🐾
💡
Dog-Friendly Tips for Maspalomas
🇪🇸Maspalomas, Spain·Updated 24 July 2026
Maspalomas is Gran Canaria's classic winter-sun resort, mild and dry all year, which makes off-season dog walks along the promenades a genuine strength, with January daytime highs in the low twenties. The catch for pet owners is the beach: the famous sands and the protected dunes are firmly off-limits to dogs, so plan your seaside days around the official dog beaches a short drive away.
Dog rules & law
Dogs must be leashed on streets, promenades and public spaces, waste must be picked up, and potentially dangerous breeds must be leashed and muzzled in public under Spanish law. On the resort beaches the rules are stricter still: dogs are banned from Playa de Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés and the dunes reserve, with fines that can reach 1,500 euros.
Beaches & the dunes
For a beach day with your dog, head to the official dog beaches nearby: the Mogán municipality opened five in February 2026, the closest being Playa de El Perchel in Arguineguín (time-limited, around 07:00 to 10:00 and 18:00 to 21:00), with all-day Los Frailes a little further west. Los Tres Peos near Agüimes is the main choice to the east and works best at low tide.
Heat, sun and the winter appeal
The climate is subtropical and mild all year, with coastal highs from about 19°C in winter to the mid-twenties in summer. In summer, walk your dog early or after sunset and carry water, as the promenades and sand get very hot at midday. The real strength is the off-season: winter days in the low twenties make Maspalomas one of Europe's easiest warm-weather boltholes for a dog in January or February.
Getting there & EU pet travel
Spain is in the EU and Schengen, so an EU Pet Passport with a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination is the standard document for travelling here. Gran Canaria is a fly-in island with no train, so your dog will usually arrive by plane, with airlines allowing small pets in the cabin and larger dogs in the hold under their own rules, so confirm and book early. On the island you get around by Global bus (pets under 10 kg in a carrier on your lap), taxi or hire car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maspalomas a good place to visit with a dog?
Yes, with the right expectations. The climate is mild all year and the promenades at Meloneras and the lighthouse are perfect for on-leash walks, especially in winter. The main limitation is that the famous beaches and dunes ban dogs, so you use the official dog beaches in Mogán or Agüimes for time on the sand.
When is the best time to visit Maspalomas with a dog?
The cooler months from roughly October to April are ideal: daytime highs in the low twenties, quiet promenades and comfortable walking without the midday summer heat, which is exactly the winter-sun appeal that makes Maspalomas an easy off-season base.
Do I need an EU pet passport for Maspalomas?
For dogs travelling from within the EU, yes: an EU Pet Passport showing a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. Travellers from outside the EU need the equivalent health certificate. As Gran Canaria is an island, also check your airline's specific pet rules well before you fly.
Pet-Friendly Hotels in Maspalomas
Our top-rated pet-friendly hotels, handpicked and verified.
Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia - Gran Lujo
★★★★★ · 9.7/10
€120/night
Hotel Riu Palace Maspalomas - Adults Only
★★★★★ · 9/10
€120/night
Hotel Faro, a Lopesan Collection Hotel - Adults Only
★★★★★ · 9/10
€120/night
More Maspalomas guides
Pet-friendly destinations nearby
Looking for a place to stay elsewhere? These destinations near Maspalomas also welcome your dog.