Destination Information

Las Palmas

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the capital and island metropolis of Gran Canaria and also the capital of the Canary Islands' eastern province of the same name. Dating back to colonial times around 1490, the city is a lively, cosmopolitan cultural and economic centre and, with just under 400,000 inhabitants, the largest city in the Canary archipelago. It has one of the most important ports in the entire Atlantic. Las Palmas stretches 12 km from "La Isleta" in the north to "Vegueta" in the south. The main attraction is the southern district "Vegueta", the old town, with the cathedral "Santa Ana". The houses with their typical Canarian balconies are built in the magnificent classicist and colonial architectural style. The unique weekly market is also worth seeing. The old spruced-up commercial centre "Triana" with its pedestrian zone, which not only invites you to shop and stroll, is a magnet for visitors. The cultural centre with magnificent theatres such as the "Teatro Pérez Galdós" is also located here. In the north at the port "Puerto de La Luz" is the lively harbour district of the city, "Santa Catalina", with countless bars and clubs and a lively nightlife. In the heart, the pretty city park "Parque Santa Catalina" and its famous kiosks blend into the cityscape. One of the landmarks of Las Palmas is the "Playa de Las Canteras", a long golden sandy beach with a promenade several kilometres long. Here you will find cafés and restaurants to suit every taste. A mixture of pulsating city life, tranquil rurality, romantic highlands and enchanting mountain landscapes gives the island a special flair.