Cheap flights to Gran Canaria from $299

Gran Canaria is the third largest and most developed of the seven Canary Islands. Its size is reflected in the vast landscape and highly-trafficked capital city of Las Palmas. Travelers flying to Gran Canaria for vacation have their pick of social activities in the city to private lounging on the island’s southern coastline. Thanks to its lush woodlands and ocean beaches, Gran Canaria has a varying climate that changes with the seasons and the location of your stay. The northern area of the island is humid, while the south is desert-like with vast stretches of beach. The villages of Gran Canaria provide this island with its endearing personality. Red roofs, banana plantations and tropical fruit orchids are just a few of the common landmarks travelers to Gran Canaria will enjoy.

Gran Canaria climate

While Gran Canaria has a wonderful climate throughout the year, the south of the island (where the major resorts are located) enjoys its own microclimate with generally better weather than other parts of the island, although the sea breeze can be quite bracing. The average temperature is comfortable all year round, rarely dropping below 63°F (17°C) and more often above 82°F (28°C) during the day. Rainfall in the summer months is almost non-existent, but showers are likely between October and April.

Gran Canaria Travel Information

• Opened in 1964, the Casa Museo de Pérez Galdós is the birthplace of the Canary Islands’ most renowned writer Benito Pérez Galdós. Inside the museum are items that belonged to the author including portraits, books, documents and furniture.
• While strolling around the lively city of Las Palmas drop by the Museo Nestor dedicated to the 19th-century artist Néstor Martín Fernández de la Torre. The ten rooms are filled with exhibits of his prized art from huge portraits to intricate sketches.
• Surrounded by manicured gardens in the center of the island are two of the most affluent suburbs: Tafira Baja and Tafira Alta. Take a tour of the University of Gran Canaria in Tafira Baja and spend the afternoon in the tranquil Jardin Botánico.
• Take a glimpse inside the lives of the locals by being transported back in time inside this converted farmhouse, the Museo Etnológico La Cantonera. This ethnographical museum has preserved agricultural artifacts, ceramics, furniture and farming equipment.
• A day trip to the old fisherman’s quarter of La Isleta is well worth a visit. There you’ll find the oldest fortress on the island, Castillo de la Luz which was built in 1541 and visit one of the region’s most prominent harbors – Puerto de la Luz.

Gran Canaria airport overview

Located approximately 12 miles (19km) south of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and 16 miles (25km) north of the island’s popular tourist areas, Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) or Las Palmas Airport – locally referred to as “Aeropuerto de Gando” – handles almost 9.5 million passengers per year. It is the Canary Islands’ busiest aerial hub and Spain’s fifth-busiest airport.

With a reasonable selection of shops and places to wine and dine, as well as warm and friendly services and an assortment of facilities, Gran Canaria Airport offers a pleasant experience. Clear days offer majestic views of distant mountains, however, breezier weather brings extreme tailwinds to the island, sometimes affecting flight schedules. In general, though, temperatures at Las Palmas International range from mild to moderate throughout the year, so you needn’t carry much in your hand luggage except for a camera, cap and pair of shades.

Like all tourist gateways, Las Palmas can get chaotic at times, especially during the peak months of July and August. However, staff do their best to offer assistance in terms of speeding up procedures and going the extra mile to help passengers.