Gran Canaria is a great party destination in Europe, especially during the winter months when the rest of continental Europe is fighting snow, low temperatures and gloomy days with no sunshine.
Gran Canaria is one of the hottest Canary Islands during the wintertime, with temperatures often surpassing 25°C during the daytime.
Temperatures in Maspalomas:
Temperatures in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
As you can see from the numbers above, temperatures during the daytime are still ideal for lounging on the beach and getting a tan, while in the evenings you will need a light coat or jacket, as it can feel chilly.
Read more info about weather in Gran Canaria at this time of the year
Usually, there are plenty of celebrations on the entire island, so you can attend the street party in the capital or one of the celebrations in clubs or restaurants in the south. Depending on where you want to spend the last night of the year, you may need to book in advance, especially for restaurants that offer a set menu with a limited number of seats.
Most towns usually have a public celebration outdoors, with fireworks at midnight, and we will add more info when we learn about new celebrations happening.
San Fernando de Maspalomas usually celebrates with an event in the Plaza de San Fernando, which is transformed into a nightclub to offer a night of dancing, full of surprises for attendees.
This section will be updated with more details closer to the date, when the full program of events will be announced.
The municipality of Mogan will host 3 separate New Year's parties, in Playa de Mogan, Mogan casco and Arguineguin.
Playa Mogan
Mogan - village
Arguineguín
See the full Christmas & New Year's events schedule in Mogan municipality (available only in Spanish)
The capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is our favourite place to stay in Gran Canaria during the Christmas and New Year's holidays, even though it can be cooler than the south of the island.
We just love the vibe and watching the fireworks from Playa Las Canteras, followed by the concerts and parties that are usually organized next to the Auditorium and in Plaza de Saulo Toron, in the area of La Puntilla, in front of the Belen de Arena.
You have many options for a special dinner in one of the restaurants around Las Canteras, as well as in Vegueta if you prefer the Old Town vibe more, or you can have a usual dinner in one of the many restaurants open that evening, then you can just go to the beach with a bottle of cava like so many groups of locals do.
Las Palmas will offer you a totally different atmosphere compared to the resorts in the south like Playa del Ingles and Puerto Rico since it's also a big city full of residents, so it depends on what type of experience you're looking for. For us, Las Palmas it's the perfect place to spend the winter holidays, followed by the arrival of the Three Wise Kings and the big parade organized in the city on January 5th.
Fireworks on New Year's Eve from Playa Las Canteras in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Start the new year in Las Palmas - images from January 1st, 2023
We were lucky to have warm and sunny weather on January 1st in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, so we spent the day at the beach and walking around the promenade. Most restaurants and bars will be open on January 1st, especially the ones located right on the promenade, so you'll have no problem in finding places where to eat and drink.
These are some of the special menus on offer for New Year's in restaurants in Las Palmas.