Gran Canaria, the third largest Canary island, maintains an unusual mixture of attractions for the gay tourist. Whilst the island offers standard package holidays, with highly-developed beachfront resorts, there is also the greenery of the north, the rugged mountains of the centre, and the desert-like southern region. So, whatever you are looking for in a holiday or short break, the island could have something for you.

For gays, the real action is at Playa del Ingles, if you are looking for bars, clubs, cafes and restaurants to mix and mingle in. Here, you’ll find the Yumbo centre; a giant collection of gay bars with clientele ranging from bears to drag queens, restaurants, and sex shops. Las Palmas is slightly less commercialised, with a good mix of gay venues and classic Spanish culture, combining the fun of bars and gay saunas with museums, theatre, shopping, and the world’s second largest carnival. The Las Palmas Carnival is one enormous orgy of flamboyant fun. The three-week-long carnival includes live music, costume competitions, street parades, and all of the other bells and whistles you would expect. Partying goes on in the gay clubs afterwards, so don't go expecting any quiet nights!

Same-sex marriage is legal in Spain and its islands; in fact, it was the third country in the world to legalise it back in 2005. The overwhelming majority of the population supported gay marriage, and so gay rights are reasonably protected in Gran Canaria.  

Flights to Gran Canaria generally land at its largest airport, Gando, which is 16km south of Las Palmas. There are also ferries between Gran Canaria’s Las Palmas and Agaete ports and Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.