Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria's largest city, with the Las Canteras city beach and the colonial old quarter of Vegueta on the island's northeast coast.
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Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the largest city in the Canary Islands, an archipelago in the Atlantic off northwest Africa. It sits on the northeast coast of Gran Canaria and is both a commercial port and a city. Vegueta, the old quarter, is where the city was founded in 1478. It holds Santa Ana Cathedral and the Casa de Colón, a museum linked to Christopher Columbus's visits to the island. The shopping streets of Triana sit right beside it.
Most visitors also come for Las Canteras, a long urban beach on the seafront, sheltered by a natural reef. Plan two to three days for the old quarter and the beach. Stay longer if you want the city as a base for the rest of the island. Pick a hotel near Las Canteras for beach days, or one in Vegueta for museums and walks. The weather is mild all year, so choose your days by what you want to do.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in five
- Base near Las Canteras for beach plus cityThe 3 km promenade has restaurants, surf schools and a reef-sheltered end that is good for swimming. Vegueta, the old quarter, is a short bus ride away.
- Spend a morning in VeguetaThe colonial old quarter has the cathedral, the Columbus House museum and cobbled squares. Check opening hours, as many museums close on Mondays.
- Take the airport busGlobal buses link the airport with Las Palmas in roughly 30–45 minutes, and taxis take about half an hour. Check the last services if you land late.Getting around Spain
- Pick Maspalomas for dunes, Las Palmas for the cityMaspalomas, the dune resort, is on the south coast, and the two are about an hour apart by road. Choose one base unless you rent a car.Maspalomas
- Book early for CarnivalLas Palmas holds one of the Canaries' biggest Carnivals each late winter, and hotels near the center fill. Check the dates for the year before you book.
Things to do in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
See all attractions in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Need to know
- Airport
- Gran Canaria (LPA), about 20 km south; buses and taxis
- Getting there
- Flights from mainland Spain and Europe; inter-island ferries and flights
- Getting around
- City buses and taxis; a walkable beach promenade
- Best base
- Las Canteras for the beach; Vegueta or Triana for the old town
- Time needed
- 2 days for the city; more as a base for Gran Canaria
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- JanuaryClear9 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Mild, winter sunJanuaryClear
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, winter sun
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Mild, winter sunFebruaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, winter sun
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Warm, dryMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- AprilClear8 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, easyAprilClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, easy
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh22°Low17°Warm, calmMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JuneClear6 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Dry, trade windsJuneClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, trade winds
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh25°Low20°Warm, windyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, windy
- AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Warm, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh25°Low20°Warm, sea warmestSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, sea warmest
- OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Warm, quieterOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low18°Mild, quieterNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- DecemberClear8 rainy daysHigh20°Low17°Mild, ChristmasDecemberClear
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, Christmas
Average daily high and low in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Feb Carnival of Las Palmas · Mar Carnival of Las Palmas
Right now in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 24°
- Humidity
- 69%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 10%
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
08:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today27°20°10%Monday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Tue25°20°93%Tuesday: Rain. High 25°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Wed25°18°15%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Thu25°19°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri25°20°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat28°20°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 28°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun30°22°23%Sunday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 23%.
Updated 06:02 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- Feb–MarCarnival of Santa Cruz de TenerifeSanta Cruz de Tenerife, a day trip
- Feb–MarCarnival of Las PalmasLas Palmas de Gran Canaria
Day trips by train
- Maspalomasabout 45–60 minutes by bus or carSand dunes, the lighthouse and long resort beaches.Read the guide
- Puerto de Mogánabout 1.5 hours by roadHarbor village with canals, a calm beach and a market.Read the guide
- Roque Nubloabout 1.25 hours by carA volcanic rock monolith in the island's high interior.
Before you go to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
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Rules for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, checked
- Las Palmas is in Spain, which is in the Schengen Area. Check entry rules on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site before you book.Source
- Non-EU travelers may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System.
- The Canary Islands sit outside the EU customs union and use IGIC instead of VAT. Check the Spanish tax agency's rules on what you can bring in.
- Spanish police can ask anyone to show identification, so carry your passport or ID at all times. In an emergency, call 112.
Plan around Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Cities, islands and trains beyond the Canaries
Read the guideMaspalomasDunes and resort beaches on the south coast
Read the guidePuerto de MogánHarbor village with a calm beach, 1.5 hours away
Read the guideCanary IslandsSeven islands compared by landscape and season
Read the guideGetting around SpainBuses, ferries and rental cars
Read the guideLas Palmas de Gran Canaria FAQ
Is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria worth visiting?
Yes, as a real city with a good beach, a colonial old quarter and year-round mild weather. It is less resort-like than Maspalomas, so it suits culture and food as well as swimming.
Las Palmas or Maspalomas: where should you stay?
Las Palmas for city life, food and a promenade beach; Maspalomas for dunes, resorts and reliable sunshine. Many travelers split time, since the two are about an hour apart.
How many days do you need in Las Palmas?
Two days cover Vegueta, Triana and Las Canteras. Add a day for the interior, such as Roque Nublo, or a coastal trip to Maspalomas.
Is Las Canteras good for swimming?
Yes, much of the beach is sheltered by a natural reef, which calms the water. Conditions can change, so check the flags and lifeguard signs before you swim.
What is the weather like in Las Palmas in winter?
Mild and mostly sunny, with highs in the low 20s Celsius. Evenings can be cooler and the trade winds can bring cloud, but it remains one of Europe's warmest winter city breaks.