North vs. South: where to stay in Gran Canaria

It’s the first question almost everyone asks when planning a trip to Gran Canaria: should I stay in the north or the south? The island is small and a motorway runs the length of the east coast, but each half offers a very different holiday. The south is all about sunshine, beaches and relaxing; the north is the capital, historic towns and a greener, more authentic side of the island. Here’s how they compare, so you can choose with confidence.

At a glance

	South	North
Weather	Sunnier, fewer clouds	Cloudier at times, greener
Beaches	Long, sandy and calm	Las Canteras and Atlantic coast
Atmosphere	Resort-style and relaxed	City life in Las Palmas, rural towns
Places to stay	Hotels, resorts and apartments	City hotels and rural houses
Best for	Sun, beaches and families	City breaks, culture and nature

The south: sunshine, beaches and relaxing

The south and south-west are the sunniest, driest part of the island, and home to most of its holiday accommodation. If sunshine, beaches and a pool are your priority, this is the easiest choice for much of the year.

• Maspalomas & Playa del Inglés: right by the Maspalomas dunes and their long beaches. It has the island’s widest choice of places to stay and plenty to do.
• Meloneras: next to the Maspalomas lighthouse, with a lovely seafront promenade and a calmer, more polished feel.
• Puerto de Mogán: a small harbour village of canals and whitewashed houses in the south-west — perfect if you want peace and quiet.

Pros: more sunshine, sandy beaches, a huge range of hotels and apartments, and everything geared towards relaxing. Cons: it’s the most touristy area, and you’ll be further from the capital and the north.

The north: the capital and the towns

The north shows a different Gran Canaria: greener, with the buzz of a real city and towns steeped in history. The trade-off is that skies can be cloudier, especially in summer, when the trade winds bring cloud to this side of the island. Temperatures stay mild all year round.

• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: the capital, with Las Canteras beach, the historic Vegueta quarter and local life twelve months a year. Expect mostly city hotels and apartments.
• Arucas, Gáldar & Agaete: quiet towns among banana plantations and Atlantic coastline. This is the place for rural houses and small, characterful stays, away from the big resorts.

Pros: an authentic, local feel, culture and great food, easy access to the interior and the airport, and accommodation with more character. Cons: fewer guaranteed beach days, and the southern beaches are further away.

What about the interior?

If you’re here to hike, you can also stay up in the mountains, in villages such as Tejeda or Artenara, which have rural houses. You’ll have Roque Nublo and the best trails on your doorstep, though the mountain roads make any trip to the coast longer.

How to choose

• First visit, short trip: go with what appeals most — distances are manageable. Our Gran Canaria in 3 days itinerary works from either side.
• Family holiday, or sun and pool time: the south (Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés or Meloneras).
• Peace and quiet by the sea: Puerto de Mogán in the south, or the northern towns.
• City life, culture and food: Las Palmas.
• Hiking and exploring the interior: the north, or a rural house in the mountains.
• No hire car: Las Palmas, or the Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés area, which have the best bus links.

Tip: if you’re staying a week or more, consider splitting your trip between two bases — a few days in the north and a few in the south — to see both sides of the island without long daily drives.

The bottom line

There’s no wrong answer: everything in Gran Canaria is fairly close. Choose the south for sunshine, beaches and relaxing, and the north for city life, culture, historic towns and a more authentic island.