Nightlife

Gran Canaria is well-known for its variety of ways to party. Maspalomas, Puerto Rico and Playa del Inglés are the best place to enjoy the nightlife. No matter whether you like electronic beats, salsa, jazz or pop and rock hits - for every taste a suitable place can be found. Also the open air concerts on the beaches invite to happy party nights.

Maspalomas:

1. Chic & Dream Disco Club, the best known disco on Gran Canaria with hip DJs from around the world
2. Club Ozono, Hotel Buenaventura
3. Heaven, the best known gay club on Gran Canaria which holds many surprises for its visitors
4. Casa de los musicos, Monte Leon I
5. JPM Macrodisco, Avda. Touroperador TUI

Playa del Inglés:

1. Centro Commercial Kasbah, Avda. de España, different clubs and bars with a big party offer, e.g. the China White, the Titanic or the Garage 
2. YumboCentre
3. Plaza Shopping
4. Joy, Avda. De Gran Canaria 10, biggest Cclub on Gran Canaria
5. Discothek Chic & Cream, Hotel Maritim Playa
6. Nikki-Beach-Club, Edifico Koka

Puerto Rico:

1. Tango, Avda. de La Gomera
2. in the Centro Comercial: Snoopy´s Bar, Disco-Pub Donald, the Piccadilly, Harley's and the Covent Garden
3. El Pirata, live music and flamenco shows at the seafront

Las Palmas:

1. Plaza de España, in the district of Mesa y Lopéz, big nightlife offer, e.g. Bar Heineken, the Club Cuasquias, the El Coto or the Ronería and many others
2. C. C. El Muelle, 3 open air discos invite to celebrate beneath the sky

Playa del Inglés - the party metropolis!

We would like to put some emphasize on Playa del Inglés, and the best words to describe the city at the southern tip of Gran Canarias are: sun, beach, and nightlife. Together with Maspalomas and San Agustín they form the ideal holiday destination, if you like to relax and make party!
On the Playa del Inglés you will find everything you need - souvenir shops, international restaurants and cafés, shopping centers and party zones. The biggest centros comerciales are the Yumbo Centre (in the Avenida de España – next to the tourist office) and the Kasbah (near the Plaza del Teide) with a variety of boutiques and shops. Around the Kasbah the hell breaks loose at night, when the city turns into clubs and discos. Here the party doesn't start before midnight, but then you can dance and have fun into the early hours when the sun rises.

This list should help when organizing your party:

1. Beckham Bar
   In the Shopping Center Kasbah, from 8.00 pm to 5.00 am
   various styles of music played
2. Costa China White
   Next to shopping center Kasbah, from 10.00 pm to 3.30 am
   hip ambience, DJ and go-go dancers, lots of locals go there
   hip-hop, r’n’b, pop, current charts music
3. The Garage – Fun Pub
   In the shopping center Kasbah, from 8.00 pm to 4.30 am (during summer even longer)
   mixed international guests, go-go dancers and happy hour the whole night
   dance, Hhouse, r’n’b and Top 50s
4. Nikki-Beach-Club
   New club in the Edificio Koka, open from midnight to 7.00 am
   upper class ambience with chillout lounge
   mainly house and techno
5. Pascha
   Next to shopping center Kasbah, from 8.00 pm to 5.00 am
   International guests aged between 25 and 50
   Offer of dance classes (very popular!), music of different genres, possible to meet lots of Canarian people
6. Zig-Zag
   Ground floor of shopping centers Kasbah, from 10.00 pm to 4.00 am
   Typical tourist disco, less Canarian people, go-go dancers, different music genres
7. Velvet Underground Club
   At the corner Av. de Tirajana and Av. de Francia, from midnight to 7.00 am
   popular disco, capacity up to 400 people
   current charts and music of different genres, international live DJs

Who feels too weak for shopping the next morning can take a nap on the beach Playa del Inglés under one of the sunshades. The bright sandy beach offers good conditions for swimming as well - for those among you, who like to refresh from time to time. Right next to the beach there is the seafront at which various restaurants for a little snack or a bigger appetite are located, as well as shops which invite you for a stroll.

This list can be extended easily. Your favorite place is missing here? Just send us an e-mail!

Shopping-Tour in Las Palmas

In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria there is something for everybody's taste: No matter if the weekly family purchase, fresh fish or an extensive shopping spree with friends – everybody will find here what he or she is looking for!

The various offers in Las Palmas range from small shops to big shopping centers or promenades. The low VAT of only 5 % is additionally used to keep the price level stable. Hence each visitor can buy at cheap prices all the time.

The opening hours are relatively visitor-friendly. Bigger shopping centers are opened from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 10.00 pm, additionally on some Sundays. Smaller shops are often opened less and close during the Siesta (approx. 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm). But this should not be a hurdle for shopping fans - in contrast, you will find quickly what you are looking for because of the wide range of shops.

Let's begin with womens' favourite shopping objects - jewellery, clothes and shoes: Many even nationwide enterprises can be found in the pedestrian zones "Calle Mayor de Triana“ and in the shopping mile "Mesa y Lopez".

The pedestrian zone "Calle Mayor de Triana“ is often described as multi-cultural but with tradition. International clothing, shoe, jewelry, and cosmetic businesses have settled down here in early years. Long time the zone was seen as Las Palmas' mainstream.

Nowadays the zone "Calle Mayor de Triana" is still one of the most lively and interestesting streets in Las Palmas – a pedestrian zone which you shouldn't miss.

The shopping mile "Mesa y Lopez" is just 500 metres from the beach and offers in particular clothes and accessoires, all that in one shop after the other. It has already been very fatal for some purses! International brands like Chanel, Benetton and Guess are located there. But also national brands like Zara, Mango and Lurueña were able to establish as well as many shoe shops.

Around the midpoint of Calle Mesa y Lopez various cafés and restaurants, which offer Soanish and international cuisine, offer the possibility to relax from the stress of shopping.

Further Shopping miles you can find in the old city quarter Vegueta and in the newer ones Santa Catalina and Las Canteras. We recommend a walk along the beachfront of http://www.las-palmas-24.com/index.php?strandpromenade-canteras-strand Las Canteras that offers gorgeous ambience beneath palm trees next to souvenir shops, little bazaars, small cafés and restaurants with sea view.

The docklands of  "La Isleta", where especially Chinese tradespeople dominate, and where you can get everything some cents less expensive, is worth being visited and inspected by well-trained womens' eyes. Here is the shopping street "Calle Rejon" where Chinese, Marrocan, Japanese, Russian, and Taiwanese shops are stringed together.

Excursions

Puerto Rico is the center of water sports: boat trips, deep sea fishing, sailing trips, dolphin tours, dive boat trips, parasailing, boat rental and many more. One is spoilt for choice!

Dunes of Maspalomas

The Dunes of Maspalomas, situated in teh south of Gran Canaria and in direct neighborhood of Playa del Inglés, offers a big natural spectacle on an area of more than 4 km2. During sunset the sands piles up meters high to sandy dunes, how you would rather expect in a real desert. However the sand does mainly consist of washed and crushed coral and seashell lime, and not of usual rock fragements - so sand blown away from the Sahara is not the ultimate origin. When walking in the dunes please mind that parts of them are protected areas. But if you behave appropiately, there is no reason against a sunbath in the dunes - often in front of self-built rock castles which protect from hot desert winds.

Las Canteras

The „Playa de las Canteras“ is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and is situated near the capital Las Palmas. The 3 km long bay with its golden sand is surrounded by a rocky reef, so that you easily believe being in a lagoon. Here you can do all imaginable water sports. Among surfers the beach of Las Canteras is very popular - that's why you can meet them here very often. The seafront equals a boulevard which is lined with cafés, restaurants, and small shops.

Puerto Mogán

The former fishing village in the western part of the island has preserved its old town with small picturesque alleys. There are romantic bridges above canals as well as cafés and restaurants which invite you to stay. In the alleys archways between opposite houses are overgrown with hibiscus and bougainvillea.
The UNESCO has already awarded the microclimate of the Municipios Mogán as one of the healthiest worldwide. Reasons therefor are e.g. the clean environment and the wind-sheltered location. Well known among high sea fishing fans around the world are also the waters near Mogan.
In July the Fiesta del Carmen takes place here, at which ceremony a mary statue is driven along the coast in a procession of festive decorated boats.

Alike other fishing and coastal towns, in Puerto de Mogán freshly caught fish is sold and served as speciality. We recommend the following restaurants:

La Caracola
at the seafront
Tel. 928 56 54 86
Daily from 7.00 pm
Closed from June to August
A small top restaurant - highly recommended!

La Bodeguilla Juananá
at the seafront
Tel. 928 56 50 44
Daily 12.00 am to 3.30 pm (closed on Monday)
During summer opened only from 7.00 pm
Best Canarian cuisine!

Palmitos Park

One of the best known attractions on Gran Canaria is the Palmitos Park. The park is located in the Barranco de Palmito, approx. 10 km north of Maspalomas. The main focus here is on the various birds species e.g. parrots, birds of prey etc. But also cacti and orchis can be found. Likewise located in the Palmitos Park: Europe's biggest butterfly facility. The park is open throughout the year daily from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. Last admission at 05.00 pm. Further information is provided on the website of the park.

Further information

1. Lots of information about Gran Canaria including a detailed events calendar
2. Online travel guide for Gran Canaria with gallery
3. Museo y Parque Arqueológico Cueva Pintada: there are different exhibition rooms to get to know the Canarian culture; in the archaeology park you obtain information about the way of living of the natives, e.g. traditional burial rituals and cave art paintings. More detailed information is provided on the website.
4. The 80 m high monolith Roque Nublo is also worth a visit!
5. The „Cruz de Tejeda”, a viewing point at 1500 m, which marks simultaneously the geographic centre of Gran Canaria. You can enjoy gorgeous views - at clear sight even the „Pico del Teide” on the neighbour island Tenerife.
6. Cactualdea Park in la Aldea de San Nicolas: on 15,000 m²  approximately 1200 different kinds of cacti from all over the world can be seen; there is a lovely designed amphitheater in which various events take place e.g. the Canarian wrestling and stick fighting; a winery (with tasting of self-made cacti liqueur!), a restaurant and an artisan bazaar. Opening hours daily from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.