Gáldar holds the Painted Cave (Cueva Pintada): a cave decorated with painted geometric panels, set among the excavated remains of an entire pre-Hispanic village. It is a major archaeological site, with over 50,000 visitors a year. Before the Castilian conquest the town was the seat of one of the island's two native kingdoms. The main church is dedicated to Saint James, and every year the town hall runs FIC Gáldar, an international film festival founded in 2013.
Gáldar
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Spanish; English, German in resorts
- Power plug
- Type C/F, 230 V
- Visa
- Schengen
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1 (WET/WEST)
- Tap water
- Safe; mineral taste in the south
- Tipping
- Not expected; 5–10% for great service
- Emergency
- 112
Things to do
All tours in Gáldar on GetYourGuide
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When to go
High season
Nov – Mar
Mild winter days bring Gran Canaria's main tourist season, though the island's north takes more cloud and showers than the resorts of the south.
Shoulder
Apr – Oct
The trade winds blow steadily on the north coast, and a grey layer of cloud often sits over the town while the south of the island stays clear.
How long to stay
Half a day covers the Painted Cave and the streets around the church of Saint James, which makes Gáldar an easy day trip from Las Palmas, 21 km to the east. Give it a full day if you also want to go down to the coast, 2 km from the town, and to the fishing settlement of Puerto de Sardina.
Getting around
The town stands at the foot of the mountains, with the coast 2 km away. The GC-2 motorway passes south of it; Las Palmas lies 21 km to the east.
The municipality reaches beyond the town itself and takes in several outlying settlements: Puerto de Sardina on the coast, along with San Isidro, Los Quintanas, Barrial and Marmolejos.
What to see
Destinations in Gáldar
Frequently asked questions
What is the Painted Cave in Gáldar?
An archaeological site made up of a cave decorated with painted panels and the remains of an entire pre-Hispanic village around it. Over 50,000 people visit it each year.How far is Gáldar from Las Palmas?
21 km. Gáldar lies west of Las Palmas, and the GC-2 motorway passes south of the town.Is Gáldar on the coast?
The town sits at the foot of the mountains, 2 km from the coast. The municipality does reach the shore, where the settlement of Puerto de Sardina stands.What is FIC Gáldar?
The Gáldar International Film Festival, held every year since 2013 and organised by the town hall. Feature-length and short films from many countries compete, with exhibitions and other events running alongside the screenings.