This year, Holy Week will be celebrated from Palm Sunday on 29 March until Easter Sunday on 5 April. They are perfect days for a getaway, to disconnect from routine and be surprised by the wealth of tradition, nature, and leisure that Gran Canaria offers.
5 Plans to do in Gran Canaria during Holy Week
In this guide, you’ll find 5 plans to experience Easter on the island: from closely following the most iconic processions in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to getting lost on mountain trails, enjoying its beaches with friends or family, peering over vertigo-inducing viewpoints, and capping off the day with the best leisure offerings at Holidayworld Maspalomas.
1. Holy Week Processions on the island of Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria experiences Holy Week intensely, especially in the historic neighbourhoods of Vegueta and Triana, where over 30 processions turn their cobbled streets into a genuine open-air museum.
Among the standout events from the 2026 programme, it’s worth marking the following moments in your diary:
Palm Sunday (29 March)
- Triumphal Entry (10:00 a.m.): procession with palms from Santo Domingo Square to Santa Ana Cathedral, with numerous children recreating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
- Penitence Station: nazarenos in purple tunics parade through streets such as Castillo and Espíritu Santo, carrying the Cristo de la Vera Cruz.
- Procession of Los Dolores (19:30–22:30): departs from the San Bernardo and San Telmo hermitage in San Telmo Park, travels along Calle Mayor de Triana and adjacent streets such as Travieso, General Bravo or Pérez Galdós, including a penitence station at the Sanctuary of Saint Anthony of Padua.
Holy Tuesday – Triana (31 March)
- Procession of the Holy Encounter (20:00–23:30): several images depart from Santo Domingo Square and travel through streets such as García Tello, San Marcos, Doctor Chil or Reyes Católicos, converging in Santa Ana Square to stage the encounter between Christ carrying the Cross and the Virgin.
Good Friday – Vegueta and Triana (3 April)
- Procession of the Mantillas (11:00–12:30): women dressed in black with white mantillas accompany the Cristo de la Sala Capitular from Santa Ana Cathedral, parading through streets such as Obispo Codina, Espíritu Santo, Reyes Católicos or Doctor Chil, to the rhythm of Chopin’s Funeral March.
- Magna Interparroquial (18:30–22:00): cortèges departing from the parishes of Santo Domingo, San Agustín and San Francisco de Asís converge for the first time at Santa Ana Cathedral, bringing together some of the city’s most venerated images.
- Procession of Silence and Triana Retreat (22:30–23:30): departs from San Francisco de Asís and travels along Alameda de Colón, Plaza de Cairasco and streets such as General Bravo, Cano or Torres in absolute silence, lit only by candles.
In other neighbourhoods such as Puerto and La Isleta, processions are also held such as the Holy Encounter from the Iglesia del Pino or the procession of Our Lady of La Luz, which add a very special seafaring character to these days.
Easter Sunday – Vegueta–San José (5 April)
- Procession of the Risen Christ (11:30–13:30): departs from Santo Domingo parish and travels along García Tello, Reyes Católicos, Hernán Pérez de Grado, Paseo de San José and Sor Brígida Castelló, filling the streets with a much more festive and luminous atmosphere.
For those visiting the island these days, following one of these processions allows you to experience up close the spirituality, history, and care for artistic heritage that characterise Holy Week in Gran Canaria.
2.Hiking through cinematic landscapes
If you fancy balancing the urban atmosphere of the processions with nature, Holy Week is a magnificent time to go hiking in Gran Canaria. The late winter rains have left the mountains and ravines at their best, with livelier vegetation and intense green tones that surprise those who only know the island for its beaches.
One of the trendiest spots is Monte Pavón, in the highlands of Guía municipality, popularly known as “Gran Canaria’s Ireland” for its meadows, gentle hills, and humid atmosphere. Its circular routes, ranging from low to medium difficulty, are perfect for families or for those seeking a peaceful getaway among pine forests and rural estates.
Another of the most special routes is the Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria, a historic pilgrimage of about 65 kilometres that crosses the island from south to north, from Maspalomas Lighthouse to the Iglesia Matriz de Santiago de los Caballeros in Gáldar, the oldest Jacobean seat outside Europe. This path, which is recommended to be divided into three stages, combines nature, history, and spirituality, and is ideal for those seeking a profound and challenging experience at the same time.
Additionally, the island boasts an extensive network of certified and signposted trails for all levels, ensuring safety and enjoyment. Don’t miss iconic routes such as the ascent to Roque Nublo, the peaceful Pinar de Tamadaba, or the spectacular Barranco de los Cernícalos, where you can immerse yourself in nature and disconnect both physically and mentally.
Fancy lacing up your boots and discovering these unique landscapes that only the island of eternal spring can offer?
3.Beaches for everyone
Another ideal plan for enjoying Gran Canaria during Holy Week is to take advantage of its excellent weather and savour its wonderful beaches. The island offers two distinct faces along its coastline, which it’s worth knowing to choose the experience that most appeals to you.
The beaches of southern Gran Canaria are the island’s standout attractions, noted for their fine golden sand, calm crystal-clear waters that invite swimming, strolling, or simply sunbathing. Areas like Maspalomas, with its famous dunes and iconic lighthouse, offer a unique protected landscape, perfect for those seeking comfort and relaxation amid stunning natural beauty.
Also popular are beaches such as Playa del Inglés, which is wide and lively, ideal for long strolls and family activities, or Amadores and Anfi del Mar, with their turquoise waters and more exclusive vibe. Southern Gran Canaria is characterised by its warm, stable climate, making it the preferred destination for those who want to enjoy the sun and sea with every convenience at hand.
On the other hand, in the north of the island, the coastal landscape changes and becomes wilder and more authentic, with black volcanic sand beaches and rocky formations that create natural pools, such as those in Agaete. Las Canteras Beach, in Las Palmas, is a perfect example of an urban beach that combines natural beauty with the city’s vibrant life, and is also an ideal spot for snorkelling and surfing thanks to its protective reef. The northern beaches tend to have a calmer, less crowded atmosphere and are particularly appealing to those seeking closer contact with nature and water sports with stronger waves.
4.Viewpoints that will leave you speechless
During Holy Week in Gran Canaria you can truly appreciate the island’s volcanic nature, which has shaped a very distinctive relief and terrain, offering spectacular landscapes and picture‑postcard views from magnificent viewpoints.
You can easily find elevated promontories where your gaze can drift out to sea towards endless horizons, or accessible spots in the hills and ravines that offer privileged views over valleys and paths.
Are you really going to miss the chance to visit unique spots and feast your eyes on the island’s natural charms at places such as Mirador del Balcón, Mirador de Bandama or Mirador del Pico de las Nieves?
5. Holidayworld Maspalomas, where everything happens at Easter in Gran Canaria
If there is one place on the island where you can enjoy the most entertaining leisure plans, it is, without a doubt, Holidayworld Maspalomas. Located in the town of the same name in the south of Gran Canaria, it is the island’s largest leisure and entertainment centre.
Only here can you have an amazing time thanks to its wide range of entertainment options:
- Wooland Fun Park: the only amusement park in the Canary Islands.
- Swing Bowling: the only professional bowling alley in the archipelago.
- Bamm Karaoke: where you will feel like a music star.
- Anthology Escape Room: will you be able to solve the mysteries and escape?
- Ozone Gym: to get in shape at any time.
- Nomad Gastro Market: with more than 400 culinary specialities from all over the world.
And so much more! What are you waiting for to head down to the south of the island and enjoy Holy Week in Gran Canaria to the fullest?