Car Hire Las Palmas

As the capital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas enjoys excellent road connections to other parts of the island. Known as ‘the round island’ because of its shape, Gran Canaria is only around 50km across, which makes accessing its top attractions simple by car.

Some parts of Las Palmas, including the Triana shopping district, are pedestrianised. Yet there are plenty of places where you can leave your hire car to explore on foot. Look for blue painted lines on the kerb, which indicate spaces where you can pay for a ticket to park. Yellow lines mean parking is not allowed, while white painted spaces are free.

Las Palmas is connected to other parts of the island by two motorways, the GC-1 and GC-2. The GC-1, which runs all the way down the east coast, links Las Palmas with resorts such as Playa del Ingles, around 45 minutes’ drive away on the south coast.

This road also provides access to Gran Canaria’s second biggest city, Telde, which is just over 20km south of Las Palmas. In the other direction, the GC-2 leads across the northwest coast from Las Palmas to Agaete.

The roads in Gran Canaria are generally well maintained but much of its central area is mountainous, with narrow and winding routes. Allow plenty of time for your journey and be aware of other road users, particularly cyclists.

The rules for driving on Gran Canaria are similar to the rest of Spain. The maximum speed limit on motorways is 120km/h, while it falls to 50km/h in towns and cities, unless otherwise signed. Always keep an eye on the signs for the route that you are on.

Whether you’re heading straight to the beach or exploring the Old Town, car hire in Las Palmas is a great way to get around.

You’ll have the freedom to discover the natural wonders outside of the city, and much more besides.

Old Town highlights

Vegueta is the old town district of Las Palmas, established in the 15^th century.

Today you can still walk around many of its historic buildings, such as Casa de Colón, where Columbus reportedly once stayed on his way to the Americas. The house now showcases a fascinating exhibition about the pre-Hispanic culture of the Canaries.

This part of the city is also home to the Santa Ana cathedral, famous for its mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Neoclassical styles. Within a short distance you’ll find the Centro Atlàntico de Arte Moderno gallery, where you can immerse yourself in an impressive collection of avant-garde works and pieces from Africa, the Americas and Europe, reflecting the mix of influences on the island’s culture.

Not far away lies the city’s historic market area and modern Triana shopping district. Ideal for picking up a souvenir, or a bargain.

Beaches and natural wonders

One of the biggest attractions for any visitor to Las Palmas is Playa de las Canteras. The natural beauty of the beach is stunning, with calm and clear waters – mainly thanks to a natural offshore lava reef – making it an ideal spot for snorkelling.

Just south of the beach you’ll find La Cicer, a popular location for surfing and other water sports. If you just want to relax however, head for the main promenade – it’s filled with shops, snack bars and open-air restaurants where you can enjoy a cold drink and tapas.

With a hire car you can explore the natural wonders that lie just beyond Las Palmas too. A short drive south lies the Caldera de Bandama, a huge crater formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago.

Take the GC-802 to its peak at 569 metres above sea level and enjoy spectacular views from the observation platform.

This allows you to look out along the north and east coast of the island, and on a clear day you can see across to Fuertaventura. It’s even possible to hike down into the crater if you’re feeling adventurous – it usually takes about 30 minutes, but getting back up the steep path will be a little longer. Take care in case of loose rocks.

Tranquil gardens

Not far from the Caldera de Bandama is the Jardin Botanico Viera y Clavijo, Gran Canaria’s stunning botanical garden.

It’s one of the largest green spaces of its kind in the world, and is filled with rare and exotic plants – from thousands of cacti, to a laurel forest. Tranquil surroundings make this a great break from the busy beaches and city centre during your stay.

To enjoy more of Gran Canaria’s natural wonders, continue south to Guayadeque, a valley filled with wild landscapes and caverns formed out of lava. Here you can take the seven-kilometre hike around the Los Marteles nature reserve, or enjoy a unique dining experience in one of the restaurants carved into the rocks.

With car hire in Las Palmas, you can explore all this and more during your time in Gran Canaria.