You just landed — now what? The first 48 hours on Gran Canaria

From the airport to the south: How to get away

Gran Canaria airport (LPA) sits on the east coast, about 25 minutes by car from the tourist south. There are three options to reach Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés or Las Palmas.

The cheapest: the bus. Global (the island's bus company) runs line 66 from the airport directly to Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés. The journey takes about 40 minutes and costs around 4 euros. Buses run roughly every 30 minutes, including evenings. Tickets from the machine at the stop or from the driver (cash). To Las Palmas, take line 60 — about 25 minutes, similar price.

The most comfortable: a taxi. From the airport to Maspalomas costs about 40 to 50 euros. There is an official taxi queue directly outside the arrivals hall. No app needed, no negotiation — the meter runs.

The most flexible: a rental car. The major providers (Cicar, Goldcar, Europcar) are at the airport. Cicar is local and has the best reputation. Book ahead in high season. A small car costs from about 20 euros per day. For the first few days a rental car is often unnecessary — most expats only rent once they have a flat.

SIM card: First stop after landing

Without a Spanish phone number, very little works. You need one for rental contracts, bank accounts, authorities, delivery services and WhatsApp groups. EU roaming works, but most providers throttle after a few weeks or charge supplements for permanent use abroad.

The easiest solution: a prepaid SIM from Movistar, Vodafone or Orange. Available in any large supermarket (Spar, Carrefour), in provider shops in Las Palmas or in Centro Comercial Yumbo in Playa del Inglés. Cost: from about 10 euros for a SIM with data. Passport or ID card required — Spanish law mandates identification for SIM purchases.

Tip: Many expats switch after the first weeks to a contract with Digi or Lowi — cheap providers with good coverage that can be set up entirely online. But for that you need a NIE number and a Spanish bank account — both covered in upcoming articles in this series.

First accommodation: Where to spend the first week

Most expats and nomads don't arrive with a signed lease. The first week is for orientation: Where do I actually want to live? South or capital? Resort or city?

For the south (Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, San Agustín): Holiday apartments via Booking or Airbnb are the standard solution for the first days. Prices vary widely — from 40 euros per night for a studio, from 70 for a one-bedroom. In high season (December to March) significantly more expensive.

For Las Palmas: Similar situation, but with more hostel and co-living options. The Reykjavik District in Guanarteme and the area around Santa Catalina are popular with digital nomads.

Important: Do not sign a long-term rental contract in the first days. Take a week, get to know the area, talk to people already living here. The housing market on Gran Canaria has its own rules — a detailed article on that is coming in this series.

Shopping: What you need on day one

The big supermarkets in the south: Spar is everywhere and has the longest opening hours. HiperDino is the second-largest Canarian chain. Lidl and Aldi are in Playa del Inglés and San Fernando. Mercadona, Spain's largest supermarket, has branches in Vecindario and Las Palmas — worth it for bulk shopping.

Prices: Groceries in the Canary Islands are often cheaper than on the Spanish mainland thanks to the reduced IGIC (VAT, currently 0% on basic foodstuffs). Imported products (German brands, specialist organic items) cost more. Fruit and vegetables from the local market are cheap and fresh — the Mercadillo de San Fernando (Wednesday and Saturday) is the largest in the south.

Drinking water: Tap water is technically drinkable but heavily mineralised and most people don't like the taste. Nearly everyone buys garrafas — 5-litre or 8-litre water bottles from the supermarket. Cost: about 1 euro for 8 litres.

Orientation: South or Las Palmas?

The biggest decision for new expats. Both options have clear pros and cons.

The south (Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, San Agustín, Meloneras): More sunshine (the south has statistically 30 per cent fewer clouds than the north), beach proximity, quieter, tourist-oriented infrastructure. Downside: less urban life, less cultural offering, car dependency for anything outside the tourist zones.

Las Palmas: Big city (380,000 inhabitants), urban life, co-working scene, Playa de Las Canteras, restaurants, nightlife, better public transport. Downside: more clouds in winter (the north is wetter), more street noise, higher rents in the popular neighbourhoods.

What can wait beyond the first 48 hours

Applying for a NIE number — important, but not possible in the first two days. You need an appointment at the Policía Nacional, and waiting times are often one to three weeks. Book the appointment online as early as possible — we explain how in the next article.

Opening a bank account — you only need this once you have the NIE. Some banks (N26, Revolut) work temporarily with your EU address.

Empadronamiento (registering your address) — only possible once you have a fixed address. Requires a rental contract or a landlord's certificate.

Tax residency — comes much later. Only once you spend more than 183 days in a calendar year in Spain do you become tax resident. Details in a dedicated article.

This is the first article in a series that guides you through the entire process of settling on Gran Canaria. Next up: How to get your NIE number — the most important document for everything that follows.