Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria Holidays
Gran Canaria Info
Gran Canaria Map
Gran Canaria Offers

The popular island of Gran Canaria has been calling tourists to its sandy shores for many years. With temperatures in the 20’s even in the winter, it’s no secret that Gran Canaria is an ever reliable destination for a beach holiday. It is also a stunningly diverse island with an array of vegetation and landscapes that you’ll be lucky to experience somewhere 10 times the size of this treasure trove for nature lovers.

The island is made up of several resort towns, and we’ve got great offers on all of them. Whether you want to take in the sands dunes of Maspalomas, lay on the beach in the bustling Playa Del Ingles or experience the great shopping and nightlife of Puerto Rico, you’ll find a holiday to suit your tastes as well as your budget.

Check out our options across the top Gran Canaria holiday resorts:

Maspalomas holidays »
Playa Del Ingles holidays »
Puerto Rico holidays »

Other Gran Canaria resorts

Maspalomas | Playa Del Ingles | Puerto Rico

Other Spain destinations

Currency:

The Canary Islands official currency is the Euro often signified by € or EUR. One Euro is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money. The Euro is used in 12 members of the European Union. Countries and territories using the Euro include: Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, The Vatican, Martinique, Guadalupe, Reunion, Montenegro, and Kosovo.

Currency

Gran Canaria Climate:

The climate of Gran Canaria is considered to be among the best in the world - year-round warm weather with constant sunshine. Boasting a number of different micro-climates, this volcanic island experiences diverse conditions and terrain, from tropical forests to snow-capped peaks, with the south of the island, home to the major tourist resorts, seeing the sunniest driest weather. The moderate temperatures in each region hardly fluctuate from season, with the variance between summer and winter being only 6C.

Dry and sunny most of the year-round, and with constant spring-like conditions, Gran Canaria is an ideal climate for all holidaymakers, from sun-worshippers to nature-lovers alike. Temperatures through the spring and summer can range from 23C to 27C, with the average temperature for both seasons being 25C. Gran Canaria does not experience excessive high temperatures during the summer, and the trade winds that blow across the island certainly help to temper the heat. The island sometimes sees the very hot summer winds coming up from the Sahara, known as the 'sirocco', bringing higher temperatures as well as a cloud of fine sand from the desert. Sea temperatures remain very pleasant throughout the year, ranging from 22C in the summer to 18C in winter.

Time

The Canary Islands are in the same time zone as the UK. Local time is GMT in the winter (GMT +1 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October).

Language

Spanish is the official language, but
English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists.

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 or 225 volts, 50Hz.
European-style two-pin plugs are standard.

Tipping

Hotel and restaurant bills usually include service charges, but additional tips are welcomed for services rendered. In established restaurants tips of about 10% are expected. Drivers of metered taxis expect small tips and it is customary to tip usually 5-10% for most services, including guides.