The seven islands that make up the archipelago are known as the Canary Islands, which lie about 200 km off the coast of Morocco and about 3,500 km from the U.K.  Las Palmas is the capital and by far the largest city on the relatively small island of Gran Canaria and it is an extremely popular destination for tourists, especially from the U.K. and northern Europe.

With its sprawling wealth of beaches, bars, hotels, restaurants, old-world charm and new world chic, Las Palmas is the ideal spot for short Canary Islands holidays.  Whether it’s 5 Star holidays you’re planning or just a quick low-cost getaway, all the ingredients are here.  It is just a matter of deciding how much ground can be covered in your allotted Canary break time.

On the luxury side of the scale is the Santa Catalina Hotel, a charming combination of

old colonial and modern amenities (the free WiFi service is very slow).  Another is the Melia Las Palmas next to Las Canteras beach and right in the heart of the commercial district.

The beach at Las Canteras is one of the most attractive of Spain’s urban beaches, with golden sand protected by a reef called La Barre and a beachfront promenade that offers every diversion imaginable.

The cosmopolitan city of today began in the early 1500’s as a military encampment at the southern end of the beach, and much of that original settlement has been preserved in the Vegueta area of Las Palmas.  Here is the place for visitors to explore the old town with its stately historic plazas, squares and buildings such as the old Town Hall and the Cathedral de Santa Ana.

Getting around in Las Palmas is not a problem.  If your goal is a little further than walking distance, there are two bus lines:  the green buses will take visitors to any part of the island and the yellow buses travel to all areas of the city.  If you choose to hire a vehicle, Las Palmas is fairly easy for visitors to navigate, and cars are allowed just about everywhere.

For a change of pace, to slow down and cool off, visit the Ciudad Jardin district and the Parque Doramas at its heart.  Fountains, villas covered in flowers, and an atmosphere of peace and quiet form a sort of oasis in the heat and bustle of modern city life.

For a generous dose of culture, spend some time in one or more of the fascinating museums such as El Museo Canario and the Museum of Contemporary Art.  The Casa Museo Colon is one of the most popular, dedicated to Christopher Columbus and a splendid example of Canarian architecture.

Nightlife in Las Palmas is varied and lively; most places stay open until 2:00 a.m. and many until 6:00 in the morning.  Las Brujas, the Charleston Café, Cuasquias and The Underground are just a few of the many delightful options for a night out with drinks, dinner, music and dancing.