 View of Las Palmas | ||
| Las Palmas de Gran Canaria | ||
| region | Canary Islands | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 381.223 (2020) | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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The town Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Gran Canaria is the largest city in the with over 400,000 inhabitants Canary Islands and is located in the northeast of the island. It is the capital of the Spanish province of Las Palmas and the autonomous region of the Canary Islands (Autonomous Community of Canarias). There is no actual city center. The nucleus is the picturesque old town "Vegueta".
Districts
- Vegueta. The oldest part of the city.
- Triana. The old trading center.
- Vega de San José
- Arenales
- Ciudad Jardin
- Alcaravaneras
- Santa Catalina. The port district.
- La Isleta
background
Las Palmas was founded in 1478 as a Castilian military camp Villa Real de las Palmas, so named because of the palm trees that grow there. Las Palmas was a stopover for the Spaniards to explore the New World. In 1492, Christopher Columbus is said to have stopped here before his first voyage. The trade in slaves and sugar cane from the nearby African coast attracted merchants from Portugal and Genoa. Around the cathedral in Vegueta Episcopal and royal official buildings were built and the nobility lived here. In TrianaOn the other side of the Guiniguada river, fishermen, craftsmen and merchants settled down. In the period that followed, the city was repeatedly attacked by pirates. Bad harvests and epidemics decimated the population. From 1833 the Puerto de la Luz harbor and Las Palmas became, not least thanks to the banana trade of English entrepreneurs, an important trading port between the Old and New World.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the first beach tourists came to America on the cruise ships. The first hotels were built on Las Canteras Beach. When the airport opened in the 1960s, beach tourism increasingly shifted to the south of the island.
getting there
By plane
The Gran Canaria Airport
(IATA: LPA)) is about 25 km south, it is about the 
easy to reach. From the airport you can reach Las Palmas in about 20 minutes with bus number 60 to Santa Catalina or San Telmo. The flight time from Central Europe, e.g. from airport Frankfurt is about 4 1/2 hours.
The possibility to fly directly to / from North Africa is rarely used. Bintar Canarias operates direct connections to Mauritania in 2018 Nouakchott and Nouadhibou as well as administered in the Moroccan Western Sahara to Ad-Dakhla.
In the street
The highway Autopista del Sur leads after a good hour's drive from the car ferry terminal of Las Palmasaus along the east coast past the Gran Canaria Airport (approx. 20 to 30min) and the one in the south Playa del Inglés (approx. 45 to 50 minutes) to the very popular with tourists Puerto de Mogan and circles more than half of the island.
The northern counterpart Autovía del Norte extends from Las Palmas along the north coast Gáldar to Agaete.
The workaround Circunvalación de Las Palmas connects the GC-1 with the GC-2 south of the city center and is particularly recommended for direct journeys between the airport and the north of the island. If you only want to avoid the city center and still want to drive north along the seashore, it is advisable to choose the supplementary section of the 
.
By boat
The 1 port from Las Palmas is the destination of several ferry lines, so Transmediterranea with connections to the islands Tenerife, La Palma, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. There is also a ferry to / from Cadiz. Other ferry companies are Naviera Armas and Fred Olsen. Las Palmas is also the destination of numerous cruise ships. Your guests usually only stay in town for a few hours.
mobility
The buses are called guaguas here. There are two major bus stations, one on Parque de San Telmo in the Triana district and one on Parque de Santa Catalina. Bus connections exist to all important places on the island.
With the open top bus "Guagua Turística" you can go back and forth between all the sights for a day. Price per person: from € 18.
Tourist Attractions
Churches
The 1 St. Ana Cathedral (Cathedral de Sata Ana) in Vegueta: Started in 1497, it took several centuries to complete. This can be seen in the various stylistic elements in the building: columns, buttresses and vaulted ceilings are Gothic, the church altars, on the other hand, are Baroque and the facade is classicistic. The main portal is only open during services, otherwise access via the Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro (Museum of Sacred Art), C / Espiritu Santo 20, Tel 928-314-989.
opening hours: Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., entrance fee approx. 3 €
The viewing platform between the two towers can be reached with a lift for € 1.50. From there, steps lead to the right tower and offer a good view over the old town to the harbor.
Castles, palaces, palaces
2 "Castillo de la Luz": The fortress from the 16th century is now located in a park with a rose garden. It has been used as the city's cultural center and maritime museum since the 1960s.
Buildings
3 "Alfredo Kraus" concert hall: It is located directly on the city beach "Las Canteras" and was built in 1997. It is named after the Las Palmas-born tenor Alfredo Kraus.
Monuments
Museums
The city palace 4 Casa Museo de Colón, the Columbus house in Vegueta: This old patrician house was rebuilt in 1777. It has housed the museum since 1952. In addition to objects from the time before Columbus, you can see models of ships and a replica of a ship's cabin from La Niña, one of the ships from the Columbus fleet, navigation instruments, nautical charts, paintings and many other exhibits. This palace was the residence of the island's first governor. Legend has it that Columbus spent some time here in 1492 while two of his ships were being repaired, hence the name. The Casa de Colón is also the birthplace of the famous opera tenor Alfredo Kraus, who was born here in 1927.
opening hours: Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entry 4 €. Behind St. Ana Cathedral, Calle Colón 1, tel. 928 31 23 73. The entrance is at the back of the building, with a library on the front.
That was founded in 1879 5 Museo Canario has the largest collection of pre-Hispanic objects in the Canary Islands from 500 BC. Until the 15th century. The true-to-scale models of the old Canarian dwellings, a replica of the cave, are worth seeing Cueva Pintada in Gáldar with original mummies and the skull cabinet, the world's largest collection of Cro-Magnon skulls.
opening hours: Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., admission approx. € 4. Calle Doctor Verneau 2, Tel 928 33 6800
The 6 Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno (CAAM) (Museum of Modern Art) shows avant-garde works of international importance.
opening hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed on Mondays and public holidays, admission is free.
- 7 Museo Elder: Science and Technology Museum, Parque de Santa Catalina, opening hours: Tue-Sun 10 a.m.-8 p.m., July and August 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Tel. 828 011 828, Fax: 828 011 001
- Poema del Mar, Muelle Sanapú, right on the harbor. Since December 2017 Las Palmas has the largest aquarium in the world. The entrance fees may be alarming, but they are justified because there are sensational aquariums.Open: daily 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.Price: € 25 for adults, € 17.50 for children aged 4-11.
Streets and squares
- Vegueta. The old town of Las Palmas.
If you don't really have to see every corner of the city, you should concentrate on the old town, i.e. Vegueta. To save yourself endless cucumbering through the congested city, then the following tip: If you come from Maspalomas, you will see the marina on the right at the beginning of Las Palmas (sailing boats etc.) Turn left here and you are in Vegueta. There is also a parking garage under the small park. The rest is done relaxed on foot.
- 8 Plaza de Espana. One of the city's transport hubs, right on Avenida Mes y López. The more sophisticated young people meet in the cafés in the square, but usually only towards evening.
- 9 Ermito de San Telmo. In Triana, at the end of the shopping street. A tiled Art Nouveau kiosk houses the bar of a café, the tables and chairs of which are under palm trees and invite you to relax. On the other side the small chapel of San Telmo. There is a large parking garage under the square.
- Plaza de Santa Ana. The square in front of the main entrance of the cathedral with the famous dogs made of green stone, worth seeing the palaces Casa Consistorial (Old Town Hall), Casa Regental at the front as well as the Palacio Episcopal (Bishop's Palace).
- 10 Mercado de Vegueta. At the beginning of Carretera del Centro between the neighborhoods La Vegueta and Triana. The name comes from the large market building on the south side of the square with a good range of local foods. On the opposite side that is Teatro Pérez Galdós.
Parks
- 11 Parque Doramas: This most beautiful park in Las Palmas, named after the Guanche hero Doramas, is located in the middle of the residential area Ciudad Jardin.
- 12 Santa Catalina Park: In this small park in the middle of Las Palmas in the Santa Catalina district, men meet to play dominoes or chess. Small cafes on the edge of the park invite you to linger.
various
- 13 Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo.
Canary Islands Botanical Garden, about 24 hectares in size, laid out by the Swedish botanist Sventius around 1950. He is on the edge of the ravine Barranco de Guniguada between the suburbs Tafira Baja and Tafira Alta approx. 7 km outside the city center and is freely accessible all year round during the day. Good overview of the flora native to the Canary Islands, a cactus garden, waterfall, caves, good explanations also in English.
activities
shop
- Las Arenas. Shopping center with a large Carrefour supermarket. Inexpensive parking garage for the beach promenade that begins here Paseo Las Canteras.
- Centro comercial El Muelle. Shopping center at the port for cruise ships. Inexpensive parking garage for the northern city center.
- Calle Triana. Pedestrian zone in the north of the old town.
kitchen
nightlife
accommodation
Cheap
- Hotel Madrid *, C / Plaza Cairasco, 4. Traditional hotel in the historical part of Las Palmas, a bit old.
- Hostal Alcaravaneras *, C / Luis Antunez 22. Simple guesthouse in the Alcaravaneras district, not far from the "Club Nautico".Feature: pension.
medium
- Riu Papaya ***, Av. de Gran Canaria, 22, Las Palmas, Spain. Casual hotel with simple rooms and suites, a buffet restaurant and an outdoor pool with an island.
- NH Imperial Playa ***, Ferreras 1. Centrally located not far from Las Canteras beach. 140 rooms.
- NH Playa Las Canteras ***, Prudencio Morales 41. Also on the Paseo de las Canteras. 67 rooms.
- Hotel Pujol **, Salvador Cuyas 5. Right at the bus stop in Parque de Santa Catalina. 48 rooms.
Upscale
- 1 Royal Hideaway Hotel Santa Catalina *****, Leon y Castillo 227; Las Palmas de G.C. 35005; Reino de España. Tel.: 34 928 243.040, Email: [email protected]. In the English colonial style (opened in 1890), is set in gardens in the Ciudad Jardin district, one kilometer from the old town. 202 rooms. The house has meanwhile been taken over by the Barcelo Group.
- 2 Bull Hotel Reina Isabel & Spa ****, Calle Alfredo L. Jones 40; Las Palmas de G.C. 35008; Reino de España. Tel.: 34 928 260.100, Fax: 34 928 274.558, Email: [email protected]. That right on the beach promenade Las Canteras located Reina Isabel is considered one of the best hotels in Las Palmas. It has 208 rooms and 16 suites. The often overcrowded roof terrace with its spacious swimming pool offers a great view over the city, to the harbor and as far as Tenerife. To the side and one floor higher is a small but nice spa and wellness area with an even better view of the Teide and downtown Las Palmas. With an early breakfast on the terrace, which is only separated from the sea by the promenade, you can enjoy all the charm of the city beach Las Canteras enjoy in peace.
Learn
university
Since 1990 Las Palmas has a university that consists of different campuses.
The Campus de Obelisco is located in the center of Las Palmas. Here you can study education, human and social sciences. The largest campus, the Tafira campus, is about 10 km outside of the city center.
The university's biomedical facilities are located on the Campus de San Cristóbal, in the southern part of the city.
About 8 km north of the city, near Arucas is the Campus de Montaña Cardones. The faculties of veterinary medicine, natural sciences and nutritional sciences are located here.
The University of Las Palmas has a lively exchange with European students about the Erasmus program.
Learning Spanish
Learning a language directly in the country guarantees great learning progress in a short time. At the language school Spanish Courses Gran Canaria Academia EL Capitán In Gran Canaria, lessons are not only held in the classroom, what you have learned is put into practice in conversations with locals. To Language school in Gran Canaria.
Educational leave Gran Canaria
Language courses abroad are a perfect opportunity to achieve rapid learning progress in a short time, to get to know the country and to expand your own intercultural competence. Recognized educational leave in Gran Canaria.
security
There are a few parts of Las Palmas that shouldn't be visited. You should inform yourself here beforehand. The best way to do this is to take a guided tour. Then you have all the important sights with you and you are safe.
health
Practical advice
- Patronato de Turismo de Gran Canaria, C / León y Castillo, 17th. Tel.: 34 928 219 600.
- Main post office, 1st de Mayo avenue. Open: Mon - Fri 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
trips
literature
Web links
- http://www.laspalmasgc.es (it) - Official website of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Website of the Botanical Garden
