Car Rental - Gran Canaria Airport

Gran Canaria Airport is located near the city of Telde on the east side of the island. It’s less than 12 miles from the capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with your rental car, and offers straightforward road access to some of the island’s most attractive resorts.

With its beautiful beaches and warm climate, the Spanish island of Gran Canaria is a destination with timeless appeal. Nestled in the Atlantic Ocean not far from North Africa, the second largest of the Canary Islands delivers history, sun-kissed sands and spectacular coastal views.

Gran Canaria is easy to navigate by car and renting a vehicle at the airport can help you make the most of your stay on the island. You’ll find our Hertz pick-up desk handily located on the ground floor near the main terminal.

There are no hidden fees and we won’t charge you to cancel or amend your reservation up to two days before collection. We’ll aim to get you in your airport car rental and on your way as quickly and conveniently as possible so you can get started with your exploration of this amazing island.

Las Palmas Gran Canaria Airport is connected to the rest of the island by the GC-1 highway. Renting a car makes it easier to get around the beautiful island. This is one of the most important roads on the island, running all the way from the capital Las Palmas in the north to the resort of Puerto de Mogán on the south coast, allowing you easy access to the whole of the island.

To reach Las Palmas from the airport, it’s just a 15-mile drive north with your holiday or business rental. This route will also take you towards Telde, the island’s second city with a pretty old town and many historic buildings.

The GC-1 also provides a route from the airport to other destinations such as Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés in the south. To reach destinations on the opposite side of the island, such as Puerto de Sadina, you can take the GC-1 and continue to follow the road once it becomes the GC-2.

Driving in Gran Canaria with your airport rental is generally straightforward, and often a highly enjoyable experience thanks to its beautiful coastal roads offering picture-perfect views over the Atlantic.

Most of the roads are in excellent condition but some of the winding mountain roads can require a great deal of concentration, so make sure you allow plenty of time for your journey and plan ahead so you know what you’re going to be facing.

Parking in Gran Canaria is prohibited on roads which are marked by white or yellow lines, while blue lines show spaces where you will need to purchase a ticket to park your Hertz airport car rental.

Like most of Europe, you’ll be driving on the right-hand side of the road. The speed limit on highways is 120km/h (75mph), falling to 50km/h (31mph) in towns and cities unless signs indicate otherwise.

Gran Canaria boasts an incredibly varied landscape, ranging from dramatic mountain scapes to green forest aplenty. It’s a natural feast for the eyes. Renting a car means you’re not limited by public transport. You can explore at your own will. It’s also a relatively small island, so renting a vehicle is the ideal way to explore all the sights at your own pace.

Sun, sea and sand

The main attraction in Gran Canaria is undoubtedly its spectacular beaches, and if you rent a car for your trip you’ll truly be spoilt for choice. One of the most popular is Playa del Inglés on the south coast.

In the daytime this is a bustlingspot, great for families with many stores and restaurants along the seafront, while by night the area near the beach transforms as its nightlife sees it become a lively, vibrant area.

Another of Gran Canaria’s best-loved beaches is Puerto Rico, which has a reputation for being one of the sunniest spots on the whole island. Try something a little more active here and choose from the wide range of activities available, from sailing to windsurfing as well as boat trips and dolphin-spotting cruises.

Its sheltered location means the sea is calm, making it ideal for families and the perfect place for a swim in the blue Atlantic waters.

Gran Canaria’s ‘Little Venice’

For a slightly quieter experience, head to Puerto Mogán, a pretty and peaceful resort that brings to life the idea of a quiet seaside town. Complete with a marina and a curious warren of cobbled streets lined with palm trees, it’s sometimes known as ‘Little Venice’ because of its beautiful bridges and canals.

Take some time to wander the streets and soak up its charm, or sample some delicious local delicacies, stocked daily by the area’s fishermen.

Puerto Mogán’s golden beach is sheltered by cliffs, making it the ideal spot for those who want a quiet afternoon in the sun away from the crowds. If you fancy trying your hand at snorkelling, you’ll spot a huge variety of fish in the calm blue waters here. Alternatively, you can take a boat to explore more of the marine life.

There are plenty of places to park your Gran Canaria Airport car rental on the surrounding roads, as well as a parking lot near the beach, making this an ideal destination to visit by car.

Capital culture

Situated in the north of the island, the capital Las Palmas is the biggest city in the Canaries and offers a very different experience to the purpose-built tourist resorts on the south of the island.

Steeped in history, it boasts a 16^th-century cathedral and impressive art gallery, along with an old fishing quarter and charming cobbled streets.

Many visitors head straight to the urban beach Las Canteras, which stretches for more than a mile along the coast. But just outside of the city you will find a natural wonder known as the Caldera de Bandama, or the Cauldron of Bandama.

This volcanic crater is a must-see. Set aside some time to hike all the way to the bottom – but make sure to bring suitable footwear, as the path can be slippery.

If you don’t want to tackle the steep descent, you can stroll around the perimeter and admire the view. Renting with Hertz from Gran Canaria Airport gives you the freedom to visit this and the rest of the island’s many attractions during your stay.