Although Gran Canaria is a small island (almost round, with a diameter of 49 km), there is a lot to see. There are of course several organised excursions, but if you'd like to explore it on your own, I recommend you to rent a car. The highlights are listed below Don't feel like spending whole days in the car? The very nicest places, which you really shouldn't miss, are marked with a *.
Agaete*
Picturesque fishing village on the deep and winding erosion valley of Agaete, full of bananas, coffee plants, papayas, avocados, etc. In the small harbour is the rock formation "Finger of God" (broken off by the whirlwind Delta). In a beautiful chapel, Virgen de las Nieves (Virgin of the Snows) is venerated, whose image can be admired on a Flemish triptych.
Agüimes
The municipality of Agüimes is a fertile agricultural area. The municipality is known for its beautiful sculptures, (Arinaga Playa, Cruce Arinaga and Agüimes), everywhere you will find beautiful sculptures of playing children, animals etc.) In the village of Temisas, surrounded by olive trees and nopal cacti, historical remains of the Guanches have been preserved. The village of Agüimes has a beautiful old centre. Be sure to drive through to the beautiful valley of Guayadeque!
Arucas
Arucas is the fourth largest city after Las Palmas, Vecindario and Telde. It is a nice town with gardens and distinguished houses. High above the banana plantations rises the basilica in neo-Gothic style. Arucas has a botanical garden with exotic flowers and plants. The 18th-century rum factory is worth a visit.
Balcón del Mirador*
In the very west of Gran Canaria, beyond the village of San Nicolás, lies Balcón del Mirador. A beautiful viewpoint, suspended from the top of a series of towering cliffs nicknamed the 'tail of the dragon'. Magnificent views over the rugged west coast of the island.
Fataga*
Or "The Pearl of Gran Canaria". Beautifully situated village in the valley of the 1000 palms. It has an authentic wash-house, which is still the meeting place of the female inhabitants of this village. There is also a nice village square, this place has stood still in time.
Firgas
Located in the north, the central square of Firgas is San Roque with the church and the town hall. Worth seeing are Paseo de Gran Canaria and Paseo de Canarias. Along a steep slope runs a 30-metre-long cascading waterfall. On one side of the Paseo are the 22 coats of arms of all the municipalities of Gran Canaria, in addition to the coat of arms of the island itself. The Paseo de Canarias has pictures of all seven Canary Islands on the ground, with their coats of arms and characteristic landscapes.
Guayadeque*
A truly beautiful valley, where all the inhabitants live in cave houses, and there are also 3 cave restaurants. I recommend driving all the way to the end of the valley, parking at the restaurant, and walking across the car park to the footpath. Here you can walk all the way around a mountain (20 minutes, paved path). You will find a very nice souvenir shop on the way, of course also in a cave, where you can buy the famous honey of this village. The walk is definitely worthwhile, and fine if you are with children. Once you get to the car, drive back and you can go to Bar el Centro (with the windmill) to eat some tapas and see this cave restaurant. (This restaurant is much less touristic and of better quality!) You can combine this trip in the valley with a visit to Agüimes.
Galdar
Galdar is dominated by the volcano Montaña de Galdar. This light brown and bare mountain resembles the Teide in Tenerife, but in pocket version. It is also a city with traces of the Guanche civilisation, mainly in the Cueva Pintada where geometric murals in different colours attract attention. The town hall is a must-see with a more than hundred-year-old Drago (dragon blood tree) in the typical patio.
Ingenio
Is one of the oldest villages on the island, so a walk through the beautiful old town is an absolute must. The village is also known for its handicrafts, the openwork and embroidered tablecloths (mueso de Piedra y Artesanía).
Las Palmas
The capital of Gran Canaria is not to be missed, there is something for everyone here, see my blog dedicated to this beautiful city
Los Azulejos
The rock formation of Los Azulejos can be found along the road from Mogán to San Nicolás de Tolentino about 9 km from Mogán. The rocks owe their name to the special colours, similar to the well-known Portuguese tiles, "Los Azulejos". The colours, from blue to green to dark red, are the result of oxidation. Don't forget to drive up to el balcón de mirador from here!
Maspalomas*
The Maspalomas sand dunes are undoubtedly the most beautiful natural site in Gran Canaria. The dunes, which in some cases reach a height of 10 metres, are constantly changing shape due to the ever-present winds from the sea. Every year the dunes move about 1 metre to the west. The dunes - which extend over a length of 6 km and a width of 1 to 2 km - consist of fine sand from pulverised sea shells washed up by the surf. Next to it is a beautiful lagoon called "el Charco de Maspalomas", which is an important habitat and breeding ground for birds. At the edge of the lagoon is the 68 metre high lighthouse built in 1889. Rare plant species also grow in Dunas de Maspalomas. The 400 hectare is a protected area.
Mogán
Beautiful valley where tropical fruits are grown. A beautiful landscape. Puerto de Mogán, a village built in the Venetian style, has a modern marina and a fishing harbour - in short, it's a cosy village!
Morro de La Agujereada
The official highest point of Gran Canaria, at 1957 m.
Pico de las Nieves
For a long time it was thought that el Pico de las Nieves with 1949m was the highest point (also on Gran Canaria), but this has been adjusted in 2020, the highest point is El Morro de La Agujereada with 1957m, but Pico de las Nieves, is definitely worth a visit, with good weather you can enjoy a beautiful view.
El Roque Nublo*
A beautiful 80-metre-high rock, almost in the middle of the island at 1813 metres, the symbol of Gran Canaria. If the weather is fine, we recommend a walk from the nearby car park (Aparcamiento de la Degollada de La Goleta). It is quite a climb, so make sure you wear good shoes. The way there takes about 50 minutes (2 km) and you can get back to the car in 20 minutes. Along the way, look for the famous frog and monk rock!
San Bartelomé de Tirajana
This village lies in the depths of a huge crater, at the foot of the central mountain massif. From these peaks (Pico de las Nieves 1,949 m) you can enjoy magnificent views with, on one side, the crater of Tirajana with, among others, the valley of the 1000 palms, a necropolis of the Guanches "Arteara" and the dunes of Maspalomas. On the other side you can see the rock symbols "el Roque Nublo" and "Bentayga", on a clear day you can see Tenerife and sometimes even La Gomera.
Telde
This was the former capital of Gran Canaria. The basilica of El Santo Cristo and the parish churches of San Juan Bautista, San Gregorio and San Fransisco are definitely worth a visit. Cuatro Puertas is home to the sacred stone-age mountain of the Guanches and is undoubtedly the most interesting indigenous monument on the island. On 8 September
Teror*
This is a typical Canary town with noble houses and white houses with balconies hand-carved from pine. It is the religious capital of the island because it has a very popular pilgrimage church dating from 1767. Here stands the miraculous statue Nuestra Señora del Pino (patron saint of the pine tree), which enjoys great veneration. The town hall and the museum are also remarkable buildings. Pilgrimages to the sanctuary of Teror take place along historic paths that link the whole island to the sanctuary of Teror and are the fruit of promises made to the Virgin throughout the year, usually centred on 7 and 8 September, the day of the pilgrimage and sacrifice.