Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a Spanish city and municipality in the northeast of Gran Canaria and the island’s capital. Vegueta and Playa de Las Canteras show two different sides of the city: here, history, markets and gastronomy take centre stage; there, an urban coastal area with a beach promenade. This contrast gives you two concrete starting points for planning your trip.

Vegueta: Origins and city history

On 24 June 1478, an army sent by the Crown of Castile established a military camp near the mouth of the Barranco de Guiniguada. Vegueta developed around the settlement that arose there—the origin of today’s Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. As you stroll through the neighbourhood and discover its history, you’ll encounter the place directly linked to the city’s beginnings.

A central landmark is the Catedral de Santa Ana on Plaza de Santa Ana. It is a national historic-artistic monument and the seat of the Diocese of the Canary Islands; it has shaped the square for five centuries. Its construction history also spans several phases: the first lasted from 1497 to 1570, and the second began in 1781 and continues to this day. Institutional significance and a long construction history unfolding in stages come together here—a rewarding focus for anyone interested in the city’s historical development.

Markets, gastronomy and culture

Vegueta combines a historical tour with other urban experiences. You can discover gastronomy, art, music and the performing arts there. At Mercado de Vegueta, the stalls offer local produce; food establishments serve, among other things, churros, as well as wines and cheeses from the islands. This lets you include both the market and the neighbourhood’s culinary side in your visit. Individual providers’ offerings may change.

Las Canteras: Coast in the heart of the city

Playa de Las Canteras is a natural area in the heart of the city. A three-kilometre pedestrian promenade runs alongside the beach and offers a different option for a stroll from the historical sights of Vegueta. The coastline also has a distinctive geological history: La Barra is a limestone reef more than 100,000 years old. It runs parallel to more than half of Playa de Las Canteras and acts as a natural breakwater. La Cícer, an area of this beach, is known as a surfing spot. For anyone interested in the coast, this means there is both a long promenade and a clearly designated surfing area.

Getting to Gran Canaria and finding your way around

Gran Canaria International Airport is 18 kilometres from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; the drive along the motorway takes 20 minutes. For getting around the rest of the island, Global is relevant: its island-wide bus network connects Gran Canaria with 122 routes. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is an urban starting point on Gran Canaria; the bus routes mentioned cover the entire island network.

Discover more destinations: Tuineje, Pájara, La Oliva, Puerto Del Rosario, Betancuria, Antigua, Teguitar, Valle De Santa Inés, Llanos De La Concepción, Caldereta, El Roque, Tindaya, Ajuy, Castillo Caleta de Fuste, Cardón, Costa de Antigua, Agua de Bueyes, La Ampuyenta, Jandia, Tefía, Valles de Ortega, Tesejerague, Majanicho.

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