If you are looking for nightlife, Gran Canaria is the place to be. Generally speaking, Playa del Inglés is where the Europeans party. The Kasbah centre is full of pubs, discos, and clubs. Yumbo is the centre for the gay scene. Aguila Roja Centre is famous for its Irish bars, and at Plaza Shopping Centre you can hear and dance to the latest international hits. Also wildly popular is the Hard Rock Café.

If you are staying in Las Palmas, you will get the real flavour of the Canaries. It has more of a mainland Spanish/Latin American feel. Go to Plaza de España in the Mesa y Lopéz district. If you like 60s music, go to El Coto. The bars and clubs in Santa Catalina that are around Calle José Francy Roca play mostly salsa music. For bars with a bit more sophistication, visit the ones on Calle Triana and Vegueta.

For lower-key entertainment, have dinner and cocktails in Maspalomas where the entertainment is a bit more subdued. Puerto Rico isn’t as crowded as Playa del Inglés, and has the only real disco, located in the Centro Commercial Puerto Rico.

There are also casinos on the island, if you aren’t into bars, clubs and drag shows. Casino Las Palmas, in the Hotel Santa Catalina has a restaurant, bar, poker, machines, and 12 tables. The Gran Canaria Casino is in the Hotel Meliá Tamarindos in San Agustín. It has poker tables, all casino games, 3 restaurants, bars, and entertainment. The euro is the monetary unit used in the casinos.

gran-canaria-nightlife