Gran Canaria - Essential Information
Airport
Gran Canaria airport is located in Telde, 18 km from the capital, Las Palmas. The airport can be accessed from north or south from the GC-1 motorway.
Buses service the airport line 60 to Las Palmas takes 30 minutes and runs twice an hour starting at 06.15.
Line 66, to Faro de Maspalomas, takes an hour and runs once every hour starting at 07.20.
Taxis are also available outside the arrivals hall. Alternatively, rent a car at one of the on-site offices.
For more information see:
Public Transport
Gran Canaria has a good local bus network serving most parts of the island (see www.globalsu.net for timetables and prices).
For more flexibility, don’t think twice about hiring a car. The roads are generally very good and well signed making driving a pleasure. Having said that, Las Palmas can be confusing for the uninitiated. It’s often less stressful to stop at the first car park you come across and then either walk or hail a taxi.
For the more active, bicycles can be hired at a daily rate (from around € 10 for one day). Please see:
Taxi
Taxis are generally inexpensive, charging around € 0.40 per kilometre with fixed rates for longer distances.
Post
The main post office is in Avenida Primero de Mayo 62, Las Palmas.
Pharmacy
Look at the door to a pharmacist to see which ones are in duty.
Dentist
There are many English-speaking doctors and dentists. Your hotel will always be able to recommend one.
Telephone
Country code: +34
Area code: 928
Electricity
220 volts power supply using round two-pin plugs.
Tourist Traps
Be careful when buying cameras and electrical goods from shops in the tourist resorts. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. There are many fakes in circulation. Always ask to see an international guarantee before you pass over any money.
Also, don’t fall for the timeshare touts who approach with a scratch card. The prize they ‘can’t believe you’ve won’ can only be collected if you agree to a timeshare sales tour. They say it only takes 90 minutes - count on nearly double that.
