Maspalomas Guide

Located on the southern tip of Gran Canaria, the upmarket town of Maspalomas boasts what is arguably the best stretch of golden, sandy beach on the entire island. The resort is next door to Playa del Ingles – one of the island’s busiest, most bustling towns – and is popular with families and couples looking for well-maintained, peaceful surroundings with the option of exploring the region.

Whilst most holidaymakers head straight for the stunning 6km long beach, in the resort itself there are also several popular attractions, including many family-friendly activities such as a waterpark, aquarium, and Holiday World - a vast amusement complex - as well as more adult-oriented fun in the shape of a golf course. Maspalomas also draws a large gay community, with a designated gay zone on the beach. Indeed, the resort's week-long Gay Pride festival held each May has become world-renowned.

How to get to Maspalomas

Most visitors to Maspalomas will be flying into Gran Canaria Airport, which connects to a vast amount of cities across Europe. The airport is around 28km from Maspalomas.

If you haven’t booked a hotel transfer as part of a package holiday, there are also public buses that will take you from the airport direct to Maspalomas, as well as taxis and car hire firms.

When to visit Maspalomas

Located in the south of the island, Maspalomas benefits from the area’s famous microclimate which allows it to enjoy higher average temperature than its northern neighbours.

The wonderful, temperate weather, which lasts throughout the seasons and is accompanied by cooling sea breezes, helps make Maspalomas a superb all-year-round destination.

Things to do in Maspalomas

Activities

Maspalomas is home to what many consider the best beach on the entire island – a vast 6km stretch of beautiful golden sand. Many visitors choose to enjoy it from the comfort of a sunbed, but if you’re more actively minded then there are an array of watersports on offer – both above and below the surface – including paragliding ad scuba diving.

Also for the active and energetic – and particularly families with children – there is the Aquapark, an aquarium, a zoo, and the huge Holiday World amusement complex.

Popular excursions from Maspalomas include boat trips to view whales and dolphins, as well as camel ride through the area’s famous dunes.

Shopping

The primary shopping centre in Maspalomas is the Faro 2 complex, which boasts a large number of designer stores and boutiques. The surrounding area is also crammed with shopping complexes, with the Yumbo Centre in neighbouring Playa del Ingles offering the widest scope of retail opportunities.

Restaurants

Eating out in Maspalomas offers plenty of choice, ranging from reasonably-priced local dishes to top-end international cuisine.

Many of the restaurants in the resort provide live entertainment in the evenings and often double as bars.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Maspalomas is lively, varied and sophisticated. There are a plethora of bars offering karaoke, jazz, salsa, and live music, as well as theme pubs. The Maspalomas Plaza is where most of the bar activity takes place, whilst for nightclubs the Holiday World amusement park is home to two popular dance spots which only really start to buzz after midnight.

Whilst there should be plenty to keep the average reveller happy in Maspalomas, if you find it a little tame for your tastes, you may want to head to neighbouring Playa del Ingles where the party temperature is a few notches up, thanks to the presence of some major clubs including Joy and Cream.