Gran Canaria was all about taking a break from my travels (Stéphanie) and to relax after three years of studying. It’s been a crazy six months this year. I was in another country every month while I was graduating from university. Straight after my graduation party I hopped on a plane to this Spanish island. Sun, sea and shopping. That’s all that I need to relax completely. Okay, I also like to read, swim and drink cocktails.

Must do: Maspalomas Dunes, Boulevard Faro and Puerto de Mogán

The first thing I do when I’m in a new country is getting internet on my phone. I’ve found a sim card from Orange for 18 euros. For that price I had about 1 gig of data. (edit 2016: compared to other providers this is pretty expensive)

I was planning on doing absolutely nothing for a week, but who am I fooling? I am a travel blogger after all. A talk with the reception and 30 minutes on the bus (bus 32) later I arrived in Puerto de Mogán. A ticket will cost you around eight euros. The marina was built around the early 1980s and it became an icon of Gran Canaria.

My restless feet also took me to the capital of this sunny island. You can take a bus directly to Las Palmas. The bus takes you there in less than an hour and is around 11 euros. Las Palmas is a mix between culture and shopping. There are museums, theatres and monuments. I was there for some serious shopping.

Playa Del Inglés did disappoint me in a way. It’s full with resorts and tourist shops. There are two things that I consider worth visiting while you stay in this area of Gran Canaria. The dunes of Maspalomas are one of them. It looks a lot like the Sahara Desert. The central section with the pure sand dunes is perfect for selfies and souvenir photos while the western dunes, with more vegetation, are great for walking. The boulevard of Faro is another spot that I would recommend. The newest and poshest seafront promenade in Gran Canaria, running west from the Faro lighthouse at Maspalomas to Meloneras beach. It’s the perfect spot for a stroll when the sun sets or for a drink in one of the many bars. Typically me I went for an ice-cream.

Gran Canaria did the trick. I was relaxed and ready for some new adventures. It isn’t my favorite place in Spain, but I do like the feel of being on a island.

What’s your favorite place in Spain?

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