Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, commonly known as Las Palmas, is one of the largest cities in Spain, and is the largest city in the Canary Islands. Las Palmas enjoys a subtropical climate, with mild to warm temperatures throughout the year. According to a study carried out by Thomas Whitmore, director of research on climatology at Syracuse University in the United States, Las Palmas enjoys "the best climate in the world".
A major cruise-ship port, the city is known for duty-free shopping and for its sandy beaches.