Gran Canaria or Lanzarote – Which Canary Island Is Best?

I’ve been to Lanzarote more than 50 times and Gran Canaria more than 10. But which is best?

I think Lanzarote is slightly better than Gran Canaria. But honestly, there’s not much in it. Instead, it’s more about what town you stay in than it is the island you go to.

I find that Lanzarote has slightly more to it. Whether that be the range of restaurants and bars in Puerto Del Carmen or Playa Blanca’s all-inclusive resorts.

Gran Canaria has its own version of Puerto del Carmen in Playa del Ingles. Still, there’s less variety of bars and restaurants. Plus, since the upgrade to the Puerto del Carmen front in the late 10’s, Playa del Ingles feels more run down.

Gran Canaria also has its version of Playa Blanca in Meloneras. Here, resorts offer half-board and all-inclusive packages.

However, in Meloneras, there’s not much to see outside of the resorts. Meanwhile, in Playa Blanca, you can walk 5km up and down the front or go to Playa Blanca Market.

Sure, Playa Blanca is less lively than Puerto del Carmen, but it’s still got something to it. In contrast, Meloneras can sometimes feel like a bit of a ghost town. Which is fine if that’s what you’re looking for.

Gran Canaria does appeal to certain lifestyles. It has a thriving LGBTQ+ scene at the Yumbo Center and hosts both summer and winter prides. Meanwhile, the capital city of Las Palmas is popular with digital nomads looking for year-round sunshine in Europe.