🇪🇸Playa del Inglés

Playa del Inglés on Gran Canaria offers families golden beaches, giant dunes, water parks, and year-round sunshine. Here is everything you need to plan your trip.

Your family guide

Playa del Inglés with kids: beaches, dunes and water parks

“Golden beaches, desert dunes and year-round sunshine. Playa del Inglés delivers Gran Canaria's best family beach holiday.”

— San & Jo

Playa del Inglés sits on the sunny south coast of Gran Canaria, and it has one job: making sure you have a brilliant beach holiday. It does that job very well. Kilometres of golden sand, warm and calm Atlantic water, and year-round sunshine make this one of the most reliably great beach destinations in Europe for families.

What sets it apart from other sun-and-sand resorts is the Maspalomas Dunes right next door. These towering golden dunes stretch all the way to the ocean, and walking through them with your kids feels genuinely adventurous, like you have stumbled into a mini Sahara. At sunset, the whole landscape turns amber and it is absolutely stunning.

The resort itself is busy, colourful, and very tourist-friendly. You will find water parks, theme parks, camel rides, and a long beachfront promenade. It is not the place to come for a quiet, off-the-beaten-track experience, but if your family wants a proper beach holiday packed with things to do, Playa del Inglés delivers every single time.

Year-round sunshine300+ sunny days per year

Gran Canaria, SpainSouth coast, Canary Islands

Largest resort in SpainFounded in 1960

Best things to do

Best things to do in Playa del Inglés

Walk the Maspalomas Dunes at sunset

These dramatic golden dunes stretch right to the ocean and feel like a different world. The 3 km walk from the beach to the Maspalomas Lighthouse takes you past the Charca de Maspalomas lagoon and through one of Gran Canaria's most iconic landscapes. Sunset here is absolutely stunning.

Go in the late afternoon for the best light and cooler temperatures

2-3 hours

Splash around at Aqualand

One of the largest water parks in the Canary Islands, Aqualand has around 40 slides including the famous Anaconda ride. There are gentler slides and splash zones for smaller kids too, so the whole family can make a full day of it.

Arrive early to beat the queues for the biggest slides

Full day

Hit the beach and try water sports

The main beach at Playa del Inglés is wide, long, and great for swimming. Older kids and teens can try surfing, bodyboarding, windsurfing, jet-skiing, and water-skiing. The water is warm and calm enough for younger children to paddle safely in most conditions.

Head to Playa de Tarajalillo for a quieter, more local beach vibe

Half day or more

Visit the Maspalomas Space Center

This is one of those facts that genuinely impresses kids: this tracking station was the first place on Earth to receive Neil Armstrong's voice when he stepped onto the Moon on 21 July 1969. The history here is extraordinary and makes for a fascinating stop between beach days.

A great rainy-day option and a real conversation starter for curious kids

1-2 hours

Explore Palmitos Park

Palmitos Park combines a zoo, botanical garden, tropical bird shows, and orchid displays in one visit. It is set in a beautiful valley and feels genuinely different from a typical theme park. Kids love the free-flying birds and the variety of animals on show.

Check the bird show schedule when you arrive to plan your route around it

3-4 hours

Evening fun at Holiday World

When the sun goes down, Holiday World keeps the energy up with a rollercoaster, Ferris wheel, and bowling. It is a fun, low-key theme park experience that works well as an evening activity after a long beach day, especially for kids who still have energy to burn.

Great for evenings when you want something beyond the promenade

2-3 hours

Catamaran trip for dolphin watching

Catamaran and speedboat tours depart regularly from the area for dolphin watching, snorkelling, and swimming in clear Atlantic waters. Spotting dolphins in the wild is one of those experiences kids genuinely never forget, and the boats are well set up for families.

Book in advance during peak season as tours fill up quickly

3-4 hours

Stroll the Paseo Costa Canaria

This long beachfront promenade stretches all the way to San Agustín and offers beautiful views over the beach and ocean. It is flat, wide, and stroller-friendly, making it perfect for an early morning or evening walk. Ice cream stops along the way are practically compulsory.

The stretch towards San Agustín gets quieter and more relaxed as you walk further

1-2 hours

Our verdict

How Playa del Inglés scores for families

Kids

Water parks, dunes, dolphin trips, camel rides, and go-karting. There is genuinely a lot here for children of all ages, and the beach itself is safe and wide.

Culture

It is primarily a tourist resort, so authentic local culture takes some seeking out. The Space Center and Palmitos Park add real depth if you look beyond the beach.

Food

Papas arrugadas, fresh seafood and proper Canarian stews alongside international options. The range covers most family tastes, including fussy eaters.

Nature

The Maspalomas Dunes alone earn a high score. Add the Charca lagoon, Palmitos Park, and the Atlantic coastline and nature lovers have plenty to explore.

Budget

The resort caters to a wide range of budgets. Self-catering apartments keep costs down, but entrance fees to water parks and attractions add up quickly.

Planning your visit

How long should you stay in Playa del Inglés?

4 days

Short break

Beach time, the dunes, and one big attraction like Aqualand. A solid taster of what the resort offers.

sweet spot

7 days

Sweet spot

A full week lets you relax on the beach, explore the dunes properly, visit Palmitos Park, do a catamaran trip, and still have lazy afternoons to spare.

10 days

Extended stay

Two weeks gives you time to explore beyond the resort, discover quieter beaches like Tarajalillo, and really settle into the Canarian pace of life.

Fun facts

Things to know about Playa del Inglés

The Moon called, and Gran Canaria answered

When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon on 21 July 1969, the very first place on Earth to receive his voice was the Maspalomas tracking station, just outside Playa del Inglés. Your kids are playing on the beach next to a piece of space history.

A real desert by the sea

The Maspalomas Dunes are not just a pretty backdrop. They are a protected nature reserve and a genuine desert ecosystem, home to rare plants and migratory birds. The dunes shift and move with the wind, so the landscape is never quite the same twice.

Built from nothing in 1960

Before 1960, the land where Playa del Inglés now stands was a large, empty plain. The entire resort was built from scratch, and it has grown into the largest holiday resort in the whole of Spain. That is quite a transformation in just a few decades.

Taste Playa del Inglés

What to eat in Playa del Inglés with your family

Papas arrugadas with mojo

Kids love it

Wapa Tapa

These small, wrinkly salt-crusted potatoes are the ultimate Canarian snack. They come with mojo picon (spicy red sauce) or green mojo, and kids absolutely love dunking them. Order them as a starter at almost any local restaurant.

Sizzling garlic prawns

Must try

La Palmera Sur

Served in a small clay dish still bubbling with olive oil and garlic, these prawns are a Canarian classic. They come with crusty bread for mopping up the sauce, which is honestly the best part. Great for sharing at the table.

Ropa vieja

Local favourite

Restaurante El Carretón

This slow-cooked shredded beef stew is hearty, warming, and deeply flavourful. It is a staple of Canarian home cooking and one of those dishes that tastes like it has been on the stove all day, because it has. A great option for hungrier family members.

Canarian dishes with local wine

Safe choice

Alma Gaia

Alma Gaia is set inside a beautifully renovated old nightclub designed to look like a wine cellar. It specialises in high-quality Canarian and Spanish dishes paired with an extensive Canarian wine list. A lovely spot for parents to enjoy a proper dinner.

Flor de Guía with candied fig

Local favourite

La Palmera Sur

This traditional Gran Canarian cheese is creamy, mild, and slightly floral. Served with candied fig in many of the resort's restaurants, it makes a wonderful end to a meal and is usually popular with kids who like mild cheese.

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