Things to Do in Las Canteras: Activities, Restaurants and Day Trips

What can you do at Las Canteras?

Las Canteras is a 3.1 km city beach (LPAmar, Las Palmas City Council) with a natural reef for snorkelling, a surf zone at its southern end and a promenade made for sunset walks. From Casita Palmera, 50 metres from the sand, almost everything in this guide is within walking distance.

Here's what we tell our guests: what to do in the water, when to walk the promenade, where we like to eat, which events and markets are worth planning around and how long each day trip takes from the apartment. Walking and driving times come from our local guide.

The short version:

• Sea: surf at La Cícer, snorkel and paddle inside La Barra, with the water between about 19 and 23 °C.
• Promenade: about 3 km from La Puntilla to the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, with sunsets over the Atlantic.
• Food: Canarian classics 7 to 10 minutes away on foot, Italian on the seafront in 4 or 5.
• Island: Arucas 25 minutes by car, Roque Nublo about 1 h 15 min (free booking required).

Which water activities can you do at Las Canteras?

Surfing, snorkelling, stand-up paddle, kayaking and, above all, swimming. It all depends on La Barra, a natural sandstone reef that runs parallel to the shore for about 2 km (LPA Visit). It shelters the northern and central part of the beach, while the southern end stays open to the Atlantic swell.

The water is pleasant all year: it ranges from about 19 °C between January and April to about 23 °C from August to October (weather2travel).

Surfing at La Cícer

Several surf schools work along this stretch and offer lessons and board rental for beginners. We don't list prices because they change: compare two or three schools on the spot before you book. If you're already experienced, El Confital, about 25 minutes' walk north, is a world-class spot best left to advanced surfers.

Stand-up paddle and kayak

On calm days, the sheltered water inside La Barra is good for stand-up paddle and kayaking. You'll find SUP and kayak rentals along the beach. Check the wind and the state of the sea before you head out, and if you're a beginner, stay inside the reef.

Snorkelling at La Barra

Put on a mask in the calm water between the shore and the reef and you'll see viejas (the Canarian parrotfish), sargos (sea bream) and plenty of other reef fish, right in the middle of a city. Our advice: go when the sea is flat, stay inside La Barra and don't stand on the reef.

What does the Paseo de Las Canteras offer?

About 3 km of flat, pedestrian promenade, from La Puntilla in the north to the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus in the south (LPA Visit), with terraces along the way. It works just as well for a morning run, a slow walk with the family or a drink at sunset.

When to walk

• Sunrise (around 7:05 in June and between 7:35 and 7:55 in December): the promenade is quiet and belongs to the runners. The beach faces west, so the sun comes up behind the city.
• Morning: locals walking, jogging and doing their exercise by the sea.
• Sunset (between 18:05 and 18:15 in December, around 21:00 in June): the main show of the day, with the sun going down over the Atlantic (sunrise-and-sunset.com).
• Evening: the terraces fill up for dinner and drinks.

Beach zones from north to south

From Calle Luis Morote you reach the promenade in about a minute. Facing the sea, La Puntilla is to your right (north), and La Cícer and the Auditorio are to your left (south). These are the zones in order:

• La Puntilla (north end): fishing tradition, calm water and views of La Isleta.
• Playa Grande and Muro Marrero: the long central stretch, sheltered by La Barra.
• Playa Chica and Peña la Vieja: the next zones as you head south.
• La Cícer: the surf zone, open to the swell.
• Auditorio Alfredo Kraus (south end, about 1.8 km, 20 to 25 minutes on foot): the concert hall that closes the promenade.
• El Confital (about 25 minutes' walk north, beyond La Puntilla, on the coast of La Isleta): a separate, wild beach and a world-class surf spot.

For the rest of the island's beaches, see our Gran Canaria beaches guide.

Where should you eat near Las Canteras?

Close to home. Our local guide lists 16 places to eat and drink within a 10-minute walk of the apartment, from Canarian classics to Italian on the seafront. These are the ones we recommend most often, with walking times from our door. We don't list prices because they change: check the menu or the restaurant's own page.

Canarian food and seafood

• Amigo Camilo (7 min walk): a local institution for Canarian food, fresh fish and tapas.
• Bodegón El Biberón (10 min walk): traditional Canarian cooking, with papas arrugadas and mojo done right.
• El Típico Español (8 min walk): classic Spanish tapas, jamón ibérico and croquetas.
• Rías Gallegas (12 min by car): top-level Galician seafood, from pulpo to percebes and mariscada. Worth the taxi for a special dinner.

Italian and other cuisines

• Osteria Martini (4 min walk): pizza and pasta with a sea view, warm and informal.
• Il Segreto di Pulcinella (5 min walk): pizza and pasta on the Las Canteras seafront.
• Il Raviolo (12 min walk): for us, the best Italian in Las Palmas, with fresh handmade pasta.
• For a change: Don Don Ramen (8 min), Rockabilly Burger Bar (6 min) for Canarian beef burgers, and Organic Jungle (7 min) or Momoland (8 min) for vegan food.

Breakfast and brunch

• Café Regina Las Canteras (3 min walk): classic breakfast with tostadas and coffee.
• The Couple (6 min walk): international brunch, pancakes, eggs benedict and specialty coffee.
• Cafetería del Real (9 min walk): Portuguese pastéis de nata and coffee to take away.

What can you do in the evening in Las Canteras?

Evenings here are about terraces, sunsets and long dinners. The promenade and the streets around Parque Santa Catalina, about 300 metres (5 minutes on foot) from the apartment, stay lively after dark, and the park hosts the big events of the year, from Carnival to WOMAD.

• Sunset drinks: Ginger (5 min walk) is an elegant cocktail bar with skilled bartenders, and Aloe Rooftop & Terrace (8 min walk) looks over Las Canteras from above. Both are at their best around sunset.
• Dinner by the sea: Osteria Martini and Il Segreto di Pulcinella are just a few minutes away on foot (see above).
• Vegueta: the historic quarter is about 15 minutes away by taxi, lovely for an evening stroll through its old streets.

Which events and markets are worth planning around?

Carnival comes first. The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival has been a Festival of International Tourist Interest since 2023 (RTVC) and runs from late January to early March, with its main stage in Parque Santa Catalina, 5 minutes from the apartment. Dates change every year, so check the official programme before you book.

Annual events

• Carnival (late January to early March; in 2026, from 23 January to 1 March): the main stage and the Queen's Gala are in Parque Santa Catalina (RTVC).
• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival (late April to early May; in 2026, from 23 April to 3 May): screenings at the Monopol, the CICCA and the Teatro Guiniguada.
• Noche de San Juan (23 June): concerts in the Plaza de la Música and fireworks at midnight, with crowds gathering on the beach.
• WOMAD (November): a free world-music festival in Parque Santa Catalina. The 2025 edition ran from 7 to 10 November.
• Belén de Arena (mid-December to early January): a nativity scene sculpted in sand on Las Canteras, free to visit. The 2025 edition, its 20th, was open from 15 December to 8 January.

Markets

• Mercado del Puerto (Calle Albareda 76, about 500 metres, around 7 minutes on foot): fresh-food stalls from Monday to Saturday in the morning, and food stalls for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday, with hours that vary by stall (LPA Visit).
• Mercado de Vegueta (about 15 minutes by car): the historic market in the heart of Vegueta, open Monday to Saturday in the morning and closed on Sunday.
• Teror (30 minutes by car): its Sunday market is a good excuse for a morning inland (see day trips below).

Which day trips can you take from Las Canteras?

Gran Canaria is compact. From the apartment, Arucas is about 25 minutes away by car and Puerto de Mogán about 1 hour, based on the times in our local guide. A rental car gives you the most freedom; Global buses to the rest of the island leave from the Santa Catalina interchange, about 10 minutes on foot.

In the city

• Vegueta and the Catedral de Santa Ana (about 15 min by car): the historic quarter, with a Gothic cathedral whose bell tower you can climb.
• Acuario Poema del Mar (about 8 min by car): a modern aquarium with Europe's largest curved glass tank.
• Museo Elder (in Parque Santa Catalina, about 400 metres away): the science and technology museum, a good plan for a cloudy day.
• Mesa y López (12 to 15 min walk): the main shopping street, with El Corte Inglés. CC Las Arenas (18 min walk) is a large mall with a cinema, near the sea.

North

• Arucas (25 min): a blue-stone town with a cathedral and the Arehucas rum distillery.
• Teror (30 min): a colonial village with the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino and a Sunday market.
• Agaete (50 min): natural pools in the lava, then a fish lunch in Puerto de las Nieves.

Centre

• Barranco de Guayadeque (35 min): a canyon with cave homes and restaurants carved into the rock.
• Roque Nublo (about 1 h 15 min): the island's symbol. An easy to moderate trail of about 3 km round trip, with views of Mount Teide on clear days. Access between 9:00 and 17:00 requires a free advance booking on reservasroquenublo.com, and the old La Goleta car park is no longer available: park at Cruz de los Llanos and take the shuttle bus (eldiario.es, 2026).
• Tejeda (about 1 h 20 min): an award-winning mountain village with almond sweets and breathtaking views. It pairs well with Roque Nublo.

South

• Maspalomas Dunes (55 min): protected golden dunes and a long beach that reaches Playa del Inglés.
• Puerto de Mogán (1 h): the "Little Venice" of the south, with a marina, canals and bougainvillea.
• Playa de Amadores (1 h 5 min): a sheltered cove with turquoise water, ideal for families.
• Mogán village (1 h 5 min): a quiet hillside village just behind Puerto de Mogán.

How do you get around Las Palmas without a car?

On foot and by guagua, as buses are called in the Canaries. A single ticket on the yellow city buses (Guaguas Municipales) costs €1.40 when you pay on board (Guaguas Municipales), and the blue Global line 60 to the airport costs €2.95 (Aena).

• City buses: line 1 runs between Teatro (Triana) and the port, via Santa Catalina and Calle Tomás Miller, a few minutes' walk from the apartment (Guaguas Municipales, line 1).
• Island buses (Global): they leave from the Santa Catalina interchange, about 10 minutes on foot, and from San Telmo station in Triana. Line 60 links the airport with Santa Catalina.
• Taxi: metered. Vegueta is about 15 minutes away; from the airport, expect about €40 by day and €45 or more at night and on public holidays (Aena).
• Car: worth it for day trips. In the city, parking is the tricky part (see the FAQ below).

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Las Canteras?

Any time of year. The average annual temperature is about 21 °C, with around 2,800 hours of sunshine a year (AEMET 1981-2010 normals, Gran Canaria Airport station, on the east coast: AEMET). If your dates are flexible, our low-season months are May, June, September, October and November. There's more in our guides to the best time to visit Las Canteras and the Gran Canaria weather.

Are there lifeguards at Las Canteras?

Yes, all year (LPAmar). In summer the service runs every day from 10:00 to 20:00 (in 2025, from 1 July to 15 September). The flags show the conditions: green (safe to swim), yellow (caution) and red (no swimming).

Is it safe to swim at night?

We don't recommend it: there are no lifeguards after hours and the reef is hard to see in the dark. On the Noche de San Juan (23 June) the beach stays crowded until late, but the same caution applies.

Where can I park near Las Canteras?

It's not easy in high season. Much of the street parking around the beach is blue zone, paid from Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings: check times and rates on SAGULPA. The municipal El Rincón car park is at the south end of the beach, and CC Las Arenas, about 18 minutes' walk away, has its own car park.

Can I bring my dog to Las Canteras?

Not to the beach: dogs are not allowed on Las Canteras. Gran Canaria's official dog beaches are Bocabarranco (Jinámar), Los Cuervitos and Tres Peos (Agüimes) (RTVC). At the apartment, pets are accepted on request: just ask us before you book.

How far is the airport?

Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) is about 25 km away, around 25 minutes by car without traffic. A metered taxi costs about €40 by day and €45 or more at night; bus line 60 costs €2.95 to Santa Catalina, about 10 minutes' walk from the apartment. We can also arrange a private transfer on request: ask us on WhatsApp. All the details are in our airport guide.

Before you go

Most days at Las Canteras need little more than a towel, a mask and comfortable shoes. Save our local guide on your phone for walking times and map links. And if you're planning something specific, from Roque Nublo to Carnival, send us a message on WhatsApp and we'll help you organise it.