How big is gran canaria: Gran Canaria | island, Canary Islands, Spain

How Big is Gran Canaria? -Compared to Popular Places

Visiting the Canary Islands on your next vacation would be an excellent decision for you and your loved ones. More specifically, as the leading tour of the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria would be a great place to have a relaxing vacation.

But if you plan to explore the entire Gran Canaria, you need to know how big it exactly is. Without knowing this, you will not see the major attractions and places that other tourists recommend.

You might be wondering, how big is Gran Canaria really, and how does its size compare to other places in the world? Well, that is what I am here to tell you.

Gran Canaria is the third-largest island in the Spanish Canary Islands cluster. It is known for many white sand beaches, shopping centers, and beautiful tourist attractions situated there.

Going to visit Gran Canaria? Check out Puerto Rico Gran Canaria – Why You Should Visit.

If you are visiting Gran Canaria, you are going to want to know more than this. In this article, I will talk about all you need to know about Gran Canaria’s size and area, along with comparisons to similar places worldwide for reference. So, without further ado, let us get started.

Gran Canaria Size

Gran Canaria is one of the most popular islands in the Canaries, right in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean. It is known for its black lava and white sand beaches and the capital city, La Palma, the hub for traveling cruise ships.

The island has an area of 1,560 sq. kilometers (602 sq mi), making it the third-largest island in the Canaries. The size of this island is considered relatively moderate or medium-sized compared to other Islands around the world.

Many people tour Gran Canaria every year because of how beautiful the resorts, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and natural views in this world region are. And that is why you should visit Gran Canaria as well.

Check out our article on Which Canary Island Is the Hottest?

How Long and Wide is Gran Canaria?

Gran Canaria is somewhat circular in shape if you look from a bird’s eye view or with a map of the island. So that is why instead of measuring the length and the width of the island, we say that Gran Canaria is 29 miles across from one end to the other.

How long does it take to drive around Gran Canaria?

If you are currently in the Gran Canaria region or planning to go there, you will want to know how long it would take for you to drive around Gran Canaria in a vehicle.

Well, if you do not make stops, you will be able to drive around Gran Canaria in less than 4 hours. However, if you are sightseeing with your family and friends, you should add a couple of hours to this sum. So that is how long your outing is going to be.

How big is Gran Canaria compared to the UK?

The United Kingdom is a combined association of several European countries. These countries include England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, and the total area of the United Kingdom is 242,495 sq. kilometers.

There is no comparison between the area of the United Kingdom and Gran Canaria. One has a place in the hundreds of thousands while the other has only one thousand, but in comparison, the UK is more than 150x the size.

You can say that cities and towns in Scotland and Northern Island might be similar in size to the area of Gran Canaria, but other than that, there is no comparison. Still, Gran Canaria has all the elements of making an epic tourist destination, so millions of tourists make their way to the area every year.

How big is Gran Canaria compared to England?

England is a significant part of the United Kingdom and has an area of over 130,000 sq. kilometers, so, again, there is no comparison if we directly talk about the sizes of England and Gran Canaria (>80x size).

However, if we talk about the capital of England, London, then we can say it is pretty close to Gran Canaria in terms of area. The area of London is 1,572 sq kilometers. This makes London around 12 sq. kilometers bigger than the Island of Gran Canaria, which is not that different if you think about it.

How big is Gran Canaria compared to Ireland?

Ireland has an area of about 84,000 sq. kilometers. So it is much larger than Gran Canaria if we talk about the location of both the regions (>50x size). But Gran Canaria is close to some of the Ireland counties in terms of size.

If we talk about the area of Gran Canaria, we can say that the counties of Kildare, Fermanagh, Leitrim, and Armagh are close to it. But Gran Canaria is still much more visited than Ireland simply because of the fact that Gran Canaria has so much more to offer in terms of tourism options and opportunities.

Which is Bigger: Tenerife or Gran Canaria?

Tenerife is the largest of all the Spanish Canary Islands, with around 2,034 sq. kilometers. It is the capital of the Canary Islands and is known as the best place to visit for tourists in the Canaries.

Many people tend to ask me, which of the Canary Islands is more significant between Tenerife and Gran Canaria? Well, it is pretty simple, the answer. Since Tenerife is the largest of the Canaries and Gran Canaria is the third-largest, we can safely say Tenerife is bigger than Gran Canaria. The margin of the difference is somewhere above 400 sq. kilometers.

Read more about the size of Tenerife here: How Big is Tenerife?

Which is Bigger: Mallorca or Gran Canaria?

Mallorca or Majorca is one of the Spanish Islands in the Balearic regions in the Mediterranean Sea. The area of this island is 3,640 sq. kilometers which is even more significant than Tenerife by quite a long margin.

If we talk about the area and size comparison between Mallorca and Gran Canaria, we can say that the former is more than twice the size of the latter. However, although there is a significant size difference, tourism is booming in both Islands, whether we talk about Mallorca or Gran Canaria.

Read about the size of Mallorca here: How Big is Mallorca?

U.S. Places Similar in Size to Gran Canaria

The United States of America has many states, cities, counties, and areas because of the large land area. So, if you are a citizen of the U.S. thinking of traveling there, you will be able to learn about the location of Gran Canaria well if we provide you comparisons in reference with U.S. areas. So, let us see which U.S. places are similar in size to Gran Canaria.

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is a city within the state of Oklahoma in the United States of America. It is known for the cowboy culture and the political influence it has had throughout history. The area of Oklahoma City is 1,571 sq. kilometers which are just over 11 sq. kilometers more than Gran Canaria, so it is pretty similarly sized to the island.

Houston

Houston, Texas, is one of the most famous cities in the U.S. It is most popularly known for the Houston Space Center. The area of Houston is around 1,553 sq. kilometers which are a bit smaller than Gran Canaria in comparison. The difference is Gran Canaria is seven sq. kilometers larger in size than Houston.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the most popular city in California. It is known for the primary Hollywood and Showbiz industry and celebrities residing there. Los Angeles has an area of 1,214 sq. kilometers. This city is famous, but it is smaller than Gran Canaria by quite a margin. The difference is over 300 sq. kilometers between both these places.

Nashville

Nashville is a city in the Tennessee state of the United States of America. It is known for the fantastic music scene as well as many highly established universities. Nashville, TN, has an area of 1,231 sq. kilometers. Therefore, the difference between Nashville and Gran Canaria is quite a bit, with Gran Canaria being bigger.

Phoenix

The Arizona state of the United States of America is known to house the city of Phoenix. It is a large metropolitan area known for technology as well as business. The size of Phoenix is bigger than Nashville, being 1,338 sq. kilometers. However, in comparison to Gran Canaria, the area of Phoenix is still smaller. Gran Canaria is about 200 or so sq. kilometers bigger than Phoenix and many other cities in the U.S.

Conclusion

Gran Canaria is quite an epic tourist destination. It is not the largest island in the Canaries, so you can easily travel from one end to the other and explore everything in less than a day if you want to. In this article, we compared Gran Canaria with other places around the world so that you can get an idea of its exact size and how long it will take to see all the popular attractions.

Are you worried about swimming? Check out our article: Are there sharks in the Canary Islands?

So, what you should be doing next is packing your bags and heading to Gran Canaria Island with your friends, family, and loved ones. I assure you that you are going to have an incredible time there. I hope you learned a lot from this article. Have a great day ahead of you!

What to do in Gran Canaria

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There’s more to Gran Canaria than stunning sandy beaches – if you’re wondering what to do in Gran Canaria we’ve teamed up with the tourist board to put together a fab five-day itinerary, covering the bustling capital, the wild north of the island, the volcanic south and of course the gorgeous beaches

Rebecca

March 23, 2022

SPONSORED | What to do in Gran Canaria – how to spend an entertaining five days on the island

Gran Canaria has long been an obvious choice for sun, sea and sand. As one of the main Canary Islands, with golden sandy beaches and gentle breezes, it’s a safe bet for a brilliant beach holiday.

But there’s so much more to the island than the popular resorts of Playa del Inglés or Puerto Rico on the south of the island. On the island you’ll find everything you’d expect to find across a whole continent – mountains, forests, towns, volcanoes and sand dunes, as well as Europe’s only coffee plantation, 60-plus wineries and the perfect night sky for stargazing.

Follow our five-day itinerary covering what to do in Gran Canaria and you’ll not only bag some brilliant beach time, but you’ll discover a cultural identity that combines European, American and African influences with a diverse landscape. There’s everything from lush green hills covered with pine trees around Tamadaba, to the UNESCO volcanic Roque Nublo and Roque Bentayga stacks of rocks and epic sand dunes on the Atlantic shore at the Maspalomas Special Natural Reserve.

Why visit Gran Canaria?

A round drop of an island in the Atlantic Ocean, Gran Canaria is just off the south-western coast of Morocco and has a whopping 120 beaches. With a year-round average temperature of 24º it’s a shoo-in for some decent sunshine at any time of the year.
Unlike some of the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria has plenty of white sandy beaches – as well as a few volcanic sand beaches on the north of the island.

The south of the island is where you’ll find sheltered, shallow golden beaches – rising in the middle of the island, dramatic Caldera de Tejeda (Tejeda crater) with Gran Canaria’s highest point, Pico de las Nieves at 1,949m, provides a natural windbreaker to the north-east trade winds.

Some beaches across the north and west of the island are secluded, and boast excellent fresh seafood restaurants tucked away in little harbours. Some beaches here are also great for surfing, especially La Cicer at Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

How to get around?

Gran Canaria’s airport is approximately four hours 30 minutes from the UK, and there are direct connections from 17 UK airports.

To properly explore the island it’s best to hire a car, and there are loads of car hire companies at the airport. Four stretches of motorway run from the north to the south of the island along the east coast, and well signposted single carriageway roads crisscross the island, with safety barriers on the bends. Drive on the right, don’t speed or use your mobile at the wheel and you’ll steer clear of any on-the-spot fines.

The great thing about Gran Canaria is its size – nowhere is much more than a 45 minute drive from elsewhere, so while it may seem like there’s a lot to fit into five days, getting around won’t take long.

Mogán is a really pretty harbour village

The huge Maspalomas sand dunes

The local speciality, papas arrugadas – wrinkled small potatoes, served with a chilli pepper garlic sauce

Mogán is a really pretty harbour village

The huge Maspalomas sand dunes

The local speciality, papas arrugadas – wrinkled small potatoes, served with a chilli pepper garlic sauce

What to do in Gran Canaria – our five-day itinerary

Gran Canaria may only be around 50km in diameter, but due to the amazing variety of landscapes, from the beaches to the mountains, there’s a lot going on and we’re going to see the best of it.

Aim to land in Gran Canaria late morning and drive 15 minutes up the coastal motorway to the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the biggest city in the Canaries.

Check into the Santa Catalina, A Royal Hideaway Hotel by Barceló, a grand dame of a five-star hotel that opened in 1890 and was recently totally renovated. It’s located within the old botanical garden, by the marina, between the Old Quarter and Las Canteras beach. This fine hotel is elegant and welcoming, and has a beautiful pool and spa plus a fantastic rooftop bar.

Wander the cobbled streets of charming Vegueta old town, with its historical buildings that has been standing for five centuries and stop for a healthy lunch and coffee before heading to the 4km golden sand beach of Las Canteras. Stroll along the beautiful promenade and dip your toes in the shallow sea that’s protected by a reef.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has several great food markets and Mercado del Puerto, at the northern end of Las Canteras beach, is a firm favourite for grazing your way through tapas and fresh produce in a beautiful wrought-iron building dating from 1891. Don’t miss the local speciality, papas arrugadas – wrinkled small potatoes, typically served with a chilli pepper garlic sauce, known as Mojo.

The capital of Gran Canaria has lots of food markets to eat at

Surfers hit the beach at Las Canteras

The Guyedra ravine, in the island’s oldest natural park

The capital of Gran Canaria has lots of food markets to eat at

Surfers hit the beach at Las Canteras

The Guyedra ravine, in the island’s oldest natural park

Day two and three

We’re heading out to discover the north of the island today. Take the motorway east and stop at the pretty little villages of Arucas, with its black-stone church and rum distillery, Firgas, with its quaint pedestrianised centre, and/or Gáldar, with its prehistoric rock paintings, before arriving at Agaete, on the north-west corner of the island.

The harbour and narrow streets of the Puerto de Las Nieves area are lined with restaurants, craft shops and galleries, so there’s plenty of choice for lunch, but the main highlight is Agaete’s natural saltwater pools built into the rocks. Backed with a lush green pine forest, the three pools are a proper hidden treat, and is just one set of totally unexpected volcanic pools on the north of the island of Gran Canaria.

Agaete is also home to Europe’s only coffee plantation, Finca La Laja in the San Pedro valley. With Gran Canaria’s mild climate and fertile lava soils, conditions are ideal for growing coffee beans. The Finca is open daily for tours.

From here, drive up into the mountains and Tejeda region, at the summit of Gran Canaria, where it’s very easy to spend a couple of days in this beautiful part of the island.

Explore Risco Caído, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that covers a large rich, biodiverse landscape full of surreal volcanic ravines and rock formations, as well as some ancient troglodyte settlements, including two sacred temples.

Also spend time walking through the Casa Forestal de Pajonales, admiring the strange towering rock formations at Roque Nublo and Roque Bentayga (walks from 30 minutes to six hours are signposted around the rocks) and investigating the rich archaeological heritage around Tejeda. If you can squeeze it in, head into the Tamadaba National Park, the island’s oldest and biggest forest with incredible views over the cliffs towards the Atlantic.

We recommend staying at the Parador de Cruz de Tejeda, a hotel located at 1,500m above sea level, with a spa and swimming pool that’s set on a hillside with far-reaching views over the pine woods to the ocean. Double rooms start from a very reasonable €105 a night and this privileged spot in the centre of the island is just the place for some spectacular stargazing.

Before leaving the Tejeda region, it’s also worth visiting the Abraham Cárdenes Sculpture Museum, an influential sculptor from Gran Canaria whose work reflects his homeland.

Visiting a finca in Gran Canaria, Europe’s only coffee plantation

The summit of Gran Canaria

One of the natural saltwater pools on the north of the island

Visiting a finca in Gran Canaria, Europe’s only coffee plantation

The summit of Gran Canaria

One of the natural saltwater pools on the north of the island

Days four and five

It’s now time to chill out in beach-front luxury in the south of the island. Head to the southern point for the Maspalomas and Meloneras resorts. Found by the huge sand dunes and with a beautiful 2km-long oceanfront promenade of bars, restaurants, boutiques, there’s a great selection of stylish luxury hotels. Or the sheltered Playa de Amadores is along the southwestern coast, with fantastic hotels offering direct ocean views from the clifftop, and a lift down to the promenade and beach.

For somewhere less obvious, Playa de Güigüí, on the western coast, can only be reached by boat or a two to three hour hike from Tasartico.

While on the south of the island, don’t miss eating at La Aquarela in Patalavaca, one of the island’s three Michelin-starred restaurants, and visit the picturesque fishing village and beach of Puerto Mogán, known locally as Little Venice. Our accommodation pick here is the Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa, which is set among its own botanic garden with over 450 different plant species. It’s a beautiful spot for a relaxed stay in the sun.