Plan the ultimate family holiday to Gran Canaria

If you’re coming to the Canary Islands for a family holiday, then you’re probably pretty excited to stretch out on golden sands, watch your little ones tottering around happily or see your older kids frolicking in the waves.

One of the best things about the Canaries is that there’s a good chance you’ll get great beach weather, whatever time of year you visit.

Most of the island’s kid-friendly beaches, with facilities and calmer waters, are in the south of the island, which many people think makes this the best place to stay in Gran Canaria for families.

This is one of the island’s most famous beaches thanks to its vast sand dunes, an otherworldly landscape that kids will love, part of the Reserva Natural Especial de las Dunas de Maspalomas. If you’re in Gran Canaria with kids, spend some time walking the marked trails and watching the birds in the lagoon, then head to the beach of fine golden sand, equipped with all the facilities you could need.

To the east of Playa de Maspalomas, you’ll find this other popular stretch of beach, ideal for watersports.

Smaller than the last two sweeping arcs of sand, this is more of a cove, perfectly protected from waves and currents, making it a great option for small children.

Moving from the south of the island to the charming city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the urban beach of Las Canteras is considered one of the best in the Canaries.

With both white and black sand and all the facilities you could need, one of the best things about this beach is its natural reef, which both protects the beach from the waves and means there are normally lots of fish happily swimming about, which will delight kids on family holidays to Gran Canaria.

Still haven’t found your favourite family beach on the island? Try Playa de Patalavaca, Playa de Anfi, Playa de Amadores or Playa de San Agustín.

Another of the attractions of the south of the island is that this is where you’ll find some of the best options for the ultimate day out on your family holiday to Gran Canaria.

Holiday World Maspalomas is the island’s big theme park, with more than 30 attractions (indoor and outdoor), and something for all ages, with mini-rides for the smallest members of the family.

Aqualand, also in Maspalomas, is a water park with over 40 attractions on offer, including the Kidzworld section and more extreme options for teenagers and parents.

Last but not least, we have the Angry Birds Activity Park in Puerto Rico, great for young kids, with scooters, a zipwire, swings, trampolines, minigolf and much more.

The charming capital of the island is a great place to explore when on a family holiday in Gran Canaria. With older kids, a walking tour could be ideal, but if you’ve got small ones in tow, then the Las Palmas tourist bus is a fantastic way of seeing the key sights.

Whilst you’re in the city, head for the Elder Museum of Science and Technology, which boasts four floors of interactive exhibits, including driving simulators and VR whitewater rafting.

For the best family holiday in Gran Canaria, it’s a great idea to tear yourself and your kids away from the beach and pool at least once and go for a family hike inland. And there are plenty of options to choose from!

The Pico de las Nieves is the highest point on the island, reaching 1949 metres above sea level, and from up there, the views over the island, the ocean and Tenerife are stunning.

Reaching the peak is very doable even with small children, as you can drive the majority of the way before walking a short trail, but with older kids, consider one of the scenic mountain trails.

Another hike to prioritise is the walk to Roque Nublo, one of the most famous spots on the island, sacred to the island’s indigenous population, and one of the world’s tallest monoliths.

As this is such a popular activity to do when visiting Gran Canaria, the rules were changed in 2025 to help protect it, and you now have to book your place in advance, and take a shuttle bus from the car park to where the hike begins. All that means that, with kids, you may find it easier to simply book an organised trip to Roque Nublo.

If all that sounds like a bit much for you and your little ones, never fear, there are easier options, ideal for a break in Gran Canaria for families. Barranco de los Cernícalos, which is largely flat, takes you past beautiful waterfalls, and the circular route of Los Tilos, in Moya, takes less than an hour.

Just as no Gran Canaria family holidays are complete without venturing inland, it would be a shame to visit the island without taking to the ocean in some way, shape or form.

There are small ferries or water taxis plying the south coast, stopping at various points, including Puerto de Mogan. This makes for a mini boat trip that’s perfect for smaller kids, just ask at your hotel in Gran Canaria for timetables and information.

If you’re looking for something more adventurous to do in Gran Canaria with kids that are a bit older, a whale watching trip could be the perfect activity. There are also catamaran day trips available, including food, drinks and activities like snorkelling.

And to take a dive under the waves and admire the marine life without getting wet, climb aboard the 18-metre yellow submarine in Puerto Mogán, suitable for kids over the age of two.

The northern coast of this Canary Island is wilder than the south, but that brings perks with it: an amazing selection of natural swimming pools.

Best visited with older children who are competent swimmers, one of the most famous examples is Las Salinas de Agaete, made up of three natural pools united by volcanic tubes. But there are plenty more to explore, Charcones-el Puertillo, El Altillo, Charco de San Lorenzo, Roque Prieto, Emiliano and El Agujero-Gáldar to name a few.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of Gran Canaria things to do with kids. But that doesn’t mean you have to jam-pack your family holiday schedule and end up going home feeling like you need another break to recover.

Relax and unwind without leaving the comfort of your hotel when you book yourself into one of the best family hotels in Gran Canaria, like the Barceló Margaritas, and make the very most of everything it has to offer.

This beautiful hotel in the south of the island has a playground and a family-friendly swimming pool as well two children’s pools, one of which is in the children’s miniclub, Barcy Club, which offers a whole host of activities they’ll adore, giving you the chance to enjoy some well-deserved downtime.