Quick answer: our top family picks
- For every age and any weather: Poema del Mar, the aquarium in Las Palmas. Open every day of the year; €29 adults and €19 children aged 3–11.
- For animal-loving kids: Palmitos Park in the south, almost a full day of aviaries and gardens.
- For a water day: Aqualand Maspalomas. Booked online, from €32 adults and €22 children aged 5–10.
- Free: the Maspalomas dunes and lighthouse and Amadores beach.
- Doing both southern parks: the combined Aqualand and Palmitos Park ticket costs €62 per adult and €45 per child, less than two separate tickets.
- Cloudy or windy day: Poema del Mar and the Museo Elder, both in Las Palmas.
The 8 at a glance
| Attraction | Age | Area | Adult · child price | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poema del Mar | All | Las Palmas · indoor | €29 · €19 (3–11) | 2–3 h |
| Palmitos Park | 4+ | South · outdoor | €37–39 · €25–29 (5–10) | Most of the day |
| Aqualand Maspalomas | Mixed | South · outdoor | Online from €32 · €22 (5–10) | Full day |
| Maspalomas dunes and lighthouse | All | South · outdoor | Free | Short visit |
| Amadores beach | Young kids | South-west · beach | Free | Half a day or more |
| Angry Birds Activity Park | 3–13 | Puerto Rico · open-air | €13 · €17 (5–13) | Half a day |
| Museo Elder | 5+ | Las Palmas · indoor | See website | Flexible |
| Roque Nublo | Older children | Summit · outdoor | Free, booking needed | Half a day |
Prices from the official websites on 23 September 2026, non-resident rates; they change with the date and season. Under-3s go free at every paid attraction priced in the table.
How to choose the right family attraction
The best attraction is not the most famous one but the one that fits your family’s day. Before booking, check your children’s ages and heights, travel time, how far they can walk and whether you need an indoor backup. Opening hours, prices and working rides change, so we link the official websites for the details on the day.
- Babies and toddlers: prioritise shade, toilets, simple food and an easy early exit.
- Primary-age children: pair one headline attraction with unstructured beach or pool time.
- Teenagers: choose active participation, water, a challenge or a landscape worth the trip.
- Mixed ages: avoid a day that hangs on one height restriction.
The 8 best family attractions in Gran Canaria
1. Poema del Mar: best overall
The aquarium is easy to get round, very visual and flexible enough for families moving at different speeds. It works especially well on an arrival day, a departure day or a cloudy one.
- Opening
- Every day of the year, 9:30 to 17:30.
- Price online
- €29 adults (12 and over), €19 children aged 3–11, free up to 2. Canary Islands residents pay less.
- Getting there
- Muelle del Sanapú 22, about 8 minutes on foot from the Santa Catalina bus station.
- Food
- Inside are the Néstor restaurant, overlooking the Deep Sea tank, and the Nemo snack bar by the reef exhibit.
- Best for: mixed-age families, curious children and uncertain weather.
- Tip: allow two to three hours and pair it with Las Canteras or Santa Catalina park.
Opening hours and tickets on the official Poema del Mar website
2. Palmitos Park: animals, plants and a full day
Set in the Palmitos ravine, the park combines subtropical gardens, aviaries and animals. It works best for families happy to walk and watch rather than chase rides. The terrain and the heat call for comfortable shoes, water and sun protection.
- Opening
- Every day, 10:00 to 18:00.
- Price online
- Adults (11 and over) €37–39, children aged 5–10 €25–29, ages 3–4 €15, free up to 2. Varies by date.
- Getting there
- Bus 45 from Playa del Inglés and Bahía Feliz; 45 and 70 from Campo Internacional.
- Best for: school-age animal lovers and families who want to fill most of the day.
- Tip: check the daily programme and arrive with time to spare, without building the visit around one activity.
3. Aqualand Maspalomas: best water day
Aqualand mixes children’s areas, family slides and far more intense ones. It is the pick when water is the priority, but siblings will not all enjoy the same rides: height matters as much as age.
- Opening
- Open every day; check the hours for your date on its website.
- Price
- At the gate, €41 adults (11 and over or taller than 1.40 m) and €31 children (5–10 or 1.10–1.40 m); online, from €32 and €22. Ages 3–4 €17; free up to 2 or under 90 cm.
- Getting there
- Bus 45 from Playa del Inglés and Bahía Feliz–San Agustín; 70 from Puerto de Mogán, Puerto Rico and the Maspalomas lighthouse. Parking is charged separately.
- Best for: active school-age children and teenagers.
- Tip: buy online for a set date, and look at the combined ticket with Palmitos Park (€62 adults, €45 children) if you plan to do both.
4. Maspalomas dunes and lighthouse: free nature
The walk from the lighthouse, La Charca and the authorised routes give you a memorable landscape without a ticket. With young children a short visit early or late in the day works best: sand, sun and distance tire them faster than you expect.
- Price
- Free, at any time.
- Getting there
- On foot from Playa del Inglés, via the viewpoint by the Hotel Riu Palace, or from the lighthouse; free parking at Parque Tony Gallardo.
- Best for: tight budgets and families combining a walk, scenery and the beach.
- Tip: take plenty of water and proper shoes, because the sand burns at midday.
5. Amadores beach: the easiest family day
Amadores stands out for its sheltered bay, nearby facilities and an easy format for families who do not want a schedule. Calm-looking water is no substitute for supervision: check the flag and the swell.
- Price
- Free; the showers are paid.
- Facilities
- Lifeguard, toilets and showers.
- Parking
- It fills up at weekends: arrive before midday.
- Best for: babies, pre-schoolers and a rest day between excursions.
- Tip: the seafront promenade leads to Puerto Rico, and Puerto de Mogán has another sheltered beach with a village around it.
6. Angry Birds Activity Park: active play
It suits children who need to climb, jump and join in, especially when a watch-and-look visit is not enough. Some activities have a minimum age or height.
- Opening
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and during maintenance breaks.
- Price (day)
- €17 ages 5–13, €9 ages 3–4, €13 from 14, €9 from 65; free up to 2.
- Where
- Avenida de la Cornisa 2, Puerto Rico.
- Best for: active children and a half-day outing.
- Tip: pair it with the beach or dinner in Puerto Rico rather than crossing the island for a short activity.
7. Museo Elder: science for a windy or cloudy day
An interactive museum changes the pace when the family needs a break from the sun. It stands in Santa Catalina park, so it pairs with Poema del Mar and Las Canteras without a car.
- Opening
- Closed on Mondays; for the rest of the week, check the hours on its website.
- Price
- Check current prices on the official website.
- Where
- Parque de Santa Catalina, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
- Best for: school-age children who like experimenting and families based in the capital.
- Tip: check the day’s exhibitions and sessions before you go.
8. Roque Nublo: an adventure for confident young walkers
Roque Nublo is the biggest contrast to the coast, but it is not an urban stroll. Weigh up wind, temperature, footwear and what your group can really do; the path is not suitable for pushchairs. With young children, a viewpoint may be a better plan than finishing the route.
- Booking
- Free and compulsory from 10:00 to 17:00 at reservasroquenublo.com; outside those hours none is needed.
- Getting there
- Private cars can no longer park at the trailhead, Degollada de La Goleta: park at Cruz de Los Llanos or in Tejeda and take the line 18 shuttle bus, which calls about twice an hour between 9:30 and 18:30.
- Route
- About 1.5 km and 150 m of ascent to the base of the rock, 40 to 60 minutes.
- Best for: hiking families and teenagers.
- Tip: take water and a backup plan in case the weather changes at the summit.
What to choose for your trip length
One day
Pick one main attraction near your base. From Las Palmas: Poema del Mar and Las Canteras. From the south: Palmitos Park or Aqualand, without adding another big visit.
Three days
Balance one paid attraction, one beach day and one nature outing. That keeps costs down and stops every day depending on queues and timetables.
One week
Combine Poema del Mar, one southern park, Maspalomas, Mogán and a trip inland. Keep at least one afternoon unbooked.
Rain or wind
Poema del Mar and the Museo Elder are the simplest options. Do not improvise a mountain route based on the weather on the coast.
Where to stay, getting around and a sample week with kids are in our family holiday guide.
Tips to save time and money
- At Aqualand, booking online is much cheaper than paying at the gate: from €32 per adult instead of €41.
- If you are doing Aqualand and Palmitos Park, the combined ticket (€62 adults, €45 children) costs less than two separate tickets.
- Under-3s go free at Poema del Mar, Palmitos Park, Aqualand and the Angry Birds Activity Park.
- Do not book two parks on consecutive days if your children tire easily.
- Check height limits, closed areas and opening hours on the day.
- Group plans by area (Las Palmas, Maspalomas, Mogán): crossing the island several times eats into your holiday.
More ideas if you have time
- Whale and dolphin watching: boat trips from Puerto Rico, Puerto de Mogán and Arguineguín when the sea allows.
- Las Canteras: calm snorkelling by La Barra reef.
- Puerto de Mogán: canals, a sheltered beach and a stroll for the end of the afternoon.
- Hiking: short routes for families who like walking.
Verdict
For a first family visit to Gran Canaria, start with Poema del Mar or Palmitos Park, add a free day at Maspalomas or Amadores and leave room to rest. The best selection is not the longest: it is the one everyone can enjoy without turning the trip into a race.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best family attraction in Gran Canaria?
Poema del Mar is the most complete option for mixed ages and any weather. If your children prefer animals and nature, Palmitos Park may suit them better; for slides and hot days, Aqualand Maspalomas.
How much do the main attractions cost?
On their official websites, Poema del Mar costs €29 per adult and €19 per child aged 3–11; Palmitos Park €37–39 per adult depending on the date; Aqualand €41 at the gate or from €32 online. Under-3s go free at all three.
What can you do in Gran Canaria with young children?
A sheltered beach such as Amadores, Poema del Mar, the Puerto de Mogán promenade and the children’s areas of the family parks are easy choices. Plan breaks and avoid the hottest hours.
Which family attractions are free?
The Maspalomas dunes and lighthouse, the beaches, the Puerto de Mogán promenade and many public parks have no entry fee. Parking, transport or equipment hire may cost extra.
Do you need to book attractions in advance?
It is worth buying paid attractions online at weekends, in school holidays and in high season; at Aqualand it is also cheaper. Roque Nublo requires a free booking between 10:00 and 17:00.
What can you do with kids in Gran Canaria when it rains or is windy?
Poema del Mar, open every day of the year, and the Museo Elder, closed on Mondays, are the easiest indoor plans. Both are in Las Palmas and fit into the same day.
Where should families stay to visit the attractions?
Maspalomas and the Mogán coast make the southern beaches and parks easy. Las Palmas works best for Poema del Mar, the Museo Elder and Las Canteras. A car gives flexibility if you want both areas.
Sources and method
Reviewed 23 September 2026. Opening hours and prices come from each attraction’s official website, checked that day; they are non-resident rates and change with the date and season. Access to Roque Nublo follows the Cabildo de Gran Canaria rules in force since February 2025. Confirm the details before you go.
- Poema del Mar: opening hours (Spanish)
- Poema del Mar: tickets
- Palmitos Park: tickets
- Palmitos Park: getting there (Spanish)
- Aqualand Maspalomas: prices (Spanish)
- Aqualand Maspalomas: getting there (Spanish)
- Angry Birds Activity Park: opening hours and prices
- Gran Canaria tourist board: Museo Elder (Spanish)
- Cabildo de Gran Canaria: Roque Nublo bookings
- Cabildo de Gran Canaria: line 18 bus timetable (PDF)
By Enrique Medina · Reviewed 23 September 2026
Local author from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The prices, opening hours and access rules in this guide were checked on each attraction’s official website on 23 September 2026.