For serious Gran Canaria shopping, a trip to the capital Las Palmas is always a good day trip. As one of Spain's ten biggest cities it's got the island's biggest malls, one of the country's top outdoor shopping areas and so many authentic cafes and restaurants that you'll struggle to stay focused on the task at hand.

The development of Tauro beach by local firm Santana Cazorla took a step forward this week after Spain's Costas department gave it permission to create a 180 metres artificial beach.

Gran Canaria is now officially on alert for hot weather as of Monday July 6 2015.

Gran Canaria is a lot of fun in July with water and apricot festivals, the Fiestas del Carmen marine parades and firework displays, and a series of local fiestas or romerias. Here's a guide to July events in Gran Canaria.

While Spain is expected to swelter in 40ºC heat over the weekend, Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands will be no hotter than normal for the time of year.

Gran Canaria is to host the Spanish edition of the famous Porretta Soul Festival at an as-yet-unknown beach on the island, according to local producer Dania Dévora.

Arguineguín town (or South Oslo as it's known in the winter) is south Gran Canaria's only local coastal town. At heart, it's still a fishing town even though it hosts thousands of Nordic snowbirds each winter and has a hugely popular weekly market.

These super-useful weather resources are what we use to check the daily weather forecast all over Gran Canaria.

You can wake up and check the Gran Canaria weather forecasts, but there's nothing better than seeing the weather live. That's why we've put this live webcam from Arguineguín, in the south of Gran Canaria here on the site.

We've been asked whether it's safe to travel to Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands by several people concerned about the dangers of travel after recent events in Tunisia. Our answer is that  the Canary Islands have a low crime rate and that the threat of terrorist activity is remote.

With a beachfront promenade, white ballustrades, palm trees shading the sand and plenty of places to eat and drink close by, Salinetas beach is the most complete on the east coast.

Pasito Beach beach is one of the quietest in south Gran Canaria despite its turquoise water and fine sand.

Gran Canaria erupted with joy last night as Las Palmas' football team won promotion to the Spanish Primera Liga for the first time since 2002. 

Nudist Montaña de Arena is one of Gran Canaria's legendary wild beaches along with GüiGüi, Guayedra and El Confital. However, it's surprisingly accessible as it's right between the island's main resorts.

There's nothing like sitting in the shade of a palm tree listening to the breeze rustle through the fronds and the waves lapping at the shore. Here are 11 Gran Canaria beaches with palm trees right by the sand.

Everybody goes to Amadores beach and Playa del Inglés is busy every day. However, there are great sandy beaches in south Gran Canaria where you can sit on the sand surrounded by locals rather than tourists. Here are ten of the best.

Sandy Playa del Cura beach is where the people who work in south Gran Canaria, local and guiri, go at the weekends. 

Of Gran Canaria's 80-odd beaches, here are the ones named after animals. Why? because life's a beach :-)

The non-profit Blue Flag organisation only gives its prestigious award to the world's best beaches and marinas. Here's our photo guide to Gran Canaria's 15 Blue Flag beaches and two Blue Flag marinas. See our Ultimate Gran Canaria beach guide here.

With Wild Oats, Fast & Furious 6 and BBC series SunTrap all filmed in Gran Canaria, the island is becoming a red hot film location. Here are the ten top Gran Canaria filming spots where you might just bump into a film crew.