Like most people, it doesn't matter what time of year it is, we'll always be up for a holiday. And any break that comes with guaranteed sun, even in the coldest of British winters, will have us packing our suitcase pronto.
Along with the likes of Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria is a popular choice for spending your precious time off in the sun, whatever the season. With over 80 stretches of golden beaches around the island including Playa del Inglés and San Agustín, Gran Canaria sits just 60 miles from the coast of North Africa and enjoys average temperatures between 21 and 27 degrees throughout the year.
Whether you're a solo traveller, part of a couple or after a winter holiday in the sun for the whole family, you're bound to find the perfect place from our selection of the best hotels in Gran Canaria.
Seaside Palm Beach
Best for: the full package
Tucked away on the sun-kissed shores of Gran Canaria's Maspalomas, the Seaside Palm Beach combines an oasis of luxury and relaxation. As you step into the retro lobby, you'll be transported to an era of classic elegance and sophistication.
Dive into the inviting waters of the large swimming pools, soak up the sun on the spacious terraces, or relax in the heated pool, perfect for a refreshing swim no matter the season. Comfortable sunbeds and umbrellas are readily available, making it easy to while away the hours in comfort.
The spa offers a range of rejuvenating treatments, from massages to facials, all designed to help you unwind and revitalise. Check out our review of Seaside Palm Beach.
Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity
Best for: modern surroundings
This exceptional five-star resort is perched atop a rugged hillside, offering panoramic views of the island's dramatic terrain and the endless expanse of the Atlantic Ocean beyond. The resort's elevated position ensures that every room and suite provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. You'll enjoy vistas of emerald golf courses, rolling hills, and the glistening ocean.
Designed to seamlessly blend with the island's natural beauty, the Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity showcases modern aesthetics complemented by traditional Canary Island elements. The use of natural stone, wood, and glass creates a harmonious balance between contemporary luxury and rustic charm.
Reviewed by Features & Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert: "While this open-air nature of this hotel means it can be exposed to any weather, it really does add such a spacious, modern feel to the hotel. There are 8 different pools to choose from which include a secret pool that guests are tasked with finding themselves. It can take a little while to work out where everything is in the vast grounds but staff are incredibly helpful and there are so many options when it comes to choosing somewhere to relax.
I would highly recommend stopping by the Be Aloe spa which has the most incredible outside area complete with a Vitality pool with therapeutic jets, bubble beds, waterfalls and pretty views of the mountains. My husband loved his massage from Juan Carlos and we were really impressed with the variety of treatments available."
Bohemia Suites & Spa
Best for: adults only
One for those of us looking for an adults-only break, the 5* Bohemia Suites & Spa sits just 200 yards from Playa del Inglés Beach and boasts a freshwater outdoor pool, an outdoor saltwater pool and two outdoor jacuzzis. We love the chic rooms with yellow, terracotta or purple colour schemes and completed olive-wood furnishings. Each one features little luxuries such as a mood lighting system, an extra-large rainfall shower and Molton Brown bath amenities.
In the evenings, you'll enjoy panoramic views as you dine in the rooftop restaurant before heading to the terrace for some seriously good cocktails.
Cordial Santa Agueda Resort & Perchel Beach Club
Best for: foodies
This southwest-based hotel combines an idyllic environment with luxurious amenities including 87 opulent 2-or-3-bedroom villas, two infinity pools, an unrivalled portfolio of dining options (including paella, a sushi bar and cocktail club) along with a sophisticated seaside spa offering a selection of totally organic, natural and sophisticated treatments.
If you're looking to get active on your stay, you'll be spoilt for choice with a brand-new surf centre and a wide range of opportunities to practice water sports in the bay, a fully equipped gym with personal training sessions plus a bicycle workshop.
Reviewed by Features & Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert: "While we didn't get to stay at the lovely hotel, my husband and I were so impressed with the Perchel Beach Club. The pool and view are just spectacular, the staff are lovely and the drinks are delicious! We enjoyed a really wonderful afternoon on our comfy double sun lounger admiring the horizon."
Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia
Best for: celeb spotting
A popular choice for famous faces including Mary Berry and Bring Springsteen, this luxury complex is set in beautiful tropical gardens, with the wide expanse of the sandy beach of Maspalomas only a few minutes walk away. You'll stay in Spanish colonial-style villas with private balconies or terraces, and there is a free spa to enjoy as well as an outdoor pool to take a dip into.
Marina Suites Hotel
Best for: ocean views
Sitting pretty in the picturesque yacht harbour of Puerto Rico, you'll get to watch yachts come and go while enjoying the marina breeze when staying at the Marina Suites Hotel. The spacious rooms have a nautical-inspired design, modern furnishings and overlook the sea.
Grown-ups can make use of the infinity pool, an adults-only area with open-air jacuzzis and Bali beds while little ones will love the kids' play area and fun programme of activities led by Jack the Octopus.
Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso & Hotel
Best for: visiting the spa
You'll have the choice of two sandy beaches just a ten-minute walk from this hotel but you may not want to leave when you catch sight of the panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean which you can enjoy from one of two pools. The spa offers the chance to really kick back and relax, offering a sauna, Turkish bath, thermal bath and a whole line-up of treatments, such as acupuncture, thalassotherapy, vinotherapy and chocolate therapy.
In the evenings, you can sip on an after-dinner cocktail in one of the hotel’s three bars and enjoy the full programme of entertainment on offer, including live music, dancing and shows.
Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
Best for: Hollywood glamour
If you want a hotel steeped in history, look no further than the 5* Santa Catalina, the former temporary residence of kings and queens and Hollywood stars. There are 204 modern and elegant rooms to choose from, with most offering a balcony or terrace with garden views. You're a 5-minute walk from Las Palmas Marina, a 10-minute drive from Puerto de la Luz and Las Canteras Beach and just 20 minutes away from the airport.
Dine in one of three restaurants, The Michelin Star Poemas restaurant, 1890 La Bodeguita, specialising in tapas, and Camarote, featuring cuisine made from local products.
Lopesan Baobab
Best for: families
Making the most of Gran Canaria's closeness to the coast of Africa, Lopesan Baobab is decked out in African-style decor and enjoys a location in tropical gardens while being just 600 metres from Maspalomas Beach. Bound to be a big hit with kids, there are a whopping seven large pools, plus two just for children and a lazy river. Adults will still have plenty of fun too, ordering daytime cocktails from Henry Stanley bar, which is tucked away in a cave behind a waterfall.
For food, you can choose between two buffet restaurants, a barbecue joint, and an African à la carte where you’ll find zebra on the menu.
HD Parque Cristobal Gran Canaria
Located in the heart of Playa del Ingles, you'll be in a great spot at HD Parque Cristobal Gran Canaria as you’ve got shops, bars and restaurants on your doorstep. The two pools, splash park and multi-purpose sports courts will keep you busy and when you're not relaxing, you can dig into international spreads at the buffet restaurant or nibble lighter bites at the snack eatery, or go gourmet at the à la carte.
A lovely choice for families, there are three kids' clubs, for toddlers, children under 12 and teenagers plus live music or a DJ to enjoy with a drink at the Family & Joy Bar.
Club Maspalomas Suites & Spa
Best for: couples
Just for adults, Club Maspalomas Suites & Spa fuses "traditional architecture and modern comfort". Each room has a garden area where you can sunbathe and relax plus a furnished terrace to enjoy the tranquillity and comfort of the location. Take a dip in the 25 metres long swimming pool or recline on a sun lounger with a paperback. Alternatively, hop onto the free bus to Maspalomas beach for a day by the sea.
We recommend a visit to the dreamy Zen spa too - it's equipped with air hammocks, jets and waterfalls along with a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath, an ice fountain and a bi-thermal shower.
Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa
Best for: families
Sitting in the heart of the picturesque Puerto de Mogán, Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa is a true gem of the Canary Islands. With its charming Mediterranean architecture, lush gardens, and welcoming ambience, this four-star hotel offers guests a tranquil haven to escape to. The hotel is renowned for its beautifully landscaped tropical gardens and the meandering pathways wind through lush greenery, past cascading water features, and under shady palms.
Whether you prefer lounging by the serene adult pool or watching your little ones splash in the dedicated children's pool, there's a poolside experience tailored to your preferences.
Reviewed by Features & Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert: "With between 450 different plants from around the world weaved throughout, Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa really is a botanical oasis. The lobby is one of the best I've seen and there is so much to see and do including two pools, the hotel's own archaeological park, a diving centre and much more. There are also numerous restaurants including two pool bars, a buffet restaurant and even a Michelin Star fine dining restaurant."
"My husband and I loved spending time at Inagua Spa & Wellness which featured sensation showers, bubble beds, Balinese beds and a flotarium loaded with magnesium salts. I enjoyed a head, neck and foot massage from the lovely Elisabeth which was heavenly."
Features & Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert has been a journalist since 2016 and has worked across a variety of specialist and lifestyle brands both in print and online. Specialising in travel content and product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases, her favourite being gadgets for the home.