Everyone knows the Canary Islands as great winter sun (and summer) destinations, perfect for a beach break and often good on a budget. And as they’re part of Spain, they’re as child-friendly as the rest of the country, as I discovered when we visited Gran Canaria with kids to research this family guide to Gran Canaria.
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But what most people don’t know is how much there is to discover beyond the beach in the Canary Islands – and Gran Canaria is no exception to that rule. The photos from my trip give you an idea or check out the video below.
So here are my top tips for travelling to Gran Canaria with children – or if you just want the best things to do in Gran Canaria with kids, you can find my top picks here.
Gran Canaria family holidays: Getting there/around
A string of airlines fly from the UK to Gran Canaria including British Airways/Iberia, as well as low-cost airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair, plus tour operators like Jet2 running package holidays and flights.
Basically wherever you are in the country, you’ll probably have a flight heading out to Las Palmas.
Once you arrive, there are plenty of transfer and taxi services which can whisk you from Las Palmas airport to your accommodation. I often use Welcome Pickups, especially if we’re arriving late.
The majority of visitors stay on the south coast, but as the airport is on the GC-1 motorway in the middle of the east coast, it doesn’t take too long to get anywhere.
If you want to explore the island, you’ll need your own car or sign up to tours with around half a dozen rental companies in the terminal and others dotted around the island. Sites like Discover Cars can compare prices, while Zest car hire is one of my go-to options.
UK and EU citizens do not currently need a visa to visit Spain, including the Canary Island. Click here for information on vaccinations, although for the vast majority of European and US travellers, you won’t need anything beyond the vaccinations recommended for life at home.
Gran Canaria with children: Where to stay
With small children, I love the flexibility of having our own villa – sadly Tots To Travel, whose Villa Amaranthus was our home on the island, is no longer operating but you can also find plenty of options with other companies, including Plum Guide
Our own villa had a pool behind a locked gate, set on a hotel complex so you could also access those facilities (although really, we had everything we needed in our private villa), which is a great compromise of privacy and facilities.
If you prefer hotels, the majority are on the south coast, with options for all the major tour operators, such as TUI and Jet2Holidays. It’s worth looking at how far each hotel is from the beach, if that’s important to you – some seemed relatively close but needed a steep walk down the hill to get there.
Gran Canaria with children: What to see
Kids will love the endless beaches of the south and the clear water, as well as the pool at your villa or hotel. But there are plenty of other things to entertain, including if you’re visiting Gran Canaria with toddler or a baby.
Here are my top things to do in Gran Canaria with kids to start you off, including water parks and theme parks, plus other less well-known attractions.
Don’t miss the huge dunes at Maspalomas where you can take a camel ride as well as roaming over them on foot.
The dunes themselves are protected, and the huge expanse of sand seems as if it could be in the heart of a desert… but Maspalomas with its own beach, shops and cafes is very close at hand.
Or take a boat ride along the coast, with little ferry/water taxis stopping at various points including the gorgeous Puerto de Mogan.
It’s a perfect mini boat trip for smaller kids too, although there are more adventurous options for older children too including whale watching trips to spot them and dolphins year-round.
There are several water parks on the island but Aqualand is easily one of the biggest and best with gentle baby-friendly areas so it’s ideal for anyone visiting Gran Canaria with toddlers, as well as having more thrills for teens and adults.
Keep an eye out for the new Siam Park opening on the island – there’s no opening date yet as the project has been repeatedly delayed and is unlikely to start before 2027 but the sister site in Tenerife has been voted the world’s best.
Or for more animals, head to the zoo at Palmitos Park where it’s easy to while away several hours. The zoo has a focus on conservation, but there are also some animal shows and a dolphinarium, which some families may want to avoid.
And there’s an aquarium called Poema del Mar, set on the waterfront in the capital Las Palmas with three different zones – deep ocean, reef and jungle – for visitors to explore.
It’s definitely worth venturing beyond from the resorts in the south as well. The astonishing twisting mountain roads are stunning, and you can stop at the unusual cave restaurants and homes along the way.
Keep going all the way to the north and the picturesque town of Arucas, with the Arehucas rum distillery on the outskirts – the tours should fascinate older kids too, the free tasting is definitely just for grown-ups…
Gran Canaria with children: What to eat
You’ll find an international mix including Asian and Italian but also German restaurants, for example, so there’s plenty to choose from and something to keep everyone happy – even smaller fussy eaters.
In between there’s plenty of fresh fish and seafood at little restaurants by the sea, plus the typical Canarian potatoes, tiny and salty and accompanied by mojo sauce.
Kids are welcome everywhere and babies and toddlers will be the centre of attention, so it’s easy to find options if you’re eating out.
Gran Canaria family holidays: Plan your visit
Check out the Gran Canaria Tourist board’s website as well as more information about all the islands on hellocanaryislands.com
Lonely Planet also has a guide to the Canary Islands with more tips on things to do in Gran Canaria.
For more ideas, check out my guide to the Canary Islands with kids
*First published 2015, last updated 2025*
PIN FOR LATER: GUIDE TO GRAN CANARIA WITH CHILDREN
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All images copyright MummyTravels
