Gran Canaria at Christmas: a complete guide to lights, markets and things to do

Gran Canaria at Christmas combines the best of both worlds: a festive atmosphere with lights, markets, nativity scenes and concerts, and a mild climate that lets you keep enjoying the beaches, dunes and inland villages. If you're thinking of travelling to Gran Canaria at Christmas, this guide answers the most common questions about the weather, key dates and the best things to do during the festive season on the island.

1. What's the weather like in Gran Canaria at Christmas?

The weather in Gran Canaria at Christmas is mild and fairly settled. Daytime temperatures are around 18–22 °C, with nights of about 15–17 °C, and there's plenty of sunshine: an average of around 7 hours a day. Rainfall is low, usually limited to short showers on between 3 and 5 days throughout the month, and the sea stays at around 20–21 °C, a temperature many travellers find pleasant for a swim.

Gran Canaria has several microclimates. The capital and the north are a little cooler and cloudier, while the south (Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Puerto Rico) tends to be sunnier. Inland, in areas such as Tejeda or around Roque Nublo, it's considerably cooler, so it's a good idea to bring a light jacket and dress in layers.

2. When are the Christmas lights switched on in Gran Canaria?

Christmas lights are switched on in late November and early December, with each municipality holding its own event. The highlight is the official switch-on in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, usually held on a Thursday in Plaza de Santa Ana, in Vegueta, with a countdown and a light and sound show. In 2025 it took place on Thursday 4 December at 8 pm, and in 2024 on Thursday 28 November. In 2025, the neighbourhoods also gradually switched on their decorations from 26 November until the official event, and the city was illuminated by more than four million LED lights.

The other municipalities have their own schedules: Mogán, for example, switched on its lights on 29 November in 2025. As each town council announces its date every year, check the official programme for the municipality you're planning to visit if your trip falls during those weeks.

3. What Christmas markets are there in Gran Canaria?

The island has more than ten Christmas markets, spread across the capital, the south and the inland villages. The best known include:

• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Parque Santa Catalina): the "Christmas City", with a Christmas market, funfair, skating rink and food area. In 2025 it opened on 4 December and ran until 5 January, with reduced opening hours on 25 December and 1 January.
• Maspalomas (Parque Sur): a Christmas market that usually opens from 20 December and runs until early January.
• Teror: a Christmas market in Plaza del Pino and Calle Real, usually on the third weekend of December.
• Vegueta (Las Palmas): a craft market that usually opens from 22 December until the first few days of January.
• FEDAC Christmas Craft Fair: a craft fair held in the first few days of January around Parque de San Telmo.
• Other village markets: such as those in Arucas, San Mateo, Agüimes, Gáldar, Tejeda or Moya, usually smaller and with a very local atmosphere.

Dates and opening hours change every year, so check the schedule for the market you want to visit before planning your trip.

4. What is there to do in Gran Canaria at Christmas?

At Christmas, Gran Canaria lets you combine time in town with time in nature on the same day. Here are a few ideas:

• Stroll through Las Palmas under the lights, enjoying the light and sound shows in Plaza de Santa Ana, Triana and the Las Canteras area, and the atmosphere in Vegueta and Santa Catalina.
• Visit the nativity scenes: such as the famous sand nativity scene on Las Canteras beach, the one in San Telmo or the one at the Castillo de Mata Museum.
• Attend the Los Gofiones Christmas Concert, a traditional event held on 23 December in Plaza de Santa Ana.
• Enjoy the skating rink and funfair in Parque Santa Catalina, a very popular outing for families.
• Visit Teror, with its Basílica del Pino and historic centre, which fills with Christmas atmosphere and markets.
• Walk through the Maspalomas Dunes and along the beaches in the south, enjoying the sunshine and temperatures that make Christmas in the Canary Islands so special.
• Go hiking inland, on routes such as those around Tejeda and Roque Nublo, which are much more comfortable in December's weather.
• Watch the Three Kings parade: on the afternoon of 5 January, with a procession through the streets of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and other towns on the island.

5. How to get to Gran Canaria by ferry from Spain

Christmas is one of the busiest times of year, so if you want to travel by ferry to Gran Canaria (a very practical way to take your own car, bulky luggage or Christmas presents and explore the island freely), it's best to book in advance. From mainland Spain, you can reach the island from two ports:

• Cádiz - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ferry: a long crossing, with only a few sailings a week.
• Huelva - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ferry: another option from Andalusia, also with only a few weekly sailings.

At Kikoto Ferries, you can compare schedules and prices from all ferry companies serving the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and book your return ticket in just a few minutes.

Gran Canaria at Christmas offers a combination that's hard to beat: lights, markets and local traditions in a mild climate, with beaches, dunes and mountains just a few kilometres apart. If you're looking for a different kind of festive break, without the cold and with plenty to do, this island is one of the best options in the Canary Islands.