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 15th 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.