Car Hire in Gran Canaria

Why hire a car in Gran Canaria?

The island of Gran Canaria is a great place to travel around by car. The distances are small and the road network is in good shape, but at the same time there’s a lot of natural and cultural diversity that’s best discovered if you can go outside the main tourist zones and travel at your own pace.

Top ways to enter Gran Canaria

• Gran Canaria Airport: The main airport of the island is located about 20 km (12 mi) south of Las Palmas city center and also provides easy access to other parts Gran Canaria. Served by more than 40 airlines, it offers flights not only to most European countries, but also to North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• By sea: There are five ports in Gran Canaria, connecting the island to a number of other Canary islands, as well as locations on the Spanish mainland like Cadiz or Huelva. Most ferry companies permit taking a vehicle on deck (you need to buy a separate ticket for it), but you should ask your car hire company in advance if they are okay with it. Many car hire companies don’t permit taking the car on a ferry, even if you plan to later return to Gran Canaria. Therefore, another option is to drop off a car in Gran Canaria, travel without it, and then pick up a new car once you’ve reached your next destination. Ferry tickets are best purchased in advance, especially if you plan to travel during the winter and early spring months when the service is considerably less frequent.

City facts

• The largest city and capital of Gran Canaria is Las Palmas. Located in the northeastern corner of the island, it has a population of almost 400,000.
• Gran Canaria has warm weather throughout the year and the precipitation is low, albeit unevenly distributed across the island. Some inland parts can be significantly colder than the coastal areas during the winter months. 
• The original population of Canary Islands were Guanches, people related to North African Berbers. Over the course of centuries Guanches have been absorbed in the larger Spanish-speaking populations, but there are still vague traces of their culture in terms of architecture, artefacts, and some customs to be found on the island.

Top sights and activities

• Las Palmas. The largest city in the Canaries, Las Palmas has plenty for a curious traveller to explore. Located on the northeastern coast of the island, the city is home to the emblematic Santa Ana Cathedral, as well as landmarks like the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium and Elder Museum of Science and Technology.
• Beaches. There’s plenty of fascinating history and culture to explore in Gran Canaria, but the main reason to visit the island is nonetheless its stunning coastline. The relaxed southern part of the island attracts most of the sun and sea lovers, but there’s also the lovely Las Canteras Beach in Las Palmas, as well as the nearby beaches of El Confital (20-minute drive to the north) and Dos Roques (30 minutes to the east).
• Gran Canaria Biosphere Reserve. Taking up over 40% of the island’s territory, much of Gran Canaria’s interior has been put under protection. Characterized by stunning peaks, deep canyons, and a very unique flora and fauna, exploring the inland parts of the island can be just as exciting as spending time on the beach. It is important to follow one of the many marked hiking trails, both for your own safety (travellers have gone lost in the mountains) and the protection of the island’s biodiversity.

Traffic and parking

• Speed limits - 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas, 90km/h (56mph) on most standard roads, 100km/h (62mph) on standard roads that are either one-way roads, roads with more than two lanes for at least one direction of traffic and roads with shoulders more than 1.5m wide, and 120km/h (74mph) on motorways (called autovías in Spain).
• The car documentation and insurance always has to be inside a vehicle.
• The driver and all passengers are required to wear seatbelts.
• Children up to the age of 12 and measuring less than 135cm travelling on the front seat of a car must be seated in a child restraint system adapted to their size and weight.
• Unnecessary use of audible warning devices (horns) is prohibited.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers.
• The emergency number is 112.

Ideas for day trips

• Maspalomas. Located near the southern edge of the island, about an hour’s drive from Las Palmas, Maspalomas is one of the most visited places on Gran Canaria. In addition to its beautiful beaches, popular resorts, and green parks, the area is also famous for its sand dunes, an important part of the local landscape that has been turned into a protected area.
• Teror. Despite its uninviting name, Teror is a cozy little place where you can interact with hospitable locals, try fruits and vegetables grown by village farmers, and relax in the mountains. Located in the northern part of the island’s interior, Teror is only a 30-minute drive from Las Palmas. If you’re in the area in early September, make sure to catch a glimpse of the celebrations of the Virgin of the Pine, an annual festival in honour of a local patron saint.
• West coast. Rugged and more of a challenge to reach, the western part of the island is nonetheless a rewarding destination thanks to its impressive nature and wild sea coast. If you’re in the area, you can find Los Azulejos, the strange local rock formations known for the bluish hue of their glimmer, or explore the hiking trails of the Tamadaba Nature Park, one of the least visited protected areas of the island; the latter is an hour’s drive west of Las Palmas.

Most popular cars

The most hired car in the Canary Islands is the Kia Picanto. Travelers also choose the VW Polo and the Renault Clio a lot. The most popular car types in the Canary Islands are economy, mini, and compact.

Further destinations

• Inland Gran Canaria. Much of the inland part of the island is a UNESCO biosphere area thanks to its lush valleys, steep pine-covered gorges, and mountains that reveal the island’s volcanic origin.
• Other Canary Islands. Similar in culture and nature yet each distinctly unique, the rest of the Canary Islands like Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura all make fascinating destinations to explore.
• Mainland Spain. Home of varied history, great culture, and delicious cuisine, Spain is one of the most popular tourism destinations in the world for a good reason.

Car hire prices in Gran Canaria

• Small cars - starting at £1 per day
• Medium cars - starting at £2 per day
• SUVs - starting at £4 per day
• People Carriers - starting at £6 per day
• Large cars - starting at £11 per day
• Convertibles - starting at £5 per day
• Station wagons - starting at £6 per day

Money-saving and other tips

There are ways to be smart about hiring a car in Gran Canaria:

• Compare rates of different car hire companies
• Book your car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit on the month when the prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Gran Canaria is the cheapest in June when hiring a car is about 63% cheaper than the yearly average and about 75% cheaper than hiring a car in August.