Gran Canaria Airport Transfers

Before any excursion, the first thing you have to solve on a trip is the transfer from the airport to the hotel and in Gran Canaria is no exception. Here I tell you which are the best alternatives for the moment of your arrival to the island.

Matías Rodríguez

Matías Rodríguez

9 min read

Gran Canaria Airport Transfers

Gran Canaria Airport | ©Ben Sutherland

Arriving at the destination airport during a trip is always a happy moment but it also poses the first problem: figuring out how to get from there to the hotel you booked. In Gran Canaria this is no exception, but at least you have the advantage that the airport is not so far away from the main points of the island.

Whether you are traveling alone, in a group, with family or friends, the options are varied and suit all types of visitors. So that you can sort out airport transfers before you start analyzing the best things to see and do in Gran Canaria, here are the alternatives available so that you can choose the one that best suits your travel plan.

1. Private transfer from the airport of Gran Canaria, the most comfortable option

Car leaving| ©Ricky Hernandez
Car leaving| ©Ricky Hernandez

If you are traveling with other people, this option will be ideal for you, because you can choose a private vehicle that will be at your disposal from the moment of arrival of your flight at the airport of Gran Canaria, with a transfer enabled for 5 passengers and with a final price per vehicle.

These private car transfers include the pick up at the airport by the driver, who will be waiting for you in the arrival area with a sign with your name, a wait with a tolerance of 60 minutes from the moment the plane lands and the transfers of all luggage to the hotel destination.

These transfers are available for all hotels in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, for accommodations in the area of Playa del Ingles, and for the south of the island, in the area of Maspalomas, although at the time of hiring you can also inquire about other destinations within the island.

Interesting details

  • Price... Approximately 58 euros per vehicle for groups of up to 5 people.
  • Duration of the trip... Approximately 30 minutes from the airport of Gran Canaria to Playa del Inglés or Las Palmas.
  • Advantages of this option... It is the most comfortable option and the best value for money if you are traveling with other people.
  • Recommended if... you are planning to visit Gran Canaria with your family or a group of people.

2. Shared bus transfer from the airport of Gran Canaria, the most chosen alternative

Shared bus at the airport| ©Håkan Dahlström
Shared bus at the airport| ©Håkan Dahlström

If you are planning to travel to Gran Canaria alone or with a tight budget you can opt for this option, which consists of a shared bus transfer from the airport to the main points of Las Palmas and other cities of the island. These transfers can be booked in advance online or booked once you arrive at the airport.

Keep in mind that these options are available continuously during the day and are the most chosen alternatives, although at night the services are more spaced out, so if you are going to arrive during the early morning you might have to wait a few hours until the next transfer starts.

This should also be taken into account if you are planning a short stay in the city, as it could subtract hours from your tour. If that is your case, here is a list of activities you can do to discover Gran Canaria in 3 days

Also keep in mind that these tours usually include several stops before reaching your destination. Shared buses are available for transfers to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Maspalomas and the Dunes and other places on the island.

Interesting details

  • Price... Approximately 9 euros per passenger.
  • Duration of the trip... Approximately 60 minutes from Gran Canaria airport to Playa del Ingles, Maspalomas or Las Palmas, although it will depend on the intermediate stops.
  • Advantages of this option... It is an economic option and very used by those who travel alone.
  • Recommended if... You are on a tight budget and traveling alone.

3. Transfer in private minivan from Gran Canaria airport, the best option for groups

Within the airport| ©Chenko
Within the airport| ©Chenko

If you are traveling in groups of up to 8 people, the best option is to hire a private minivan, in which you can comfortably transfer all the luggage and choose the destination of your hotel, which can be in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Maspalomas, Puerto de Mogán or any of the main cities of the island.

These transfers are direct, do not include stops and can be hired at any time, so if you plan to arrive at the airport of Gran Canaria during the early hours of the morning it could be a very useful and comfortable option unlike buses and other shared vehicles.

In these transfers the waiting tolerance is one hour once the flight lands. If you are planning to visit Gran Canaria in December or during the high season months I recommend that you book in advance, as this is a time when many groups of friends and families travel for celebrations, bachelor parties or simply to cruise around the island.

This is also a good alternative for groups visiting the island for weekend getaways, as is often the case during the summer months and high season. The private minivan transfer is often ideal for saving time and getting the most out of your visit to Gran Canaria.

Interesting details

  • Price... Approximately 28 euros per person, up to 8 passengers per vehicle.
  • Travel time... Approximately 40 minutes from Gran Canaria airport to Playa del Ingles, Maspalomas or Las Palmas.
  • Advantages of this option... It is the most comfortable option if you are traveling in a group, have a lot of luggage or plan to arrive at the airport of Gran Canaria in the early morning.
  • Recommended if... You plan to travel in a group.

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4. VIP transfer from Gran Canaria airport for groups up to 3 people, the most exclusive option

Touring the airport| ©Eduardo J
Touring the airport| ©Eduardo J

If you want to travel with the maximum comfort, in the best cars and you are traveling with a small group of people, you can opt for the private VIP transfer, which is the most exclusive option among the transports from the airport of Gran Canaria to your hotel in Las Palmas or in the main cities of the island.

With these transfers you are assured of a direct and comfortable journey, without stops and in the best cars. VIP transfers are available at any time and include a 2 hour courtesy wait from the moment the plane lands at the airport.

Whether you are going to the area of Vegueta, Maspalomas or Playa del Inglés, you can opt for this transfer to travel in a comfortable and exclusive way.

Please note that these transfers are also available for the elderly or people with reduced mobility, although I advise you to make this clear at the time of booking. It is also a good option if you have planned a short stay on the island and do not want to waste time. If that is your case here is a list of activities to discover Gran Canaria in 4 days.

Details of interest

  • Price... Approximately 45 euros per person, up to 3 passengers per vehicle.
  • Duration of the trip... Approximately 30 minutes from Gran Canaria airport to Playa del Ingles, Maspalomas or Las Palmas.
  • Advantages of this option... It is the most exclusive option for transfers from the airport to the main points of the island.
  • Recommended if... You are traveling in a small group or with elderly people or people with reduced mobility.

5. Transfer in shared minivan from the airport of Gran Canaria, an option with a good relation between price and quality

Outside the airport| ©Scott B
Outside the airport| ©Scott B

If you are planning to travel alone to Gran Canaria and you are looking for a more effective transfer than the shared bus, which usually includes more stops, you can choose the shared minivan, which is available 24 hours a day for transfers from the airport to the main points of Las Palmas and other cities of the island.

You can book these transfers in advance and you will not have to worry about flight delays or early morning landings, because the minivan transfer services are also available during the night hours.

Moreover, unlike the shared bus that includes stops at the most popular places in Las Palmas, such as Castillo de la Luz, Vegueta or the Isleta Peninsula, the minivan includes stops at the city's hotels, so you will travel right to the door of your destination.

It also includes stops in the areas near the main attractions and theme parks of Gran Canaria, so it can also be an ideal option in case you want to make an excursion as soon as you arrive on the island.

Interesting details

  • Price... Approximately 22 euros per person.
  • Duration of the trip... Approximately 45 minutes from the airport of Gran Canaria to Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas or Las Palmas, although it will depend on the stops.
  • Advantages of this option... It is a more effective and faster option than the shared bus and is available during the night.
  • Recommended if... You are traveling alone and want to achieve a more effective transfer from Gran Canaria airport to your hotel.

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6. Cab transfer from Gran Canaria airport, the most popular option for night arrivals

Cab in Gran Canaria| ©Henri Brizee
Cab in Gran Canaria| ©Henri Brizee

Cabs are available around the clock at airports and are often a quick and effective solution, especially when you don't have a reservation, your flight was delayed or the plane landed in the early hours of the morning. If you opt for a cab you will ensure 24-hour availability and a transfer with drivers who know the island.

Cab transfers have an initial cost of approximately 25 euros to Las Palmas and approximately 30 euros to Maspalomas or Playa del Inglés, which are the other popular areas of the island.

These rides take about half an hour and are the fastest option for last-minute hires.

While cabs are often emergency options, they are also very safe and convenient alternatives for getting from the airport to your accommodation in Gran Canaria, especially during the early morning hours when some of the private shared services are not available or it is too late to hire them.

Interesting details

  • Price... Approximately 25 euros per transfer, to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and nearby areas.
  • Travel time... Approximately 30 minutes from Gran Canaria airport to Playa del Ingles, Maspalomas or Las Palmas.
  • Advantages of this option... It is the fastest option if you need a last minute transfer.
  • Recommended if... If you don't have a transfer arranged in advance, if your flight is delayed or if you plan to arrive at the airport in the early hours of the morning.

7. Transfer by public transport from Gran Canaria airport, the cheapest alternative

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria| ©Nicolas Vigier
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria| ©Nicolas Vigier

If you do not want to use private transport, you are looking for an economical alternative and you have enough time to opt for public transport, you can use the city buses to transfer from the airport of Gran Canaria to your hotel in Las Palmas, in Maspalomas or in the area of Puerto de Mogán.

Gran Canaria does not have a metro network but there is a wide range of city buses that will take you to every corner of the island and include the airport in their route, especially if you plan to stay in Las Palmas, from where you will have access to the best tours of Gran Canaria.

If you want to travel from the airport to Las Palmas you can take buses lines 60 and 91 and combine them with lines 10, 11 and 17 to the center of the capital. This route is the fastest and will take you in approximately 30 minutes, although it usually has more spaced services during the night. You can also choose to combine lines 60 and 91 with lines 9 and 12 of the so-called guaguas municipales.

If you plan to travel from the airport of Gran Canaria to Maspalomas you can opt for lines 1, 66 and 90 that will take you directly to the area of the Lighthouse in just over 1 hour. You can also join line 91 with line 39. If you travel to Mogán you can combine lines 1 and 91 with lines 84 and 86.

Interesting details

  • Price... It depends on the route, but the pass for each trip on the public transport buses starts at 4 euros.
  • Duration of the trip... Approximately 30 minutes from the airport of Gran Canaria to Las Palmas, 1 hour to Maspalomas and 1 hour and a half to Mogán.
  • Advantages of this option... It is the cheapest option to transfer you from the airport.
  • Recommended if... You do not want to opt for private transport and you have enough time to use public transport.