Making the most of Las Palmas Gran Canaria
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Las Palmas cruise terminal is the principal ferry and cruise-ship port, so it is always busy. From September 2025, the new terminal can berth 5 large vessels. It is in the city centre, 100 meters from the very modern Muelle shopping centre. City and regional buses leave from the station immediately outside, taxis are plentiful, and the area is easy to explore on foot.
Printable map.
The twin-towered Santa Ana Cathedral stands at the heart of Vegueta. It was the Canaries’ first artistic construction, built on the orders of the Catholic kings after the 1478 conquest of Gran Canaria. Work began around 1500 and was not completed for almost four centuries, with several architects and artists contributing to its Gothic, Renaissance and Neoclassic styles.
At the Technology Museum entrance, about 150 meters from the berth, watch the kinetic moving sculpture. There is no entrance fee to see the sculpture.
Tourist office address: Calle León y Castillo 17.
Getting around
Hop-on hop-off buses wait near the terminal. As the city slows between noon and 3 pm, that may be the best time to board.
Look for eggshell-white taxis with a red stripe on each front door. They may also show SP, for Servicio Público, and a green light on the roof or in the windscreen, indicating that the taxi is free.
A four-hour taxi tour costs about 100 Euro. Drivers know the best places.
Nearby places
North of the city, Playa de las Canteras is reached by bus or taxi from Parque Santa Catalina. The beach is a 3 km stretch of sand with many restaurants and a good local atmosphere.
Playa del Inglés, a 50-minute journey by bus or taxi, also has attractive beaches alongside its many high-rise hotels.
Arucas, west of Las Palmas and into the mountains, is the island’s banana capital.
Food and shopping
El Muelle, beside the port, is a shopping centre with large stores and boutiques.
More shops line the narrow streets beyond nearby Parque Santa Catalina, a square filled with outdoor cafés. It is the place to shop for tobacco and liquor, as the Canaries have special duty-free status.
The best places to eat are along Playa de las Canteras, in Vegueta, the city’s oldest district, and in the Triana District.
El Corte Ingles, an upscale department store, is to the left of the berth. Look for the "Casino" sign; it is there.
Money
Currency: the Euro.
Staying connected
Spanish is the official language throughout Spain, though some regions also use other languages: Catalan in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia, Euskera/Basque in the Basque Country, Valencian in the Valencia Region and a distinct variety of Catalan in the Balearic Islands.
For emergencies, dial 112 free of charge anywhere in Spain. Service is in Spanish and, in some tourist areas, also English, French and German.
Opening Hours and
In Las Palmas, common shop and business hours Monday through Saturday run from 9.30 h to 13.30 h, then 16.30 to 20.00 h.
Large shopping centres and department stores open continuously from 10.00 to 21.00 or 22.00, and sometimes open on Sundays.
Coastal-city shops typically remain open after 22.00 h during high season.
Pharmacies generally open from 9.30 to 13.30 and from 16.30 to 20.00. Major cities have some pharmacies open 24 hours. A rotating late-hours schedule is published in newspapers and displayed at all pharmacies.
Museums are generally closed on Mondays.
National information.