Is Gran Canaria Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Gran Canaria, is generally an amicable destination for solo female travelers. Crime rates are relatively low, although petty theft and pickpocketing can occasionally occur in tourist-heavy areas. It's suggested to be always aware of your belongings and surroundings. The island often feels safe even at night, but it's recommended to stay in well-lit areas. Most locals are welcoming and respectful. As always, be sure to follow standard safety precautions, exercise good judgment, and stay aware of your surroundings.

Safety rating

4.5 /5

Based on our research and crime data

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How safe is Gran Canaria?

Safety at night:Safe

Gran Canaria generally boasts a low crime rate and is considered safe, including at night. As with any popular tourist destination, occasional petty crime like pickpocketing can occur, but violent crime is rare. Walking alone at night is typically safe in well-lit, well-populated areas, especially in the more touristy areas. However, it's always crucial to stay aware of your surroundings, not flaunt valuable items and avoid less crowded or dimly lit areas late at night.

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in Gran Canaria is largely reliable and quite safe. The buses are well-maintained and the routes cover most of the island. However, it's recommended that you keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded spaces. As in any place, remain alert but rest assured that instances of crime are relatively low.

Street harassment:Low

Gran Canaria, being a popular tourist destination, generally exhibits a respectful and tourist-friendly atmosphere. Street harassment isn't typically a significant concern. However, as in any location, daytime activities, and busy areas may attract some unwanted attention. Nevertheless, women travelers are usually able to enjoy the attractions without significant disturbance.

Petty crimes:Low

Gran Canaria, generally has a low level of petty crime. Most visits are trouble-free, but incidents of pickpocketing and theft from cars and hotel rooms do occur. Hence, it's advisable to take simple precautions like carrying minimal cash and valuables, using hotel safes, and keeping an eye on belongings especially in busier areas. Fraud scams targeting tourists are also reported on occasion, so stay wary of any unsolicited attempts to assist you, particularly in public areas.

Is Gran Canaria worth visiting?

Group travel

I travelled to Gran Canaria with some friends - we stayed at Eden Apartments - an aparthotel which is located on top of a hill, while initially worried about the accessibility, we quickly found that taxi rides are incredibly cheap, compared to mainland Europe prices. The cost of living in Gran Canaria is quite low, which makes it a great budget friendly travel option. Overall, loads of British people, so restaurants all seem to catered to their taste

Posted: May 24, 2024

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Olivia

United Kingdom

Solo travel

I visited Gran Canaria from February 18th-22nd as my first solo trip, and had an amazing experience. I felt safe all of the time, however I was’t ever outside of my hotel while it was dark outside, so my experience might not be the same as others (that doesn’t mean I’ve heard anything bad - I haven’t!) The weather was 23-27 degrees celsius each day, and that felt amazing for February! On my first day, I got a bus from Faro de Maspalomas bus station to Puerto de Mogán - an old fishing town about 45 minutes away from the centre of Maspalomas. I can’t recommend this place enough, it was amazing! I can’t wait to go back. On the second day I did a dolphin and whale watching boat trip with snorkelling. While I did enjoy this and we saw a lot of dolphins and pilot whales, the tour operator kept mentioning how the dolphins were “difficult to chase”, which made me regret not checking how environmentally friendly the tour was prior to booking, as chasing the dolphins causes them distress. On my third and final day, I walked along the sea front of Maspalomas town to the Meloneras area, where I had sangria and ice cream in the Panoramic Bar, which has 360 views of the area, and from my seat I was in full view of the beach and was still getting tanned by the sun. The walk was just over a mile, and in the heat this was still enjoyable, except I was not wearing the right footwear and chose to do the walk back barefoot! I then got a shuttle bus back to my hotel (after buying a souvenir magnet) and spent the rest of the day by the pool. I stayed in Mirador Maspalomas by Dunas, booked through easyJet as a package holiday. I didn’t spent much time in the resort as I wanted to explore the area, but the buffet meals were all delicious. There wasn’t a lot of different choice, but it was all delicious and I wasn’t there for long enough to find the food repetitive. On my second night, I did find bed bugs in my room, but luckily they hadn’t bitten me at all and when I searched all my luggage they hadn’t moved into any of my clothes etc, so as soon as reception moved me to a different room the problem was sorted. Also, my new room was twice the size and ‘themed’, so was definitely an upgrade!

Posted: February 29, 2024Experienced: February, 2024