Shopping

From souvenir shops to designer boutiques, Lanzarote offers a wealth of shopping opportunities for even the most ardent shopaholic.

General Information

Until only a few years ago, Lanzarote had very little in the way of choice when it came to shopping. If you were looking for something other than souvenirs of your holiday it could be quite difficult to find what you wanted.

Now the situation is very different. As well as a wide selection of small shops and boutiques, there are a couple of excellent, modern shopping centres and the capital (Arrecife) is undergoing something of a renaissance.

It's worth noting that if you want to pay by credit or debit card you will normally — as a security measure — be asked to show your passport. Some, but not all, places will accept the photo part of your European driving licence.

Where Can I Shop?

Town Centres

Arrecife, the capital of Lanzarote, offers a wide variety of shopping opportunities, with many of the existing shops being updated and national brand names moving in, it now reflects the more cosmopolitan make up of the island.

Tias offers a nice selection of smaller boutique style, shops, however the more traditional centres of Yaiza and San Bartolomé tend to cater mainly for the local market and its everyday needs.

Shopping Centres

There are two main shopping centres, the Deiland Centre which is near the airport in Playa Honda and the modern Biosfera Plaza in the Old Town of Puerto del Carmen.

Biosfera Plaza

The relatively new Biosfera Centre is especially good for clothes shopping and is home to branches of Zara, Mango, Foot Locker and locally popular outlets such as Pull and Bear. The Centre is easy to find as it is located right on the cusp between the Old and New Town in Puerto del Carmen.

Deiland

Deiland is based in Playa Honda, which is close to Arrecife Airport and is easily reached by bus from either Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise. Deiland caters primarily to a more local (as opposed to tourist) market and the shops here reflect this as there are no international retailers present, with a few exceptions such as The Body Shop and Burger King. Deiland is also home to a bowling alley and cinema.

Arrecife

Not a shopping centre but the central shopping zone in Arrecife, with all the hustle and bustle that you’d associate with a busy High Street in the UK – depending on when you visit. During the week the shops are open from approximately 09.00 until 14.00 – they then close for three hours and re-open from approximately 17.00 - 20.00. On Saturdays opening times are approximately 09.00 to 14.00.

What’s On Offer

In a word, Everything, although sometimes you may have to look to find exactly what you want.

Food and Groceries

There are many places to stock up if you are self-catering. Most of the resort towns have a numer of small supermarkets which have a reasonable selection, although the prices are not always the cheapest.

For better value and wider choice, you could pay a visit to the Vivo Supermarket, which is opposite the airport in Playa Honda or Hiperdino in the Deiland Centre.

There are also other large supermarkets in Arrecife such as Eurospar and Hiperdino if you are prepared to take a little time to find them.

Worth mentioning is Congelados Roper at Playa Honda, which not only offers frozen food, but also has fresh fish, delicatessen and butchers counters. There is also an excellent fruit and veg section.

Tax Free Status

Lanzarote and the Canary Islands enjoy a unique Duty Free tax status within the European Union.

As a result, items such as alcohol, tobacco and perfume are considerably cheaper here than in mainland Spain or the rest of Europe.

Alcohol And Tobacco - The Best Prices

Generally speaking, these items cost less when purchased from local shops and supermarkets than at Arrecife airport or on board your plane.

There are often further price variations between supermarkets based within tourist resorts and those located outside.

So for the very best prices it is advisable to head for the larger outlets of chains such as EuroSpar (main branches in Arrecife) and HiperDino (main branch within the Deiland Shopping Centre, Playa Honda).

Supermarkets in resort are, as a rule, open from 8am-10pm 365 days a year. Similar hours apply to larger supermarkets outside the resorts but it is important to note that they are closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Duty Free Allowances

Alcohol

Wine x 2litres
Spirits 22% ABV plus x 1 litre
Spirits less than 22% ABV x 2 litres

Tobacco

Cigarettes x 200
Cigarillos x 100
Cigars x 50
Rolling Tobacco x 250gm

Perfumes

Perfume x 60ml
Eau de Toilete x 250ml

Other Goods

To a maximum value of £145
(currently around €215)

Airport Shopping

There is a reasonable selection of shops within the Departure Lounge at Arrecife Airport where items such as tobacco, alcohol, perfume, newspapers, magazines, books, souvenirs, jewellery, clothing and food and drink can all be purchased.

Other Goods On Sale

Smoked Salmon

Lanzarote is home to it's very own smokery where you can purchase delicious smoked salmon for as little as €33 per kilo. The salmon comes from Scotland but is smoked on the premises of the Ahumaderia de Uga and has an amazing smokey flavour, thanks to the secret ingredients used.

Purchases can be vacuum packed and boxed up for the journey home if you want to take some back as a present or a souvenir. Minimum orders are for ½ kilo.
Address: Crta Uga-Yaiza, 1
Open: Tuesday to Friday: 10.00 – 13.30 and 16.00 – 18.30, Saturday: 10.00 – 14.00
Telephone: 0034 928 830 132

Books and Stationary

Finished your holiday read? Forgotten someone’s birthday? With two well-stocked shops, one at either end of Puerto del Carmen, the Bookswop has a great range of paperbacks, both new and second-hand, cards for every occasion and DVDs for sale. A good stock of stationery, party goods and children’s books can also be found. So if you’re stuck for something to read, head for the Bookswop. Photocopying service available at both shops and fax service at Bookswop II.

Bookswop I
1st Floor, Corner of C/Timanfaya (close to the Fariones Hotel)
Open: Monday to Friday 9.30 - 20.00 Saturday 9.30 – 17.00
Telephone: 928 514 931

Bookswop II
C.C. Costa Luz (opposite the San Antonio Hotel)
Open: Monday to Friday 9.30 - 18.00 Saturday 9.30 - 13.30
Telephone: 928 513 563

Electrical Goods

There are some genuine bargains to be had if you know what you are doing. But there are also some very unscrupulous retailers in all of the main resorts who are the subject of a seemingly endless stream of complaints. Which include everything from deception (substition of inferior goods) to outright fraud.
Reputable retailers include Visanti (close to the Casino in Puerto del Carmen) and branded outlets such as Philips in Arrecife and Deiland.
In the event of difficulty contact the Office of Fair Trading on (0034) 928 803367 .

Markets

For more in-depth information visit our Markets page.

Teguise Market

Every Sunday : 09.00-14.00
The biggest and best known street market on Lanzarote. Busy, with hundreds of stalls and thousands of people!  Book a guided tour of Teguise Market.

Haria Market

Every Saturday : 09.00-14.00
In total contrast to Teguise, Haria stages a laid back, small-scale market every Saturday morning, with twenty to thirty stalls set up in the shade of the towns beautiful tree-lined main square.

Costa Teguise Market

Every Friday : 17.00-20.00
Small-scale market with accent on arts and crafts on Thursday and items such as bags, jewelry and souvenirs on Friday evenings.
Located in the Pueblo Marinero in the centre of the resort off the main Avendia de las Playas.

Playa Blanca Market

Marina Rubicon : Every Wednesday & Saturday : 09.00-14.00
Popular market, especially on Saturdays, with the accent on clothing and souvenirs as opposed to food and drink.

Tias Market

Saturdays 10.00-14.00
New farmers market staged in the centre of Tias every Saturday from 10am.
Find more information here.