Three days is enough for Gran Canaria's south and its mountains, but not for the whole island. Base yourself in Maspalomas or Playa del Inglés and spend the days on the dunes, the summits around Roque Nublo, and a harbour on the south-west coast. You give up Las Palmas and the green north, which deserve their own days. On a one-day cruise stop, the plan flips: stay in Las Palmas.
Where should you stay for three days?
Stay in the south, and do not move. Maspalomas, Meloneras and Playa del Inglés are the easiest bases for a short trip: Global bus line 66 runs from the airport, the dunes are on foot, and both the mountains and the south-west harbours are within reach.
The choice between them is about character rather than logistics: Playa del Inglés for nightlife and the Yumbo Centre, Maspalomas and Meloneras for a calmer stay. Our where to stay in Gran Canaria guide sets out the differences, and our airport transfers guide covers the bus, taxi and transfer options from arrival.
| Day | Plan | Book ahead? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maspalomas dunes and beach | Camel ride, mornings only |
| 2 | Roque Nublo and Pico de las Nieves | Free trail reservation or a tour |
| 3 | Puerto Rico or Puerto de Mogán | Boat trip; Friday market day |
Day 1: the Maspalomas dunes and the beach
Start with what is on your doorstep. The Maspalomas dunes are free and open every day, but they are a protected reserve: walkers must stay on about 8km of marked trails, and leaving them carries a fine from €150.
Go in the morning, before the heat. If you want a camel ride at the edge of the reserve, book it for the same morning, because rides run mornings only, with the last at about 14:15. Our Maspalomas dunes guide covers the routes, the rules and the camel station.
Spend the afternoon on the beach. Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés run together for about 6km, so you can walk from the dunes to the Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse and finish in Meloneras for dinner.
Day 2: Roque Nublo and the summits
Day two goes into the mountains, and it is the one day this itinerary needs a plan for.
Since 3 February 2025, the Roque Nublo trail from Degollada de La Goleta needs a free, timed reservation for most of the day, and the old roadside car park is closed to private cars. Drivers park in Tejeda or at Cruz de los Llanos and take the Global line 18 shuttle or walk in. Our Roque Nublo hike guide explains the booking, the shuttle and the walk.
Pair it with Pico de las Nieves, the island's highest point at 1,956m, a short drive away. Take a jacket in every season: the summits are far cooler than the coast.
No car? The Gran Canaria volcano sunset tour picks up from the southern resorts and covers the Bandama crater, lunch near Cruz de Tejeda, the Roque Nublo hike and sunset at Pico de las Nieves in one long day. For a shorter evening in the same mountains, the stargazing tour watches the sunset there and then brings out the telescopes.
Day 3: a harbour day on the south-west coast
Day three is the easiest, and a good fit for a departure day or the day before.
Puerto Rico is the boat day. Its harbour is the main hub for trips along the south-west coast, from lunch-and-snorkel cruises to dolphin and whale watching; our catamaran cruise guide compares the options, and the dolphin and whale watching guide explains why sightings are possible in any month.
Puerto de Mogán is the slower alternative, with canals, a small beach and fish restaurants. Its market runs every Friday from 09:00 to 14:00, so on a Friday decide whether you want the market or a quieter village. Our things to do in Puerto de Mogán guide covers the submarine and the harbour walk.
The Líneas Salmón ferry links Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán along the coast, which lets you do both in one day without a car.
What three days leaves out
Be clear about the trade, because the honest version is more useful than an itinerary that pretends nothing was cut.
You will miss Las Palmas. The capital's late-15th-century Vegueta old town and Las Canteras, a city beach of more than 3km, are a full day on their own, about 58km up the GC-1 motorway from Maspalomas. You will miss the north, from Teror's Sunday market to Arucas and the natural pools at Agaete. And you will miss the water parks and most of the island's activities.
A fourth day buys you Las Palmas; a fifth buys you the north as well. If you can extend, that is where the extra days should go. Our things to do in Gran Canaria guide lays out the whole island so you can judge the trade.
One day in port? Stay in Las Palmas
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a busy cruise port, and a day ashore changes the plan completely. Think twice about the south or the summits on a ship's timetable: the volcano sunset tour, for example, says its schedule cannot fit a ship's return.
Instead, spend the day in the capital: the Vegueta old town and the Catedral de Santa Ana in the morning, and Las Canteras beach after lunch. Our things to do in Las Palmas guide covers the opening hours and how to split the day.
Getting around on a short trip
For this itinerary, a hire car is most useful on day two, when the mountain roads and the Roque Nublo shuttle car parks are the whole plan. Days one and three work on foot, by bus and by ferry. Our Gran Canaria car hire guide covers the pickup options and the interior's roads.
Without a car, book the mountain day as a tour and use the buses along the coast for the rest.
FAQ – three days in Gran Canaria
Featured image: Pepelopex / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
