Gay Gran Canaria Travel Guide: When it comes to gay destinations in Europe, Gran Canaria easily makes my top 5! In this complete and detailed Gay Gran Canaria travel guide I will share the best gay bars, hotels, gay beaches, LGBTQ+ events and everything you need to plan a trip to gay Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria is one of 8 Canary Islands which are located off the west coast of Africa and are the southernmost autonomous community of Spain.
Each time I visit Spain, I know I am going to feel welcome as a gay traveller. It’s one of my top gay friendly countries in the world and I have also spent time living there. Read more in my Gay Spain Travel Guide.
This is equally true for the Canary Islands with Gran Canaria being the gayest island of them all.
With its huge gay scene, hot weather all year round (see my Winter Pride Maspalomas guide), beautiful beaches and the fact it’s a relatively cheap destination, you can start to see why I have been so many times!
I have put together a full guide to showcase all that gay Gran Canaria has to offer including the gay areas, the abundance of gay bars, the gay beaches, gay hotels, huge events and so much more.
This is a mammoth, detailed gay guide to Gran Canaria, so make sure you add it to your bookmarks/favourites to refer back to later.
I am sure that after reading this you will be booking a flight and partying in the Yumbo Centre in no time!
Gay Gran Canaria: Quick Guide
Where is the gay area in Gran Canaria?
Maspalomas is the main gay area in Gran Canaria, with the Yumbo Centre being the gay focus point within Maspalomas.
Is Gran Canaria good for gay travellers?
Yes, Gran Canaria is one of the Europe’s top gay travel destinations.
Best gay beach in Gran Canaria?
Maspalomas gay beach at Kiosk 5 (previously Kiosk 7).
Best time to visit?
Visit for Maspalomas Pride in May or Winter Pride Maspalomas in November.
Best gay hotel in Gran Canaria?
AxelBeach Maspalomas is the most popular gay hotel in Gran Canaria, just a few minutes walk from the Yumbo.
Gay Areas of Gran Canaria
The whole of Gran Canaria is gay friendly, but like any country, there are specific gay areas where I would highly recommend:
Maspalomas: Playa Del Ingles
The main gay area in Gran Canaria is Maspalomas without a doubt.
Maspalomas stretches from Meloneras in the west, to the resort towns of San Agustín and Playa del Inglés.
However when is comes to the gay area of Gran Canaria we are specifically looking at and around Playa Del Ingles where the majority of the gay scene is focused.
The ultimate gay hotspot within Maspalomas is the infamous Yumbo Centre where you will find many gay shops, saunas and over 30 gay bars and clubs! More on that below.
Las Palmas (capital of Gran Canaria)
Las Palmas has been popular with the gay community since the 80’s and was one of the ‘go to’ places before the likes of Madrid on mainland Spain also became popular.
Las Palmas does not have huge gay events like Playa del Ingles/Maspalomas but it still has a great gay scene with a good selection of gay bars, clubs and saunas.
Gay Beach Gran Canaria (Maspalomas)
This is still my favourite gay beach I have visited and it all comes down to the atmosphere.
Many gay beaches around the world can be quite quiet and chilled, however this is by far the busiest and most friendly gay beach I have been to, especially during pride where there are hundreds of guys on the beach.
The gay beach can be found at Kiosk No5 along the Maspalomas sand dunes. There is a bar serving drinks and snacks and a toilet available. You also have the option of hiring a sun lounger for the day.
The beach is also a nudist beach so wear as little as you want!
It can be a bit tricky to find, head over to ‘How to find the gay beach in Maspalomas’ for detailed directions.
Gay Hotels in Gran Canaria
First things first, you need to find an amazing gay hotel. Take a look at my shortlist below.
For a full breakdown of the best gay hotels, see my detailed guide to the best gay hotels in Gran Canaria.
Axel Beach Maspalomas
AxelBeach Maspalomas is part of the gay hotel chain Axel. It is an ideal location, just a short walk to the Yumbo and is often host to parties and events, especially during pride.
Most rooms have self catering facilities if that is your style! One of my favourite places to stay in Gran Canaria.
Gay Friendly Hotels Gran Canaria
If you aren’t interested in staying at a gay hotel as such, I have also stayed at and recommend the following hotels/resorts:
Hotel Riu Palace
One of the most luxurious hotels in Gran Canaria. Hotel Riu Palace is popular as it is the entrance to the gay beach and also where each pride parade starts.
With the backdrop of the Maspalomas Dunes this is a beautiful place to stay.
Parquemar Apartments
If you are looking for self catering apartment style living, then take a look at Parquemar. I stayed here during Winter Pride and it was really good value, super clean and within walking distance to the Yumbo.
Gay Bars in Gran Canaria
The gay nightlife scene in Gran Canaria is centred around the Yumbo Centre in Maspalomas, home to over 30 gay bars, clubs and other venues.
The Yumbo Centre is a large, multi-storey shopping centre by day, and gay nightlife hotspot by night with a huge open square in the centre.
For a full breakdown of the best venues, see my detailed guide to the best gay bars in Gran Canaria.
Parrots Pub Terrace
I first came across Parrots in Sitges where it is a big name on the gay scene. It was great to see that it has made its way over to Gran Canaria!
This is another great option to sit, cocktail in hand and enjoy drag shows, DJ’s and watching the world go by.
Mykonos
When it starts to get later on into the night, everyone seems to migrate to Mykonos which can be found on the top floor.
Mantrix
When everywhere is shut but you want to keep on dancing, Mantrix is the place to take you through to the very early hours of the morning, enjoy!
Sparkles
Sparkles is one of the best show bars in the Yumbo centre and the perfect start to our gay bars in Gran Canaria guide.
I haven’t laughed at a drag show so much in years.
Gay Café Bars
If a big night out is not on the cards and you just want to relax during the day in the Yumbo, check out these gay cafés:
- Eden Bar
- Blue Havana
- Cafe Ritz (for ice cream)
Gran Canaria Gay Bars: Las Palmas
I have not yet been to the capital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, however I have heard good things about the gay scene there with a number of gay bars including Abuela Bar, Black Bar and 27 Funny Boys.
Gay Events in Gran Canaria
When I say Gran Canaria is a gay destination all year round, I am not exaggerating!
While many destinations may have their annual pride, Gran Canaria has huge gay events and parties every few months. In any case, no matter when you go, it is always busy at the Yumbo Centre during the weekend.
Here are the current biggest and best gay parties in Gran Canaria:
Maspalomas Gay Pride (Summer)
Gay Pride Maspalomas has been running for over 25 years and attracts tens of thousands of visitors. It’s one of the biggest and longest pride celebrations in Europe!
The pride celebrations last for 10 days during May featuring international artists on the main stage in the Yumbo (free access), a huge parade which you can watch or join, gay boat trips, pool parties and beach club parties.
I have seen the Maspalomas Gay Pride festival grow year on year, every night at the Yumbo looks like a concert venue because there are so many people in attendance.
I highly recommend booking some accommodation near the Yumbo just to make life easier. A lot of accommodation books up once dates are released so take a quick look below (or refer back to the hotels I mentioned above) and get something reserved asap!
Winter Pride Maspalomas
I am asked time and time again if Winter Pride is quiet in comparison to Summer Pride – the simple answer is no.
The latest edition of Winter Pride Maspalomas which I attended was by far the biggest and best in its history!
It follows a very similar format to Summer Pride with the main stage in the Yumbo, pool parties, beach parties and international acts over a week long period.
The only main difference is that it is held in November each year, so if you are looking for some winter sun and you are in need of a pride pick-me-up, you should definitely consider this gay event in Gran Canaria.
Maspalomas Fetish Week
This week is held every year in October for 7-10 days and its title is fairly self-explanatory.
The week is full of events catering to a wide range of interests with parties hosted every night at the various clubs in the Yumbo.
During the day they also run special pool parties and events at many of the gay resorts in Maspalomas.
Freedom Festival Maspalomas/Freedom New Year Festival
This was dubbed the ‘little brother’ of Pride, Freedom Festival Maspalomas but it looks like this has now changed to Freedom New Year Festival which is held from December 27 to 31, in Maspalomas.
During the four days of this programme you will be able to enjoy the Freedom experience of parties and events.
Bear Week Maspalomas
Brought to you by Bear Carnival, Europe’s biggest bear programme, in March each year Maspalomas hosts Bear Week.
Gay Shops in Gran Canaria (Maspalomas)
I love Spanish brands such as Addicted and ES Collection, however back in the UK we can only order online.
In the Yumbo Centre you can find many gay shops offering these brands and many more.
Here are my favourite gay shops in the Yumbo Centre:
Why Not?
This is one of our favourite gay shops as it offers a mix of good brands including Barcode Berlin, Modus Vivendi and Addicted. They also often have good sales and discounts.
ES Collection official store
Stocks a wide range of ES Collection clothing and beachwear.
Addicted official store
This is probably my favourite brand (a sister brand of ES Collection). They have lots of fun styles of swimwear, sports clothes and shorts/jeans/shirts etc.
Boxer
Boxer stocks a wide range of clothing and accessories and the staff are always very welcoming if you need help choosing!
Yumbo Gay
This is one of the newer shops selling cheaper novelty items.
Scruff
This offers a mix of clothing and underwear with a mix of big and small brands.
Dress Code
Dress Code offers brands like Andrew Christian, AussieBum and TOF. This has a larger selection of jeans, t shirts etc.
Gay Saunas in Maspalomas
Is there a gay sauna in Maspalomas? Of course! The sauna is called Sauna Enjoy Maspalomas and is about 10 minute walk from the Yumbo.
Things to do in Gran Canaria
There is more to Gran Canaria than the gay scene, here are my top three activities:
Explore Maspalomas Dunes
The Maspalomas dunes spread across 1,000-acres and are a protected nature reserve.
Visually, they are pretty epic and you can feel like you are lost in the middle of a desert.
You can spend hours (with plenty of water) following the many marked out walking trails through the dunes and exploring.
Hire and Car and see the Mountains
If you want something a bit different, hire a car and spend the day driving up into the mountains. I hired a car for about 20 Euros and had a great day out.
Find a traditional restaurant in the hills, take your time and enjoy some tapas. Gran Canaria is more than just beaches, go and explore!
Get out to Sea
There are many boat/catamaran trips out to sea. Most offer all-inclusive drinks and food.
This is the perfect way to relax and the best way to top up your tan.
Since it is Gran Canaria, there is a company than consistently runs LGBTQ+ boat parties if you want something livelier.
Practical Tips
When to go to Gran Canaria? – Gran Canaria is warm all year round – you will still burn in November. The peak season in terms of temperature is from May to August. However, with all of the events from October onward and the fact its a well known winter sun destination it becomes very busy in the last quarter of the year.
Travel Insurance – as for any trip, make sure you have travel insurance.
Can you drink the tap water in Gran Canaria – technically yes but no one does due to its bad taste. My advice is to just get a huge bottle from the local supermarket.
Shopping for food in Maspalomas – there are plenty of mini markets but the main larger supermarkets include Mercadona (best value), Spar (most familiar) and Hiperdino. Outside of Maspalomas you will also find Carrefour and Lidl.
Getting around – Taxis are very cheap to get around and are all on a meter (no Uber here). The local bus system is also reliable and of course, even cheaper again. Hire cars can be as little at 20 euros per day.
Language – Everyone speaks Spanish here, it is slower than mainland Spain which makes things easier to understand. Get yourself a basic Spanish phrasebook before you start. Gran Canaria has been touristy for years so you will get by with English but we always encourage learning a few phrases in any case.
I hope my mammoth guide to Gay Gran Canaria helps you plan your vacation and get by. It’s easy to see why I have been so many times and I still have more to do and see! Maybe I will see you there next time…
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