Gran Canaria Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Gran Canaria tours and things to do on Spain’s sun-soaked Canary Island: cruise to spot dolphins and whales off Puerto Rico, ride a camel over the golden Maspalomas dunes, bounce across the volcanic interior on a buggy or jeep safari, hike to the mighty Roque Nublo, and sail a catamaran to hidden coves. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect island getaway.
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Explore Gran Canaria by interest
Whatever brings you to Gran Canaria — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Gran Canaria
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Maspalomas Dunes
Golden sands.
Dolphins & Whales
Atlantic cruises.
Roque Nublo
Volcanic monolith.
Puerto de Mogán
Little Venice.
Buggy Trails
Off-road island.
Las Palmas
Historic capital.
Catamaran Sailing
South coast.
Volcanic Peaks
Tejeda & Bandama.
Gran Canaria in 3 days
- 1Day 1: dunes & coast
- 2Day 2: mountains
- 3Day 3: buggy & Las Palmas
- 4Dolphin cruise
Gran Canaria on the water
- 1Dolphin cruise
- 2Catamaran snorkel
- 3Kayak caves
- 4Sunset sail
~1 hr awayRoque Nublo
Volcanic monolith.
~40 min awayPuerto de Mogán
Little Venice.
South awayMaspalomas
Golden dunes.
~40 min awayLas Palmas
Capital & beach.
~1 hr awayTejeda
Mountain village.
~30 min awayBandama Caldera
Volcanic crater.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Gran Canaria visitor asks before booking.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Warm and mild when Europe is cold — peak season for sun-seekers.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Warm, pleasant and less busy — a great time to visit.
Summer (Jul–Sep)
Hot and sunny, busy with holidaymakers and warm seas.
Autumn (Oct)
Still warm and sunny with thinner crowds.
Whale season
Dolphins and whales can be seen year-round off the south coast.
Year-round sun
With mild temperatures all year, any season is good for Gran Canaria.
One day
The dunes and a dolphin cruise.
Three days
Add the mountains and a buggy safari.
One week
Add Las Palmas, hikes and watersports.
On the water
Cruises, kayaks and the submarine.
For nature
Roque Nublo and the peaks.
With kids
Camels, submarines and beaches.
Rental car
A car is the easiest way to explore the coast and mountainous interior.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours with pickup cover the mountains, safaris and cruises.
By boat
Boats from Puerto Rico and Mogán reach dolphin waters and coves.
On foot
Las Palmas, Puerto de Mogán and the resorts are pleasant to explore on foot.
Getting there
Gran Canaria Airport links the island with mainland Spain and Europe.
Where to base
The sunny south (Maspalomas) or the capital Las Palmas suit different trips.
Euros
Gran Canaria uses the euro; cards are widely accepted across the island.
Book ahead
Dolphin cruises, buggy safaris and the submarine fill up — reserve in advance.
Sun protection
The Canary sun is strong year-round — bring sunscreen, a hat and water.
Pack for the mountains
The interior is cooler than the coast — bring a layer for hikes.
Choose ethical cruises
Pick dolphin and whale tours that keep a respectful distance from the animals.
See both sides
Combine the sunny south beaches with the green, cloudy north for the full island.
Dolphin cruises
Popular cruises sell out — book ahead.
Buggy safaris
Off-road tours fill up — reserve early.
Submarine
The Mogán submarine has limited spots — book ahead.
Mountain tours
Roque Nublo and jeep tours fill up — reserve early.
Watersports
Jet ski and kayak tours book out — reserve ahead.
Winter dates
Winter is busiest with sun-seekers — reserve everything ahead.
Dolphin cruise
Around €25–45 for a dolphin and whale watching cruise.
Camel safari
About €15–30 for a Maspalomas camel ride.
Buggy safari
Roughly €60–110 for a buggy or jeep safari.
Mountain tour
Around €40–70 for a Roque Nublo and peaks tour.
Submarine
About €40–60 for the Mogán submarine adventure.
How to save
Join group tours, rent a car for the interior, and book combos.
Gran Canaria through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Winter sun.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book ahead.
- Best for
- Warm, quieter.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great time.
- Best for
- Beaches & seas.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy, hot.
- Best for
- Warm, thinner.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely time.