Angela & Stefan

Weather

In October the temperature is generally between 21º and 27º Celsius / 70º to 80º Fahrenheit.

• Daytime: Usually sunny, and the sun can be quite strong, but In Las Palmas there is generally a light breeze that makes it quite pleasant! You will be most comfortable in shorts and t-shirts, or sundresses.
• Evening: It gets cooler, you will need a light cardigan, sweater or jacket, but it is still warm enough to sit outside at restaurants until late.
• Rain: Very rare so don’t worry about it, no need to pack your umbrella.
• Sunbathing & Swimming: It is definitely possible to lie on the beach and get a tan, go for a nice swim or even try surfing. Water temp is usually around 23º Celsius / 74º Fahrenheit.

‘Panza de Burro’: Translates to ‘donkey’s belly’ and is a weather phenomenon that occurs in Las Palmas - basically a bank of low, grey clouds that can obscure the sun. It is more common in July and August though so we should be ok in October!

‘Calima’: This is a hot, dry wind from the Sahara Desert, which can occur in Las Palmas in late Summer, early Autumn. It can carry over sand from the Saharan sandstorms, which can make visibility a little hazy and puts a fine layer of dust over everything. The worst is usually over in August and September though, so again, we should be ok in October!

Sunscreen: You will need it and should use it! And don’t forget to stay hydrated!!

Restaurants & Tipping

There are a LOT of restaurants (see further below for some of our personal recommendations) at all prices and quality levels. Selections may seem a bit similar from place to place, especially along Canteras beach, but the food is generally good!

Tipping is not mandatory like in the US, but appreciated for good service, and is becoming more common in the more touristy areas. 5-10% is usually considered common practice if you were happy with the service.

Money, Money, Money

The local currency is the Euro. Most shops, restaurants, bars and taxis take debit and credit cards, but it doesn’t hurt to have a bit of cash in your wallet just in case. Most places also take Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.

There are ATMs everywhere - try to use one attached to a bank if at all possible. There will likely be fees associated with any withdrawals so keep an eye on what it says on the terminal. And as always when at an ATM - be aware of your surroundings!

Safety First

Las Palmas is pretty safe with low crime rates, but as for anywhere, don’t leave your bags lying around unsupervised, or your phones or wallets on restaurant tables without keeping an eye on them! Pickpockets are not a big problem, but keep your wits about you nonetheless!

It is generally safe to walk back to your accommodation alone at night, but be careful anyway! Especially if it's very late and the streets are very quiet! If sunbathing on the beach, DO NOT leave your stuff unattended if you want to go dip your toes in the water (there are lockers at various points along the beach where you can safely store your belongings).

Along Canteras beach and the waterfront restaurants there can sometimes be beggars, or people trying to sell jewelry or gadgets, etc., but they are generally good humored and will not insist once you’ve said no a couple of times!

Local Resources & Emergency Numbers

If the worst occurs and you do find yourself in need of urgent police, fire or medical assistance, call 112. You should be able to dial directly from any phone or mobile. The phone lines are manned 24 hours a day and calls are answered in 5 languages: Spanish, English, German, French and Italian (more info at www.112canarias.com).

Non-emergency Police Complaints

If you wish to contact the Police Complaint Service directly for less urgent issues, you can call +34 902 102 112, where calls are answered in Spanish, German, English, French and Italian, between 9 am and 9 pm.

Non-critical but still Urgent medical issues

For medical emergencies that you don’t need an ambulance for, but you can’t wait to find a Doctor / clinic or appointment, you can go directly to an ER:

• Canteras / La Isleta / Catalina / Mesa y Lopez area: HPS Socorro - there is a small walk-in ER where you can get fixed up.
• Vegueta / Old Town / Escalaritas / Tamaraceite: Hospital Universitario Insular de Gran Canaria or Hospital Doctor Negrin.

Non-emergency Medical Issues

For minor problems, for example if you forgot your prescription, sprain an ankle, get a cut you want checked out, get man flu or a stomach bug, there are walk-in clinics where you can be seen relatively promptly. Here are some options for English speaking GPs near / on Canteras beach:

• Dr. Julio Cesar Dominguez Tato Medicina General, C. Fernando Guanarteme, 28, Bajo, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas
• Centro Médico ANFELPE, Calle Sagasta 62, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35008

Pharmacies

For minor issues like sunburn, dehydration or insect bites, just look for a big green cross! There is usually at least one pharmacy open after hours in each area - the info should be on the door of all pharmacies, or you can find the info here: Pharmacy Guard Search.

European Health Insurance Card

The EHIC will give you access to state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay anywhere on Gran Canaria - it will cover medically necessary treatment that can’t wait until you return home.

Shopping

Any shop you can find elsewhere in Europe, and some you can find in the US, you can also find in Las Palmas - especially in some of the big shopping centres. And there are also a lot of local boutiques to check out as well! Here are some recommendations if you feel a shopping spree coming on!

• Centro Commercial Las Arenas: At the southern end of the Canteras Beach (location) - a nice walk if you are staying in one of the beach hotels. They have ALL the shops, including Primark!
• Centro Commercial El Muelle: Near Catalina Park / the Port (location) - there are a lot less shops but there are still a few interesting ones and some places to grab a quick bite.
• El Corte Inglés: In the Mesa y Lopez area (location) - This is a bit more upmarket (think Brown Thomas in Dublin, NK in Stockholm or Saks in NY) with several floors dedicated to designer clothes, though you can still find some good bargains.
• Alisios: In the Tamaraceite area, about 8 km from the city centre, with a food court and cinema.
• El Mirador: About 15km south of Las Palmas.

Eating & Drinking

There are a LOT of places to eat in Las Palmas. Here are some we have particularly liked around the Canteras / Catalina / Mesa y Lopez area, but check out reviews on Trip Advisor, Expedia, etc. :) Most places don’t have a website to check out the menu, but you can usually find pics and reviews on Google Maps!

*** Be sure to check out the opening hours in advance! A lot of places close after lunch and don’t re-open until 7pm or later for dinner!

• The Hook – try the Kangaroo Tataki - you won’t regret it! They also have a lovely burrata salad and great house nachos.
• De Contrabando - for some really nicely flavored tapas plates to share.
• Samurai II - an Asian restaurant with a massive menu – you pay a set price (16.50 euros) for the food, write your choices on a piece of paper and they are brought to your table as they are ready – you can keep on ordering til you can’t eat any more! The gyozas are especially delicious!
• El Bento - Japanese restaurant with the best tuna tartare I have ever tasted, the Omakaze is also really worth a visit!
• Fuego & Grano - they are under new ownership now but still have some of our favourites on the menu – the sirloin with kimchi sauce is lovely!
• Tsuruta Ramen - funky new tokyo-inspired ramen place - worth a visit just for the decor alone.
• Nakar
• El Rincon de Triana - mostly fab food, though with a couple of weird twists that just do not work – a blob of vanilla ice cream on the carpaccio and strawberry flavored butter for the bread … 😀
• Gambrinus - they have a huge selection of local delicacies and a massive wine cellar! Some of my family’s favorites are the Shoulder of Lamb, the foie gras, or the local carilleras (pork cheek).
• Nakar Restaurante - really nice place with good food - the beef tartare is very tasty!.
• Trattoria Pizzeria Calabrè Las Palmas - pizza that’s as good as any you can find in Italy (or NY :D )
• Restaurante La Quilla - has some very nice fresh, local fish dishes and a fairly decent paella.
• Restaurante Origen Steakhouse - fabulous steaks – if you want some really nice kobe you need to call in advance to reserve it.
• Taberna Chica