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Cove Team
Cove Team
Spain is home to many beautiful cities offering unique spots for the world. Las Palmas is one of the most underrated Spanish cities. It is the official capital city of Gran Canaria, one of the Canary Islands that lie along the Atlantic Ocean.
The city is famous for its magnificent playas thanks to the Atlantic Ocean. You wouldn’t want to miss duty-free shopping while in Las Palmas. This city should be your next pick if you want to spend a serene vacation by nature.
It is deemed the best beach city in all of Europe. Any hotel you decide to book will probably overlook the splendid waters. While the city is famous for its beautiful beaches, there is much more to it. Check out this list of all the perfect places you can visit in Las Palmas.
Table of Contents
1. Las Canteras Beaches
Playa de Las Canteras is the most popular beach in Las Palmas, given its length and strategic location. This beach is accessible easily since it’s close to the city centre and stretches over two kilometres.
Moreover, the sand beach has a golden shade that appeals to the eyes. Several sports zones and playgrounds make your stay enjoyable. You will have fun whether you enjoy the calm waters or engage in some activity.
The beach has a parking lot that makes it easy for visitors to park nearby. Interestingly, the promenade encompasses several cafés, restaurants, and bars that stay active all day and all night.
The locals treat each section separately since Las Canteras beaches stretch long distances. There are three different sections of Las Canteras beaches. They also have different names, and each offers different services and activities.
Peña de la Vieja
The Peña de la Vieja section lies at the southern part of Las Canteras beaches. This name was taken from that of a small rock that lies in the middle of the reef. Peña de la Vieja is the perfect spot for snorkelling lovers, given the beautiful reefs and marine life it provides.
Fishing is another activity besides snorkelling and walking on the magnificent sands. Many restaurants serve gourmet meals and lie along the sands of Peña de la Vieja beach.
Playa Grande (Big Beach)
At the northern end of Las Canteras beaches lies the Big Beach, or Playa Grande. This section is where offshore lava reefs lie, preventing waves from reaching the shores. Thus, it is the calmest and most tranquil beach along the Atlantic Ocean.
Some coconut palm trees beautifully decorate the shore, accentuating the wonderful beach. Like most of the beach sections, restaurants and bars fill the promenade. All visitors will happily satisfy their cravings and indulge in many delicacies while enjoying a great time.
Playa Chica
Playa Chica is the beach lying in the centre of the Canteras beaches. It may not have any sun beds, but it offers multiple activities you can enjoy.
The restaurants serve their guests on outdoor tables that overlook the beautiful sand. Given the abundance of colourful reefs and marine life in this section, snorkelling is a primary activity in Playa Chica,
La Cicer
The last beach of Las Canteras is La Cicer, which lies at the southernmost end of the beach. This section has the most activities. It is a popular spot for the locals to gather and play different sports.
Beach tennis and football are the most popular among this beach’s visitors. The absence of offshore reefs allows for constantly high waves, which people use for surfing. It is a great activity to engage in and enjoy your time.
La Cicer could be labelled the most beautiful beach in Las Palmas due to its sands. The tides and weather affect the colour of the sands along this part of the shore, which can alternate between golden and black. There are times when it seems like there is no sand at all.
2. Plaza de Santa Ana
In the heart of the beautiful Las Palmas lies the square of Plaza de Santa Ana, where history took place. Everything about this square is purely historic. Not only will you enjoy wandering around this square, but you’ll also enjoy the architecture around this area.
The buildings around this square are in a Canarian-Spanish style, creating an outstanding ambience. One of the most prominent buildings is the beautiful church of Catedral de Santa Ana.
It’s a Roman Catholic Church dating back to the 16th century. Many parts of this church are accessible to tourists. The Sacred Art Museum lies in the south wing of the church and features rare artefacts and artworks.
3. Las Palmas’ Old Town
Las Palmas may be famous for its tremendous beaches, but it’s also home to many architectural masterpieces. The Las Palmas Old Town takes you on a historical journey with dazzling details that intrigue you.
You usually go with a guide who takes you on an exciting tour. You will wander the impressive streets in an energetic walking tour. Booking is needed beforehand to ensure you have an available spot. The area is also near public transportation, so travellers can easily access it.
4. Casa de Colón (Columbus House)
One of the most prevalent attractions in Las Palmas is Casa de Colón or Columbus House. This mansion, which is in the northern part of Gran Canaria, is in a colonial style. Inside are three rooms where the Canary Islands’ history is featured in every detail.
It exhibits the relationship of the dazzling Canary Islands with America. It also features the story of the prominent explorer Columbus and other explorers, telling stories about their discoveries during their exceptional journeys across the ocean.
Moreover, Columbus stayed in this mansion when he stopped by the Canary Islands, hence the name. It was before he embarked on his journey through the oceans to discover the great Americas.
5. Poema del Mar Aquarium
Las Palmas has many superb beaches with a glorious variety of marine life. So, it makes sense that the locals of Las Palmas use this fact for tourism purposes. Conducting a considerable aquarium is a great way to exhibit the marine life that Las Palmas has within its beautiful ocean.
While snorkelling is an option, some prefer watching this aquatic life from afar. The Poema del Mar Aquarium is a huge aquarium that displays various fish of different types and sizes. It also houses different kinds of sea animals.
Besides the glaring aqua display, many events take place to entertain visitors. A restaurant serves delicious seafood. It is also a perfect destination for families with children.
6. Las Palmas Botanical Gardens
Rather known as Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo, this botanical garden is home to exotic flora and plants. It is located northeast of Gran Canaria in Tafira Alta and covers 27 acres.
It displays around 500 different species of plants, including flowers, cacti, and more. The garden has several sections in which different kinds of plants are grouped. Thus, there is the Cacti and Euphorbias section, where all forms of cactus life are in sight. There is also the Garden, where flora lives are displayed.
The most exciting part is the existence of the Pine Forest. It features lush trees, expanding over a vast area of greenery that amuses the eyes of the beholder. There is also a beautiful waterfall where many people take Instagram-worthy photos.
7. The Bandama Natural Monument (Caldera de Bandama)
The Bandama Natural Monument lies on the Canary Islands, where Las Palmas is. It is part of the Protected Landscape of Tafira. They have greatly interested tourists thanks to the Caldera de Bandama.
This natural wonder has been a great attraction to tourists. The very bottom part of this caldera encloses different colours of volcanic ash. Interestingly, some botanic species that originated in the Canary Islands remain alive in this spot.
8. Atlantic Center of Modern Art (CAAM)
Las Palmas also has its fair share of museums that feature contemporary art. The Atlantic Center of Modern Art was famous among many tourists and travellers. It was designed by the famous architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza,
The museum features valuable collections of Canarian arts that can rarely be found elsewhere. Its main purpose was to house these valuable collections. However, it has been open to the public since 1989, attracting visitors from all over the world.
9. El Confital Beach
El Confital Beach is among the most popular beaches in Las Palmas. Thanks to its consistent waves, it is also one of the best European surfing spots. What makes this beach a little different is its lack of sand. The shore is mainly made up of pebbles and smooth rocks, so you won’t feel discomfort walking over it.
During the summer, you can observe a few patches of golden sands, but they never entirely cover the shore. El Confital is also the best among the Las Palmas beaches for the sun’s strength in this particular spot. It provides excellent views of sunsets and sunrises.
10. La Laja Beach
We have already warned you about the endless beaches in Las Palmas. La Laja is one of the very popular beaches around the city. It is home to several seagulls, which add a touch of splendour to the already beautiful beach.
Right at the entrance of this beach, you will find a giant bronze sculpture of Triton. It stands tall next to the main parking lot to welcome its visitors. Although the waters on this beach may not be the safest to swim in, this beach offers visitors profoundly great views of the city of Las Palmas.
There is so much beauty within the borders of the beautiful city of Las Palmas. Don’t deny yourself the perfection that many Spanish cities offer by only settling for the capital city of Madrid.
