Plan your trip · Where to stay
Where to Stay in Gran Canaria
Luxury resorts on the dunes, apartments in the city, stone villas in the mountains. Where you base yourself changes your whole trip — here’s how to choose, from someone who lives here.
Gran Canaria is often called a “continent in miniature”, and once you arrive you’ll see why: from the capital Las Palmas to the golden dunes of Maspalomas, from green mountain villages to wild Atlantic beaches, it packs an extraordinary variety into a small island. Which is exactly why choosing where to stay matters more here than almost anywhere. Pick the wrong area and you’ll spend half your holiday in the car. Pick the right one and everything you want is on your doorstep.
🔍 Search your accommodation
Prices change daily and the best rooms go fast — especially in peak season (Nov–Feb and Jun–Aug).
Best areas to stay
Maspalomas & Playa del Inglés ★★★★★
Gran Canaria’s undisputed holiday hub, at the southern tip of the island. Home to the spectacular Maspalomas Dunes — a vast sweep of golden sand that feels more Sahara than Spain — with Playa del Inglés next door concentrating the nightlife, restaurants and resort hotels. The beating heart of the island’s tourism, with the most guaranteed sunshine.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ★★★★
The island’s capital is a genuine, vibrant Spanish city and one of the most underrated urban destinations in Europe. It has a stunning 3km city beach (Las Canteras), a beautiful historic quarter (Vegueta), superb restaurants and real local life that feels a world away from the resort south.
Puerto Rico & Amadores ★★★★
On the southwest coast, this is the family-friendly sweet spot. The bay is sheltered, the water calm and warm, and the imported golden sand at Amadores is picture-perfect. Lots of boat trips and excursions leave from here too.
Mogán & Puerto de Mogán ★★★★
Often called the “Little Venice of Gran Canaria”, Puerto de Mogán is one of the most charming spots on the island: flower-draped bridges, a pretty marina, excellent seafood and a calm, intimate atmosphere. A favourite for couples and slow travel.
Agaete & the North ★★★
The northwest is wild, green and largely untouched by mass tourism. The fishing village of Agaete and the dramatic Agaete Valley are genuinely beautiful — but accommodation is limited and you’ll need a car. This is the authentic, local side of the island.
Luxury hotels: the best of the best
Lopesan Baobab Resort
If you want to understand what a luxury resort in Gran Canaria really means, the Baobab is the benchmark. Africa-inspired architecture, infinity pools, a world-class spa and a beach you can walk to, steps from the Maspalomas dunes. The kind of place you arrive tired and leave completely restored.
✅ Perfect for: couples, honeymoons, genuine luxury · ❌ Not for: budget or back-to-basics travellers
Check availability & prices →Hotel Faro, a Lopesan Collection Hotel Adults only
Right next to the Maspalomas lighthouse with Atlantic views. Elegant architecture, rooms with panoramic terraces and access to a stylish sky lounge. One of the most beautiful hotels on the island, and it shows.
✅ Perfect for: couples after exclusivity and style · ❌ Not for: families with children
Check availability & prices →Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
A grande dame of Gran Canaria and the island’s most iconic hotel. This beautifully restored colonial property has welcomed kings, artists and explorers since 1890, set in lush tropical gardens near the city centre, with a level of elegance and history no modern resort can match — and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
✅ Perfect for: couples, history lovers, luxury city travellers · walking distance to Las Canteras beach
Check availability & prices →Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort & Spa
One of the grandest resorts on the island, set between the Maspalomas dunes and the seafront promenade. Multiple lagoon-style pools, a thalasso spa, sweeping Atlantic views and direct access to the boulevard and beach. A true large-scale luxury experience.
✅ Perfect for: couples, families, all-inclusive seekers · adults-only wing available
Check availability & prices →Lopesan Villa del Conde Resort
Designed to look like a traditional Canarian village on the Meloneras seafront, with a distinctive domed church as its centrepiece. Unique architecture, a thalasso spa and excellent restaurants give it far more character than a standard resort. My pick for anyone who wants luxury with personality.
✅ Perfect for: couples and travellers who want authenticity with luxury · ❌ Not for: classic all-inclusive fans
Check availability & prices →Hotels for every type of traveller
Bohemia Suites & Spa Adults only
An adults-only boutique hotel in Maspalomas with contemporary design, a rooftop terrace with ocean views and a kitchen worth the stay on its own. For those who want something more intimate than the big resorts.
Check availability & prices →Seaside Palm Beach Adults only
A design hotel unlike anything else on the island — an adults-only property decorated with original artworks and lush tropical gardens, steps from the Maspalomas dunes. One of the most photographed hotels in Gran Canaria.
Check availability & prices →Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity
Surrounded by greenery near the golf course, away from the busy coast. Huge pools, a spa, excellent restaurants and a quieter atmosphere than the beachfront resorts. Great for families who want space and genuine relaxation.
Check availability & prices →HD Parque Cristóbal Gran Canaria
An excellent mid-range option in Playa del Inglés, with spacious bungalow-style accommodation in lush gardens and multiple pools. The resort experience without the 5-star price tag — great value for families and couples.
Check availability & prices →Hotel Riu Gran Canaria
Right on the seafront in Maspalomas, with pools, a kids’ club and all-inclusive entertainment. One of the most popular Riu hotels on the island — constant activity, good food and an unbeatable beach position.
Check availability & prices →Hotel Riu Palace Maspalomas Adults only
Surrounded by lush gardens and the Maspalomas dunes. Adults-only, with two outdoor pools, a wellness centre, several dining options and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it hard to leave.
Check availability & prices →Apartments, villas & holiday rentals
Gran Canaria is perfect for those who prefer an apartment or holiday rental — cook when you want, come and go freely, and often spend far less than a resort for the same comfort.
Private pool villas in the interior
One of the things I love most about the island. Twenty to thirty minutes from the sea you’ll find stone villas with private pools, mountain views and a silence you wouldn’t expect. Perfect for groups, large families or couples who want total privacy — and the per-person price is very competitive against a hotel.
Find villas with pool →Apartments in Las Palmas
One of the most underrated cities in Spain: urban beach, the historic Vegueta quarter, markets, local restaurants and a nightlife that actually works. An apartment here — ideally in Triana or Vegueta — lets you live the city like a local.
Search apartments in Las Palmas →Bungalows in the south
A classic Canarian formula: small independent units in complexes with a shared pool and tropical gardens. Excellent value, ideal for families. The Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés area has hundreds, from budget to well-appointed.
Find bungalows in Maspalomas →💡 Where to stay: my quick map
Ready to book your Gran Canaria stay?
Whether you dream of waking beside the dunes, sipping coffee on a Las Palmas rooftop, or watching the sunset from a clifftop in Mogán — there’s a perfect base here for every type of traveller.
Prices and availability change frequently. Peak season runs November–February (European winter escape) and June–August — book early for the best rates and room choice. Hotel details and star ratings are accurate at the time of writing; always check the current listing before booking. Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them it costs you nothing extra and helps keep Coastal Canary Life independent and free to read.
