Discovering the Canary Islands

Why did you choose to go to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain?

I decided to leave Sicue (an exchange program at a national level that offers Spanish universities) and I got a place in Las Palmas which was where I wanted, as it had already been recommended.

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

My stay lasted 10 months. I didn't receive any kind of economic help.

What is the student lifestyle like in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

It surprised me that it didn't have a general student atmosphere, as it's a relatively big city and because of the weather. There is enough of an Erasmus presence though, and you can go out partying from Wednesday to Saturday.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to other students?

Definitely, yes! There's good weather all year round, so you're able to enjoy the beach nearly every day of the year and the prices are quite low for the quality that the city offers. The island has thousands of places to visit (Roque Nublo, the sand dunes in Maspalomas, Pico de las Nieves, Guigui Tamadaba, el Dedo de Dios, Playa de Anfi del Mar... ). I would also recommend that you visit the rest of the beautiful islands that you can travel to for a very low price with your residence certificate.

When it comes to the university it's a little bit disorganised in terms of international relations. However, I suppose that like in the majority of universities, everything else is perfect.

What is the food like there?

Canarian food is really good, but there isn't much variety. Although, the island offers a lot of different types of food from their own Canarian island, the Peninsular, and many other countries (especially all Asian food and Arabic) which means there's a huge cultural variety on the island.

Was it difficult for you to find accommodation in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

No, we did it in a particular way but there are many organisations that help you look for accommodation.

I would recommend living in the area Mesa y López, near Las Canteras and its promenade, or Santa Catalina. It's a really good area as you have the beach and supermarkets nearby, as well as the party zone, shops, and bus stops for going to the university (25/26). It's much better than living where the campus 'Tafira' is which is where the majority of departments are found, as it's far from everywhere else. The weather changes a lot around Las Palmas, the prices of flats aren't that much cheaper nor are there night 'guagua' (bus) services that go through that area. This means that if you wanted to go out you would have to get a taxi that would cost around €10 to anywhere in the centre.

Also, the area Vegueta, but I would still recommend the areas by Las Canteras beach so that if you were living there for a year, you could enjoy everything that the island offers without needing to get a bus more often than not.

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How much does it cost to live in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

With €600 per month you can live pretty well, the flats cost between €180-260 not including extra bills which would cost €30-40 (electricity, water and internet).

Your weekly shop is a little bit more expensive than it is on the Peninsular, but nothing excessive. For free products I recommend the Central Market which is next to Mesa y López. And then for the rest, Hiperdino and Mercadona.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the university?

I'm Spanish so I didn't have any problems, but for Erasmus students they offer Spanish courses.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria from your city?

By plane (Ryanair and Vueling).

When you arrive, you will have to get your residence certificate so you get 50% discounts on all flights and ferries to travel to the Peninsular and the other island, but a lot of other things as well.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

It depends on what you like.

On Wednesdays there is a complete Erasmus/SICUE atmosphere which goes on in Limbo and Urban, in the area Santa Catalina/Mesa y López. In Limbo, the drinks are very cheap, a drink for half a litre (a big glass) costs €3. 50, then the next cheapest are for €1 and the smallest is €0. 50. It's free to get into Urban.

On Thursdays everyone goes to Vegueta as from the afternoon onwards they offer 'pinchos' (snacks/tapas) and a beer for amazing prices (€1-2), and the drinks are really good for their price too. Later on, everyone goes to a club called Paper Club. You have to pay to get in but it doesn't tend to be expensive.

On Fridays and Saturdays it just depends on what you're looking for. People tend to go out around Las Canteras, Santa Catalina, Vegueta or Plaza de la Música.

On Saturdays, after 6pm there is live music all along Las Canteras (rock, jazz, blues, etc. ) that ends in the Plaza de la Música where you can drink outside and there are some pubs/clubs that are all free to enter, and they normally play electronic music. These places also close really late (around 7am). But, I would recommend that you go out to different places and don't always go to the same ones.

Also there is Maspalomas where there is a good atmosphere on the weekends. It's more expensive than Las Palmas, but I'd suggest that you go and try it, even just once.

And there's the matter of the Carnivals, they are actually incredible. If you have any doubts, don't hesitate to ask me.