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