Sights and landmarks in Las Palmas

Sights and landmarks in Las Palmas

1. See

   Alfredo Kraus Auditorium

   Concert and music hall with classical philharmonic performances and a building that's worth a visit on its own.

2. See

   Casa-Museo Pérez Galdós

   The birth house of Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920), one of the most famous Spanish 19th-century novelists, now a museum displaying his life and works.

3. See

   Castillo de la Luz

   A 16th-century fortification that was built to fend off pirate attacks. Today it's surrounded by a rose garden and since the 1960s it houses a cultural centre - Fundación de Arte y Pensamiento Martín Chirino - and a shipping museum.

4. See

   Catedral de Santa Ana

   Embodying several centuries of history, the cathedral can be seen from almost any point in the city centre. Building began in 1497, and went on for several centuries and as such it's built in many different styles - gothic, baroque and classicism - and includes many works of art. The main part is open to the public during services, otherwise access is through the Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro (requires a €3 ticket). On the roof, between the towers there's a viewing platform, and you can walk up stairs to the right hand tower to have great views over the city.

5. See

   Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno

   CAAM

   The former Banco de España building has been a modern art museum since 1989, housing a collection of about 2,500 works mainly from Europe, Africa and the Americas.

   free

6. See

   Columbus house museum

   Casa Museo de Colón

   The house where Columbus lived when his ships were repaired and improved for his first journey to the West Indies, at the time the house was the residence of the governor. It was remodeled in 1777 so it looks a bit different now and like the cathedral you can see details from many architectural styles. Opera tenor Alfredo Kraus (whose name the local concert hall bears) was born in this house in 1927. In 1952 the house was turned into a museum presenting the travels of Columbus with ship models, a replica of a cabin of La Niña (one of Columbus three ships) and objects one could find onboard a ship in the late 15th century. There's also an exhibition of the history of the Canary Islands, and art gallery presenting art from the 16th to the 20th century and a library with about 25,000 volumes.

7. See

   Elder Museum of Science and Technology

   Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnología

   Interactive science museum, with a planetarium, a space station replica and a 3D cinema. Most exhibitions have information in both Spanish and English. When you're in, you can also use the Internet computers there, so the entrance fee is pretty decent. Students and children have a lower entrance fee.

8. See

   Ermita de San Antonio Abad

   A former church built in 1757 on the site of a chapel where according to legend Columbus prayed before setting sail westwards. It is used as an exhibition space for the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno.

   Tue-Sat 10:00-21:00, Sun 10:00-14:00

9. See

   Ermito de San Telmo

   In Triana, at the end of the shopping street. A tiled kiosk houses a café, with tables and chairs below palms where you can take a break and watch people walking by, and the small San Telmo chapel.

10. See

    Museo Canario

    Founded in 1879, this museum has the largest collections of objects from the island from the pre-Spanish era, with the oldest objects from about 500 BC. There are models of traditional houses, a replica of the Cueva Pintada cave in Gáldar complete with mummies and a cabinet with skulls.

11. See

    Parque Doramas

    Named after the Guanche hero Doramas, it's regarded as the most beautiful park in the city. In the present day it's part of the villa district of Ciudad Jardin.

12. See

    Parque Santa Catalina

    This is where most of the hot nightlife spots can be found. It's also pretty during the day, although it consists of little more than a few palm trees. There are small cafés next to the park and you can see elderly locals playing domino and chess.

13. See

    Plaza de Espana

    One of the traffic nodes of the city, right at Avenida Mes y López. The square has cafés popular with the younger upper class at nighttime.

14. See

    Plaza de Santa Ana

    The square in the front of the cathedral has eight statues out of green rock depicting dogs. It's also lined by other grand buildings: Casa Consistorial (old town hall), Casa Regental, and the Palacio Episcopal (bishop's palace).

15. See

    Poema del Mar

    Aquarium opened in 2018 with three different themes named jungle, reef-beach and deep ocean. The big aquarium can be watched from all sides and from the middle, and some of the highlights are big rays and sharks. There's a restaurant too, so you can sit down and watch the underwater life while having a meal.

16. See

    Pueblo Canario

    A reconstruction of a traditional village, designed by Néstor Martín Fernández de la Torre in 1937 and realized by his brother Miguel two years later. The village covering 3,500 m² is in the Doramas Park and is also a venue for different folkloristic shows. There's also a craft centre and a painting in bodegón style.

17. See Not mapped

    Museo Néstor

    Art museum displaying the works of Néstor Martín-Fernández de la Torre (1887 - 1938), one of the most famous painters of the Canary Islands.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Las Palmas (CC BY-SA 4.0).