Meloneras Beach, Gran Canaria
The verdict
- Best for: Travellers who want a smart, walkable base by the dunes, with the island's best resort dining on the doorstep.
- Best spot: The Paseo de Meloneras at golden hour, ending at the lighthouse boulevard for dinner over the water.
- Know this: The swimming is patchy, rocky in places, so this is a strip for the promenade and the food as much as the sand.
Published 28 January 2026. Last reviewed 11 February 2026
Meloneras is the south coast in its Sunday best. Built east of the Maspalomas dunes as a smarter, quieter alternative to the package strip of Playa del Ingles, it is arranged around a long, handsome seafront promenade, the Paseo de Meloneras, that runs past designer hotels and ends at the old Maspalomas lighthouse. The light here at the end of the day is wonderful, and the whole strip is made for a slow walk with the sea on one side and the menus on the other.
The honest read is that Meloneras is better for strolling and eating than for swimming. The shore is a mix of small golden coves and rocky shelves rather than one open sweep of sand, so the actual beach day is patchy and water shoes earn their keep. If you want the great open beach you simply walk west into the Maspalomas dunes, which is one of the island's true wonders and only minutes away on foot. Come to Meloneras for the promenade life, not for a towel on endless sand.
Where Meloneras shines is the table. The Boulevard El Faro by the lighthouse gathers the south's most polished restaurants under one long terrace, from fresh fish to international plates, and the resort hotels run smart bars and the Chester Meloneras lounge for a sundowner. The move is to spend the heat of the day in the dunes or a sandy cove, then drift back along the promenade as the lighthouse lights up and eat slowly with the Atlantic going dark in front of you.
Clubs on this beach
Meloneras leans on smart hotel terraces and a lighthouse dining boulevard rather than a beach club on the sand. Compare the named clubs in our Gran Canaria beach clubs directory.
Chester Meloneras
The Chester group runs a stylish restaurant and lounge along the Meloneras strip near the dunes, pairing food and sun loungers with the southern sun. A polished option for the eastern resorts rather than a pool party, with days and terms to be confirmed when you book.
Boulevard El Faro restaurants
By the lighthouse, the Boulevard El Faro gathers the south's smartest restaurants under one long terrace over the water. Not a beach club, but the reason to be in Meloneras at sunset, and the better choice here than chasing a daybed. Bookings advised in peak season.
Meloneras sits at the eastern edge of the Maspalomas resort area, around 30 minutes by car from Las Palmas airport on the southern motorway, and well served by buses and taxis from the other southern resorts. The Maspalomas dunes and the lighthouse are both within an easy walk along the promenade.
Parking is available around the hotels and the lighthouse and fills on busy evenings, so come early for dinner or use the bus. The promenade is flat and smooth, which suits buggies and slower walkers, while the rocky shore means water shoes are worth packing for a swim.
Reserve a day at Meloneras
Tell us the date and party and we will match you to a club or spot on or near Meloneras and pass on your request. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Is Meloneras a good beach for swimming?
It is patchy. The Meloneras shore is a mix of small golden coves and rocky shelves rather than one open beach, so water shoes help and the sandy pockets swim best. For a proper open swim, walk a few minutes west into the Maspalomas dunes, which has the great beach the strip itself lacks.
What is there to do in Meloneras?
The long Paseo de Meloneras promenade is the heart of it, leading past smart hotels to the old Maspalomas lighthouse and the Boulevard El Faro dining terrace. Most visitors come for the stroll, the shopping and the food, pairing it with the dunes next door for the actual beach time.
Where is the best place to eat in Meloneras?
The Boulevard El Faro by the lighthouse is the smart choice, gathering the south's most polished restaurants under one long terrace over the water, from fresh fish to international plates. Book ahead for a sunset table in the busy months and let the meal run as the lighthouse lights up.
Is Meloneras better than Playa del Ingles?
It depends on what you want. Meloneras is quieter, smarter and better for dining and a calm promenade, while Playa del Ingles is livelier, busier and has more open sand. Families and couples who want polish tend to prefer Meloneras; those who want energy and a long beach prefer Playa del Ingles.
When is the best time to visit Meloneras?
April, May and October bring warm, settled weather that suits the promenade and long dinners, with lighter crowds than the summer peak. The strip works all year thanks to the mild winter sun, and evenings on the lighthouse boulevard are a pleasure in almost any month.
