Gran Canaria is the Canary Islands' sun-soaked hub, and its airport is a surprising long-haul launchpad — €32 to Marrakech, cheap Turkey routes, and a charter spread that reaches Mauritius, Zanzibar and Cameroon from the mid-Atlantic.
Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) sits on the island’s east coast, and the cheap link to the capital is the Global bus line 60: it runs directly to Las Palmas, stopping at San Telmo (€2.30) and the Santa Catalina interchange (€2.95), in about 28 minutes, every 30 minutes. Las Palmas is the island’s transport hub, so from there the wider Guagua bus network fans out to the south-coast resorts (Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés) and the green interior. For the budget traveller, line 60 plus a connection is all you need — a fraction of an island taxi.
As a base, Gran Canaria’s value is its position out in the Atlantic. Beyond cheap Moroccan and Turkish hops, a charter network reaches deep into Africa and the Indian Ocean from a holiday island.
Morocco and Turkey — the cheap hops
The standout is Marrakech at €32 — the cheapest route on the board and one of the great short-haul steals, a couple of hours from the Canaries to the souks and the Atlas for next to nothing. Antalya (€207) and Istanbul (€244) reach Turkey’s coast and great city, with Izmir (€288) adding the Aegean. Marrakech is the impulse buy; the Turkey routes are the longer city-break options.
The African and Indian Ocean long shots
Here’s where Gran Canaria surprises. Mauritius (€787) and Zanzibar (€812) reach the Indian Ocean’s dream islands, while Nairobi (€822 with a bag) opens East Africa and Douala (€966 with a bag) reaches Cameroon in Central Africa. These are charter-driven seasonal fares, not impulse buys, but each is a remarkable connection from a mid-Atlantic holiday island — and far cheaper than routing via mainland Europe.
Why these routes exist
Gran Canaria’s unusual long-haul reach comes from its geography and its role as a Spanish base for sun-seekers year-round. Its position off the African coast makes it a natural staging point south, and the charter operators that fill its winter-sun flights also run the occasional long-haul to East Africa and the Indian Ocean. It’s a reminder that a ‘beach island’ airport can quietly reach the far side of the continent if you catch the right seasonal fare.
Bag fares: long-haul included, hops bare
The split follows the carrier. The deep African routes — Nairobi and Douala — include a checked bag. The cheap short-hauls (Marrakech, Antalya, Istanbul, Izmir) and the Mauritius and Zanzibar charters are shown as base fares, often cabin-led on the lowest class. On the €32 Marrakech fare especially, a gate-bought bag can cost more than the ticket — decide before you book.
Cheapest destinations from Gran Canaria right now
Good-price round-trip targets from aifly’s own tracked fares — “good price” means book at or below this; nothing here is invented or scraped from third parties. The live deal page for each route shows the current fare.
| Destination | Good price | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | €32 | €32 — the cheapest route here and one of the great short-haul steals to Morocco. |
| Antalya | €207 | €207 to Turkey's Mediterranean resort coast. |
| Istanbul | €244 | €244 — Turkey's great city and a connecting hub everywhere. |
| Izmir | €288 | €288 to Turkey's relaxed Aegean third city. |
| Mauritius | €787 | €787 to the Indian Ocean — the dream island, from the mid-Atlantic. |
| Zanzibar | €812 | €812 to the Indian Ocean spice island — beaches and Stone Town. |
| Nairobi | €822 incl. bag | €822 with a bag into Kenya and the East African safari gateway. |
| Douala | €966 incl. bag | €966 with a bag to Cameroon's largest city and economic hub. |
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest flight from Gran Canaria?
Marrakech at around €32 — the cheapest route and one of the great short-haul steals, a couple of hours to Morocco's souks and the Atlas.
How do I get from Gran Canaria Airport to Las Palmas?
Global bus line 60 runs directly to Las Palmas — San Telmo €2.30, Santa Catalina €2.95 — in about 28 minutes, every 30 minutes. From Las Palmas the Guagua network reaches the south-coast resorts and interior.
Can you fly long-haul from Gran Canaria?
Surprisingly, yes — Mauritius (€787), Zanzibar (€812), Nairobi (€822 with a bag) and Douala (€966 with a bag) reach the Indian Ocean and deep Africa, charter-driven but remarkable for a holiday island.
Do these Gran Canaria fares include a checked bag?
The deep African routes (Nairobi, Douala) include a bag; the cheap short-hauls and the Mauritius/Zanzibar charters are base fares, often cabin-led. Add a bag at booking if needed.
Why does Gran Canaria have flights to East Africa?
Its position off the African coast makes it a natural staging point south, and the charter operators that fill its winter-sun flights also run occasional long-haul to East Africa and the Indian Ocean.
How current are these Gran Canaria prices?
They're the lowest verified round-trip fares we've tracked recently and move with season and demand. Treat each as a target and book when you find a fare at or below it.
Seasons, carriers and airport details verified June 2026 and can change — confirm current conditions before you book.