Telde is in Eastern Gran Canaria. It is the second largest town on the island, with a population of 102,000 in 2022.

Understand

Parish Church of San Juan Bautista

From the motorway, all you can really see of Telde are warehouses, supermarkets, office buildings and unattractive industrial plants. The town is far from the tourist centers and has therefore retained its originality.

History

It was once the seat of a kingdom of the ancient Canarians (Guanches), and its last king, Doramas, fought desperately against the Spanish conquerors. They built their historic old town immediately north of the Avenido del Cabildo Insular, as the GC 10 is called in the city area. In Telde, African slaves were sold to America, and slaves were also used in the sugar cane fields and banana plantations around the town.

Tourist information

• Tourist Information Telde, C/. Leon and Castillo 2, ☏ +34 828 013 331, turismo@ayuntamientodetelde.org. (updated Jun 2024)

Get in

Telde is about 15 km south of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

By plane

Gran Canaria Airport is on the southwestern outskirts of Telde between the motorway and the coast. Lines 36 and 90 run from the airport to Telde (and back). A single trip costs €1.40 (as of 2017)

By bus

• Line 12 Telde - Las Palmas
• Line 24 Telde - Santa Brigida
• Line 35 Telde - Agüimes
• Line 36 Telde - Maspalomas (via airport)
• Line 90 Telde - Faro de Laspalomas (via airport)

By car

The town centre of Telde is inland, about 2 km from the motorway. To get to the historic town centre, leave the motorway at 8 and drive west on the GC-10, following the signs for Barrio San Juan or Barrio San Francisco.

See

• 1 Plaza de San Juan. In the centre of the old town is the church of San Juan, made of dark basalt, which is quite plain on the outside. Inside is an altar that is around 500 years old. It is surrounded by stylish old buildings and mighty trees. 
• 2 Plaza de San Francisco. With the old monastery church of San Francisco. 
• 3 Museo León y Castillo (Leon and Castle Museum), Calle Leon y Castillo 45. The museum, in an old Canarian mansion with wooden balconies and an inner courtyard, displays antique Canarian furniture, personal memorabilia of the brothers and pictures, and plans for the port of Las Palmas. Free. 
• 4 Parish church of San Juan Bautista. This church, dedicated to John the Baptist, is one of the most artistically valuable religious buildings on the island. Construction of the three-aisled church, made of differently colored volcanic stone, began around 1520; the late Gothic main façade dates from the 16th century. In the 17th and 18th centuries, structural changes were made in the Baroque style,, and in the 19th century the central nave was renovated. The two bell towers were not built until the 20th century. 
• 5 Montaña de las Cuatro Puertas (Four Gates Mountain). A 319-m-high mountain, place of worship of the ancient Canarians, in the direction of Ingenio next to the GC-100.  

Do

Telde has several beaches that are less well known among tourists than among locals, such as the Bahia de Melenara , the Playa de Salinetas and the Playa del Hombre .

• El Cortijo Club de Campo, South Highway GC-1, Kilometer 6,4, ☏ +34 928 711 111, clubcampo@elcortijo.es. 18 hole course, par 72 golf course. (updated Jun 2024)

Eat

There are a few fast food restaurants along Avenida Cabildo Insular, including Döner Kebap. Around the Iglesia de San Gregorio there are a few bars that offer fajitas and burgers, in addition to their drinks.

Sleep

• Canary Sun Hostel, Calle Navarra number 6. Bed in a 6-bed room approx. 20.