Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the most cosmopolitan city of the Canaries and one of the cities with the best weather in the world thanks to its exceptional location, next to the Tropic of Cancer, and to the trade winds that come from North Atlantic. The result is an average temperature of 17ºC (62,6ºF) in winter and a 25ºC (77ºF) in summer.
The city is located on the northeast of Gran Canaria, at only 18 kilometres (20 minute- drive) from the International Airport of Gran Canaria, making it easy to reach by plane in only two and a half ours from Madrid, four hours from the main European cities, and only at a six-hour flight from the American continent.
Canteras
Las Canteras Beach is one of the best city beaches in the world: a unique jewel right in the city, making it easy for the visitor to relax on the golden sand, practising sport by the shore, and also learn or enjoy surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, etc.
These experiences can also be enjoyed all along the beach promenade on any of the numerous bars and restaurants where to enjoy a meal al fresco, making this beach the natural theme park of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, an environment with a vivid city life.
Travel to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
By plane
Gran Canaria International Airport is located 20 km from the heart of the city and offers daily flights to the main cities of Europe, Africa and America. International air companies and tour-operators hold direct flights which connect Gran Canaria with Madrid in 2,30 hours; Barcelona in 3 hours or Great Britain and France in only 4 hours.
More information: www.aena.es
By ship or cruise
Port of La Luz and Las Palmas is the most important one of the Atlantic coast of Europe. It is connected with 180 ports worldwide through 30 shipping lines. It has a quay for cruise lines only, the Santa Catalina. It is a port with heavy traffic of goods and passengers, with a massive volume of more than a million passengers between domestic traffic and cruise tourists all year round. On the other hand, this capital port is complemented with the port of Agaete (on the northwest of Gran Canaria) with connections to the island of Tenerife.
More information: www.palmasport.es
By bus
The Airport of Gran Canaria has an intercity bus service ("guaguas") which connect the passenger terminal with the city in just 20 minutes. The service from the airport starts at 06:15am and finishes at 02:30am daily.
The two main bus stations of the city, departure and arrival stops of the airport service are located at Parque de San Telmo and Parque de Santa Catalina. The ticket can be bought directly at the bus for 2,95€.
More information: www.globalsu.net
By Taxi
It is very easy to find a taxi. If you see a free unit (green light on top) you only have to raise your arm to stop it. You can also walk to any of the 42 taxi ranks located all around the city or ordering a unit by phone.
Phones:
+34 928460000 - Taragranca
+34 928469000 - EuroTaxia
Brief History
24th June 1478. An army under the command of General Juan Rejón sent by the Kingdom of Castile set up a military camp next to the mouth of the Guiniguada ravine. That was the starting point of what later became the first city founded by the Crown of Castile in the Atlantic. This event took place a few years before Christopher Columbus’ trip to the American continent. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria served as an example to build up hundreds of cities in America, from the Patagonia to the United States
For centuries, the capital of Gran Canaria was limited to these two areas,Vegueta and Triana, which were surrounded by walls that served as defence against the several pirate raids it suffered through the XVI and XVII centuries. Among them, 27 English vessels commanded by John Hawkins and Francis Drake, In October of 1595; and the raid and partial destruction of the city, in 1599, by the Dutch under command of Vice Admiral Pieter Van der Does who burnt the most representative buildings.
The second half of the twentieth century, turned the city into the cradle of the tourist development of the Canaries. Hotels and apartments were built to reinforce the urban infrastructures, inherited from the previous century with spas and seasonal occupancy apartments. The foreign tourism began to come and society gave another turn. The activity of the Port of La Luz led to new changes after becoming a priority international base port, making the city the economical centre of the archipelago. Since then, the city has never stopped growing in population, nor modernity, nor social influence.
Discover our history at the Museum of the City and the Sea, located in the Castillo de Mata!
The Carnival
Since the eighties, the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria gained more and more strength, highlighting when some additional events began to take place with an impressive response from the public at Parque Santa Catalina, the main stage of the celebrations.
Every winter, many tourists come to the city to enjoy these festivities that always displays a great celebration on the streets. Parades and concerts are always followed by thousands of people in disguise. Carnival is, without any doubt, one of the greatest events in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria every year, not only known by locals but from people from all over the world.
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