Friday, 12 December 2014 00:00

Las Palmas Guide For Cruise Ship Passengers Featured

Las Palmas for cruise ship visitors Las Palmas for cruise ship visitors

Ok, so you've arrived in Las Palmas and you have a few hours to see the city and a bit of Gran Canaria island. Where do you start?

 

Head for the beachfront for a walk

Las Palmas city's main feature is just ten minutes walk from the cruise dock. Head to Santa Catalina Square and then walk down the newly-pedestrianised Luis Morote street at its north edge. Once you get to the promenade turn left to get to the surfy end of the beach and Las Arenas shopping centre, or right to see the prettiest part of Las Canteras beach. There are restaurants all along the front. 

Vegueta and Triana: The old town

Vegueta old town is five minutes from the cruise dock by taxi. It's a classic Spanish colonial town with a twist. Columbus stopped here (he had to, his crew sabotaged his ships) and the city was attacked by the islands original stone age inhabitants. Vegueta is small enough to see in a couple of hours with a museum or two thrown in leaving you plenty of time to head over the road to the shopping district of Triana. 

The two main museums in Vegueta reflect its history: The Casa de Colón museum is all about Columbus and his journeys across the Atlantic, while the Museo Canario has the world's best collection of prehistoric Canarian mummies and artefacts. 

Another highlight of Vegueta is the Santa Ana Cathedral and square. By the front door there's a booth selling tickets up to the roof (stairs and lift access) but we think the best thing to do is to go into the silver museum (door on the south wall). From here you get into the cathedral and see its gorgeous modernist ceiling. The last chapel on the right by the altar holds a surprise: The bishop who founded the cathedral is kept in a glass box. He's mummified in his original robes. 

Just over the road you have Triana with its huge shopping street and cobbled side streets lined with restaurants and cafes. 

Shopping in Las Palmas

The El Muelle shopping centre is right by the cruise dock but Las Arenas at the south end of Las Canteras beach has a wider range of shops. Mesa y Lopez street about 15 minutes walk from the ship is home to the huge El Corte Inglés department store.

Tours of Las Palmas & Gran Canaria

Most tours available in Las Palmas are advertised on the cruise ships. There's little point booking a Las Palmas tour unless you want a detailed guided visit of Vegueta or a more intimate local tour but they are the best way to see the rest of Gran Canaria.

Lots of people whizz down the motorway to Mogán resort with a stop at the Maspalomas dunes. Another excellent option is the coach tour to the Arucas rum distillery and Agaete valley wineries. 

A closer option is the trip to Bandama caldera and the Jardín Botanico gardens. 

A Few Notes on Las Palmas city

Las Palmas is safe and you are not going to get mugged for walking down the wrong street. It's best not to leave your camera lying on the beach when you go for a swim though.

The food is perfectly safe to eat in all the bars and restaurants. The best lunch deals are in restaurants displaying a "Menu Del Día" sign in Spanish. You get three courses and a drink for less than 10 euros. The cigarettes and booze get cheaper the further away you get from Santa Catalina Square. Head to Big Ben on Calle Sagasta street for the best prices and range of tobacco and spirits.

Published in Las Palmas

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Tip of the day

  • Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?
    Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?

    Visitors to Gran Canaria often ask whether it is better to exchange their local currency for euros at home or in Gran Canaria. 

    The answer is that it is almost always better to buy your euros at home than it is to bring pounds to Gran Canaria and use local banks or currency exchanges. This rule of thumb applies all over the world. A currency is almost always cheaper the further away you are from the place you can spend it (because demand for it is lower). 

    Exchange rates are almost always better at home than in Gran Canaria

    You are very likely to get a better exchange rate using a British currency exchange specialist or local bank. Many of these companies will deliver your euros to your home.

    One of the best rates in the UK is often from the post office, especially if you do it well in advance.

    The only way you'll get a better rate in Gran Canaria than at home is if the exchange rate changes while you are travelling and this is rare. 

    You also have to bear in mind that currency exchanges in Gran Canaria are getting rarer and some local banks don't exchange money for non-clients. 

    To Transfer large amouynts of money to Gran Canaria, or to make regular transfers, always use a reputable currency broker such as Currencies Direct. This will save you money on exchange rates and bank charges and is highky secure. 

    The risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria

    Another important factor to consider is the risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria: If it is lost or stolen, there is no way of getting it back. 

    It is much safer to bring a debit or credit card and use local bank ATMs to take out money. These days, a good option is a pre-charged debit card. 

    Cards may be slightly more expensive that carrying cash, unless you seek out a bank card with low commissions, but it is much more secure. 

    Bank ATMs like Bankia, Santander and BBVA often charge lower rates than the ATMs in shopping centres and busy tourist areas.

    Alex Says: Always select the Euro option at ATMs in Gran Canaria because the exchange rate is much better than if you opt for the Local Currency option. The same applies when you pay by card in shops and restaurants.

    See our Gran Canaria Tips section for more nuggets of useful local information.

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