Some useful info.

Driving is on the right hand side of the road, with speed limits and warning signs very well marked wherever you go. Buses and taxis always expect you to give way to them and it's a good idea to do this if you like driving safely! Parking anywhere around the resorts is easy to find and often free. If you want to park in the very center of a resort you'll probably find blue lines/markings which means "pay and display" so look for the ticket machine.

If you're planning a trip to the capital, Las Palmas (highly recommended), you'll have to look hard to find a free space, the multi-storey car parks are your best bet and be warned, there is one car to every two people in the city so it gets busy.

The motorway ("GC1") on the east side of the island will take you easily and quickly to Puerto Rico, Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, San Agustín, Las Palmas and the airport. It has also been extended to cover the north coast of the island. (GC2) The roads on the west side and those through the centre of the island are minor roads, narrow and windy in parts, so plan longer journey times there. These are also the most scenic routes around the island. Highly recommended is a drive into the mountains towards the village of Tejeda and its national park. Located on Gran Canaria's highest mountain, Cruz de Tejeda (2,000m) The best route into the mountains is travelling up from San Fernando to Fataga & San Bartolome then head back down via either Santa Lucia then the motorway or Teror then the motorway.

Click on the banner below to search most of the companies offering carhire here in one go, one search. Prices of around € 89 euros a week including free cancellation option, change your booking with no amendment fees, unlimited mileage & theft protection insurance & 1 free additional driver & basic insurance. Super collision waiver damage insurance available from a small daily free, payable locally.

 

 

A taxi or airport transfer to and from the airport will cost you around 65 euros there and back so for very little extra you can hire a car for a week. Getting to the south from the airport is pretty easy. Leave the airport following the blue signs the say "Sur" (south). This brings you on to the GC1 motorway. San Agustin (first) Playa del Ingles (second) and Maspalomas (third) & Puerto Rico (fourth) have clear exits marked.

To summise then, there really is a lot to see all around the island. Small as it is, the roads can be narrow and windy so it can take a good 3 days of day-trips to see all of the island. Car hire can often work out to be a much better alternative to seeing the island than the holiday "excursions". As well as working out less expensive, you're free to stop off where you want, when you want and for as long as you want.

Finally, if you're driving through a tunnel then you have to have your headlights turned on and sunglasses off. Often police set up controls to collect on-the-spot fines for people who don't follow either of these laws.