Gran Canaria LGBTQ+ travel guide: What to see and where to go

• Gay-friendly areas in Gran Canaria
• Gay bars and clubs in Gran Canaria
• Gay events and activities in Gran Canaria
• Explore the island
• Gay hotels in Gran Canaria

LGBTQ+ tourists will be warmly welcomed across the entire island of Gran Canaria, however as with any other destination known for gay travel, there are certain areas and neighbourhoods that are more popular with LGBTQ+ visitors.

Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés

The main gay area in Gran Canaria spans across both Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés, two neighbouring resorts that almost merge into one.

Maspalomas is more of an accommodation-focussed neighbourhood, home to a range of hotels and self-catering resorts, including many of the bungalow style complexes that the island is well-known for. Maspalomas is also where you will find the famous sand dunes, which we definitely recommend a visit to. The dunes cover over 1,000 acres and are a protected nature reserve, so well worth checking out!

However, the islands main ‘’gay scene’’ is in the resort town of Playa del Inglés. It’s here that you will find the Yumbo Centre – the beating heart of gay Gran Canaria! By day the Yumbo Centre is a multi-storey shopping centre, full of gay shops, tourist shops, bars, and cafes, yet at night it transforms into the gay nightlife hub of Playa del Inglés, if not of the island – with over 30 bars and clubs to choose from!

Las Palmas

Las Palmas is the capital of Gran Canaria and has been a popular choice with the LGBTQ+ community for many years.

Whilst it may not have nightlife on the same scale as Playa del Inglés, it does still have a good selection of bars and clubs on offer, and so remains a popular destination for gay travellers to the island.

Whilst most countries around the world celebrate Pride just once a year, Gran Canaria has gay events scheduled into their calendar pretty much all year long – which makes sense seeing as it is a year-round destination!

In particular, check out the following popular events:

• Maspalomas Pride – this is the islands Summer Pride celebration, held in May each year. Summer Pride usually lasts for at least two weeks, with the first week being focused around cultural events, and the second week being the party celebrations culminating in the Pride Parade!
• Maspalomas Winter Pride – Winter Pride is held in November each year, and usually lasts for between seven – 10 days. This is a week of parties, events, boat trips and of course, another Pride Parade!
• Freedom Festival Maspalomas – Freedom Festival is basically a ‘’miniature Pride’’, held at the start of October each year, this five-day long event is centred around the Yumbo Centre, with free concerts, pool-parties and boat trips.

If you feel a little partied out and want something a little more authentic and cultural, then we highly recommend heading away from Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés and exploring the rest of the island.

Gran Canaria is a visually stunning island, with mountains, nature reserves and many beautiful beaches.

Car hire is relatively cheap, and a popular excursion is to venture inland, find a local tapas bar in one of the hillside villages, and enjoy views of the neighbouring mountains.

Alternatively, the southern coastline is very well connected by public transport, to take you to other popular resort towns such as Playa Amadores, with its sweeping golden-sandy beach, or Puerto de Mogan, where the weekly market is held.

Gay beaches in Gran Canaria

The main gay beach on the island is located beyond the sand dunes in Maspalomas. It is easily recognised by the rainbow flag usually flying above Kiosco Beach N°7 (the beach hut selling drinks and snacks).

It is worth mentioning that this is also a clothing-optional beach, so don’t be too shocked upon arrival!

As with many other gay beaches around the world, it is located a little far out of the resort. The easiest way to arrive is by taking a taxi to the end of Avenida de Tirajana, heading through the central archway (open to the public) to the dunes, and following the well-trodden path to the right.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi to the Maspalomas Lighthouse (Faro de Maspalomas) and walk left (as you face the sea) along the beachfront until you hit Kiosco Beach N°7.

Lesbian beaches in Gran Canaria

Whilst not as busy as the gay beach at Kiosco Beach N°7, there are a few places the are unofficially classed as lesbian beaches. For the best chance of experiencing a lesbian beach, we would suggest trying one of the below during summer or winter pride when the island will have more lesbian travellers.

These beaches include Pasito Blanco, Amadores, Montaña de Arena and Triana.