Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. the port

2. on foot

3. public transportation

4. hop on hop off

5. rental car

6. taxy

7. bikes

8. arrival via shipping company and individually

9. the top attractions

10. booking shore excursions

      10.1 Meine Landausflüge

      10.2 Get Your Guide

Gran Canaria is an island of contrasts. From the cooler north to the sunny south, this island has everything that vacationers could wish for. Gran Canaria boasts many attractions, ranging from the large dunes in the south to the green mountains in the north. The island has a diverse population and maintains its traditions. Las Palmas, with around 380,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in the Canary Islands and is often the starting point for a cruise around the Canaries.

The cruise port Puerto de la Cruz is located in the capital, Las Palmas. The ships dock at Muelle Santa Catalina. It has been expanded to accommodate large vessels that can dock on both sides of the terminal. The cruise terminal, complete with a parking garage and car rental services, is situated between the berths.

The old town of Las Palmas is 4 miles away from the port. If you're fit and enjoy walking, you can reach it in about an hour. Close to the harbor is the neighborhood of Santa Catalina, which offers many shops, restaurants, bars, and, most notably, the beautiful long sandy beach Playa de Las Canteras on the other side of the peninsula. Here, you'll find a lovely beachfront promenade with many shops and restaurants. If you want to swim, you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas, and there are also showers available.

The bus network in Gran Canaria is well-developed. There are city buses called Guagas Municipales that can take you, for example, to the old town. The bus stop is located in Parque de Santa Catalina, and lines 1 and 12 go there. The intercity buses, Global SU, depart from the Santa Catalina bus station, which is easily recognizable by its white tent roof. With bus line 60, you can reach the airport in about half an hour, and it takes about an hour to get to the Maspalomas lighthouse with the express bus line 30. You can view all routes and schedules on the website.

The buses depart directly from the cruise port, and the journey takes approximately 75 minutes with 11 stops where you can get on and off. A bus passes by the stops roughly every 30 minutes. You can purchase tickets on-site or conveniently in advance from home through Get Your Guide.

Gran Canaria is very easy to explore on your own with a rental car. Right at the cruise terminal, the companies Cicar and Avis have their offices. During our stays in the Canary Islands, we have always had very good experiences with Cicar. I would recommend reserving the car in advance from home, as availability can become quite limited. Additionally, you will save a lot of time when picking up the car.

Taxis are ready at the cruise terminal. You can either take them to the old town and nearby areas or go on excursions. There are fixed prices for rides within the city, and sightseeing tours are advertised on the taxis and at the taxi stands with set rates.

The company NextBike has several rental stations in Las Palmas. You need to register once on their website, and then you can rent bikes through the app. The nearest rental station is at the bus station, and the cost is €1.50 for every 30 minutes.

Gran Canaria is usually the starting port for cruises around the Canary Islands. The airport is located 30 km from the cruise terminal. Most cruise passengers take advantage of the travel package offered by the cruise lines, which includes transportation from the airport to the cruise port.

However, it is also possible to book individual flights and only arrange the transfer through the cruise line. The advantage of both options is that the luggage can be handed over to the cruise line directly at the airport.

The most economical option is often to travel individually by plane. There are several ways to get from the airport to the cruise terminal. The most convenient option is to take a taxi, which costs around €35 during the week. A cheaper alternative is to take bus line 60, which costs €2.95. The bus stop is easy to find; just go straight ahead on the departure level until you reach the bus stops, and bus number 60 will be at the front. The bus runs twice an hour, and the journey takes between 30 and 45 minutes. The ride ends at the Santa Catalina bus station, which is about 300 meters from the terminal. The way is straightforward, and you can already see the ships from the bus station.

Gran Canaria is a very popular travel destination. Not only do cruise ships dock here, but many tourists also love the island's mild climate. As a result, there can be queues at the top attractions, or only tickets with fixed time slots may be available. Therefore, it is worthwhile to book a ticket with fast track entry or a specific time slot for these attractions:

Meine Landausflüge offer you fantastic cruise excursions in the most popular ports around the world. Typically, these are in much smaller groups and at more affordable prices than those offered by the cruise lines. All of our options are carefully selected to guarantee you an unforgettable excursion experience.

• small group sizes
• on time return guarantee to the ship
• Convenient pick-up from/to port
• Money back guarantee for itinerary changes and port cancellations
• Free cancellation up to 15 days before the excursion (flex option up to 60 minutes before the start of the excursions)

You can also book shore excursions in small groups on GetYourGuide, often at better prices than with the cruise lines. All experiences are curated and carefully vetted by experts. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the excursion.

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