The local buses to Las Palmas from Gran Canaria Airport

The airport of Gran Canaria is about 22 kms south of San Telmo Bus Station and 25kms south of Santa Catalina Bus Station. In a taxi, it will take about 20 minutes and cost you around EU 30. In the local "Global" buses, it will cost you EU 2.30 and take around half an hour. Not bad if you ask me.

If I can give you one tip about using the buses in Gran Canaria, and one tip only, it would definitely be to download the guagua bus app. This app is really well put together, it is available in German, Spanish and English and it will give you all the information on bus timetables, maps, lines etc for both local yellow guagua and blue global buses. As long as you have an internet connection. Please see my blog on how to get the most out of the app.

My blog on the app: http://lasislascanaria.blogspot.com.es/2015_03_01_archive.html

Download the app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mydatafocus.GuaguaBus&hl=it

The local buses that leave from the airport are blue "Global" buses. The local bus stops at the airport are located at the top level of the airport (on the departures level). I suggest going up the escalators while you are inside the airport to the departures level before exiting the airport, as it can be a little confusing finding the bus stops from the bottom level. Beware that there will be signs to buses that are actually tour buses, so make sure you are following signs for "Global" buses at all times. 

Unfortunately, the path to the buses is not very well marked but if you keep walking in a northerly direction towards the last building at the airport, you should hopefully see the bus stop. The bus stops are in front of a yellow outdoor car park on the departures level. Once you make it to the bus stops, first give yourself a pat on the back (you deserve it) and then find the bus stop you need. There are two bus stops: one which will be for buses heading south to the beach resorts (ie. Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles, Puerto Rico etc) and one for buses heading north to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ie. San Telmo, Santa Catalina etc.).

Getting from the Airport to San Telmo Bus Station/Santa Catalina Station in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

There are plenty of options for getting to San Telmo Bus Station in Las Palmas via public transport when you arrive at Gran Canaria airport. San Telmo Bus Station is near the neighbourhoods of Vegueta and Triana, which are popular tourist destinations. San Telmo is also the main bus station in Las Palmas, meaning there are a multitude of local yellow "guagua" buses headed to all different parts of the city from there. You will find a great information desk there as well with English speakers available. The price of the tickets on all buses from the airport to San Telmo Bus Station is EU 2.30 each and you can pay this directly to the bus driver when you board.

Santa Catalina Bus Station, situated in Santa Catalina Park, is very close to Las Canteras Beach, which is the big tourist hub here in Las Palmas. Catching the bus here will most likely put you very close to your hotel and there is also an information centre in Santa Catalina Park. The price of the airport bus to Santa Catalina Park is EU 2.95 each which you can pay to the bus driver directly.

There is a dedicated airport bus, the number 60 "Global" that leaves the airport at 15 minutes past the hour and 50 minutes past the hour everyday (including public holidays & weekends) between 6:15 - 23:15 in the direction of Las Palmas. It will display "60 - Aeropuerto - L.Palmas de GC San Telmo". The drivers always open the luggage compartments so that you can put your bags underneath the bus. The number 60 is a direct service to San Telmo Bus Station (although sometimes it does make a stop before San Telmo, depending on the driver). Check the number 60 timetable here: http://www.globalsu.es/lineas/linea60.pdf

Note: the number 60 services that leave the airport at 15 minutes past the hour stop at San Telmo Bus Station for around 15 minutes before continuing on to Santa Catalina Bus Station. This is the only direct service to Santa Catalina Bus Station from the airport. There are a multitude of yellow guagua buses that depart San Telmo Bus Station for Santa Catalina. The people in the information booth there will be able to help you out with this.

There are other options for buses into San Telmo Bus Station (Las Palmas) from the airport. The next quickest service will be the number 91 - it departs the airport every hour (on the hour (around about) between 07:00 - 21:00 everyday including public holidays and weekends) and is a semi express service to San Telmo Station. It is possible to put your bags underneath this bus as well, but you may need to ask the bus driver to open the baggage compartment for you. See the number 91 timetable here: http://www.globalsu.es/lineas/linea91.pdf

Other services that you can board from the airport to San Telmo Bus Station in Las Palmas are the: number 11 and number 1. Both of these services stop at every bus stop back to San Telmo so may take you a little longer but still arrive at the destination. Also, note that you won't be able to put your bags underneath the bus, but they don't mind you lugging your suitcases on board. See the number 11 timetable here: http://www.globalsu.es/lineas/linea11.pdf  and the number 1 timetable here: http://www.globalsu.es/lineas/linea1.pdf

If you are arriving late at night or in the early hours of the morning, the number 5 global bus is the nocturnal airport bus. It leaves at 22:10, 00:10 and then every hour until 05:10 towards San Telmo Bus Station in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Waiting times may vary for this service as it is not express. See the timetable here: http://www.globalsu.es/lineas/linea5.pdf