This Is By Far One Of The Most Underrated Holiday Destinations In Europe

English pubs. Overcrowded beaches. Tourist-standard food.

These are probably some of the first things that pop into your head when a holiday in Gran Canaria is mentioned, and while you’d be right, because all those are to be found on the island, GC is actually a gorgeously rich slice of Canarian-Spanish life.

I lived there for four-or-so months, and soon discovered that hiding underneath all the tourist tack was an island of pretty fishing villages and local foods that rival mainland Spain.

If you’re going on a holiday here, skip the extremely overrated Playa Del Ingles area (please, just don’t bother) and explore its true beauty.

Here’s what you have got to experience for the real local vibe:

Agüimes Hill Town

This picture-perfect old cobbled town is well worth a wander around, and is known for its bronze statues and colourful streets.

This is also a great place to start off in one of the local cafes before trekking through the caves of nearby Guayadeque.

Camping at Playa de Vargas 

Camping by the sea in Gran Canaria isn’t easy as most campsites are up in the mountain, but at Playa de Vargas the tents are just behind the beach.

This is the ideal spot for surfers and windsurfers, as the beach gets some solid waves and strong winds. The campsite does nightly BBQ’s and is all-round adorable.

Hiking through Agaete valley

Walk up through the green hills of the island’s largest nature reserve, Pinar de Tamadaba, and finish up with a tour of the region’s family-owned coffee farms.

Local meats and cheeses are the perfect way to end your trek.

Filling up on authentic, local foods

If you love seafood, you’ll be in absolute paradise in Gran Canaria, as everywhere you go you’ll see fisherman hawling in their fresh catch.

Order a side papas arrugadas with every meal, otherwise known as Canarian Potatoes, which are yum and wrinkled and come with a red or green spicy ‘mojo’ sauce.

Finish off with a Leche y Leche, a shot of espresso with condensed milk at the bottom which you stir through the coffee.