port. Furthermore, there is the 3.5 km long city beach "Playa de Las Canteras", which extends from the Alfred Kraus Auditorium along the lively promenade Paseo de Las Canteras.
You should also have seen the town of Puerto de Mogan, which is also called "little Venice" because of its many canals.
An absolute landmark of the island are the dunes in Maspalomas. The 400 hectares covered by the dunes extend into the water on the beach and reach heights of up to 10 meters.
For all hiking enthusiasts and nature lovers, a visit to Roque Nublo and Roque Bentayga is a must. The two mountains are located in the heart of the island.
With more than 236km of coastline, of which 60km are sandy, Gran Canaria offers a variety of beautiful beaches. If you want to spend a beach holiday in Gran Canaria, the long and golden beaches in the south and east are just right.
Due to the annual average temperature of more than 20°C, a beach holiday is possible almost all year round.
The Canary Islands and therefore also Gran Canaria are a free trade zone. This allows you to shop on the island significantly cheaper than you know it from Germany or on the Spanish mainland.
When it comes to shopping, you should avoid the tourist areas, because there the prices are often very overpriced. Here a price comparison is worthwhile.
You can shop cheaper for example in Mercadona, Lidl, Hiper Dino, Al Campo, Spar, Carrefour.
The weekly markets and the wholesale market in Las Palmas offer a special shopping experience at reasonable prices.