Essentials
- City
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
- Population
- 380,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 600 Mbps - 1 Gbps (Fiber widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: BBVA, Santander, CaixaBank.
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink, but high mineral content; most locals prefer bottled or filtered water.
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, and Yoigo. Pre-paid sims around €15-20 for 50GB+.
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut (Spanish IBAN available), N26, and BBVA for local accounts.
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Idealista, Pisos.com, and local coliving spaces like Repeople.
- Cashless Friendly
- Excellent; almost all establishments accept contactless payments.
- Short Term Rentals
- Las Canteras rentals via Airbnb or booking.com. Price €1,200 - €1,800/month.
- Budget Accommodation
- HiTide Surf House (€30/night) or Ventana Azul (€28/night).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Vegueta (Old Town) for history; Santa Catalina for central hub access.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Las Canteras (Beachside) or Guanarteme (Trendy/Local vibe).
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Sandbox (Guanarteme) - €150/month; Talleres Palermo - €160/month.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Un Lugar (Calle Nicolas Estevanez) or Fresco (Paseo de las Canteras).
- Networking Events
- Live it Up Las Palmas (Slack community) and Gran Canaria Digital Nomads Meetup.
- Social Events for Expats
- Tuesday Language Exchange at The Situation; Friday sunset drinks at Las Canteras.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Local Taxis (yellow/white) via 'PideTaxi' app. No Uber/Bolt on island.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Sitycleta (Public bike share - €40/year subscription) or Love Sharing (E-mopeds).
- Best Beach Nearby
- Playa de Las Canteras (3.1km urban beach) or Playa de Las Alcaravaneras.
- Top Regional Airline
- Binter Canarias (Connecting all islands) and Canaryfly.
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia, and Lufthansa.
- Highway Access
- GC-1 (Southbound to Airport/Maspalomas) and GC-2 (Westbound).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- San Telmo Station (Intercity) and Santa Catalina Bus Station.
- Public Transport Passes
- Guaguas Municipales (Yellow buses) - €8.50 for 10-trip 'Bono Guagua' card.
- Regional Travel
- Global (Blue buses) - Lines 30 and 91 to southern beaches (€6-€10).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospitales Universitarios San Roque or Hospital Quirónsalud.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Zanti Yoga (Calle Grau Bassas) - €12 per drop-in class.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Go Fit Las Palmas - €45/month; Dreamfit Las Palmas - €34/month.
- Laundry Services
- Open Wash (Calle Bernardo de la Torre) - €5 per wash including detergent.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo and UberEats are the market leaders.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Papas Arrugadas con Mojo (Wrinkled potatoes with spicy sauce).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Aitami (Vegan) and Bio-Bar Sunset las Canteras.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pastelería Reyes (Vegueta) for traditional Polvito Uruguayo.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercado del Puerto for tapas; Mercado de Vegueta for fresh produce.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.es (Delivery takes 3-7 days due to customs); PC Componentes.
- Grocery Delivery
- Mercadona online or El Corte Inglés grocery delivery.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Plaza de España (Mesa y López area) and the Vegueta tapas route on Thursdays.
- Local Brewery
- Galotia Brewing or Cervecería Tropical (Commercial local favorite).
- Wine Bars
- La Vinería de Avellaneda or Despacho de Vinos La Cuarenta.
- Street Food Stalls
- Mercado del Puerto (Gourmet stalls) - Tapas from €3-€6.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bululu (Venezuelan) and Fuji (First Japanese restaurant in Spain).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Catedral de Santa Ana and Columbus House (Casa de Colón).
- Museums & Art Venues
- CAAM (Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno) and Elder Museum of Science.
- Historical Sites
- The Vegueta District (founded 1478) and Castillo de la Luz.
- Religious Sites
- Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís.
- Annual Events
- Carnaval de Las Palmas (February/March) and Womad Festival (November).
- Cultural Districts
- Triana (Commercial/Colonial architecture).
- Theater Venues
- Teatro Pérez Galdós and Auditorio Alfredo Kraus.
- Local Markets
- Mercadillo de Teror (Sundays, regional products).
- Music Scene
- The Paper Club (Concerts) and NYC Taxi Rock Bar.
- Street Art
- Murales de San Juan (Colorful houses on the hillside).
- Cooking Classes
- The Kitchen Space (Calle Valencia) for Canarian cuisine workshops.
- Art Galleries
- Galeria Manuel Ojeda.
- Historic Buildings
- Gabinet Literari (Plaza de las Ranas).
- Local Heritage
- Silbo Gomero (Whistled language) - though native to La Gomera, demonstrations are found here.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bandama Caldera (Volcanic crater hiking just 20 mins away).
- National Parks Nearby
- Tamadaba Natural Park and Roque Nublo (UNESCO Site).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Avenida Maritima (10km path along the coast).
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mirador de Las Coloradas (Views over Las Canteras and the Isleta).
- Birdwatching Locations
- Charca de Maspalomas (Southern dunes area).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited; limited to San Juan festival (June 23rd) designated areas.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correos (Main post office) and SEUR for private courier.
- Tech Repair Services
- Banana Computer (Apple Authorized) or Dr. Computer.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Club de Tenis Gran Canaria (Includes table tennis facilities).
- Language Classes
- El Capitán Spanish School (Guanarteme) - €150/week intensive.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Pública del Estado (near San Telmo).
- Community Centers
- Centro Cívico Suárez Naranjo.
- Gaming Lounges
- Elite Gaming Center Las Palmas.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Las Palmas (Near Santa Catalina Park).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,200 per m² (€168,000 for 40 m²).
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,900 per m² (€116,000 for 40 m²).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,900 per m² (€234,000 for 60 m²).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,600 per m² (€156,000 for 60 m²).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (€280,000 for 80 m²).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,400 per m² (€192,000 for 80 m²).
- Corporate Tax
- 4% for ZEC (Canary Islands Special Zone) entities; 25% standard.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 19% (Exemptions apply for ZEC/EU residents).
- Tax System
- Spanish tax system applies; residents taxed on worldwide income.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 47% (Varies slightly by autonomous community).
- VAT
- 7% IGIC (Canary Islands General Indirect Tax) - lower than mainland Spain's 21% VAT.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Spanish CFC rules apply.
- Property Tax
- IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) - annual tax based on cadastral value.
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6.5% ITP (Transfer Tax) for resale; 7% IGIC + 1.5% Stamp Duty for new builds.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Beckham Law (24% flat tax) or the 4% ZEC rate for eligible businesses.