Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the most cosmopolitan city of the Canaries and one of the cities with the best weather in the world thanks to its exceptional location, next to the Tropic of Cancer, and to the trade winds that come from North Atlantic. The result is an average temperature of 17ºC (62,6ºF) in winter and a 25ºC (77ºF) in summer.

Climate

The city registers an average yearly temperature of 22ºC (71,6ºF). It boasts a specially pleasant climate in summer thanks to the trade winds that softens the effects of the summer sunrays. In wintertime, the Grancanarian capital city also enjoys a very nice weather for that season and, moreover, many light hours (sunset comes just before 7pm). However, the relative humidity in the air makes us smart to carry a flecce in these months, specially advisable on early morning and evening hours. 

Language

Spanish is our language, yes, but spoken with our peculiar island accent softening the pronunciation of the ‘zeds’ and the ‘cees’.

The cosmopolitan character of the city, after the growth of the Port of La Luz and Las Palmas in the 20th Century, also makes it usual to meet foreigners who visit the city an many 'expats' who actually live here. The tourist boom of the seventies also left a great Scandinavian heir whereas the British legacy has been specially important since the beginning of the last century. All this makes it relatively easy to meet local people who are English-speakers.

Currency

Being part of Spain and Europe, the official currency in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the euro. Should you need to change money, along with certain banks, an official Currency Exchange office exist in  Parque Santa Catalina. Such office is authorised by the Bank of Spain.Más información aquí.

Timetable habits

Traditional shopping timetable in the Capital City goes from 10am to 2pm, and from 4pm to 8pm. However, several shopping areas and centres have a continuous work shift.

It is usual to have a mid-morning break between 9am and 11am to have breakfast in bars and restaurants around working places and in the city centre. Lunch, the most important meal of the day, is usually taken between 2pm and 3pm. Dinner is had really late as for the central Europe standards: not before 8pm, even after 10pm during weekends. 

Useful data

Most of the traditional shops and shopping centres of the city are open from 10am to 10pm. Supermarkets and hypermarkets open from 9.30am to 9.30pm. in the case of small groceries, it is usual to close between 1.30pm and 4.30pm.

Bank closing time is from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

Essential Services

The number for Emergency calls is 112, and it's connected directly to he police, fire-fighters, ambulances...

Public Hospitals

• Doctor Negrín Hospital. Phone +34 928 450 000
• Universitario Insular de Gran Canaria Hospital. Phone +34 928 444 000
• Universitario Materno Infantil de Canarias Hospital. Phone +34 928 444 500

Private Hospitals

• Perpetuo Socorro. Teléfono +34 928 499 900

• Hospital Santa Catalina. Teléfono +34 928 297 151

• Clínica San Roque. Teléfono +34 928 012 600

• Instituto Policlínico Cajal. Teléfono +34 928 369 166

• Hospital La Paloma. Teléfono +34 928 234 466

Chemist's / Apotheke

• On-call pharmacists (today)

Post Offices

• Calle Primero de Mayo, 62 (Zona barrio de Triana)

• Calle Bernardo de la Torre, 30 (Zona Puerto - Canteras)

• Calle Secretario Padilla, 94 - 96 (Zona Guanarteme - Canteras)

• Avda. Mesa y López, 18 (Edificio El Corte Inglés. Zona Comercial Mesa y López)

Consular Agencies