Las Palmas: an Atlantic Eden for surfing fans

5 must-see places that'll leave you with unforgettable memories

Panoramic view of downtown Las Palmas 

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, commonly known as Las palmas, is a Spanish city located in the Canary Islands archipelago, 100 kilometers (60 miles) off the Atlantic coastline, and some 1500 kilometers from southern continental Spain. It is the capital of Gran Canaria, the second most populous island of the archipelago and is considered, along with Santa Cruz de Tenerife ( largest city of the neighboring and larger Tenerife island ), as the co-capital of the Canary Islands.

Population:

With a population of over 380,000, Las palmas is the most populous city of the Canary Islands, ninth largest of Spain. As for the urban population, it exceeds 700,000, making it the fifth most populous urban area of Spain.

Geography:

• Climate:

Las Palmas enjoys a subtropical climate, highly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean trade winds. It it the perfect destination for sunshine lovers, with a mild to warm temperatures throughout the year. In fact, its position north of the tropic of Cancer makes its climate one of the most suitable in the world, with an average 19 °C in winter and 25 °C in summer.

The sun is shining everywhere in Las Palmas, as illustrated in this beautiful beach.

Additionally, the trade winds coming from Northern Europe bring fresh and humid air. So, as you may guess, it's a wonderful place to be exercising in.

Even more amazing, the continental clouds play a major role filtering solar rays, and the current of cold water regulates temperatures oscillations. That means, the air you would be breathing and feeling around your body would be extremely smooth and suave!

According to a 1996 study conducted by American climatologist Thomas Whitmore, Las Palmas was ranked the 1st among 600 cities around the world, as the most pleasant weather in the world, giving it a perfect score of 100, ahead of San Diego and Los Angeles, California.

Las Palmas smooth weather is the product of many climatic factors.

• Relief:

Part of the Gran Canaria volcanic island, Las Palmas is surrounded by mountains up to 1900 meters of altitude. 

How to get into there? 

At the heart of the Gran Canaria island, Las Palmas is a the most visited touristic destination in the Canary Islands, and is thus connected to a large network of transportations, ranging from the aerial, maritime to road transportation. It is important, when scheduling your visit, to consider the available modes of transport, to figure out what'll suit you the most and make you enjoy the trip the most. Here are some of the most practical ways to get in Las Palmas, and tour the city.

• By plane: 

What's the most traditional way to get in an island? It's by plane, indeed. The city has a modern international airport, the Gran Canaria Airport, the busiest airport of the Canary Islands. It is located on the Bay of Gando, just 19 kilometers from downtown Las Palmas. If you are a Spain resident,  typical flight from Madrid would take you 2 and a half hours, while you would need about 3 hours to get in there from Barcelona or Bilbao.

Jets stationed at the Gran Canaria International Airport. 

Main entrance

 For UK residents, the flight usually takes about 4 to 4.5 hours.

Once there, you would need to take a bus to your desired destination. You can take the bus number 60 from the airport to some bus stations in the city. Don't worry, the bus ticket won't cost you more that 2.9 euros. Note that the buses depart from the stop outside the departure entrance, and not the stop outside arrivals.

• By boat:

If you live in a Western African country, e.g. Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, etc, or a European oversees territory in the Atlantic Ocean ( e.g. Madeira), then an alternative way to get in Las Palmas is to travel by boat. With annual traffic of over 900,000 passengers, the Port of Las Palmas is one of the most important commercial and passenger ports of the region. The port operates daily routes to other Canary islands, to mainland Europe and other destinations. However, it remains unpractical for residents of other European and world countries, as a trip from Cadiz, the southernmost tip of Spain would take about 2 days. So, unless you're from the aforementioned countries, you'd better opt for a plane !

view of the port

Once There:

• Transportation:

Getting around the city would be the least of your worries, as Las Palmas is connected via a large network of buses that circulates throughout the city with a daily traffic that will allow to reach your destination within reasonable time frame. The bus service is provided by the local company Guaguas Municipales. You can contact the company through their phone number: 928 446 500, and their website.

The yellow buses operated by the Guaguas Municipales

Tarifs and payment methods for Guaguas Municipales' buses are as follows:

• Direct payment: 1.40 €, valid for a single journey. You pay the driver as you get on the bus.
• 2-journey ticket: 2.40 €, available at all Guaguas Municipales' ticket offices and bus stations. 
• Rechargeable card: You can buy this card for 1.5 €. It is valid for 10 journeys and can be recharged with 8.5 to 50 euros. Available at bus stations and ticket offices.

Yellow buses are to be used for every-day transportation. But, if you desire to visit the city's touristic attractions, you may use the Guagua Turística service, a bus service that connects the city to the major places of interest. You would enjoy amazing tours on some extravagant 2-floor touristic buses. From the open upper floor, you can explore the beauty of the city's monument, monuments, shopping centers, etc, with a 360° panoramic view, and up to 4 meters of altitude.

A typical Las Palmas Double-Decker tour bus

Also, the service operates with a crew of touristic guides speaking 8 different languages. So, don't bother yourself with Spanish learning courses. Buses depart on a daily basis, from 9:30 a.m to 06:00 p.m. Tickets are available at all bus stations, and are valid all day long.

Yet, If you opt not to use the bus service, here is an even more amazing alternative. Las Palmas, as many Spanish and European cities, is know for its public bicycle service. It operates through 150 available bikes in 13 bike stations. The service is free. All you have to do is buy a 1.5 euros LPA Movilidad card, which you can find in many tobacco shops, as well as in Guaguas Municipales's commercial offices, notably in El Obelisco, Teatro, San Telmo Station and Plaza Manuel Becerra. The city dispose of many bike lanes designed for bybike users to enjoy their rides !

For more information, visit the ByBike Las Palmas.

LPA Movilidad recharging machine

One of the city's 13 bike stations

• What to see:

1. Monuments :

- Las Palmas Cathedral: also called Holy Cathedral-Basilica of Canary (in Spanish: Santa Iglesia Catedral-Basílica de Canarias) or Cathedral of Santa Ana (Catedral Basílica de Santa Ana) . If you are a fan of Gothic-style medieval cathedrals, then this Roman-Catholic church might me what you're looking for in Las Palmas. Built around the year 1570 and renovated in the 18th century, Las Palmas Cathedral was the only such building in the whole archipelago until 1819, when another diocese was constructed in Tenerife island. Besides, the cathedral is the siege of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Canarias and is widely considered the most important monument of the Canarian architecture.

Santa Ana Cathedral facade

The cathedral has a neoclassical-styled facade. As to the interior, it has all the ingredients of a typical Gothic church: a nave, two lateral aisles, transepts, sanctuary, etc. In a word, it is like any European Gothic church !

How to get there? Las Palmas Cathedral is located in the historical Vegueta neighborhood, next to the iconic Plaza Mayor de Santa Ana. It would take you some 20 minutes by car from the Gran Canaria Airport. But don't worry, the road from the airport to the cathedral has a charming view on the city's coastline.
Otherwise, the 12th bus line takes you straight from the Las Palmas Port to the cathedral, in no more than 50 minutes. You would only have to walk your way from the airport to the bus station, and another 5 minutes from the destination station to the cathedral. Another choice would be the 2nd bus line which would also take you from the Port right to the cathedral, but with a slight delay of 10 minutes, bring the total duration to about 1h5min. You may also opt for the 1st line, with a 10-minute frequency route from the Port to the Teatro, the latter being a bus station 10 walking minutes away from the cathedral.

Useful tip

I know it would sound silly, but a bicycle ride from the Port to the cathedral would only take you 30 minutes. This is mainly due to the heavy traffic of the city's major avenues.

Interior of the cathedral, showing the church's nave

Christ of The Chapterhouse, a masterpiece to be seen inside the chapter house of the Cathedral. Showing the crucified Christ, it was erected by the Canarian sculptor and architect José Luján Pérez, in 1793.