Gran Canaria is the second most-visited of the Canary Islands after Tenerife, and it is popular year-round with package-tour visitors from other European countries. It offers a wide range of things to do and see, including golfing, yachting, shopping, casinos and great beaches.
Las Palmas, the principal city and the capital of the island, extends along an isthmus with a volcanic headland at the far end and the sea on the other side. It's the largest city in the archipelago; though the outskirts of the city are modern, its traditional heart is La Vegueta, the charming old quarter which contains many historic houses and museums.
Gran Canaria's mountainous interior rises to volcanic heights of more than 6,000 ft/1,828 m, topped by the Tejeda crater and Roque Nublo peak. The entire island is covered in dry vegetation zones, with volcanic mountains and craters, tall seaside cliffs, dry hills and the famous extensive sand dunes of southerly Maspalomas.
The coastal sand dunes of Maspalomas merge with the large, neighboring resort of Playa del Ingles, where most of the island's sun- and beach-seeking holidaymakers stay.
Gran Canaria and Tenerife have the most hotels of any of the Islands. Because of the large number of tourists who go there, anyone looking for a quiet island getaway should look elsewhere.
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