Is Gran Canaria Good Family Holiday Destination?

As new parents, we’re quickly finding out about all of the additional things that go into planning, booking and preparing for a holiday with a child and in most cases, one of the biggest first decisions we have to make is where we should go.

We chose Gran Canaria for our most recent family holiday, and we’re so glad we did.

Gran Canaria is a fantastic choice for families as the flight is just four hours from the UK with most airlines flying from a range of major airports. The island benefits from year-round sunshine and has a fantastic variety of accommodation options and plenty of things to do.

One thing that really sold us on visiting Gran Canaria as a family was how easy it was to get around the island. All of the major tourist areas are very walkable and taxis are readily available to take you between locations should you require them.

What Makes Gran Canaria A Great Choice For Families?

There are a lot of things that make Gran Canaria an excellent choice for families;

4-hour flight time from the UK – While there’s nothing wrong with going long-haul with kids, it can be daunting and stressful. We’ve found that four hours is the sweet spot!

Flights from most major airports in the UK – Unlike other family-friendly destinations most airlines fly out of major airports to Gran Canaria multiple times per week.

Year-round sunshine – Being just off the coast of northern Africa it’s rare for temperatures in Gran Canaria to dip below 16ºC – even in winter.

A large number of tourists – As a solo traveller I looked to travel off the beaten path, however, with a child I’ve quickly found myself wanting a range of facilities nearby and staff being familiar with English tourists in case we found ourselves needing any medical assistance (can you tell I’m one of those over-anxious, super nervous parents yet?)

Relatively affordable – Travelling with kids can be incredibly expensive. Luckily, given the number of tourists flocking to Gran Canaria each year prices remain incredibly competitive.

Variety of accommodation options – Whether you’re looking for a private villa, apartment, hotel room or all-inclusive resort, Gran Canaria has you covered.

Plenty of things to do – Keeping kids entertained on holiday can be hard. Luckily, there are plenty of things to do, see and experience in Gran Canaria.

Wonderful beaches – The beaches in Gran Canaria are both beautiful and plentiful, leaving you spoilt for choice as to which one(s) to visit during your trip.

Where To Stay In Gran Canaria For Families?

Once you’ve decided that Gran Canaria is right for you it’s time to start planning which region you’re going to stay in during your trip.

Each area of Gran Canaria has its own unique character, so it’s important to consider what kind of holiday you want before making your decision.

Playa Del Ingles

Playa Del Ingles is the major tourist region in Gran Canaria and boasts a wide range of accommodation options, lively bars and delicious restaurants.

Situated just a short 20-minute drive from the airport, it’s got a lovely large beach and is connected to the incredible Maspalomas Dunes.

Some of our favourite accommodation options in Playa Del Ingles for families include;

Barceló Margaritas

This four-star hotel is one of the most expensive on the island. However, if you’re looking for luxury it’s definitely worth the price tag.

The hotel has two large swimming pools and a kid’s pool as well as a kids club, a day and night entertainment programme, and a gym alongside an open-air Crossfit with a personal trainer.

Hotel Riu Papayas

This all-inclusive hotel is just a short walk from Playa del Ingles beach and benefits from a kids club, children’s play area, large outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and evening entertainment.

Servatur Waikiki

This four-star luxury hotel is a five-minute drive from Playa del Ingles beach and provides guests with a complimentary shuttle.

Alongside this, the hotel is just a short walk from a major shopping centre. Meanwhile, the facilities include an on-site restaurant and bar, a terrace, and a shared outdoor swimming pool.

Maspalomas

Maspalomas is the quieter, more sophisticated holiday resort when compared to its neighbour, Playa del Ingles.

Instead of large shopping centres and a sprawling line of bars, you’ll find golf courses and designer boutiques – all next to a standout strip of beach.

Some of our favourite accommodation options in Maspalomas for families include;

Kumara Serenoa By Lopesan Hotels

Kumara Serenoa By Lopesan Hotels is a four-star resort with a wide range of facilities and amenities suitable for families.

This includes spacious family rooms, three outdoor swimming pools and a delicious on-site restaurant.

Palm Oasis Maspalomas

Located in a quiet area, in tropical gardens, Palm Oasis Maspalomas offers views of the Maspalomas Dunes and the Atlantic Ocean.

The rooms here are studios and apartments which are perfect for those looking for kitchen facilities.

While the hotel itself has two swimming pools, a large fitness centre and provides baby equipment upon request including high chairs and cribs.

Hotel Riu Palace Oasis

Hotel Riu Palace Oasis is a luxury five-star hotel located on Maspalomas Beach.

This hotel offers direct access to the beach, a large tropical garden, three heated pools and a spa centre.

Alongside this guests benefit from a gym, evening entertainment, a children’s pool and playground and the RiuLand Kids club.

Puerto Rico

Not to be confused with the country Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria is a fantastic up-and-coming region in the south of Gran Canaria.

The city has two different beaches, and two shopping centres alongside a wide range of hotels and apartments.

Some of our favourite accommodation options in Puerto Rico for families include;

Riu Vistamar Gran Canaria

This four-star all-inclusive resort features four outdoor swimming pools, a large fitness centre and evening entertainment.

There’s also a wide range of different room types available which each come with air conditioning, a wardrobe, a balcony with a sea view, a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, bed linen and towels.

Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso & Hotel

Gloria Palace Amadores is set on a cliff top, between Puerto Rico’s two beaches.

This luxury spa hotel is one of the largest thalassotherapy centres in Europe, offering a seawater pool, sauna, Turkish bath and physiotherapy pool.

For kids, there’s a shallow swimming pool, playground and mini-club as well as evening entertainment.

Gloria Palace Royal Hotel & Spa

The four-star Gloria Palace Royal is built from natural stone and offers guests spacious rooms with a private balcony.

There are two swimming pools here including a large infinity pool, alongside a modern fitness centre and on-site restaurant and bar.

Children’s amenities are also provided upon request including cots and high-chairs.

Things To Do In Gran Canaria For Families

While Gran Canaria may be a relatively small island, it welcomes more than one million tourists every year.

As such, there is a wide range of activities, events and entertainment to suit families these include;

1. Aqualand

The Aqualand water park in Maspalomas has a wide range of water slides and swimming pools that are sure to provide you with a fun-filled day out.

2. Boat Tour

Gran Canaria is well known for its incredible marine life and thanks to the range of different boat tour operators on the island you’ll be able to see this marine life up close.

3. Palmitos Park

Palmitos Park is a 60-hectare enclosed area located in Maspalomas. Here you’ll find a lot to keep both kids and adults entertained including a tropical bird park, an orchid garden, a cactus garden, a butterfly garden, and a dolphinarium.

Alongside this, the park also offers a range of activities and shows, such as bird of prey demonstrations, dolphin shows, and parrot shows.

4. Maspalomas Dunes

The Maspalomas Dunes are a protected area covering more than 600 hectares.

The dunes are formed by sand blown in from the Sahara Desert and are home to a unique ecosystem of plants and animals.

The dunes can be easily accessed from Meloneras, Playa del Ingles or Maspalomas on foot and are the perfect location for sunbathing or swimming.

5. Angry Birds Activity Park

The Angry Birds Activity Park is located in Mogán just next to Puerto Rico and is designed to be an area in which families can have fun together.

There is a range of different zones within the park that are designed to stimulate kids of different age groups.

This includes; trampolines, skating ramps, football pitches, basketball courts and more.

6. Poema del Mar Aquarium

If you’re looking to see more of Gran Canaria’s incredible marine life then consider visiting the Poema del Mar Aquarium.

The aquarium also features a number of interactive exhibits, such as a touch tank and a virtual reality experience, that allow visitors to engage with the marine life in a fun and educational way.

7. Play Mini Golf

Gran Canaria is home to a number of different mini-golf courses with the most popular being on the top floor of the Yumbo Centrum in Playa del Ingles.