Playa del Inglés: Gran Canaria’s Big Kid Playground

If Maspalomas is Gran Canaria’s stylish elder sibling, then Playa del Inglés is the cheeky younger one, louder, messier, funnier, and never quite ready for bed.

This purpose-built resort sprawls along the southern coast like a sunburnt teenager on a lilo, and it’s been attracting holidaymakers since the 1960s. Today, it remains a heady cocktail of golden beaches, neon lights, and “all welcome” energy that’s hard not to get swept up in.

The main beach is a showstopper: nearly three kilometres of golden sand, framed by rolling dunes on one side and the Atlantic on the other. It’s so vast you can practically pick your own postcode. Families cluster near the promenade, close to the ice-cream stalls and lifeguard towers. Surfers and bodyboarders head east for the waves. Then there’s the “less is more” crowd further along, where sunbathing sometimes requires nothing more than a smile and a lot more dabs of factor 30.

Walk far enough and the sands blur into Maspalomas, the dunes rippling away into the horizon. It’s the kind of walk that turns a quick paddle into a two-hour trek, but the views (and the people-watching) more than make up for it.

Playa del Inglés isn’t just about horizontal living on a sunbed. Adrenalin-fuelled watersports line the beach: jet skis that bounce across the waves, parasailing for those who fancy dangling like a kite, and banana boats for everyone who secretly enjoys falling off in synchronised fashion.

Head inland and you’ll find the giant Yumbo Centre. By day it’s a labyrinth of shops selling everything from Canarian cheese to inflatable flamingos. By night, well, we’ll get to that.

For families, Sioux City Park is a Wild West-style theme park built from a spaghetti western film set. Just a short drive away, expect cowboys, gunfight shows, and cactus-lined streets, your kids will love

Time to eat? Playa del Inglés is a culinary chameleon. Want fish grilled fresh from the Atlantic? Head to a local asadero. Fancy a curry, pizza, or a Sunday roast complete with Yorkshire puds? You’ll find those too, sometimes all on the same street. A good bet is to wander down the Paseo Marítimo promenade in the evening, where the smell of garlic prawns mingles with sizzling steaks. Order some papas arrugadas with mojo sauce (wrinkly potatoes that taste far better than they sound), and you’re halfway to eating like a local.

After dark is when Playa del Inglés really earns its reputation. The nightlife is legendary, and it’s not just for the 18-to-30 brigade. The Yumbo Centre transforms into a kaleidoscope of bars, drag shows, and cabaret that’s as LGBTQ+ inclusive as it is lively. Expect fun, laughter, and a dance floor with no closing time.
For something more mainstream, the Kasbah Centre offers clubs where DJs spin until sunrise, while smaller bars along the promenade keep things casual with live music and cheap cocktails. Whether you’re into karaoke, cabaret, or clubbing until your flip-flops wear thin, Playa del Inglés obliges.

If the neon ever gets too much, you’re perfectly placed for escape. A short stroll west takes you into the serenity of Maspalomas’ dunes. A bus ride north and you’re in the mountain villages, where whitewashed houses cling to volcanic slopes and the pace drops by several gears. Or hop on a boat from nearby Puerto Rico for dolphin-spotting, it’s a magical, life-affirming experience.

To sum up, Playa del Inglés is not subtle, it’s brash, bold, and unapologetically fun. It’s where you’ll see families building sandcastles next to bodybuilders striking poses, where grandmothers dance to Abba tribute bands, and where new friendships are forged over late-night kebabs. For some, it’s too much. For others, it’s everything a holiday should be, sun, sand, laughter, and the freedom to be whoever you fancy being for a week or two.

Playa del Inglés isn’t trying to be chic or refined. It’s the resort that hands you a cold beer, points you towards the beach, and says, “Go on, enjoy yourself.” And honestly? Sometimes that’s hard to resist.