Why Gran Canaria?
Gran Canaria is not called a mini-continent for nothing. On an area barely larger than Saarland, this volcanic island combines Sahara dunes, cloud-covered laurel forests, rugged gorges, and over 60 kilometers of beach — along with a climate that guarantees springtime feelings all year round. The third-largest Canary Island is only 210 kilometers off the African coast, yet belongs to Spain and thus to the EU.
- Dunes of Maspalomas — A 400-hectare dune field right by the sea, reminiscent of the Sahara. This nature reserve in the south of the island is one of the most iconic landscapes of the entire Canaries — and the sunset over the golden sand hills is simply magical.
- Roque Nublo — The 1,813-meter-high rock monolith in the center of the island is Gran Canaria's landmark. The hike to the summit rewards with a 360-degree panorama over the entire island — in clear weather, all the way to Teide on Tenerife.
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria — The largest city in the Canaries surprises with the historic district of Vegueta (founded in 1478!), the four-kilometer-long city beach Playa de Las Canteras, and a vibrant tapas scene that can compete with mainland Spain.
- Eternal Spring — Gran Canaria enjoys a subtropical climate with average temperatures of 18–26°C year-round. Even in January, daytime temperatures are a pleasant 20–22°C. The south of the island boasts over 300 sunny days a year.
- Cave Dwellings of Artenara — In Europe's highest cave village, people still live in rock-hewn dwellings. The tradition of the indigenous people (Ancient Canarians) lives on here, and you can even stay overnight in a cave.
- Puerto de Mogán — Little Venice — The picturesque fishing village in the southwest is called "Little Venice" because of its canals and bridges. Colorful houses, bougainvillea pergolas, and a sheltered beach make it the most beautiful place on the island.
- Culinary Delights — Papas arrugadas con mojo (wrinkled potatoes with red and green sauce), the award-winning Queso de Flor de Guía, freshly caught fish, and Canarian wines from volcanic soils — Gran Canaria's cuisine is a discovery.
- Diversity in a Small Space — Sunbathe in the dunes in the morning, hike through a gorge at noon, taste goat cheese in a mountain village in the afternoon, and enjoy tapas in Las Palmas in the evening — all in one day, as no point on the island is more than 50 kilometers away.
Gran Canaria is the opposite of mass tourism: beach and mountains, party and silence, tourist hotspots and lonely villages are so close together on this mini-continent that you discover a different island every day. Those who only lie by the pool miss 90 percent.
