Las Palmas is the colourful capital of Gran Canaria, on the Northern coast of the island, with a population of 380,000 and is the ninth largest city in all of Spain. The city has steep historical roots and was even one of Christopher Columbus’ port stops during his voyage of America in 1492.

There is plenty to see and do while on holiday in Las Palmas. A popular attraction for visitors is a trip to Poema del Mar aquarium, where you can see and learn about Gran Canaria’s magnificent marine life. If you want to continue exploring the beautiful nature that the island, take a trip to Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo, the main botanical gardens of Gran Canaria.

Las Palmas is a great location for families and couples who want a mixture of a sunny beach holiday and a city break. Home to some excellent beaches and plenty of fascinating historical sites, it gives tourists the best of both worlds.

To learn more about things to do in Las Palmas, the best time to go and local info see here.

Things to do in Las Palmas

Attractions 

• Take to the skies and get the best view of Las Palmas with a paragliding experience.
• Taste the local fruits with a Las Palmas wine tour
• Tour the beautiful Catedral de Santa Ana, which took 350 years to complete
• Take a tour of Gabinete Literario, the oldest theatre in Gran Canaria

 Nightlife 

The resort has an incredible nightlife with hundreds of bars, pubs and clubs to suit all budgets and musical interests.

Dining Out 

Las Palmas has a wide variety of restaurants serving tasty authentic Canarian, Spanish and international cuisine.

For Families 

A visit to Sioux City Theme Park will let you live the experience of life in the American Wild Western times, and is a fantastic attraction for families of all ages.

Beaches 

Playa de las Alcaravaneras is a popular manmade beach in Las Palmas. Offering a long stretch of golden sand and calm placid waters to enjoy.

Shopping  

Centro Comercial Las Arenas in Las Palmas is a large shopping centre with a variety high street stores, the perfect place to do some retail therapy.

Carnival Festival

Like most of the resort’s in the Canary Islands, Las Palmas celebrates Carnival festival towards the end of February. The celebrations in Las Palmas are the biggest on the island of Gran Canaria. During carnival you will see colourful parades, performances and parties for all to enjoy!

Best Time to Go 

Las Palmas’ peak season is during the summer months when temperatures average in the low thirties. However, Las Palmas is considered by some as having the world’s best climate, meaning you can visit the city year-round and still have a fantastic sun holiday.

Local Info

Currency

Euro is the currency used.

Time Zone

There is no time difference between Ireland and Las Palmas.

Getting Around

Flights to Las Palmas go from Dublin and Cork up to seven days a week during the summer season, with the flight time being an estimated four and a half hours. The time taken from the airport to the city centre is 20 minutes. It is easy to get around Las Palmas as the city operates an efficient bus service and taxis are cheap.