Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Hector Garcia

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is the second most populous of the Canary Islands but undoubtedly the most beautiful. The capital Las Palmas is a vibrant and bustling city with a beautiful beach and a fantastic nightlife. The skyscrapers that form the backdrop to the beach give it a great sense of relaxation amongst people in their day jobs (hey who doesn’t want to rub it in a little). Beyond the city the beaches are incredible. They are heavily built up but not in the concrete jungle way you expect from the Costa del Sol for example. The beaches are incredible but it is the natural beauty and diversity of the island that really makes Gran Canaria so splendid.
The scenery ranges from sand dunes to mountains and verdant forests and lush gardens. This makes it an incredible place to stroll and to hike and the sheer biodiversity is overwhelming. The beautiful towns along the coast and inland such as Puerto de Mogan (little Venice), Puerto Rico and Maspalomas give you plenty to see and do and offer a rich diversity of hotels, resorts and Gran Canaria apartments to stay in and relax.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote is considered much more of a package holiday destination with lots of resorts and hotels. Lanzarote villas to rent are incredibly popular as well thanks to the islands reputation for excellent nightlife and of course the beaches. The beaches on Lanzarote are incredible with Playa Blanca and Papagayo being two of the very best with beautiful white sands and stunning crystal blue waters. The island is incredibly popular as a package holiday destination but government legislation has meant that development has been tasteful and there isn’t an abundance of concrete monstrosity.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by JUAN RAMON RODRIGUEZ SOSA

The natural beauty on offer on the island isn’t quite as diverse as Gran Canaria but the island is still incredibly beautiful with the cave complexes of Los Verdes and Jameos del Agua being two of the highlights. The volcanic crater of El Golfo is also incredible and a deep green colour that is incredible. Finally Timanfaya national park is an absolute must for visitors as it holds tens of square miles of beautiful volcanic landscapes and craters that are unlike any other landscape on earth.

The island also has a rich history with an abundance of beautiful architecture and centuries old fortifications to explore. The 16th century Castillo de San Gabriel and the Castillo de San Jose are incredible to behold and stand as testament to the island’s rich history. The islands rich history is well worth exploring and is a great way to take a break from the beautiful beaches and the sun and relaxation you’ll mainly be enjoying.

View Exploring Gran Canaria and Lanzarote Spain in a larger map

The post Exploring Gran Canaria and Lanzarote | Spain appeared first on Best of European Union.