Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port: Beach Bliss & Markets

Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port is your gateway to the largest city in the Canary Islands! Founded in 1478, Las Palmas is one of the oldest cities in the Canary Islands and was established shortly after the Spanish conquest of Gran Canaria. So in this guide, I’ll share you with the top things to see and do close to Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port and how to get to the historic Vegueta district (a UNESCO World Heritage site), with a museum about Christopher Columbus and how Las Palmas played a vital role in Columbus’s journey to the Americas. No visit to Las Palmas is complete without a visit to the famous Las Canteras Beach and if you’d like to taste the local food, I’ll share which food market to head to and all the local tapas you can try!

This is Part 3 of my Canary Islands Cruise Port Series. If you’re on a Canary Islands cruise, then check out my other DIY port guides at:

• Part 1: Arrecife (Lanzarote) Cruise Port Guide: Castles, Lagoons & Beaches
• Part 2: Fuerteventura Cruise Port Guide: Beaches & Sand Dunes
• Part 4: Santa Cruz Tenerife Cruise Port Guide: Castles & Beach Bliss

Note: I use Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port throughout this guide to distinguish it from Palma de Mallorca. Las Palmas and Palma get confused so often that many cruise lines have changed Las Palmas to just “Gran Canaria” on their cruise itineraries. It doesn’t help that Las Palmas and Palma often feature on the same cruise itinerary! So if Las Palmas Gran Canaria sounds very pedantic to you, I did it for a reason!

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Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port: Is a DIY Excursion Easy? 😎😎😎😎 Straightforward

Visiting Las Palmas Gran Canaria on your cruise and wondering whether you can just hop off your ship? A DIY excursion at Las Palmas Gran Canaria is 😎😎😎😎 Straightforward and here’s why:

• 10 minutes to World-Class Beach: Can’t wait for get some sun? Then walk directly from your ship to Las Canteras Beach in 10 minutes!
• Stroll to City Centre: The other attractions in Las Palmas are all within 15 minutes walk or less from the cruise port, making it easy to do some exploration on your own and never lose sight of the ship.
• Short bus ride to historic Vegueta: Fancy taking a stroll in the historic town centre of Vegueta? Then the bus just outside the cruise port will get you there in about 20 minutes.

Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port Essentials: All You Need To Know

• Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port Address: Mlle. de Transbordadores, 2, 35008 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain – see this marked in my Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port Map below 🗺️📍👇
• Currency: Euros
• Language: Spanish
• Official Tourism website: Download the official Gran Canaria Tourist map here (PDF)
• Recommended Transport App: Use Google Maps for general walking directions. If you’d like to take a bus to Vegueta, Google Maps will also give you accurate bus routes & live departure times
• eSIM for roaming in Spain: For a great data connection without the huge roaming fees, use an eSim data pack from Airalo. I always recommend having a smartphone with a valid plan when you’re at port touring independently. Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo when you use ROXANN1666 when you sign up or apply it at checkout

Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port Map

• On Desktop | Laptop? Use buttons on bottom left to zoom in/out. Click on the upper right hand corner to see a bigger version.
• On Tablet | Mobile? Pinch your screen to zoom in/out and use two fingers to move map around. If you have Google Maps installed on your tablet/mobile, my map will open in your Google Maps app if you click on the upper right hand corner.
• If map is not loading correctly, click here to see it directly on Google Maps

Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port: Your Transport Options

1. Walk from Las Palmas Cruise Port

If you’d like to visit Las Canteras Beach and the other attractions that I list under the “Las Palmas Top Things to do” section, then it’s easiest to walk from Las Palmas Cruise Port. The furthest attraction, Castillo de la Luz, is about a 15 minute walk from Las Palmas Cruise Port.

2. Bus to Vegueta & Triana Districts

The historic centre of Gran Canaria is in the Vegueta & Triana Districts, about a 20 minute drive from Las Palmas. The easiest DIY way to get there is by bus. And there’s loads of bus routes that get you there!

Most Convenient Bus Routes for Cruisers:

• Bus #1 will take you to the Vegueta District. Catch it from Santa Catalina Park, a few minutes walk from the cruise port and get off at the last stop Teatro. From Teatro bus stop, you can walk to all the attractions in the Vegueta & Triana Districts.
  • Bus #1 route map (PDF) here. Timetables here but I would just check it on Google Maps for live departure times.
  • Catch the bus back to Las Palmas Cruise Port from where you got off.
  • This is the more convenient route if you’ve been sightseeing near Las Palmas or just been to Las Canteras Beach
• Bus #12 will also take you to the Vegueta District. This is the more convenient route if you’ve just disembarked from the ship and want to head straight to the Vegeuta District. Catch it from Plaza de Canarias, just outside Las Palmas Cruise Port – see this marked on my map above.
  • Route map and Timetables here. This bus runs frequently, typically every 10 minutes. Get off at Teatro bus stop.

Bus Tickets

• Cash Tickets: €1.40 one-way, directly to the driver.
• No Euro coins or small notes? If you only have large(r) notes, then visit the bus ticket booth at Santa Catalina Park (but it’s only open Monday to Friday) – marked on my Las Palmas Cruise Port map above.
• On weekends, local convenience stores also sell bus tickets. If you think you’ll ride lots of buses, then a daily pass is €5 – not sold on buses, only at the ticket booth or convenience stores.

Note about buses operating in Las Palmas heading to Vegueta: The local city buses operated by the company Guaguas are yellow buses. You’ll also see inter-city or regional buses (blue or blueish-green in colour) that operated by the bus company Global. You can use both to travel to Vegueta and Google Maps will show you both. I just mention the local yellow buses above, as they tend to run more frequently.

3. Hop-on-Hop-Off Bus

Yes, there’s HOHO bus in Las Palmas! Stop 9 (Muelle Santa Catalina) is the cruise terminal exit, so you should have no issues finding the HOHO bus stop as soon as you disembark from your ship.

The HOHO bus route goes as far south as the Las Palmas Cathedral. Personally, I’m not a big fan of HOHO buses but I know that many cruisers absolutely love them! You can see the entire HOHO route here and day tickets are €25.

Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port: Top Things To Do

Below are all the top things to do near Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port. If you’re looking to visit the historic Vegueta & Triana District (a short bus ride away), then read the separate section below for a list of things to do there.

1. Las Canteras Beach

Stretching for roughly 3 km (~1.8 miles), Las Canteras Beach is Las Palmas’s best known beach and for good reason! Las Canteras boasts golden sand and clear, calm waters thanks to a unique natural reef called “La Barra”. This reef acts as a natural breakwater, so the swimming area is tranquil and perfect for leisurely dips.

The beach promenade, known as the Paseo de Las Canteras, is lined with cafes, restaurants, shops and lively bars. Besides sunbathing and swimming, snorkelling tours and paddle boarding are available too.

• How to Get There: From the big roundabout and the shopping mall at Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port, it’s about a 10 minute walk. It’s close enough to head back to the ship for lunch!
• Tip: Check the tides and if you’re visiting during low tides, you can walk quite far out to see the marine life. Bring flip flops or water shoes to do the walk.

2. Elder Museum of Science and Technology

The museum’s motto is “Forbidden not to touch” and that says it all. This science museum are full of interactive exhibits! It covers all the major topics, from dinosaurs, physics, astronomy, biology, medicine to robotics. The best part? There’s a genuine fighter jet and you can sit in it and explore the cockpit!

• Opening Hours: Closed Mondays. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm. (Double check hours here if you’re visiting during winter months.)
• Tickets: €8 adults, €4 students, seniors 65+ and under 18s.
• Note: There are translations for English speakers for most of the exhibits but not all. For example, the Planetarium is only in Spanish.

3. Poema del Mar Aquarium

While Poema del Mar Aquarium doesn’t come anywhere in size, compared to Valencia’s Oceanogràfic, it has the deepest shark tank in Europe at 8.5m (28 feet)! There’s also the world’s largest curved acrylic panel, measuring 36m long and 7m high (~120 feet long and 23 feet high). It’s a stunning display into the Deep Sea exhibit.

The other two major exhibit areas are the “Jungle” and the “Reef”. The Jungle is set up as a lush, vibrant rainforest showcasing a diverse array of flora and fauna from around the world. The Reef has a mesmerising array of fish, invertebrates and vibrant corals. Aquarium admissions never come cheap but if you love aquariums, this one won’t disappoint for both adults and kids!

• How to Get There: Walk past the largest shopping centre at Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port and you’ll see it. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the cruise port.
• Opening Hours: Daily 9:30am to 5:30pm
• Tickets: €27 for adults, €18.50 kids aged 3-11. Note that tickets are timed if you pre-book online but it does mean you don’t need to queue at the ticket office.

4. Castillo de la Luz

Castillo de la Luz, or the Castle of Light, is the oldest fortress in the Canary Islands. Built in the late 15th century, it was built originally to defend the island against pirate attacks. Today, Castillo de la Luz is a cultural centre, with a museum showcasing its history and archaeological findings from the surrounding area, with 25 pieces by artist Martín Chirino.

• How to Get There: Continue walking around the waterfront area towards the ferry terminals. It takes about 15-20 minutes from Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port
• Opening Hours: Closed Mondays. 10am to 7pm Tuesday to Saturday. 10am to 2pm Sundays.
• Tickets: €4 adults, €2 seniors 65+, free for students and kids, and also on Wednesdays from 4pm onwards.

5. Mercado del Puerto

Mercado del Puerto, or the Port Market, is renowned for its incredible variety of tapas! This is a great market to walk through if you’d like to try some Canarian cuisine. Being so close to the sea, you’ll also find an abundance of fresh seafood. Here’s some local specialities to look out for and feel free to “tapas bar hop” and try something from multiple stalls.

• Papas Arrugadas con Mojo: These “wrinkled potatoes” are a Canarian staple, boiled in salty water until their skins become wrinkly and then served with a choice of “mojo” sauces. The most common are “mojo rojo”, made with red peppers and garlic, and “mojo verde“, made with green peppers, cilantro, and garlic.
• Queso Asado con Mojo: This grilled cheese dish features a semi-hard local cheese, often goat cheese, that’s grilled until it develops a crispy crust and a gooey interior. It’s then drizzled with your choice of mojo sauce, creating a delightful combination of flavours and textures.
• Sancocho Canario: A hearty stew typically served on special occasions, Sancocho consists of salted fish, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn on the cob, all cooked together in a flavourful broth.
• Ropa Vieja: This “old clothes” stew is a comforting dish made with shredded beef, chickpeas, potatoes, and vegetables, simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce. It’s often served with rice or bread.
• Bienmesabe: For those with a sweet tooth, bienmesabe is a traditional Canarian dessert made with ground almonds, honey, egg yolks, and lemon zest. It’s often served with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Las Palmas Vegueta & Triana Districts: Top Things to Do

Vegueta & Triana, the historic heart of Las Palmas, is a 20-minute bus ride south of Las Palmas Cruise Port. Read the Transport Options section above for how to take the bus from Las Palmas cruise port.

1. Casa de Colón

Casa de Colón, or Columbus House, is named after Christopher Columbus but he didn’t actually live there. The building is a former governor’s palace now dedicated to his explorations and the Gran Canaria’s role in those historic journeys.

Inside Casa de Colón, you’ll find exhibits showcasing maps, navigational instruments, models of ships and other artefacts relating to Columbus’s expeditions. On his first voyage in 1492, Columbus’ ship “La Pinta” suffered damage to its rudder. He sought refuge in Gran Canaria, where the ship was repaired. The Canary Islands were already known to European explorers before Columbus’ time, having been visited by the Portuguese and others. That’s why it was used by Columbus’s ships as the last European stop to replenish supplies before venturing into the then vast unknown of the Atlantic Ocean.

• Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm. Sunday 10am to 3pm.
• Tickets: €4 adults, €2 students, seniors 65+. Free for kids under 18.

2. Las Palmas Cathedral

Catedral Metropolitana de Santa Ana de Canarias, aka Cathedral of Santa Ana or Las Palmas Cathedral is the twin-towered iconic landmark in the heart of Vegeuta – not to be confused with the Palma Cathedral in Palma de Mallorca. Its construction took centuries! Besides the Cathedral, there’s also a sacred art museum attached. Climb the South Tower for breathtaking views of Las Palmas.

• Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm. On Sundays, only the Tower is only for sightseeing.
• Tickets: €6 adults, €4 seniors 65+ and students. Free for kids under 12. Ticket includes entry to the Tower and the museum.
• Dress code: Note dress code is enforced, so no swim wear and cover shoulders and knees.

The Cathedral is right at the Plaza de Santa Ana – this is a good place to take a break if you need it. Plenty of benches!

3. Museo Canario

Museo Canario, or the Canarian Museum, has an extensive collection of archaeological finds from across the Canary Islands, specifically on the rich and the unique culture of the indigenous Guanche people. The Guanches, is believed to have first arrived in the Canary Islands between 5th century BC and 1st century AD and largely disappeared by the 17th century after the arrival of the Spanish.

One of the museum’s most striking exhibits is its collection of Guanche mummies and skulls. If your Canary Islands cruise is heading to Santa Cruz in Tenerife, then the Museum of Nature and Archaeology in Tenerife is another museum that has interesting exhibits on the Guanche culture.

• Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 8pm, Sunday 10am to 2pm
• Tickets: €5 adults, €3 seniors & students, free for kids up to 12.

4. Atlantic Centre of Modern Art (CAAM)

Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno (CAAM), the Atlantic Centre of Modern Art, has a rotating programme of temporary exhibitions. The centre is housed in a beautifully restored 18th century building and the art is multidisciplinary but the focus is on art from Africa, Latin America and the Canary Islands.

• Opening Hours: Closed Mondays. Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 9pm, Sunday from 10am to 2pm. The CAAM is free to enter.

5. Mercado De Vegueta

Mercado de Vegueta is a vibrant local market, with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. If you’d like to see how the locals shop, this would be a fascinating market to walk through. There are some stalls selling traditional Canarian products such as cheese, honey, wine and baked goods but if you’d like to find ready-to-eat goodies, then Mercado del Puerto near Las Palmas Gran Canaria Cruise Port is a better choice. I would say that Mercado de Vegueta is set up more like a farmer’s market.

6. Calle Triana

Want to browse and see whether you can get some souvenirs? Then Calle Triana is the street to walk through! Calle Triana is a pedestrian only street and is lined with beautiful buildings representing architectural styles ranging from Art Deco and Modernist to traditional Canarian. You’ll find a mix of local boutiques, international brands and charming specialty shops on this street. Also a good place to find a cafe if you need a break.

Featured Image by Slavik Robtsenkov from Pixabay

I hope that this DIY guide on Las Palmas Gran Canaria has given you some ideas on how to spend your port day there! There’s so much to do on Gran Canaria, especially if you’re a keen walker or hiker. If you’re interested to see a future blog post on how to walk the Bandama Caldera, drop me a line below and I’ll write this up as Part 2 of my Las Palmas port guide. In the meantime, happy cruising and safe travels! Also, my Facebook face just launched, so follow me to see more port guides in your FB feed 😁

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