Gran Canaria gives long-stayers a choice no other Canary Island matches: a real Atlantic city in Las Palmas, with year-round life, beaches and coworking, or the sunniest resorts in the archipelago along the south coast. This guide, written from the island, helps you decide where to base yourself and how to organise a winter here.
Gran Canaria in winter at a glance
| Las Palmas | South (Maspalomas, Puerto Rico, Mogán) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical winter daytime high | About 20-22°C | About 22-24°C |
| Sunshine | Cloudier mornings, clearer afternoons | The most sunshine on the island |
| Feel | A Spanish city of around 380,000 people | Resorts, promenades and dunes |
| Best for | Remote workers, city lovers, culture | Sun seekers, retirees, beach walkers |
| Getting around | Excellent city buses | Coastal buses, a car helps |
Figures are approximate long-term averages. The north of the island catches the trade-wind clouds; the south sits in their rain shadow.
Las Palmas or the sunny south?
Las Palmas is for people who want to live, not just holiday. Las Canteras beach runs for three kilometres right through the city, with a promenade that is busy from sunrise. You get theatres, markets, proper Spanish restaurants and a large digital nomad community. The trade-off is the cloud locals call *panza de burro*, which can cover the city on winter mornings.
The south is for maximum sunshine. Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas are lively and convenient, San Agustín is quieter, and Puerto Rico and Mogán are sheltered and warm. Expect resort prices and fewer locals.
Best areas for a long stay
- Las Canteras area (Las Palmas): beach on your doorstep and everything walkable.
- Triana and Vegueta (Las Palmas): the historic centre, elegant streets and markets.
- San Agustín: calm, residential and popular with older long-stayers.
- Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas: services, nightlife and the famous dunes.
- Arguineguín: a fishing town with a Norwegian community and a good market.
- Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán: the warmest corner of the island, but hilly.
Weather month by month
Winter is mild everywhere, but the difference between north and south matters more here than on any other island. On a typical January day it can be grey in Las Palmas while the south is sunny; the drive takes around 40 minutes. Sea temperatures drop to about 19°C in February and March. Read our weather guides for month-by-month detail.
Finding a monthly rental
Las Palmas has more year-round rental stock than the resorts, which helps for stays of three to six months. The south fills up early with returning winter visitors, so book by September. Ask for a seasonal contract, check what bills are included and pay deposits only by traceable methods. See our long-stay rental guides.
What a winter costs
Las Palmas is often cheaper than the southern resorts for rent and much cheaper for eating out, because you can eat where locals eat. Supermarket shopping at HiperDino, Mercadona or Lidl costs less than in the UK for most fresh food. Our cost of living guides give full monthly budgets.
Coworking and remote work in Las Palmas
Las Palmas is one of Europe’s best-known remote work bases, with several coworking spaces near Las Canteras, good fibre in most apartments and a busy calendar of meetups. Working UK hours is easy because the Canaries share the same time zone as the UK. See our remote work guides.
Getting around: guaguas, taxis and car hire
Buses are called guaguas here. Guaguas Municipales (yellow) run within Las Palmas and Global (blue) runs across the island, including frequent routes between Las Palmas, the airport and the south. A car is worth it for the mountain villages and the west coast, but not essential for daily life. More in our island life guides.
Doctors, pharmacies and insurance
The island has two large public hospitals in Las Palmas and private clinics in both the city and the south. UK visitors can use the GHIC for necessary state treatment, but long-stay travel insurance remains essential. Pharmacies are everywhere and staff are very helpful. Read our health and insurance guides.
Your Gran Canaria winter checklist
- Decide between city life and maximum sun before anything else.
- Book your rental by early autumn.
- Check your 90/180 days and travel insurance.
- Get a bus card if you are not hiring a car.
- Try a week in the other half of the island: many people end up splitting their stay.