Reminiscent of a Mediterranean port city with a North African flavor, Las Palmas is the largest city in the Canary Islands in Spain. With a mix of Modernist, Bauhaus, and Spanish Colonial architecture, sandy beaches, and wintry daytime temperatures often reaching the mid-1970s, there’s no better time to go.

What are the Canary Islands?

The Canary Islands are the seven volcanic islands of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. While they could technically be part of Spain, geographically they are located closer to Africa. Hence the mild weather all year round and why it takes three hours to get there from the Spanish mainland. Gran Canaria is the largest of the seven. While visiting revelers generally prefer the snap beats and sprawling sand dunes of Playa del Inglés in the south, those seeking a more cosmopolitan atmosphere will want to explore the island’s diverse capital. , Las Palmas.

What to do

What better place to spend a sunny day in Las Palmas than on Las Canteras Beach, a three-kilometer-long stretch of sand found in the center of town? It is popular with tourists and locals alike for its soft sands and calm waters. Others will want to explore the modernist buildings of the Triana district and the beautiful colonial architecture of the old Vegueta district. The latter is also home to the excellent contemporary art gallery Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, showcasing modern Canarian and African art, and the Catedral Santa Ana (Cathedral of Saint Anne), which spanned 400 years.

Where to stay

Unlike other Spanish cities like Barcelona, ​​Madrid and Palma de Mallorca, Las Palmas has not been blessed with an abundance of large hotels. But who needs 30 options to choose from when there is one that stands out from the rest? Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, has been setting the standard for luxury accommodation in Gran Canaria for over a century. With 204 rooms, two swimming pools, three restaurants, a rooftop bar and a lovely palm grove, this hotel will meet all your needs. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff, whose genuine and warm approach to hospitality gives the Hotel Santa Catalina an elegant, but never arrogant atmosphere.

Where to eat

Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel is also the place to go for fine dining in Las Palmas, with its exceptional poems, by Michelin-starred Canarian chefs, the Padrón brothers. Order the ten-course tasting menu, which includes dishes like the oxtail sandwich with fermented pepper mayonnaise and the delicate Parmesan ravioli in lentil broth. For the city’s most creative tapas, head to the popular Qué Leche! in Triana, where specialties like sundried tomato croquettes with red tuna or shrimp tartare with caviar and sea lettuce will keep you coming back. Other great choices include Tasca Siete Viejas, for traditional Canarian cuisine, and upbeat Hoock, which serves modern street food (think nachos, poke bowls, and burgers), near Las Beach. Canteras.