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How to Spend the Perfect 4 Days in Gran Canaria Itinerary

Last Updated on 11th May 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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Imagine a land where lush green forest gives way to vast deserts and volcanic peaks. Where pastel hued villages dot the landscape and you’re constantly surrounded by the sea. No, this isn’t a dream but the lush and verdant island of Gran Canaria. Here’s how to spend 4 days in Gran Canaria itinerary, as well as what to know before you go!

gran canaria itinerary

Introducing Gran Canaria

One of an archipelago of islands which is situated off the west coast of North Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, Gran Canaria is a dream destination all year round thanks to its temperate climate and wealth of activities. Indeed, the Canary Island is often nicknamed ‘the continent’ due to how rich and varied its landscapes are!

sophie nadeau gran canaria
landscape of gran canaria

How much time do you need in Gran Canaria?

I would say anything between 3 days and a week is a good amount of time to spend on the island. This way, you can visit a few different towns, experience some attractions, and spend some time relaxing. We visited during the winter (in January) but only really needed light jackets as it wasn’t too cold!

Day one in Gran Canaria suggested itinerary

Arucas 

Begin your time in Gran Canaria in the very heart of the island. As soon as you park up in Arcuas’ main car park, you’ll already be greeted by its main monument, the towering main church. From there it’s an easy walk through pedestrianised streets to the other attractions in Arucas. En route, you could even pick up a pamphlet from the tourist office.

The municipal park is conveniently located close to the Arucas sign and covers around 2.5 acres. Full of plants and paved walkways, Arcuas is sometimes referred to as the town of flowers, and in this oasis you’ll soon see why. Nearby, there are a few museums worth checking out.

If you enjoy rum, then you can check out the Arehucas rum distillery. Founded in 1883 as a sugar cane refinery, just a year later the rum distillery opened up its doors. Today, you can take a tour for a small fee or alternatively visit the shop for free and pick up a souvenir from your time in the town. 

If you love bird’s eye perspectives, then before you leave the Arucas area then you’ll want to head up to the recently renovated mirador de la Montana de Arucas. Provided it’s a good day, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the town, its cathedral, and the surrounding area. There’s a shaded picnic spot, ample parking, and even a few signs explaining the history of Arucas.

view of arucas

Jardín de la Marquesa

The car park is free and from there you’ll walk through a floral tunnel to be transported into a garden paradise that will take around an hour or so to explore. 

Once you’ve purchased your entry ticket, you’re free to explore at your leisure. We visited the garden in January and, thanks to the spring like climate of Gran Canaria, there were things in bloom even then. However, I would suggest that the best time to actually visit the gardens is between April and June and September to October. 

Cenobio de Valeron 

It’s then a 20 minute drive to reach your next destination, Cenobio de Valeron. En route you can soak up the rich and varied landscape that makes this island so special. There’s a free car park at the base of the steps up to reach the archaeological site.

Cenobio actually means Monastery but this is a misnomer from a false legend that young high class women slept there until they were ready for marriage.

High up on the Montaña del Gallego, this settlement and storage area was built by pre hispanic Canarians 800s years ago before the arrival of the Spanish. They made use of the rich volcanic rock, carving out storage space with flint stones. The result is over 350 cavities laid out over several levels.

The entire visit will only take you about 20 minutes but it’s so fascinating and amazing to see the caves carved out of the rock face that it’s worth the detour. 

cenobio de valeron.

Gáldar

Galdar is a quintessentially Canarian town with pastel hued houses, gorgeous architecture and a handful of museums. You can easily walk around for an hour or so enjoying the views from the town’s strategic vantage point and snapping photos. 

However, the main attraction here happens to be one of the most important archaegological sites in Spain. This is where you’ll find a museum dedicated to the cueva pintada, i.e. the painted cave.

Local legend tells that a farmer found the cave quite by accident while tending to his land in the 1860s. The painted cave was officially marked on the map when it was discovered by an investigator named José Ramos in 1873.

Unfortunately you can’t take photos or videos of the cave for copyright reasons and so you’ll have to search pictures online. It’s basically a gorgeous set of geometric patterns that was painted by the Canarii between the 11th and 13th centuries.

It’s so unique that it is regarded to be the sistine chapel of the Canary Islands. Surrounding the cave is the archaeological site of a former pre hispanic Canadian settlement, including some reconstructed homes. 

Day two in Gran Canaria suggested itinerary

Firgas 

Start your day by visiting Firgas, a small village situated in the mountains a 30 minute drive from Las Palmas. This beautiful town is often nicknamed ‘Villa del Agua‘ or ‘the water town of Gran Canaria’ thanks to it brimming with several natural water sources, all gushing with rich mineral water.

Best known for the Paseo de Canarias, which is a walkway running through the entirety of the village and is one of the most beautiful places to walk in all of the Canary islands!

One of the most historic buildings is the church, which was built in 1845. Free to visit, you’ll find it situated on the town’s main square, Plaza de San Roque. Another historic site to see is Molino de Firgas, a 16th century watermill which was formally linked to the sugar refinery in the village. Today, you can visit the small free museum which is set within.

Due to Firgas’ strategic vantage point on the hillside, you will find yourself welcomed by a number of stunning viewpoints. Known locally as ‘miradors’ if you follow any sign with this then you’re sure to stumble across breathtaking views!

We decided to stay in the village for a long and lazy lunch and ate at Las Tasca de Canarias. Serving traditional tapas with lots of vegetarian options, we opted for aubergine drizzled in honey, deep fried cheese and a couple of iced cold beers.

Finally, before leaving Firgas, be sure to go see the beautiful set of mosaics which depict each of the seven main Canary Islands. Wandering through the town while the gentle sound of flowing water fills the air further added to the enchanting ambience of the village.

firgas

Teror 

Perched between high mountain peaks, Teror was one of my personal favourite destinations in Gran Canaria due to just how stunning it is. Filled with cobbled lanes, traditional Canarian architecture and cosy cafes where you can watch the world go by, there was a lot to love!

I would set aside 2 hours to fully explore the town, there are several cafes and boutique shops to explore and a number of historical attractions worth taking the time to visit.

In the heart of Treror is a basilica which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary of the pines and was built between 1760-1767. Unfortunately it closes briefly during the middle of the day so we didn’t get a chance to go inside, but we were still able to marvel at the neo-Gothic and Baroque style architecture.

Accessed through the church is the Museo de Arte Sacro, a small museum of scared art. Again, this wasn’t open when we visited, if you wish to see this the opening time are: Tuesday-Saturday from 10:30 AM-2:30 PM.

Before leaving we visited a former bishops house, Episcopal Palace, which has since been transformed into a cultural centre and now hosts art exhibitions and alike.

teror

Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo

Next, take yourself to the botanic gardens of the island. A beautiful natural pocket of vibrant emerald green, the garden is home to over 500 succulent and cacti species and is completely free to visit!

Establishing this beautiful garden was the life work of Erik Ragnar Svensson, a 20th century Swedish and Spanish botanist. The Canary Islands are pretty diverse in climates and Gran Canaria has a lot of different micro climates, so Erik Ragnar Svensson sought out a specific area for the botanic gardens.

It was decided that the steep mountain slope of Barranco de Guiniguada would be the area in which has the most chance of supporting the greatest number of different plants from different climates across the islands.

I would suggest setting aside 30 minutes to visit. That being said, you may want to consider taking 1 hour during the Spring and Summer when everything is in bloom.

Las Palmas

Las Palmas is one of the capitals of the Canary Islands together with Santa Cruz de Tenerife. There are around 378,000 residents, making this the ninth largest city in Spain. 

The best area to explore is the Vegueta district, a historic area filled with cobbled lanes and traditional architecture. Here you’ll find plenty of quintessential restaurants, museums, and a market.

For an evening of ultimate relaxation, I suggest taking yourself to the waterfront and enjoying some delicious tapas and a refreshing drink. Sip on a cold beer and watch the sun melt into the horizon as you soak up the serenity of the island.

Day three in Gran Canaria suggested itinerary

Viewpoint of Zamora 

If you’re not really into beaches then you don’t need to worry as there are so many beautiful landscapes that you can explore. Our first stop was at the viewpoint of Zamora. You can see an old washing station here as well as admire the view, and there’s also a small cafe where you can grab your morning coffee.

Mirador d Miguel Unamuno

Just down the road you can soak up the vistas from mirador d Miguel Unamuno, where you can see all the way out to the ocean. There’s ample parking here, so you could even enjoy a picnic in situ.

To be honest, the mountains of central Gran Canaria are truly mesmerising and you won’t be able to help but stop and take photos of the many viewpoints along the way.

Artenara

One of the most charming of the mountain villages in the Central part of Gran Canaria is a small settlement by the name of Artenara. This is Gran Canaria’s highest village and sits on a giant natural balcony surrounded by rocky mountain peaks. We decided to stop for lunch here at Arte Gaia, which even had vegan and vegetarian dishes on the menu 

Like most of Gran Canaria the main church in town is free to visit and boasts a belfry made of red stone from Tamadaba. There’s also a small museum, depicting what life was like in rural Gran Canaria many years ago.

Truthfully, one of the best things to do in Artenara is to simply stroll around and allow the views to reveal themselves to you!

Wander away from the village centre and there are a few other delights to discover:

  • The lookout dedicated to don Miguel de Unamuno provides one of the most gorgeous views in town and is perfect for snapping a souvenir photo from. There’s even a life-size statue of the Spanish writer and philosopher which you can take a photo next to.
  • If you head to the edge of the village, then you’ll find a small chapel carved out of the rock face dedicated to the virgin of the cave.
  • Museo Etnográfico Casas Cueva de Artenara- This small museum details what life in the heart of Gran Canaria was like many centuries ago.
artenara

Tejeda 

Next, you’ll go up to Tejeda. Located at 1,000 meters above sea level, this charming spot has been listed as one of the most beautiful villages in all of Spain! Tejeda has a population of just under 2,000 residents and is located on the eastern edge of a volcanic crater that bears the same name.

Known for its traditional Canarian architecture as well as an abundance of bistros and bars breathtaking views that overlook the rest of the island. Here, you can grab a bite to eat and soak up the stunning vistas that surround.

The town’s historic centre is filled with narrow cobbled lands that can only be explored by foot. The entirety of the town is enclosed within the sacred mountains, which are also a named UNESCO World Heritage Site, only adding to the beauty of this destination.

Within the town’s historic centre of the town is filled with narrow cobbled lanes and can only be explored by foot. You’ll likely only need 30 minutes to see everything in Tejeda, unless you wish to stop for a bite to eat or drink in which you will need longer.

Pico de las Nieves

Take yourself even further up (the pretty scary mountain roads) and visit the highest peak of the island. Located 1,949 meters above sea level, Pico de las Nieves is the highest point of Gran Canaria.

Between the 17th and 19th centuries, snow was not uncommon on the peaks of the Gran Canaria. The whole area takes its name from the old well which is located at the highest peak, and was formerly used to store melted snow.

Day four in Gran Canaria suggested itinerary

Guayadeque Ravine 

What I haven’t mentioned yet, but is a popular reason for many to visit Gran Canaria is, hiking. There are many routes and well marked trails across the island which make for the perfect way to explore the beautiful landscape of the island.

The Guayadeque Ravine is a long deep valley nestled within steep slopes which stretch up to 300 meters in height. What makes a visit to this particular ravine has to be that of its cave houses, this site was believed to be home to some of the very first settlers of the Canary Islands.

Built directly into the cliff face, many of the houses are actually private homes so be sure to keep a respectful distance and admire from afar. On our visit we saw people getting very close to the windows and attempting to open the doors etc, which I can only imagine must be frustrating as a resident!

There are also a handful of unique cafes and restaurants set within the house caves. We chose to stop for a snack and cold beer in Restaurante el Centro. There were plenty of vegetarian options, but as it’s set within a cave it can be quite cold so you may want a jumper with you.

Barranco de las Vacas  

The next ravine along is Barranco de las Vacas. Many people who have visited have said the landscape is reminiscent of the mountains found in Utah.

You’ll need around 15 minutes to hike down to the ravine. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as the trail can be pretty rocky and uneven in places. The path down to the ravine was actually pretty hard to locate (as it didn’t look like the images online), but what you need to do is carry along the valley and go under the bridge, from there you’ll start to enjoy the unusual rock formations.

A few things worth mentioning about this spot. First to know is that it’s very touristy, so don’t expect to be the only people there. Also, as with most places, the following respectful ways to visit include: make sure you take all your litter with you, don’t deface the rocks and be kind and courteous to other visitors.

Dumas de Maspalomas 

End your day with the magical stretch of 404 hectare area of sand dunes, which can be found on the south coast of the island.

This unique spot is blessed with a diverse range of ecosystems. Much of the dunes are actually preserved and protected by the Canarian government, so cannot be walked on, but there are several different guided trails which you can follow to enjoy all of the dunes.

The best time to visit is at dusk, it’s truly a magical place to watch as the candy colours dance across the sky and the dunes.

Getting around Gran Canaria

Due to how rich and varied Gran Canaria is, the easiest way to get around is by renting your own vehicle. We personally rent from CICAR every time we head to the Canary Islands and it’s been one of the best car rental experiences we’ve ever had!

Parking can be difficult so I would recommend renting the smallest car that you can so that you can squeeze into smaller spaces when there’s not a lot of options.

When parking, watch out for ‘fake parking attendants’. We saw them at Teror and at Arucas. Although many car parks in Gran Canaria are free, people dressed up in vests will try and guide you into the free spaces and then charge you money for it!

Where to stay

For our trip and to follow along this 4 day itinerary, I suggest staying two nights Las Palmas and spending the remaining two days in the south of the island. The capital city of the island makes for a great place to base yourself for the start of your adventures and allows you to get a feel for the island, then venture further south for the more rural parts.

There are several options on the island, we didn’t particularly like our hotel in Las Palmas, so the one mentioned is based on web reviews. Here are our suggested places of where to stay:

Boutique Hotel Cordial Malteses – Tucked away on a cobblestone side street in the city’s historic centre, this hotel offers free WiFi, a rooftop terrace for which to relax on as well as featuring some beautiful neoclassical-style decor. Check prices and availability here.

Hotel Nayra – Situated on the south coast of the island, we actually stayed in this hotel and loved it! With amenities such as free WiFi, free breakfast and an outdoor pool, it also has a 24 hour reception. Just a 15 minutes walk from the beach. Check prices and availability here.

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