Las PalmasCruise Port Guide
Step off at Santa Catalina and the beach is a flat twelve-minute walk. The old town and the island's mountain peaks need a ride, so decide how long you have first.
Welcome to Las Palmas
Pro Picks
Island day trip · 7.5 hrsPico de las Nieves and Roque Nublo day trip
An air-conditioned drive up to Gran Canaria's highest point, the Roque Nublo rock, a cheese-and-honey stop at the Cross of Tejeda and the village of Teror. It leaves from the city centre and runs 7.5 hours, so check your all-aboard time first.
From $53.93/ person
Book Now →
Snorkeling · 2.5 hrsLas Canteras beach snorkeling trip
A guided snorkel off the city beach, about a 12-minute walk from the terminal, where the guide points out octopus, rays and parrotfish. Start times shift with the tide, so you get the exact time only after booking.
From $43.84/ person
Book Now →
Walking tour · 1 hrVegueta old town walking tour
A one-hour guided walk around the cathedral and cobbled lanes of Vegueta, in English only. It meets on Calle HerrerÃa, about three miles from the terminal, so allow a taxi ride each way.
From $10.11/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Las Palmas in 2 hours
Tuk-tuk city tour
Old-town tour by tuk-tuk
A private 90-minute ride through Triana and Vegueta, past Castillo de Mata and the viewpoints, so you see the old town without finding a taxi. It meets at Muelle Wilson in the port; arrive 15 minutes early.
From$39.25
Time required1.5 hours
Hop-on hop-off bus
Hop-on hop-off bus
A 24-hour ticket on an open-top bus with 11 stops, starting at Parque Santa Catalina next to the port. The first bus leaves at 10:00 and the last at 17:00, every 45 minutes, so late arrivals get a shorter day.
From$28.04
Time required1 hour 15 minutes per loop
Workshop
Painting class with Canarian wine
A two-hour acrylic painting session for up to eight, with two glasses of local wine and cold bites. It is in Santa Catalina, a few minutes from the terminal; the wine is for ages 18 and over.
From$43.74
Time required2 hours
Walking tour
Harbour and beach walk with a local
A small-group walk of up to 10 around Santa Catalina, the harbour and Las Canteras, meeting beside the bus station five minutes from the dock. It is billed as a sunset tour, so ask whether a daytime slot is offered.
From$13.46
Time required1.5 hours
Las Palmas in 4 hours
Snorkeling
Las Canteras beach snorkeling trip
A guided 2.5-hour snorkel off the city beach, which is a flat 12-minute walk from the terminal. Start times depend on weather and tide and are confirmed after you book.
From$43.84
Time required2.5 hours
Surf lesson
Surf lesson at La Laja beach
A group lesson on a quiet volcanic-sand beach about ten minutes from the city centre, with a private option. The meeting spot is on the beach, so plan a taxi from the terminal both ways.
From$44.86
Time required2.5 hours
Las Palmas in 8 hours
Island day trip
Pico de las Nieves and Roque Nublo day trip
A guided 7.5-hour loop to the island's highest peak, Roque Nublo, the Cross of Tejeda and Teror, leaving from the city centre. Bring a layer: it is much cooler at the summit than on the coast.
From$53.93
Time required7.5 hours
Island day trip
Red Canyon day trip with lunch
An eight-hour coach trip through the Tirajana caldera to the La Fortaleza caves, with a short hike and a local lunch. It is 1.5 hours each way and picks up at city-centre points, so only a long call fits.
From$129.19
Time required8 hours
Within a stroll of the boat
Six stops on foot from the Santa Catalina terminal, with Las Canteras beach the farthest at about a 12-minute walk. The old town, Vegueta, isn't on the map: it is a short taxi or bus ride south.
Plaza · 0.3 mi · ~7 min
Parque Santa Catalina
The seafront park beside the port, ringed with cafés and the place the hop-on hop-off bus starts. The easiest first stop for a coffee before you decide where to go.
Museum · 0.2 mi · ~6 min
Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la TecnologÃa
The science and technology museum on the edge of the park. It is on the way to the beach, and the hop-on hop-off ticket includes admission.
Aquarium · 0.3 mi · ~8 min
Poema del Mar aquarium
A harbour-side aquarium with 35 ecosystems from around the world and the Canary Islands, open 9:30 to 5:30 every day. Allow a couple of hours inside.
Beach · 0.5 mi · ~12 min
Playa de Las Canteras
The long city beach, reached through the El Muelle shopping centre and down Calle Luis Morote to a promenade lined with tapas bars. The sheltered Playa Chica end is the swimming spot.
Market · 0.5 mi · ~12 min
Mercado del Puerto
A market building on Calle Albareda in the port district, a little north of the terminal. Check opening hours when you arrive.
Landmark · 0.5 mi · ~12 min
Castillo de la Luz
A fort in the La Isleta district at the north end of the port, the farthest pin here. Hours weren't confirmed, so treat it as a look from outside.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Las Palmas.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria)?
Cruise ships in Las Palmas dock alongside at the Santa Catalina Pier, beside the city's cruise terminal at Muelle de Santa Catalina, so there is no tender. The terminal operator also names the Sanapú Dock, where the Poema del Mar aquarium stands. Lines seen calling include MSC, Costa, Holland America, Celebrity, Norwegian and Virgin Voyages. Which berth each ship gets isn't published, so check your ship's daily program.
Is there anything to do at the Las Palmas cruise port?
Yes: Global Ports Holding puts the Las Palmas terminal about 390 metres from the city centre, and the El Muelle shopping centre, Parque Santa Catalina and the Elder science museum are all within a few minutes' walk. Las Canteras beach is about 12 minutes away on flat ground, and the Poema del Mar aquarium is 0.3 miles from the terminal. The stroll map shows each stop with its walking time.
Can you walk from the Las Palmas cruise port into town?
Yes for the modern city centre, no for the old town. Parque Santa Catalina and the Santa Catalina bus station are about 0.3 miles, a 7-minute walk, from the Las Palmas terminal, but Vegueta, the historic quarter with the cathedral, is about 3 miles south and needs a taxi or bus. The stroll map shows what you can reach on foot.
How do I get from the Las Palmas cruise port to Vegueta old town?
Take a taxi or a bus: Vegueta, the old town with the cathedral and Casa de Colón, is about 3 miles south of the Las Palmas terminal, and guides call it a short ride. The terminal has a taxi station and city taxis are metered, and one guide says a taxi can drop you at Plaza de Santa Ana. The hop-on hop-off bus also stops at Vegueta, and a tuk-tuk tour covers it in the 2-hour options.
Are there taxis or a shuttle at the Las Palmas cruise terminal?
Taxis yes, a ship-style shuttle no: the Las Palmas Cruise Port operator lists a taxi station among the terminal's services, and Global Ports Holding says the port has no shuttle service. City taxis are metered. The Santa Catalina bus station, for the yellow city buses and the blue island buses, is next to the port, and shore-excursion buses usually pick up at the terminal.
Is there a hop-on hop-off bus at the Las Palmas cruise port?
Yes: a hop-on hop-off bus starts at Parque Santa Catalina, a short walk from the Las Palmas cruise terminal. The ticket is valid for 24 hours with 11 stops, including Vegueta, Poema del Mar and Las Canteras, and is listed from $28.04. Buses run every 45 minutes from 10:00 to 17:00 and a loop takes 1 hour 15 minutes, so a late arrival gets a shorter day. See the 2-hour options.
How far is the Poema del Mar aquarium from the Las Palmas cruise port?
About 0.3 miles, a walk of roughly 8 minutes: the Poema del Mar aquarium stands on the Sanapú Dock in the harbour, one of the two docks the terminal operator names. It is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day, has 35 ecosystems, and skip-the-line tickets are listed from $32.52. One visitor spent just over three hours inside. It is one of the stops on the stroll map.
Beaches & water
Can you walk to a beach from the Las Palmas cruise port?
Yes: Playa de Las Canteras is about 0.5 miles from the Las Palmas terminal, a flat walk that two 2026 guides put at 10 to 15 minutes. The usual route runs through the El Muelle shopping centre and down Calle Luis Morote to a brick promenade lined with snack bars and tapas bars. The sheltered Playa Chica end is the one recommended for swimming. See the stroll map.
Can I snorkel at Las Canteras beach without a ship tour?
The snorkeling option we found at Las Canteras is a guided 2.5-hour trip, listed from $43.84 per person, and the beach is about a 12-minute walk from the Las Palmas terminal. The start time depends on weather and tide and is confirmed after you book. No source we read says whether snorkeling on your own is allowed or where, so ask before you go in. See the half-day options.
Tours & time ashore
What are good tours and excursions from Las Palmas around Gran Canaria?
The best-reviewed island excursion from Las Palmas is the 7.5-hour Pico de las Nieves and Roque Nublo day trip, listed from $53.93 with 1,283 reviews on GetYourGuide, and the Red Canyon day trip runs 8 hours. Closer to the ship, a tuk-tuk old-town tour, a hop-on hop-off bus and a snorkel trip off Las Canteras fit shorter stops. The time plans lay them out by hours.
Can you visit Roque Nublo and Pico de las Nieves on a cruise stop?
Only on a long call: the Pico de las Nieves and Roque Nublo day trip runs 7.5 hours and leaves from the Las Palmas city center, with pickup details shown when you check availability. One guide says most ships are in port 6 to 8 hours, which is shorter than the trip, so check your ship's all-aboard time first. The 8-hour plans show it and the Red Canyon alternative.
How much can I see in Las Palmas on a cruise stop?
In 2 hours you can stay by the port: Parque Santa Catalina is a 7-minute walk, and a hop-on hop-off loop or a 90-minute tuk-tuk tour fits. With 4 hours, add Las Canteras beach, about a 12-minute walk, or a guided snorkel trip. The island day trips to Roque Nublo and the Red Canyon take 7.5 to 8 hours, so they only suit the longest calls. See the 2-hour plans.
Money, safety & connections
What currency does Las Palmas use, and are cards accepted?
Las Palmas uses the euro, and two 2026 guides say cards are widely accepted and ATMs are easy to find near the port. The terminal operator also lists a currency exchange among the terminal's services. No source we read says whether US dollars are accepted, so plan to pay in euros or by card.
Do I need a passport in Las Palmas on a cruise?
Bring your passport: US Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise (one that starts and ends at the same US port) can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate and government photo ID, but warns they may still need a passport for the countries the ship visits. Spain is in the Schengen area, which asks that a non-EU passport be valid at least 3 months after you leave and issued within the last 10 years.
Is Las Palmas safe for cruise passengers?
The US State Department rates Spain Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, in an advisory issued 2026-07-31 that doesn't single out Las Palmas. Guides warn of pickpockets in tourist areas, especially at crowded events such as Carnival, and one names the bus station, Calle Triana and the area around the cathedral, so keep bags closed and phones out of back pockets.
Is there Wi-Fi at the Las Palmas cruise terminal?
Yes: the Las Palmas Cruise Port operator lists Wi-Fi among the terminal's guest services, alongside a taxi station, currency exchange and wheelchair assistance. It doesn't say whether the Wi-Fi is free or how fast it is, so don't count on it for anything you must get done before the ship leaves.