If you’ve clicked on this article, you’re probably thinking of travelling to the island of Gran Canaria soon. Finding a good place to go on a trip and deciding on where to stay can be difficult. Our aim in this article is to guide you in your choice among the many places that Gran Canaria has to offer.

Gran Canaria is one of the most important islands in the Canary archipelago. It stands out for its diversity, ranging from beautiful beaches to spectacular landscapes, from a capital with a unique appeal to some of the most beautiful villages in Spain.

Ready to explore the best areas and resorts of the island?

Top 6 areas & resorts to stay in Gran Canaria

If you explore the wonderful island of Gran Canaria and its different areas, you'll find a variety of different areas from the north of the island to the south, suitable for all tastes.

If you’re passionate about surfing or windsurfing, the west of the island is your aquatic paradise. The western coasts, from Agaete to Mogán, offer ideal conditions for these exciting water sports.

In contrast, the east and south of Gran Canaria is a tourist epicentre. In this area, you’ll find first class beaches such as Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés and San Agustín, which are favourite destinations if you’re looking for sun, sand, and beach.

However, we cannot forget the northern part of the island. Here, the landscapes are breathtakingly beautiful, with hidden coves and impressive cliffs that connect you with nature at its most pristine.

So whether you're looking for adrenaline in the west of Gran Canaria, relaxation on the beaches of the south and east, or tranquillity in the north, this island will open the doors to Atlantic paradise.

1. San Agustín, for a relaxed beach holiday with your family

We’ll start in the south of Gran Canaria with the area of San Agustín. As we mentioned before, it’s one of the most important tourist centres of the island. This area stands out for its tranquillity and its wide range of accommodation and the necessary services to spend an excellent holiday.

Nearby you can find the beach of San Agustín, with dark sand, calm waters and no high waves, making it the ideal refuge for those looking to relax or go with the family, as it’s the ideal area for a holiday with kids on Gran Canaria.

San Agustín is one of the most recommended places to stay in Gran Canaria, as it allows you to enjoy a nice atmosphere, quiet, and avoiding crowds, ideal for days at the beach without stress, as well as giving you the opportunity to explore the island, as it’s strategically close to other areas of the south and only 30 minutes drive from the capital.

Location of San Agustín:

2. Puerto Rico, water activities and shopping

Still in the south and more specifically on the coast of Mogán, we find Puerto Rico, a well-known tourist location that stands out for having one of the most important shopping centres on the island, numerous services in the surrounding area and a wonderful golden sandy beach.

This area is protected by the mountains, especially from the wind, which can sometimes be considerable in the southern part of the island. For this reason, it has become one of the most popular tourist areas for families, together with San Agustín, in order to spend a holiday focused on tranquillity.

As we mentioned earlier, it stands out for having a wide range of leisure activities, being the starting point for numerous boat trips and water activities. It’s also a popular area for the practice of different sporting events such as lateen sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, water skiing and golf.

Puerto Rico is therefore a very complete destination, whether you want to spend a relaxing family holiday, enjoy the different water sports or simply go shopping and sightseeing in Gran Canaria.

3. Las Palmas, urban lifestyle full of activities

Located in the northeast of the island, just 20 kilometres from Gran Canaria airport, we find Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the island's capital and most populated city. Founded in 1478, today it stands out as an energetic and full-fledged metropolis, capable of masterfully blending the contemporaneity of recent times with its rich historical tradition.

Las Palmas is an ideal destination for a complete holiday, with numerous leisure and cultural activities, as well as multiple activities to ensure fun, such as music, film, theatre, and dance festivals of international renown, not forgetting its Carnival, and an excellent nightlife.

Its important and culture filled neighbourhoods Vegueta or Triana aren’t to be missed. Furthermore, Las Palmas holds one of the best city beaches in Europe: Las Canteras. But it also has other spectacular sandy beaches such as Las Alcaravaneras and La Laja.

Las Palmas is a very interesting and complete destination. If you’re looking for the best area to stay on Gran Canaria to take refuge in the customs of the island to enjoy its history and the numerous entertainment options that the capital has, it’s the best option for you.

And if you’re looking for a specific holiday resort in the heart of the city, we recommend the Acuario Lifestyle hotel, a beautiful and emblematic accommodation located in an incomparable setting such as the Plaza de Santa Catalina, the symbol of the city.

Here is its location:

4. Puerto de Mogán, Venice of the Canary Islands

If you're looking to stay in the Canary Islands' version of Venice, Puerto de Mogán might be the ideal choice. This charming pedestrianised village is notable for its narrow, picturesque lanes, balconied houses with lush gardens, and the unique network of canals that make this port a perfect spot for relaxation.

Much quieter and cosier than other destinations on the island, it allows you to enjoy the tranquillity of the sea. If you’re looking to escape the clouds and the rain, Puerto de Mogán is the best choice, as it’s the area that offers the most hours of sunshine per day in the whole of Europe.

It has a beautiful and sheltered beach, not notable for its space, as there are other larger beaches, but for its tranquillity, which makes it an ideal beach to go with children.

Puerto de Mogán, like Puerto Rico, offers ample opportunities for water sports. This location is an excellent choice for a place to stay in Gran Canaria, especially if you’re travelling with your family. However, it may not be the best choice for young people looking to mix beach days with a lively nightlife.

Here is the exact location:

5. Agaete, for nature lovers

Not all the fun is to be found in the south of the island, Agaete is a case in point. Located in the northeast of the island, the charming village of Agaete preserves one of the most interesting old quarters of Gran Canaria.

This municipality stands out for its white houses, its ravines, its beautiful landscapes and, of course, its beaches. Although it’s not noted for its large size, it’s one of the municipalities with the greatest variety of beaches, including the beautiful Guayedra beach and Las Nieves beach, located in front of the quay.

One of its main attractions is the Tamadaba Natural Park, which also offers an attractive range of entertainment for visitors. In the vicinity of Agaete, there are also numerous observation points, natural spaces and beaches, which allow visitors to enjoy the panoramic view of the north of the island of Gran Canaria.

It’s an ideal destination for enjoying nature tourism due to the contrast of its beautiful landscapes, as well as sun and beach tourism. We recommend that you visit this municipality in August, a date that is a highlight in the calendar for many Canarians, as La Rama is one of the most popular festivals on the island.

Location of Agaete:

6. Playa del Inglés, fun and nightlife

Playa del Inglés is synonymous with fun. Located in the south of the island, it’s one of the areas with the greatest number of services designed to satisfy tourists.

It has an excellent location, being less than 15 minutes from Gran Canaria airport and 25 minutes from the capital. It’s an international, open-minded locality with an enormous range of hotels, the largest on the island, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world.

Like the other areas in the south of the island, it also stands out for its numerous options for water activities. This has led to a proliferation of surfing, kitesurfing and bodyboarding schools, with surfers from all over the world flocking to take advantage of the quality of its waves.

This area is one of those with the widest range of leisure activities aimed at all kinds of people. It’s also the place with the most nightlife on the island, which is why it attracts many young and not so young people wanting to have a good time.

However, it’s also a perfect place for families, as there are many tourist attractions in the surrounding area that are ideal for youngsters. These include amusement parks, water parks and theme parks. In addition, it’s worth mentioning the various alternatives that await within the tourist enclosures for children's entertainment.

It’s a very suitable area to stay in Gran Canaria for all budgets. There are numerous options for accommodation, such as the HD Parque Cristobal, one of the best options if you’re looking to stay with your family, enjoying the space, the garden, and the area, as it’s located right in the centre of Playa del Inglés.

Here is the exact location:

Spend an unforgettable holiday in Gran Canaria

As you've seen throughout this article, Gran Canaria offers an incredible diversity of fascinating places for you to explore and enjoy in whatever way you choose. From astounding beaches that invite you to relax, to areas perfect for sports or simply visiting the intricacies that exist in the heart of the island.

Gran Canaria's unique combination of natural surroundings, rich culture and gastronomy makes this destination stand out as an unforgettable choice, right here in the beautiful Canary Islands – you won't want to miss it!