Las Palmas

Las Palmas is a long, sprawling city, strung out for 10 km (6 miles) along two waterfronts of a peninsula. Though most of the action centers on the peninsula's northern end along the lovely Las Canteras beach, the historical sights are clustered around the city's southern edge. Begin in the old quarter, La Vegueta, at the Plaza Santa Ana (don’t miss the bronze dog statues), for a tour through attractive colonial architecture. Then make your way to the neighboring quarter of Triana, a treasure trove of small shops and cafés and restaurants. Both neighborhoods are protected by UNESCO. It's quite a walk from one end of town to the other, so at any point you may want to hop on one of the many canary-yellow buses. Buses 1, 2, and 12 run the length of the city.