Planning to rent a car in Gran Canaria? It’s one of the best ways to see everything this island has to offer. From the golden beaches of the south to the winding roads of the mountain villages, driving gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Use our comparison tool to check car hire prices at Las Palmas Airport and find the option that suits your trip.
Las Palmas Airport, officially known as Gran Canaria Airport, is the main gateway to the island and welcomes over ten million passengers each year. You’ll find a wide range of rental desks in the arrivals area, including trusted names such as Goldcar, Avis, and Europcar. Collecting your car directly at the airport makes it easy to start exploring right away, from the capital Las Palmas to the beaches of the south. Review the available options to find the vehicle that best suits your plans.
The airport is located 19 kilometres from Las Palmas and offers excellent traveller facilities, including retail shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants and cafés, ATMs, children’s play areas, internet terminals, chapels, defibrillators, and a post office. You can compare car rentals at Las Palmas Airport and across Spain, including Ibiza and Barcelona. There are no hidden charges, and we provide 24-hour customer support. You can also filter results by price, brand, fuel policy, and car size.
Also known as Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas is the largest city in the Canary Islands, approximately 150 kilometres off the coast of Africa. Adored for its subtropical climate, Las Palmas’ coldest month is January, when temperatures typically average at 20 °C during the day!
In addition to the fantastic sun, sea and sand attractions. Las Palmas is also the place to visit if festivals are your thing, the more popular being the Fiestas Fundacionales de San Juan, the Canary Islands Music Festival, the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the International Film Festival. Our favourite tourist attractions are Casa de Colón and Catedral de Santa Ana.
Fountains, palm trees and parrots surround this excellent 15th-century mansion and history museum, and it’s free to enter. Christopher Columbus is said to have stayed here back in 1492. The museum mainly focuses on maritime artefacts and has a model galleon on the ground floor.
The Catedral de Santa Ana is an impressive twin-towered church in the Vegueta quarter of Las Palmas in the Plaza Santa Ana. The church contains works of art by Jose Lujan Perez and Juan de Miranda, has thirteen chapels, a picturesque organ and a diocesan museum. Catedral de Santa Ana took an incredible 350 years to complete!
Other popular tourist attractions in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria include Playa de Las Canteras (3-kilometre beach), Jardin Canario (public garden), Calle Triana (shopping street), La Vegueta (the old quarter of town), Canarian Museum Catedral de Santa Ana, Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnologia (science and technology museum), Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas (oldest golf club in Spain), Doramas Park (public park with playground) and Museo Nestor (art museum).
Hiring a car in Gran Canaria gives you the freedom to explore the island at your own pace. Public transport can get you between the main resorts, but a rental car lets you uncover the hidden gems that make the island so special. Drive through scenic mountain routes, stop off at quiet coves away from the crowds, or visit charming inland villages where time seems to stand still. Whether you’re chasing the sunset at Maspalomas Dunes or taking a day trip to Tejeda, having your own car means you can make the most of every moment on this beautiful island. For more travel options, explore our Spain car hire deals
You’ll need a full, valid driving licence, a credit card in the main driver’s name, and your passport or national ID. Most rental companies require drivers to be at least 21 years old, although age limits can vary depending on the provider and vehicle type.
Booking in advance is almost always cheaper. Airport rental desks tend to charge more, especially during peak season. By reserving online before you travel, you can compare prices and secure better rates and availability.
If you hold a full EU or UK driving licence, you don’t need an international permit to drive in Spain or the Canary Islands. Visitors from outside the EU should check local requirements, as some national licences may need to be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Parking is generally straightforward outside the main resorts, but can be limited in busy areas such as Las Palmas or Playa del Inglés. Look out for blue-lined zones, which are paid parking areas, and avoid yellow lines, which indicate no-parking zones.
Some rental companies allow inter-island travel, but you’ll need to confirm this before booking. Ferries run between Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Lanzarote, but most providers require written permission if you plan to take the vehicle on a ferry.
Gran Canaria offers the perfect mix of beaches, culture and adventure. Renting a car at Las Palmas Airport gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace, from the dunes of Maspalomas to the mountain villages of Tejeda. Compare prices now and book your Gran Canaria car rental today with peace of mind.
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