In this article we are going to mention the 10 essential things to see in Vegueta, the old town of the capital. Tour this neighborhood It is without a doubt one of the essentials what to see in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. You can visit the old town of the capital on foot, since practically all its streets are cobbled and, therefore, pedestrian. Below, we detail our top 10 places to visit in Vegueta. Let's go!
10 essentials that see in Vegueta, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
1. House of Columbus, one of the best things to do in Vegueta
The Casa de Colón in Vegueta is one of the most beautiful and emblematic buildings in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It is more than 500 years old and is currently a museum dedicated to studying and disseminating the history of the city, as well as its relations with America. It also has a section on the expeditions of Christopher Columbus. In addition, it invites you to learn first-hand everything about Columbus' passage through the Canary Islands. It also has a collection of paintings from the centuries XVI to XIX.
- Columbus House-Museum Price: €4 per person, reduced by €2 (pensioners and students), free for children under 18 years of age and every Sunday.
- ⏰ TIMETABLE: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. Sundays and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 15:00 p.m., Remember that on Sundays access is free.
In front of the façade of the Casa de Colón we find the back of the Cathedral and the Pilar Nuevo Square, old meeting center for women who collected water from the central pillar. This area has several pleasant terraces to have a drink.
2. Saint An's Cathedralto a must visit what to see in Vegueta
Another of the places what to see in Vegueta is St Anne's Cathedral, also known as Cathedral of the Canary Islands. It is considered the most important monument of Canarian religious architecture. We recommend you Climb to the top of the Cathedral to have a panoramic view of the city. Below we share the price to visit the Cathedral of Santa Ana as well as access times, updated in 2024. The ticket includes a visit to the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art y climb the south tower.
- Price Saint Anne Cathedral: 6€ per person. For children under 12 years old and residents in the province of Las Palmas FREE. The older than 65 years, pensioners and residents in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife pay €4.
- ⏰ Santa Ana Cathedral Schedule: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 17:30 p.m. y Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 14:30 p.m.. The Sundays, day of worship, open de 10 a.m. to 13:30 p.m. and this day Access to the Cathedral is free, but to go up to the south tower you have to pay €2 (all audiences, except children under 12 years old). The museum is closed on Sundays.
3. Santa Ana Square and the town halls
The Cathedral began to be built in 1497 until the end of the XNUMXth century. The styles it combines are neoclassical (facade), Gothic and Renaissance. It is next to the famous Plaza Santa Ana, the first planned major plaza in Spain (century XVI). From here you can see different historical buildings by Vegueta, in addition to the Cathedral of Santa Ana. They are the Bishopric, the Town Halls, the Regental House, the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands and the Provincial Historical Archive. You will also meet the well-known statues of the canary dog or "can".
By the way, if you want to take a break, we recommend a stop for a drink on the Belvedere terrace, a rooftop with the best views of the Cathedral and square of Santa Ana.
4. Hermitage and Plaza de San Antonio Abad, another corner to see in Vegueta
This church of San Antonio Abad is located in a beautiful square with the same name. Without a doubt, an important part of the historical heritage of Vegueta, in as much as Here Christopher Columbus prayed during his passage through the island of Gran Canaria in 1492. Fair-Poor before beginning his path to the discovery of America. She was the first church in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Just a few steps from the hermitage you can go through Montesdeoca Street, where Juan Rejón founded the city Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (formerly Villa Real de Las Tres Palmas) on the night of San Juan, 1478. And why that name? Why in that moment three palm trees were planted here (seen in the previous photo). Since then, the capital celebrates its birthday every June 24 with its famous founding festivals. If you like discover more stories about Vegueta, you can reserve a free tours this article or take a more complete tour that includes entrance to the Cathedral and the Columbus House-Museum.
5. Plaza and hermitage of the Holy Spirit, beautiful corners to see in Vegueta
La Holy Spirit Square is located next to the Town Halls, former headquarters of the municipal offices until 1979. It is one of the noblest areas of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Therefore, around it you will be able to see different stately buildings. Highlights your fountain covered by a stone temple, being one of the few fountains covered with Hispanic architecture.
Next to the fountain a dragon tree and a monkey puzzle tree to represent the twinning between the Canary Islands and America. Next to the square we can see the Hermitage of the Holy Spirit, erected in 1540.
6. Plaza and parish of Santo Domingo
The Plaza de Santo Domingo is the protagonist of the well-known Rosario pilgrimage that runs through the neighborhoods of Vegueta and Triana in the month of October, since it starts from there. This square has a fountain dating from the 18th century and the Parish of the same name.
7. Vegueta Market and Crafts and Culture Market
The Vegueta Market opened its doors in 1863, being one of the oldest on the island.. There you can find all kinds of fresh products from Gran Canaria and mix with the locals.
- Entry: For free.
- ⏰ Vegueta market hours: Monday to Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays until 14:30 p.m. Sundays closed.
Furthermore, one of the Gran Canaria markets what to see in Vegueta on Sundays is that of Crafts and Culture. It takes place between the Plaza de Pilar Nuevo and the Casa de Colón. Schedule of 10:00 to 14:00.
8. Atlantic Center of Modern Art (CAAM)
The CAAM is a contemporary art museum located in the spectacular street of Los Balcones. The building still retains its neoclassical style façade and its main patio. His exhibitions cover the latest trends in the art world. This is one of the museums of Gran Canaria free access.
- Entry: For free.
- ⏰ CAAM Schedule: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 21:00 p.m. Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays, holidays, as well as December 24 and 31.
9. Museo Canario, one of the museums to see in Vegueta
This museum tells us how the ancient Canarian aborigines lived, which is why it is mainly dedicated to the history and prehistory of the Canary Islands. It has one of the most complete exhibitions of chromanoid remains in the world.
- Entry: general €5, children under 12 free. Price reduced to €3 for students, unemployed, large families and pensioners.
- ⏰ Canary Museum Schedule: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 20:00 p.m. (last visit at 19:15 p.m.). Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. (last visit at 13:15 p.m.)
10. The pedestrian streets to see in Vegueta
We highlight the Ball street for its gastronomic offer and beautiful buildings like the one we see below. Also the Los Balcones street, for the diversity of Canarian balconies that appear from the facades of the buildings and the street Mendizábal for its atmosphere on Thursday nights in the pinchos route.
Finally, if you have time, We recommend you visit the neighborhood of Triana, another of the most beautiful and oldest in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It is just a five-minute walk away, crossing the Guiniguada ravine. Currently, in this area of the Guiniguada ravine, there is a road that connects the district of Vegueta, Cono Sur and Tafira. It is also the exit from this part of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria towards the south of the island or towards the port.
Free tour Vegueta and other guided routes
If you prefer Have an expert guide accompany you on your visit to the essential sites to see in Vegueta and Triana, we recommend that you hire a free city tour (2 hours). Here you pay the guide what you consider for his services. As we said before, there are also a more complete guided tour including access to the Cathedral and the House of Columbus (2 and a half hours), you can see it this article.
Vegueta Restaurants
Finally, you should know that there are many rich sites where to eat in Vegueta. If you really want to mingle with the locals, you also have the option of doing the pinchos route that takes place every Thursday night on Mendizábal street. Next, we make our suggestions for eating in the Vegueta neighborhood:
- Dream. This recently opened restaurant in Vegueta (October 2023) is undoubtedly a great success if you want to give yourself a good gastronomic tribute. Here you will find unique dishes that will not leave you indifferent and without a doubt, it will become one of our restaurants in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria preferred.
- Tricycle and Manuela Jimena. These are two restaurants with creative and current cuisine located on Pelota Street. At Triciclo we recommend their octopus salad and crayfish croquettes and at Manuela Jimena their truffle omelette and also the tuna tataki salad.
- Breakfasts. In the boutique hotel Suites 1478 you can enjoy a super complete breakfast for €15 (even if you are not staying). The hotel is a old canarian house full of works of art. It's beautiful though what we like the most is their breakfast. You can reserve breakfast and have more information about it boutique hotel in Las Palmas in our blog.
- Spikes route. As we said, it takes place every Thursday evening mainly on Mendizábal Street. You pay about €2-3 for a glass of wine with a small tapa. To have a pincho we recommend La Barbería and La Champiñonería. NOTE: it has been a while since we have done this route, prices and conditions may have changed.
Hotels in Vegueta
The old town center is a very good option where to stay in Gran Canaria. In addition, recently they have opened several boutique hotels that we recommend like Suite 1478, Cordial Plaza Mayor of Santa Ana or twenty one (adults only). All three are a few steps from the places to see in Vegueta. Of course there is more options where to stay in Vegueta, you can consult them this article. You can also stay in others hotels in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria that we recommend on the blog and simply take public transportation to visit Vegueta.
Video about Vegueta, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
In the following video we show you the Top 10 things to do in Vegueta. We wait for you at our YouTube channel with more places what to see in Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria Guides
Finally, we invite you to learn about our Gran Canaria digital guides. With these routes and itineraries you can discover the most authentic side of the island. In addition, you will not have to look for what to do and where to eat, wasting your time, we have already organized everything for you. You can see them all below.
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
Is it a good option to stay in an apartment in La Veleta?
Hello Nuri! Do you mean in Vegueta? If you are looking for tranquility, the historic center is a good option. A few meters away is the Triana neighborhood with many restaurants and small shops. It is undoubtedly the best preserved and most beautiful area of the city: emblematic buildings, pedestrian streets, small restaurants, etc.