The Best Resorts on Gran Canaria, Spain

Popular, all-inclusive Meliá Tamarindos has many things going for it, such as a layout that’s friendly to limited-mobility travellers and a killer location on Playa de San Agustín on Gran Canaria’s south coast. To rattle off just some of the amenities here, there are three pools, several food and drink outlets, a mini club, mini-golf, squash, tennis, as well as a free observatory and telescope for surveying the night sky. Rooms have minibars (replenished daily for all-inclusive guests) and big balconies, many overlooking the ocean.

A 2018 renovation gave Corallium Beach a major facelift (goodbye, heavy dark furnishings), but it’s not the trendy decor that draws travellers here. The upscale, adult-only hotel has so many great amenities (two freshwater pools, three eateries, two bars, yoga, mountain-bike rentals and even a nudist rooftop terrace), you’d think it was in the middle of nowhere, not directly on Playa de San Agustín. The hotel’s 210 airy rooms and suites have a sleek blue-and-white colour scheme and balconies or terraces, nearly all with front or lateral views of the Atlantic. Packages range from room-only to all-inclusive.

The Riu brand has wisely invested in this family-friendly hotel with an excellent location, transforming a dated property into something fresh and stylish. The Hotel Riu Palace Oasis is set right behind long, sandy Playa de Maspalomas, and all the commercial offerings of the beach boardwalk are within an easy walking distance. Riu is impressive not only for its location but for the numbers: there are four heated pools, six restaurants and bars, a spa and fitness centre, a packed entertainment calendar and over 16 acres (6.5ha) of tropical garden grounds – home to more than 1,000 palm trees. Of the 415 rooms and suites, all have bathrobes, minibars, and balconies or terraces; some have private pools.

This Radisson Blu is a family-friendly hotel on the sunny south coast, about a 15-minute drive west from the Dunas de Maspalomas. Hotel facilities are geared toward relaxation, with pools, tennis courts, a spa, a lovely pool bar, and a top-floor bar and grill overlooking the beautiful teal bay. Unlike many of its fellow Gran Canaria beach resorts, Radisson Blu doesn’t offer poolside shows or events, so the mood is considerably calmer than what you might find elsewhere. Also note, all rooms have straight-on sea views. Upgrades come with separate bedrooms and kitchens with washing machines, dining rooms, and Nespresso coffee makers.

For travellers who want fantastic views and self-catering facilities, the sea-facing Servatur Green Beach is a winner. Its 232 apartments start at a generous 460 square feet (43sqm), and all have kitchenettes and private balconies. There’s no sandy beach out front, but the hotel provides a good-sized pool, rooftop whirlpool and direct access to the beach path, which leads to the village of Arguineguín (15 minutes to the south) and sandy, sheltered Playa Anfi del Mar (15 minutes to the north).

San Agustín Beach Club has changed very little over the decades, and that’s exactly why many guests love it so. Between its old-school maritime theme, small size (just 57 rooms), and setting on a sleepy part of the seaside promenade in San Agustín, this traditional hotel appeals largely to an older crowd. Twin kidney-bean-shaped salt and freshwater pools, a pool bar and a whirlpool occupy most of the beach-facing deck. The breakfast buffet is included in the rates, and the hotel’s restaurant is long-loved for its twice-a-week barbecue dinners and elegant four-course meals.

Smack dab in San Agustín’s tourist strip, the romantic Bull Costa Canaria is an all-inclusive wonderland for adults. Of its 245 modern rooms and suites, the most coveted are the handful of poolside suites and beach bungalows. A colourful glass installation, worthy of a Las Vegas casino, hangs over the main restaurant, which has a shaded garden terrace surrounded by palms. Facilities include two bars, three pools, a luxurious light-filled spa with a full thermal circuit, a nudist rooftop terrace and lush tropical gardens reaching directly to the beach.