Gran Canaria is a gorgeous island. Its amazing weather all year round makes it a great place to travel in December in Europe (or any time it gets a bit chilly, really), and it’s packed full of culture, and unique, delicious food. It’s somewhere that people go to again and again because of the relaxing vibe and friendly people. However, if you don’t know where to go, you’ll only scratch the surface of how much this island has to offer. If you want a tourist guide without the tourist traps, read on.
1. Go exploring in the town of Teror
This town is as beautiful as it is historic, as it is one of the oldest towns in Gran Canaria! Different shops sell so many bespoke items – you can head into a cosmetics shop for natural products like aloe vera lotions, a jewellery shop that sells volcano jewellery, or typical products like the famous chorizo paste. If you’re hungry, there’s many outdoor restaurants that sell delicious Gran Canarian food.
2. Sight-see at Poema del Mar (a huge aquarium)
Poema del Mar is an impressive aquarium, it boasts 3 zones, containing hundreds of unique species altogether from many different continents. The atmosphere is simply fascinating. The species are all housed in gigantic tanks; the curved tank in the deep sea zone is one you need to see in person – it’s the world’s largest curved screen ever built!
3. Relax at Puerto Morgan
This is a charming, old town. You’ll find many restaurants and bars selling fresh seafood, and the area itself is filled with picturesque cottages and homes. It’s a great place if you’re wanting to take a break and simply stroll.
4. Walk along Caldera de Bandama
Gran Canaria’s terrain is like no other, part desert, part beach, and part mountainous. If you like hiking, you’ll love this. You’ll be able to hike for almost 2 and 30 minutes while admiring this crater. It’s 216mm deep and 1,000 metres wide, left by the volcano Pico de Bandama thousands of years ago.
5. Go swimming at Anfi del Mar
What would this list be without a beautiful beach to top it all off? Anfi del Mar is one of the best beaches in Gran Canaria – it’s gorgeous! I spent the best part of the day here, catching rays of sun until the beach was empty! When you get too hot, take a dip into the cool water. There’s always ice cream shops and convenience stores nearby (like Spar) to get yourself a drink – I recommend the local beer, Tropical.
5 pictures isn’t enough to show off the wonders and sights of this beautiful island, so I have made a full length YouTube video!
Check it out here:
