Plan your trip · Things to do
Best Things to Do in Gran Canaria
One day you’re on a golden beach, the next you’re hiking volcanic peaks or surfing a city wave. Here’s the island at its best — the experiences actually worth your time, from someone who lives here.
Gran Canaria is a “miniature continent”: desert dunes, mountain summits, surf beaches and jungle-green ravines, all on one island. Most visitors only see the beach in front of their hotel — and that’s the big mistake. Below are the experiences I’d send a friend to do, mixing adventure, nature and slow local moments.
Walk the Maspalomas Dunes
You can’t come to Gran Canaria and skip the dunes — it genuinely feels like walking through a slice of the Sahara that ends in the Atlantic. The light at golden hour is unreal. Go early morning or just before sunset: cooler sand, softer light, fewer people. For the most surreal version of all, you can even skydive over them and land beside the ocean.
Hike to Roque Nublo & Pico de las Nieves
If you want the wild side of the island, this is it. Roque Nublo is a vast volcanic monolith that locals consider almost sacred, standing high in the central mountains with panoramic views that reach Tenerife and Mount Teide on a clear day. The walk up isn’t too hard for most people, and the air and silence up there feel like a completely different island from the southern beaches. This is the spot that makes you realise how diverse Gran Canaria really is.
Learn to Surf
Las Canteras in Las Palmas is one of the best urban surf beaches in Europe, and Gran Canaria as a whole is a great place to catch your first wave: warm water year-round, beginner-friendly beaches and easy-to-find lessons. Las Palmas has a real local surf culture, while the south around Maspalomas offers all-levels lessons in calmer conditions.
Off-Road Jeep Safari
The roads Google Maps doesn’t show you. A full off-road jeep safari takes you through the wildest corners of the island — mountain passes, deep ravines and tiny villages that package tourists never reach. It’s the easy way to see the dramatic interior without driving the hairpin roads yourself.
Boat Trip, Dolphins & Snorkeling
Boat excursions are one of the most popular things to do here, and for good reason. Depending on the tour you can watch dolphins, swim in hidden coves, snorkel and catch a sunset from the water. Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán are the usual starting points. If you’d rather skip the big crowded tourist boats, a small shared sailing trip — with drinks, food, snorkeling and quiet coastal views included — is honestly the nicer way to do it.
Explore the Island by Car
One of my biggest recommendations: rent a car for at least a couple of days. So much of the best of Gran Canaria sits outside the tourist zones — hidden viewpoints, mountain villages, tiny local restaurants and quiet beaches. The drive through the central mountains is genuinely part of the experience, some of the most beautiful roads on the island.
🌅 Watch the sunset from Puerto de Mogán
Often called “little Venice”, Puerto de Mogán is one of the prettiest corners of the island — small canals, colourful houses, palm trees and a calm marina. Wander slowly, have dinner by the water and stay for the sunset. A lovely, low-key evening away from the busy resorts.
🍽️ Try real Canarian food
Don’t leave without papas arrugadas with mojo sauce, fresh seafood, local cheese and grilled meats. The small family restaurants up in the mountain villages are almost always better than the tourist spots near the resorts.
💡 First time here? My honest advice
Don’t stay only inside the resort. Explore both north and south (they feel like two different islands), rent a car if you can, and leave room for spontaneous stops and viewpoints. Gran Canaria gets far more interesting the moment you step beyond the main tourist areas.
Experiences, prices and availability change — always check current details on the booking page before you go. Some links are affiliate links (GetYourGuide for activities, Expedia for car rental): if you book through them it costs you nothing extra and helps keep Coastal Canary Life independent and free to read. I only recommend things I’d genuinely do myself.
