Gran Canaria

1. The port

2. Arrival

3. on foot

4. public transport

5. Hop on Hop off

6. Rental Car

7. Taxis

8. Bikes

9. The top sights

10. Book shore excursions

      10.1 Meine Landausflüge

      10.2 Get Your Guide

      10.3. Viator

Gran Canaria is an island of contrasts. From the cooler north to the sunny south, this island has everything holidaymakers could wish for. Gran Canaria offers many sights, ranging from large dunes in the south to green mountains in the north. The island has a diverse population and maintains its traditions. With approximately 380,000 inhabitants, Las Palmas is the largest city in the Canary Islands and is usually the starting point for a Canary Islands cruise.

Gran Canaria is usually the starting port for Canary Island cruises. The airport is located 30 km from the cruise port. Most cruisers use the arrival and departure packages provided by the cruise lines and are transported from the airport to the port.

However, it is also possible to book the flight individually and only book the transfer through the cruise line. The advantage of both options is that your luggage is handed over to the cruise line directly at the airport.

The cheapest option is often an individual arrival by plane. There are several ways to get from the airport to the cruise port. The most convenient is a taxi ride, which costs about €35–€40 during the week. Even cheaper is the Line 60 bus for €3. The bus stop is easy to find: on the departures level, just walk straight ahead to the stands; bus no. 60 stops right at the front. The bus runs twice an hour, and the journey takes between 30 and 45 minutes. The ride ends at the Santa Catalina bus station, from where it is only about 300 meters to the terminal. You can't miss the way, as you can already see the ships from the bus station

Cruise ships dock at the Muelle Santa Catalina. The port is particularly impressive due to its central location. Unlike many other ports, the ship is located practically right in the city.

Shopping: Directly at the port exit is the large "El Muelle" shopping center. Here you will find numerous shops, cafés, and free Wi-Fi.

Proximity to the beach: Only about a 10-minute walk from the ship is the famous city beach, Playa de Las Canteras. It is considered one of the most beautiful city beaches in the world and is ideal for a quick dip or a coffee along the promenade.

Sightseeing: Right at the harbor, you will also find the Poema del Mar, an impressive, state-of-the-art aquarium.

The Old Town of Las Palmas is 6.5 km from the harbor. Those who enjoy walking can reach it in about an hour. Directly near the port is the Santa Catalina district, with many shops, restaurants, bars, and, above all, the beautiful long sandy beach Playa de Las Canteras on the other side of the isthmus.

Here you will find a wonderful beach promenade lined with many shops and restaurants. If you wish to go for a swim, you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas; showers are also available.

The bus network on Gran Canaria is well-developed. There are city buses, Guaguas Municipales, which you can use to reach the Old Town, for example. The bus stop is located in Parque de Santa Catalina, and lines 1 and 12 go there.

The intercity buses, Global SU, depart from the Santa Catalina bus station, which is easily recognizable by its white tent roof. With the Line 60 bus, you can reach the airport in a good half hour, and it takes one hour to reach the Maspalomas Lighthouse with the Line 30 express bus. All routes and departure times can be viewed on the website.

The buses depart directly from the cruise port; the tour takes approximately 75 minutes and has 11 stops where you can get off and back on. A bus passes by the stops roughly every 30 minutes. You can purchase tickets on-site or conveniently in advance from home via Get Your Guide.

Gran Canaria lässt sich sehr gut auf eigene Faust mit dem Mietwagen zu erkunden. Direkt am Kreuzfahrtterminal haben die Firmen Cicar und Avis ihre Büros. Wir haben bei unseren Aufenthalten auf den Kanaren immer sehr gute Erfahrungen mit Cicar gemacht. Ich würde Euch empfehlen den Wagen vorab von zu Hause zu reservieren, da die Kontingente durchaus knapp werden können. Außerdem spart Ihr viel Zeit bei der Übernahme des Wagens.

Taxis are available and waiting at the cruise terminal. You can use them to travel to the Old Town and the surrounding area or even for excursions. There are fixed prices for trips within the city area, and sightseeing tours are advertised at the taxis and taxi stands with fixed rates.

The company Next Bike has several rental stations in Las Palmas. You need to register once on their website; the bikes can then be rented via the app. The nearest rental station is at the bus station, and the rate is €1.50 per 30 minutes.

Gran Canaria is a very popular travel destination. Not only do cruise ships dock here, but many tourists also love the island's mild climate. Therefore, queues can occur at the top sights, or tickets may only be available with fixed time slots. For these attractions, it is worth booking a fast-track ticket or a scheduled time slot in advance:

Meine Landausflüge offer you fantastic cruise trips at the most popular ports worldwide. Typically, they are available in much smaller groups and at more affordable prices than the cruise line’s own excursions. All our options are carefully selected to guarantee you an unforgettable outing experience.

• Small group sizes  
• Punctual return guarantee  
• Convenient pick-up and drop-off service from/to the port  
• Money-back guarantee for itinerary changes and port cancellations  
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour (Flex option up to 60 minutes before the tour start)

With GetYourGuide, you can book land excursions in small groups, often at better prices than those offered by cruise lines. All experiences are carefully selected and reviewed by experts. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the excursion.

Viator, a Tripadvisor company, is one of the world's leading online marketplaces for travel experiences. The platform provides travelers with access to more than 300,000 activities, including guided tours, day trips, attraction tickets, and exclusive experiences in thousands of destinations worldwide. A key advantage for users is the millions of authentic traveler reviews that help in making informed choices. 

Viator is known for its high flexibility:

• offering free cancellation on many bookings up to 24 hours in advance.
• Additionally, the "reserve now, pay later" option provides financial freedom during trip planning. 

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