Gran Canaria Airport sits at Gando on the east coast, roughly halfway between the capital, Las Palmas, to the north and the big holiday resorts to the south. That means the journey from Gran Canaria Airport to Playa del Inglés or Las Palmas is short either way: the bus reaches Las Palmas in under half an hour, and Playa del Inglés is only about half an hour away too. Even Puerto Rico and Mogán in the south-west are around an hour away.
The short answer is that the Global buses are the best choice for most people. Bus 60 runs to Las Palmas, bus 66 goes direct to Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas, and bus 91 serves Arguineguín, Puerto Rico and Mogán. Taxis run on the meter and get expensive the further south-west you go, while a hire car suits you if you’re planning to explore the island anyway. Below you’ll find every option with prices, journey times and where to get off.
Contents
Gran Canaria Airport to Playa del Inglés and Las Palmas at a glance
- Bus 60 to Las Palmas: €2.30 (around £2) to San Telmo and €2.95 (around £2.50) to Santa Catalina, about 20 minutes to San Telmo and 27 minutes to Santa Catalina, running every half hour from 6.15am to 9.15pm and then at 10.15pm and 11.15pm.
- Bus 66 to Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas: €3.50 (around £3) to Playa del Inglés and €4.05 (around £3.40) to Faro de Maspalomas, 25 to 30 minutes to Playa del Inglés and about 45 minutes to Faro, running once an hour from 7.30am to 8.30pm.
- Bus 91 to Arguineguín, Puerto Rico and Mogán: €4.95 (around £4.15) to Arguineguín, €5.45 (around £4.55) to Puerto Rico and €6.80 (around £5.70) to Puerto de Mogán, about 35 minutes to Arguineguín, 45 minutes to Puerto Rico and an hour to Puerto de Mogán, running once or twice an hour from around 6.30am to around 9.30pm.
- Bus 90 heading south: same fares as buses 66 and 91, running roughly once an hour from early morning until late evening, and on weekdays during the daytime it continues to Arguineguín, Puerto Rico and Playa del Cura.
- Night bus 5: €3.50 (around £3) to Playa del Inglés, just under 50 minutes, running roughly once an hour through the night.
- Taxi: metered, roughly €35 to €40 (around £30 to £35) to Las Palmas, €40 to €50 (around £35 to £40) to Playa del Inglés and €65 to €80 (around £55 to £65) to Puerto Rico.
- Hire car: the desks are in the arrivals hall, and the GC-1 motorway runs past the airport both north and south.
How to find your transport at the airport
You arrive on the ground floor, which Aena calls Planta 0. This is where the arrivals halls for international and domestic flights are, and it’s also where you’ll find the car hire desks. The taxi rank is outside on the same level, and you should always take a taxi from the signposted rank by the terminal.
The buses don’t stop at arrivals but up by the departures hall on the first floor, Planta 1. So head up to the departures level and follow the signs for the buses. Incidentally, in the Canary Islands a bus is called a guagua. All the Global routes serving the airport stop here. There’s a ticket machine at the stop, but you can just as easily pay the driver. See the overview on the airport’s bus page.
Buses heading south and buses heading to Las Palmas both stop by the departures hall, but they go in opposite directions. So check the route number and destination on the front of the bus before you get on. If it says Faro de Maspalomas or Puerto de Mogán, the bus is heading south, and if it says Las Palmas or Santa Catalina, it’s heading north.
1. Bus 60 to Las Palmas
Bus 60 is the direct route between the airport and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It runs along the coastal motorway and makes only a handful of stops in the city: San Cristóbal, Lady Harimaguada, Teatro Pérez Galdós, San Telmo bus station, Juan XXIII, Alcaravaneras and the final stop, Santa Catalina. According to Global’s journey planner, the trip takes around 20 minutes to San Telmo and 27 minutes to Santa Catalina.
The bus runs every day. The first departure from the airport is at 6.15am, and after that there’s a bus every half hour until 9.15pm. Then there are just two more departures, at 10.15pm and 11.15pm, so if you land late, keep an eye on the clock. You’ll find the timetable on Global’s page for route 60.
Bus 91 also runs from the airport to Las Palmas when it comes up from Mogán in the south. It makes the same stops in the city and takes roughly the same time, so just hop on whichever bus comes first. Bus 60 suits you if you’re staying in the city, by Las Canteras beach or in the Old Town in Vegueta.
Fares and tickets
The fare depends on the distance. A single ticket to San Telmo costs €2.30 (around £1.90), and to Santa Catalina it costs €2.95 (around £2.50). You can check the fares yourself with Global’s fare calculator.
Children under 4 travel free when they’re with an adult and don’t take up a seat. Large suitcases have to go in the luggage hold under the bus. According to Global’s rules, this applies to anything larger than 40 x 40 x 20 centimetres, while smaller bags can go under the seat or on your lap.
Where to buy your ticket
You buy your ticket from the driver when you board. Tell them where you’re going and they’ll work out the fare. You can pay in cash or by card, and all Global buses have a card reader that also accepts mobile payments. If you’re paying cash, it’s a good idea to have some change on you, as Global asks for the exact amount and doesn’t accept notes over €20 (around £17).
Keep your ticket until you get off. If you’re checked without a ticket, you’ll have to pay again or leave the bus. The rules are set out in Global’s passenger regulations.
Where should you get off?
Teatro Pérez Galdós and San Telmo: Get off here if you’re staying in Triana or in the Old Town in Vegueta, home to the cathedral and Casa de Colón. San Telmo is the city’s main bus station, and from here you can walk to both the Triana shopping street and Vegueta. You can read more about what to see in the city in my guide to things to see on Gran Canaria.
Alcaravaneras: This stop is by the beach of the same name, halfway between San Telmo and Santa Catalina.
Santa Catalina: The final stop is at Parque Santa Catalina in the north of the city, just a few minutes’ walk from Playa de Las Canteras. This is where most people who choose Las Palmas stay, and you can see hotels near Las Canteras here.
2. Bus 66 from Gran Canaria Airport to Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas
Bus 66 is the airport bus to the south coast. It only runs between the airport and Faro de Maspalomas, and it goes straight down the motorway until it reaches the resort areas. Along the way it stops in Bahía Feliz, Playa del Águila and San Agustín, then at a long string of stops in Playa del Inglés, before carrying on past Campo Internacional to the Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse at Meloneras.
According to Global’s journey planner, you’ll reach San Agustín after about 23 minutes, Yumbo Centrum in Playa del Inglés after about half an hour and Faro de Maspalomas after about 45 minutes. The bus runs once an hour every day, leaving the airport at half past every hour from 7.30am to 8.30pm. Check the timetable on Global’s page for line 66.
The catch is that the bus only runs once an hour. If you’ve just missed it, check whether bus 90 is due sooner, as it also goes to Playa del Inglés and Faro de Maspalomas. After the last departure at 8.30pm, you can take bus 90 if it’s still running, the slow line 1 or night bus 5, which also runs to Playa del Inglés in the evening. Otherwise, it’s a taxi.
Fares and tickets
A single ticket costs €2.75 (around £2.30) to Bahía Feliz, €3.50 (around £2.95) to Playa del Inglés and €4.05 (around £3.40) to Faro de Maspalomas. You pay the driver in cash or by card, just as on bus 60, and your suitcases go in the luggage hold.
Where should you get off?
San Agustín: Get off at Shopping Centre San Agustín if you’re staying in quiet San Agustín, east of Playa del Inglés.
Playa del Inglés: The bus stops at lots of places in Playa del Inglés, including Shopping Centre Plaza Maspalomas, Yumbo Centrum, CITA and on Avenida de Tirajana. Work out which stop is closest to your hotel before you board, and it’s a good idea to show the driver the address. You can see hotels in Playa del Inglés here.
Faro de Maspalomas: The last stop is by the lighthouse and the bus station at Meloneras. Get off here if you’re staying in Meloneras or the western part of Maspalomas. If you’re unsure which area suits you best, read my guide to where to stay in Gran Canaria.
3. Bus 91 to Arguineguín, Puerto Rico and Mogán
Bus 91 is the direct route from Las Palmas via the airport to the south-west coast. It doesn’t go into Playa del Inglés, but carries on along the motorway to Arguineguín and then follows the coast via Patalavaca, Puerto Rico, Playa de Amadores, Tauro and Playa del Cura to Taurito and Puerto de Mogán.
According to Global’s journey planner, the trip from the airport takes around 34 minutes to Arguineguín, 43 minutes to Puerto Rico, 46 minutes to Playa de Amadores, 50 minutes to Playa del Cura and about an hour to Puerto de Mogán. It’s the quickest way to reach that part of the island.
The bus starts in Las Palmas, and according to Gran Canaria’s tourist board it reaches the airport about 35 minutes later. From the airport it runs from around 6.30am to around 9.30pm, usually once an hour and twice an hour from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Some services terminate in Taurito instead of Puerto de Mogán, so check the final destination. You’ll find the timetable on Global’s page for route 91.
Fares and tickets
The fare goes up the further you travel. A single ticket costs €4.95 (around £4.15) to Arguineguín, €5.25 (around £4.40) to Patalavaca, €5.45 (around £4.55) to Puerto Rico, €5.90 (around £4.95) to Playa de Amadores and Tauro, €6.35 (around £5.30) to Playa del Cura and €6.80 (around £5.70) to Puerto de Mogán. You pay the driver, just as on the other buses.
Where should you get off?
Arguineguín: The old fishing town is the first stop in the south-west and a good choice if you’d like somewhere a little quieter to stay.
Puerto Rico and Playa de Amadores: The bus stops in Puerto Rico and shortly afterwards at Playa de Amadores. The hotels sit on the slopes around the bay, so check which stop is closest to yours, as some of them are high up the hillside. You can see hotels in Puerto Rico here, and my guide to where to stay on Gran Canaria compares Puerto Rico and Arguineguín with Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés.
Puerto de Mogán: The final stop is at the bus station in Puerto de Mogán, and from there you walk down to the little harbour with its canals.
4. Bus 90, night bus 5 and the slower routes
Bus 90 runs from Telde via the airport to Playa del Inglés and Faro de Maspalomas. It’s semi-direct, which means it detours past the CC Atlántico shopping centre in Vecindario before continuing to the same stops as bus 66 in San Agustín and Playa del Inglés. That makes it slightly slower than bus 66, but it’s a good alternative when there’s a long wait for the next 66.
On weekdays during the daytime, many services continue from Faro de Maspalomas to Arguineguín, Puerto Rico, Playa de Amadores and Playa del Cura. On Saturdays and public holidays, bus 90 only runs as far as Faro de Maspalomas. The bus reaches the airport about a quarter of an hour after leaving Telde and runs roughly once an hour from early morning until late evening. Fares are the same as on buses 66 and 91. See the departures on Global’s page for route 90.
If you land at night, night bus 5 is a lifesaver. It runs between Las Palmas and Faro de Maspalomas via the airport and Playa del Inglés roughly once an hour for most of the night. The journey from the airport to Yumbo Centrum takes just under 50 minutes, and a ticket costs €3.50 (around £2.95), the same as during the day. At night, routes 1 and 5 also run from the airport to Las Palmas. If you’re heading to Puerto Rico or Mogán, route 1 is the last bus. Its final departure from Las Palmas at 11.30pm runs via the airport and Playa del Inglés all the way to Puerto de Mogán.
Routes 1 and 36 also pass through the airport during the day, but they go through the towns along the way and stop frequently. They’re useful if you’re going to one of the towns en route, but for the resorts, buses 66, 90 and 91 are much faster.
5. Taxi from Gran Canaria Airport
Taxis wait outside the arrivals hall on the ground floor. They run on the meter. According to the airport, the flag fall is €3.85 (around £3.20) during the day between 6am and 10pm and €4.25 (around £3.55) at night and on public holidays. Each kilometre costs €1.35 (around £1.15) during the day and €1.55 (around £1.30) at night and on public holidays, and there’s an airport supplement of €2.10 (around £1.75) on top. Over the Christmas period the flag fall is higher. You’ll find the fares on the airport’s taxi page.
That works out at roughly €35 to €40 (around £30 to £35) to Las Palmas, €40 to €50 (around £35 to £40) to Playa del Inglés, €45 to €55 (around £40 to £45) to Maspalomas and Meloneras, €55 to €70 (around £45 to £60) to Arguineguín, €65 to €80 (around £55 to £65) to Puerto Rico and €75 to €90 (around £65 to £75) to Puerto de Mogán. It costs more at night. These are approximate prices, as the final fare depends on the address and the traffic.
A taxi is a good option when there are four of you with lots of luggage heading to Playa del Inglés or Las Palmas, or when you land after the last buses have gone. For Puerto Rico and Mogán, on the other hand, the bus is considerably cheaper, even for a family. Ask the driver whether you can pay by card before you set off, and ask for a receipt.
6. Private transfer and package holiday transfer coach
If you’ve booked a package holiday, the transfer from the airport to your hotel is usually included in the price. The tour operator’s rep or sign will be waiting in the arrivals hall, and you’ll travel by coach with the other guests. It’s easy, but the journey can take longer than on the public bus, as the coach calls at several hotels before it reaches yours.
If you’ve only booked flights and a hotel, you can book a private transfer in advance. The driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign, and the price is agreed before you land. It’s especially handy if you’re landing late with young children, have lots of luggage or are heading far south-west to Puerto Rico or Mogán, where a taxi gets expensive.
Compare the price with the approximate taxi fares above before you book, so you can see whether the transfer is worth the money. It’s also worth asking your hotel whether it can arrange an airport pick-up and what it costs.
7. Car hire from the airport
If you want to explore the island, a hire car is the easiest option, and you can pick it up right at the airport. The desks are in the arrivals halls on the ground floor, where Avis, Cicar, Europcar, Goldcar, Hertz, OK Mobility, Sixt and TopCar, among others, have offices. Depending on the company, you collect the car from the P1 multi-storey car park or from the hire car park. See the list on the airport’s car hire page.
From the airport you drive straight onto the GC-1 motorway, which follows the east coast north to Las Palmas and south past Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas and Puerto Rico to Mogán. Allow around 20 to 25 minutes to Las Palmas and about half an hour to Playa del Inglés in normal traffic.
A car is best if you want to head up into the mountains to Tejeda and Roque Nublo or round to the towns in the north. If you’re staying in Las Palmas, though, parking is difficult, so there I’d only hire a car for the days you’re going on a trip. Read the contract carefully, especially the rules on insurance, excess and fuel, before you sign.
Onward to Tenerife and Fuerteventura
If you’re heading on to one of the other islands, you’ll go by plane or ferry. Domestic flights leave the airport for the other Canary Islands, so you can stay at the airport if you’re travelling on straight away.
The ferry to Tenerife sails from Agaete on the north-west coast to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the crossing takes around 80 minutes. You can get to Agaete by bus from Las Palmas, and you can buy your ferry ticket to Tenerife here. Ferries to Fuerteventura sail from the port in Las Palmas to Morro Jable.
If your trip continues, you can read my guides to where to stay in Tenerife and where to stay in Fuerteventura.
Getting back to the airport
From Las Palmas, bus 60 leaves Santa Catalina every half hour from 5.15am to 8.15pm, and then at 9.15pm and 10.15pm. It stops at San Telmo on the way, and from San Telmo the journey to the airport takes around 20 minutes. Bus 91 from Mogán also stops at the airport on its way to Las Palmas.
From Faro de Maspalomas, bus 66 runs once an hour from 6.30am to 7.30pm, stopping in Playa del Inglés and San Agustín along the way. From Yumbo Centrum the journey takes around half an hour. From Puerto de Mogán and Puerto Rico, bus 91 runs roughly once an hour from morning to evening, and from Puerto Rico the journey takes around 40 minutes. If you’re catching a very early flight, night bus 5 runs from Faro de Maspalomas via Playa del Inglés to the airport roughly once an hour during the night.
Timetables can change, so check your departure in Global’s timetables before you travel and allow plenty of time. If you have time to spare after security, you can book access to the Galdós VIP lounge at the airport here.
Which option should you choose?
Here’s my recommendation based on where you’re staying:
Las Palmas: Take bus 60 or bus 91 towards Las Palmas. Get off at San Telmo if you’re staying in Triana or Vegueta, and stay on to Santa Catalina if you’re staying near Las Canteras.
Playa del Inglés and San Agustín: Take bus 66, or bus 90 if it comes first. If there are four of you with lots of luggage, a taxi at around 40 to 50 euros (around £35 to £40) is a good alternative that takes you right to the door.
Maspalomas and Meloneras: Take bus 66 to the last stop, Faro de Maspalomas. If you’re staying a long way from the stop, a taxi can be worth it. If you’d like to stay by the beach in Meloneras, you can see hotels in Meloneras here.
Arguineguín, Puerto Rico and Mogán: Take bus 91. It runs direct and is far cheaper than a taxi at 65 to 90 euros (around £55 to £75).
If you land at night: Night bus 5 runs roughly once an hour to Playa del Inglés and Faro de Maspalomas. If you’re heading to Puerto Rico or Mogán after the last departure on line 1, a taxi or a pre-booked transfer is the only direct option.
If you want to explore the island: Hire a car at the airport, and you’ll be free to drive to the mountains and the towns in the north.
Practical tips for getting from Gran Canaria Airport to Playa del Inglés and beyond
Go up to the departures hall. The buses stop at the departures level on the first floor, not at the arrivals hall where the taxis wait.
Say where you’re going. Fares on Global’s buses depend on distance, so tell the driver your stop when you get on, and pay by card or with small change.
Check the final destination. Buses heading south and towards Las Palmas both stop at the departures hall. Look for the route number and the final destination so you don’t go the wrong way.
Have your suitcase ready for the luggage hold. Large suitcases go under the bus, so stand by the hold when the bus pulls in, and remember to take your case out again when you get off.
Choose your hotel based on the connections. Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas have bus 66 once an hour plus bus 90, while Puerto Rico and Mogán have bus 91 once or twice an hour. If you’re unsure about the area, read my guide to where to stay in Gran Canaria.
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