If you want a melting pot of cultures, Las Palmas is the place to be in the Canary Islands. It feels like mainland Spain with a mix of African, Chinese and Indian influences plus tourists from all over the world and cruise ships docking at all times of day and night.
All of this is on one relatively small island and the city breaks to Las Palmas will not disappoint either. There is so much to do as the sun shines throughout the whole year!
For activity-based city breaks to Las Palmas, a wide range of options are offered. From surfing and scuba diving to hiking and whale watching. One spectacle not to be missed while on your city break to Las Palmas is the weekly racing of old-fashioned boats, a cross between a rowing boat and a yacht. This tradition started back in the 1880s and can still be seen today between April and October.
Other cultural city break to Las Palmas include finding out a bit more about local products such as rum. Made from sugar cane, rum is normally associated with the Caribbean but the Canaries possess sugar plantations where the sugar is turned into rum. One speciality is ron miel – a honey rum often drunk as a liqueur.
For those city break offered to Las Palmas that are further afield, try a day trip to the mountainous terrain of the Tejada region or Las Colorades on a spit of land just north of the capital. This will remain with you as you become more attached to this bustling city where you never know what is around the next corner.
When you first land in Las Palmas, one of the first sights you will see is the harbour which has contributed greatly to the wealth of Gran Canaria. About 1,000 ships use the port every month, and this was even more when the island enjoyed duty-free status.
Another sight not to miss on your city break to Las Palmas style is the Castillo de la Luz, or the Castle of Light. This fortress dates back to the 16th century and was first constructed to protect the city against pirates.
For a city trip in a district filled with bustling shops and a great atmosphere, visit Santa Catalina. Santa Catalina with its narrow streets, bargain electrical items and a fantastic park, is the centre of the nightlife and has horse-drawn carriages instead of taxis to show you around.
For any of the afore mentioned city breaks offered to Las Palmas, plenty of others will be discover when you are actually out there. Use BudgetAir Canada to find cheap flights all year round. All you then need to do is book your a city break to Las Palmas and have a good time!