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 & TOBACCO - THE BEST PRICES

Generally speaking, these items cost less when purchased from local shops and supermarkets than at the 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.

SHOPPING CENTRES

Biosfera :: Puerto del Carmen

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 :: Playa Honda

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 (see bus timetables here).

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.

Website: Centro Commercial Deiland

Arrecife :: Calle Leon Y Castillo

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 9am until 2pm – they then close for three hours and re-open from approximately 5pm-8pm.  On Saturdays opening times are approximately 9am-2pm.

Arrecife is easy to reach by local bus from both Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise (see bus timetables here).

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!

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
Thursdays 10.00-18.00 and Friday : 18.00-24.00
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.