The Best Beaches
in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is often called a continent in miniature, and its beaches prove the point. In a couple of hours you can travel from the vast protected dunes of Maspalomas in the sunny south to the long curve of golden city sand at Las Canteras in the capital, with sheltered man made bays and lively resort beaches in between. This is one of the most reliable winter sun islands in Europe, and the beaches carry that easy, year round mood.

The honest read is that the south is where most visitors stay, a string of purpose built resorts where the sand is groomed, the sea is calm and the sun is close to guaranteed. The wilder character sits at the edges, in the dunes at Maspalomas, the surf and promenade life of Las Canteras, and a few quiet coves that take some effort to reach. Below we rank the island's headline beaches on sand, water, the scene and the kind of day each one delivers.

Who should skip what? If you dream of untouched natural coastline, much of Gran Canaria's south is frankly resort built, with man made bays and groomed sand, so set your expectations and enjoy it for the reliable sun and calm water rather than wild beauty. For nature, give the Maspalomas dunes the time they deserve, ideally early or late, and consider the harder to reach coves in the north and west.

If you want calm, warm and easy, the sheltered southern bays such as Amadores and Puerto Rico are hard to beat for families, while Las Canteras gives the capital a beach most cities would envy. The classic mistake is staying only on your resort's strip of sand. A short drive opens up the dunes, the city beach and a string of quieter options, and turns a one note beach holiday into something far richer.

Gran Canaria is a year round island, which is its great trick. Winters are mild and sunny, spring and autumn are warm and settled, and summers are hot without the fierce heat of the mainland thanks to the trade winds. The sea is swimmable all year for the hardy and properly warm from summer into late autumn. For the finest balance of warm water, gentle heat and lighter crowds the late spring and autumn shoulders are the sweet spot, while winter draws the sun seekers escaping the cold. See our full month by month guide for the detail.

The beaches feed the clubs, and on Gran Canaria the scene is smaller and more relaxed than in Marbella or Ibiza. The names to know are the Amadores Beach Club above its calm bay, with pools, Balinese beds and a champagne terrace, and the Maroa Club del Mar beside the Anfi marina. Each beach above points you toward nearby venues, and our full directory compares every club by beach and vibe, with any minimum spend confirmed when you enquire.