Shopping in Canary Islands
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Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África
This market has a Central American look with its arched entrance, clock tower and flower sellers. It's not large by Spanish standards but is still tantalising, with its mountains of fresh fruit and vegetables and variety of fish. You can also buy bread, fabulous local cheese and meats.
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Calle Castillo
The main shopping strip is the pedestrianised Calle Castillo and surrounding streets. Some promising deals are available on electronics and watches but there are also some great little boutiques, stocked with clothes from Spanish and international designers.
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El Corte Inglés
Monster-sized, and will keep you stocked in whatever your heart desires. It also has an excellent, albeit pricey, supermarket with interesting imported goodies.
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Shopping Centres
About the only interruption to the hectares of apartments, hotels, restaurants and bars comes in the form of the shopping centres. In them you can buy everything from children's wear to electronics. A good tip is to keep on looking, despite the enormous temptation to buy everything as soon as you see it - you may well save even more money if you shop around. The main Shopping Centres are north of the centre in San Fernando and Bellavista.
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Centro de Talasoterapía
Centro de Talasoterapía is Europe's largest Thalassotherapy centre, occupying a huge complex attached to Hotel Gloria Palace, and is nothing short of breathtaking. Fabulous sea-water treatments leave your skin as smooth as a baby's bum and your mind as light as a feather. A day's dunking and use of the various appliances costs from around €50.
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E
Fedac
If you're after local handicrafts, visit the small Fedac shop located with the Cabildo tourist office. Fedac is a government-sponsored nonprofit store, with prices and quality that are a good standard by which to measure those of products sold elsewhere. You'll also get a guarantee with your purchase.
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Clean Ocean Project
Stop by the Clean Ocean Project with its cool surf wear in soft greens and blues. The business donates a percentage of all profits to beach-cleaning days and anti-pollution awareness. There are branches in Menorca and Barcelona; check the website for more info about this cool ecofriendly company.
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Rastro
This flea market is held along two parallel streets leading from the covered market to the coast. It's the usual mix, including pirated CDs, cut-price underwear and handmade jewellery but is bustling and fun. Keep your money out of sight.
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Yumbo Centrum
There are more than 200 businesses in this four-level commercial centre. You can buy shoes, leather goods, perfume and anything else you fancy, tax-free, although the quality should be checked. There are also supermarkets on the premises.
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Covered Markets
For the freshest and cheapest produce check out the Covered Markets: the best are located between Calles Barcelona and Néstor de la Torre and on the corner of Calle Mendizabal and Calle Juan de Quesada in Vegueta.
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Thursday market
This small market is held in a car park due west of the tourist office. With most stalls run by Moroccans, Africans and German dropouts, you'll be lucky to find anything that smacks particularly of the Canaries.
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Avenida Mesa y López
Las Palmas' super-chic shoppers' hang-out is Avenida Mesa y López . Here you'll find the mammoth department store El Corte Inglés, as well as numerous shops and boutiques.
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Artenerife
Modern shopping centres are mushrooming throughout the resort, but for traditional Canary textiles, such as embroidered tablecloths, head to one of the Artenerife kiosks.
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No Work Team
One local surf-wear label to check out is No Work Team. In its shop you'll find good-quality, comfy duds for men, women and children, with an unmistakeable surfing feel.
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Parque Santa Catalina
Around Parque Santa Catalina , there are plenty of cheap electronic-goods and discount shops with great deals on cameras, watches, computer equipment and mobile phones.
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Librería del Cabildo Insular de Gran Canaria
This bookshop stocks lots of titles about the Canary Islands. Most are in Spanish but there are a few shelves of English guides (including Lonely Planet) and similar.
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Economical Mercadona
Three large supermarkets, including the Economical Mercadona , are situated in the Centro Comerciál Bellavista, just beyond San Fernando, to the north of town.
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Mercado Municipal
Local and imported produce, Canarian wines and palm honey and other goodies are on sale at this small but airy fresh market. Perfect to prepare a picnic.
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Azulito
Modern shopping centres are mushrooming throughout the resort, but for traditional Canary textiles, such as embroidered tablecloths, head to Azulito.
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Boxes & Cigars
If it's cigars you're after, this place has a dazzling range on offer, with the boxes just about as attractive as the smokes.
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Mercado Municipal
Self-caterers can make a beeline for the Mercado Municipal, which is large, well-stocked and located beside the bus station.
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La Isla Bookshop
This shop has titles in English, including novels, a few Canaries guidebooks and a selection of Lonely Planet guides.
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Market
You can buy artisan goods at the weekend Market, where produce, handicrafts and a variety of food products are sold.
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Craft & Produce Market
The Thursday Craft & Produce Market deservedly draws the crowds. The Friday market is more mainstream and naff.
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Fedac
Head to this government-sponsored, nonprofit store for handicrafts, including pottery, baskets and leather work.
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