In a nutshell
- We cover the best Gran Canaria accommodation options — from beachfront hotels and boutique stays to family-friendly resorts, luxury hotels, and all-inclusive properties.
- These are our 13 top picks across the island — one for every type of traveler.
- Staying in the capital? Check out our dedicated guide on where to stay in Las Palmas.
- Our top beachfront pick: the TC Hotel Doña Luisa — right on Playa de las Canteras with excellent value for money.
Staying on Gran Canaria: What You Need to Know First
In a moment, we’ll walk you through our 13 favorite hotels on Gran Canaria. But first, let’s cover the different options you have for your Gran Canaria vacation.
Gran Canaria package tour or independent travel?
Opinions are divided on this one — and honestly, it depends a lot on who you’re traveling with (kids, solo, with a partner, etc.). Both approaches have real pros and cons.
Package tours are super convenient — you typically get accommodation, flights, airport transfers, half or full board, and an entertainment program all bundled together. Very easy, very stress-free!
On the flip side, Gran Canaria package tours are the classic tourist experience, which means you’ll get less of a feel for the island’s authentic culture.
When you book everything yourself, you have more contact with locals and can tailor the trip exactly to what you want.
Our tips for booking independently on Gran Canaria
When you book everything separately, you’ll need to sort out three things: accommodation, flights, and a rental car. The same rule applies here — it’s easy to overpay if you don’t compare prices first. These are the sites we use:
Compare rental car deals on Discovercars
Book a vacation rental on Gran Canaria
A hotel is a great luxury — being looked after is wonderful. But even the best Gran Canaria hotel can’t match a vacation rental if you love feeling at home wherever you are.
In a vacation rental, you get much more of a feel for local life. Families especially love them because you can cook your own meals and aren’t tied to restaurant hours.
If you’re traveling in a group, a vacation home on Gran Canaria is seriously worth considering. You can often rent entire villas with a private pool for a surprisingly reasonable price per person.
Browse vacation rentals on Gran Canaria
Our Gran Canaria Hotel Map
So you can see at a glance where each hotel is located, we’ve put together a handy map. It also shows some of Gran Canaria’s best-known attractions and the airport for reference.
The Best Gran Canaria Beachfront Hotels
TC Hotels Dona Luisa
Santa Catalina
The TC Hotel Dona Luisa is the perfect pick for anyone who can’t choose between a city break and a beach vacation. It sits right in the heart of the lively capital Las Palmas and directly on the popular Playa de las Canteras beach — the best of both worlds.
Rooms are spacious and modern. The real highlight is the rooftop terrace, with a seriously impressive view over the city and the sea.
The hotel is also a great base for sightseeing — the Poema de Mar aquarium, the harbor, and Parque de Santa Catalina are all within easy reach, making it one of the top picks for exploring the best things to see in Las Palmas.
A hotel in Santa Catalina, Las Palmas is right for you if you:
- love a cosmopolitan vibe,
- are a city person,
- or want to celebrate the Canarian carnival.
Riu Palace Oasis
Maspalomas
The Riu hotel chain has some of the best places to stay on Gran Canaria — and the Riu Palace Oasis is one of the standouts.
This 5-star property sits right on the beach at Maspalomas. The sprawling resort features a beautiful palm garden, three heated pools, three restaurants, a wellness center, and a kids club.
Rooms are modern and well-appointed — some come with balconies or terraces overlooking the pool or the palm garden, which is a really lovely touch.
Entertainment is well taken care of too: every evening, the Riu Palace Oasis puts on a variety of live shows with dance performances and music.
The hotel has private beach access and is one of three Riu Palace properties in the area. A little further back from the beach is the sister hotel Riu Palace Meloneras, which boasts six pools. There’s also the 4-star Riu Palace All Inclusive, 350 meters from the beach with full all-inclusive dining.
A hotel in Maspalomas is right for you if you:
- want to see the famous Maspalomas dunes,
- want to shop and dine out,
- and are looking for a typical resort town.
Hotel Cura Sol
Playa del Cura
Want hotel-style service but also the flexibility of a vacation rental? The Aparthotel Cura Sol is the perfect middle ground.
You stay in spacious apartments, all with a fully equipped kitchen and everything you need for a comfortable stay. Each unit has a balcony or small terrace, and many have a direct sea view.
The hotel is right on the sandy beach of Cura and features a large infinity pool and a jacuzzi — a great combo.
Cook in your own apartment whenever you feel like it, or head to the à la carte restaurant and bar when you’d rather be looked after.
A hotel in Playa del Cura is right for you if you:
- love small, quiet coastal towns,
- spend a lot of time on the beach,
- and are planning plenty of day trips on Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria All Inclusive Hotels
Riu Vistamar
Puerto Rico
The Riu Vistamar is a 4-star hotel with a large pool, fitness facilities, and generous rooms — and its location is what really sets it apart.
It sits on a dramatic cliff above Playa de Amadores, one of the most popular beaches on Gran Canaria, with stunning sea views from the rooms.
The hotel also offers all-inclusive dining, so you can completely switch off and just enjoy your vacation.
Traveling with kids? The Riu Vistamar has dedicated children’s paddling pools, a playground, and a kids club — it’s a really solid family choice.
A hotel in Puerto Rico is right for you if you:
- want to stroll along the waterfront promenade,
- enjoy a great cup of coffee,
- and want to soak up the sun.
Gran Canaria 5-Star Hotels
Want to be completely pampered and money is no object on your Canary Islands vacation? Then treat yourself to a stunning luxury hotel on Gran Canaria.
Riu Palace Maspalomas Adults Only
Maspalomas
The Riu Palace Maspalomas is genuinely one of the best hotels on Gran Canaria. This 5-star property is set right among the Maspalomas dunes — one of the top attractions on Gran Canaria and an absolutely spectacular backdrop.
The hotel has a wellness center with a steam bath and body treatments, a beautiful garden and sun terrace, a fitness center, and several restaurants featuring live show-cooking stations. Evenings wind down with live music entertainment.
As the name makes clear, this is an adults-only hotel — guests must be 18 or older. Playa del Inglés beach is about 750 meters away.
A hotel in Maspalomas is right for you if you:
- want to go out in the evenings,
- are taking a beach vacation,
- and don’t mind crowds of tourists.
Book Riu Palace Maspalomas Adults Only
Santa Catalina Royal Hideaway
Santa Catalina
The name Royal Hideaway really does say it all — this place feels like a Mediterranean palace surrounded by lush gardens and tropical palms. The interior is classically and exquisitely styled. You’ll genuinely feel like royalty here.
The list of amenities is impressive: a wellness center with whirlpools and massages, rain showers in the suites, multiple pools, and a seriously good dining scene — from gourmet restaurants to traditional tapas to menus built entirely around local produce. Round off the evening at the piano bar or the rooftop bar.
A hotel in Santa Catalina, Las Palmas is right for you if you:
- want a combination of city and beach,
- are planning sightseeing,
- or don’t have a rental car.
Book Santa Catalina Royal Hideaway
Salobre Hotel Resort and Serenity
El Salobre
At the Salobre Hotel Resort, the focus is firmly on sports and relaxation.
The heart of the property is a 36-hole golf course. Beyond that, there’s an in-house bike station, a fitness center on the 11th floor with panoramic views over the dunes, and classes for yoga, water aerobics, and meditation.
The surrounding area also has great routes for jogging and cycling, plus seven indoor and outdoor pools to choose from.
For dining, three restaurants and three bars give you plenty of options.
Traveling with kids? They’ll love the large playground, and the hotel also offers a babysitter service — a nice bonus.
A hotel in El Salobre is right for you if you:
- enjoy seclusion,
- don’t mind lazy days by the pool,
- and maybe want to make a day trip to Maspalomas.
Book Salobre Hotel Resort and Serenity
Gran Canaria Boutique Hotels: Small & Charming
La Palmera Boutique Hotel Adults Only
Ciudad Jardín
La Palmera is a small, charming boutique hotel in the heart of Las Palmas. Hosts Marissa and Elena welcome you with genuine warmth, and with just seven rooms, the atmosphere is intimate and homey — a real contrast to the big resort hotels.
Rooms are beautifully decorated with a great eye for detail — modern with a nautical touch. There’s also a small garden to relax in.
La Palmera is an adults-only property, so if you’re after a quiet, laid-back atmosphere, this one’s for you.
A hotel in Ciudad Jardín, Las Palmas is right for you if you:
- are looking for a quiet neighborhood in the city,
- love stylish villas,
- and want to visit the sights.
Book La Palmera Boutique Hotel Adults Only
La Casa de Vegueta
Vegueta
La Casa de Vegueta is a peaceful guesthouse in Mediterranean style. The rooms are beautifully decorated, and many of the furnishings are one-of-a-kind pieces by renowned architect Miguel Martin-Fernández de la Torre.
In true Canarian fashion, the rooms are arranged around an inner courtyard — the heart of the guesthouse — where cozy armchairs invite you to sit and chat over a cortado.
Breakfast here is a real treat: homemade jams, Canarian tomatoes, bread made from local gofio flour, and salt from Fuerteventura — all fresh and locally sourced.
A hotel in Vegueta, Las Palmas is right for you if you:
- want to explore the historic old town,
- want to wake up right next to the top attractions,
- and want to enjoy delicious tapas in the evenings.
Hotel Emblemático Algadar
Galdar
The Hotel Emblemático Algadar has a completely unique character, defined above all by the blend of historic charm and contemporary style.
That history is real — this boutique hotel has been here since 1865.
The standout feature is definitely the rooftop terrace, complete with a bar, a pool, and sun loungers. But what makes it truly spectacular is the panoramic vista over the town of Galdar — especially the beautiful church tower right next door.
A hotel in Galdar is right for you if you:
- are looking for a charming, historic setting,
- want to explore nature,
- and want to discover off-the-beaten-path beaches.
Book Hotel Emblemático Algadar
Gran Canaria Family Hotels
Palm Oasis Maspalomas
Maspalomas
The Palm Oasis is a fantastic hotel for the whole family. The pool area for kids is a real highlight — complete with a slide and waterfalls. There’s also mini-golf, a wellness area, a tennis court, and a kids club with childcare.
You stay in spacious apartments with one or two bedrooms, each with a kitchen so you can cook whenever you like. The resort even has its own supermarket on site.
A hotel in Maspalomas is right for you if you:
- want a classic resort town
- with plenty of restaurants and shops,
- and want to enjoy long days on the beach.
La Aldea Suites
La Aldea de San Nicolás
La Aldea offers spacious family rooms sleeping up to five people — plenty of room for everyone to spread out.
Out on the terrace you’ll find a great pool, a hotel bar, and table tennis.
For exploring the area, you can rent bikes at the front desk for an extra fee or book a guided hike for the whole family.
All rooms have a kitchen, but the hotel’s own restaurant is there when you’d rather not cook.
A hotel in La Aldea de San Nicolás is right for you if you:
- want to hike and mountain bike,
- love hidden coves,
- and prefer peace and seclusion.
Gran Canaria Gay Men Only Hotels
Seven Hotel and Wellness
Maspalomas
Gran Canaria has a number of hotels with a concept specifically aimed at gay men, and the Seven Hotel and Wellness is one of the best.
This 4-star design hotel has a relaxed atmosphere and a gorgeous outdoor area — a pool lined with palm trees, open views of the surrounding mountains, and an outdoor gym.
Inside, the hotel is stylishly decorated with beautiful designer furniture, flooded with natural light, and full of lovely details to discover. Every room comes with a furnished veranda.
The hotel also has its own restaurant and a sauna.
A hotel in Maspalomas is right for you if you:
- want to play golf,
- want to party and go out,
- and want to stay near the dunes.
