Thursday, 04 October 2018 12:48

Gran Canaria Shopping: The Island's Top Eight Spots

Gran Canaria shopping Guide: Meloneras boulevard Gran Canaria shopping Guide: Meloneras boulevard photosgrancanaria.com

Shopping in Gran Canaria is a joy because prices are lower here than anywhere else in Europe and the variety of shops and fashion on offer is huge. Here's the Gran Canaria Info guide to the top places to shop until you drop.

1. South Gran Canaria shopping: The Varadero and Meloneras Boulevard

The upmarket Varadero shopping centre at Meloneras in south Gran CanariaThe seafront walkway at Meloneras is one of Gran Canaria's most popular spots thanks to its restaurants and bars, beautiful sea views and its wide variety of upmarket shops. The shops are located along the boulevard itself and in the Varadero Mall.

Shops to look out for include the superb Fundgrube shops (on the boulevard and in the Varadero). Fundgrube sells a wide range of fashion accessories, cosmetics and perfume at excellent prices.

2. South Gran Canaria shopping: El Tablero Shopping Centre

El Tablero is just inland from Playa del Ingles and Campo Internacional. It's a small but beautifully designed mall with a bright and airy feel. Shops include Timberland, Zara and Pull & Bear. There's also a large Hiperdino supermarket. 

The sunny roof terrace has several places to eat including a Burger King with a handy interactive game room for the kids. 

3. South Gran Canaria shopping: Puerto de Mogán

Puerto de Mogan shopping by the beachPeople flock to Puerto de Mogán for beautiful bougainvillaea fringed lanes and the big Friday market but there is enough to keep shoppers happy any day of the week. Head to the beachfront and you'll find a series of fashion and accessory shops including a big Fundgrube. 

4. North Gran Canaria shopping: Triana shopping district

Triana shopping district in Las Palmas de Gran CanariaRecently voted Spain's top outdoor shopping destination, Triana district next to Las Palmas' Vegueta Old Town is a wonderful, local shopping experience. The Calle mayor or High Street has plenty of big name fashion stores such as H&M, Zara and Mango while the little lanes running up the hill have plenty of smaller independent boutiques and shops. Triana is also full of local restaurants and has several quality vegetarian spots like Mr Kale and Dara Feeling Food. 

Parking at Triana can be tricky so just hop on a bus that stops at the San Telmo bus station at the north end of Calle Triana, or park under San Telmo Square between the bus station and the shopping area. 

5. North Gran Canaria shopping: Las Arenas Mall

Las Arenas has the widest range of shops of any of Las Palmas' city malls. It also has free parking, plenty of restaurants upstairs and is right by the glorious Las Canteras beachfront. Don't miss the El Corte Inglés outlet shop on the top floor as it has some excellent bargains. For cameras and electronics at fair, fixed prices, head to the Media Markt. 

6. North Gran Canaria shopping: Los Alisios megamall

The newest and biggest shopping space in Gran Canaria, Los Alisios is a vast outdoor mall that feels more like a High Street than a shopping centre. It has plenty of big name fashion brand flagship stores that stock the widest range of their lines anywhere in Gran Canaria. Upstairs you'll find a good selection of cafes and restaurants and there are interactive games and activities dotted around the mall to keep the kids entertained (don't miss the giant bubble-blowing fish). 

There is plenty of free parking at Los Alisios which is just ten minutes drive west of Las Palmas city. 

7. North Gran Canaria shopping: Mesa y Lopez

Home to the vast El Corte Inglés department store (which sells almost anything you can imagine from jewellery to kayaks), Mesa y Lopez also has a good selection of fashion stores and even a Marks & Spencer (complete with food hall).  The whole street will soon be pedestrian and we expect it to claim back its rightful place as a top Gran Canaria shopping area within a couple of years. 

8. East Gran Canaria shopping: Las Terrazas & El Mirador

 As you drive into Las Palmas from the resorts you'll see not one but two big shopping malls. Las Terrazas, on the seaward side of the motorway, is an outdoor outlet centre with excellent prices for athleisure and surfing brands and shoes. It also has an El Corte Inglés outlet store, a Fundgrube outlet, a Media Markt for cameras and electronics at low prices, and the island's only KFC. 

Bonus: Gran Canaria shopping tips

Hit the sales in Gran Canaria for some sensational discounts. There are two main sale periods and they both last for two months; The winter sales which start right after Three Kings Day on January 6th, and the summer sales which start at the beginning of July.

If you live outside the EU, you can claim back your local VAT (IGIC) at the airport. This is 7% of the purchase price. Ask for a DIVA Form at point-of-purchase, keep your receipts, and head to the customs desk before baggage check-in at the airport. See this PDF for full info.

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  • How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer
    How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer

    Gran Canaria's hotels have to be licensed and offer a quality level of service as well as having insurance and complying with fire regulations. The same goes for the boats that take people out to watch dolphins, the companies offering jeep safaris, and even the holiday let apartments. 

    However, not everybody in Gran Canaria follows the rules. For example, there is a significant industry running illegal and uninsured transfers between Gran Canaria airport and the island's resorts. These cars, driven by locals and foreign-residents, are just private vehicles and the drivers are unregulated and uninsured. They don't pay tax and there is no way to hold them responsible if something goes wrong. 

     At Gran Canaria Info we believe that all people and all companies offering services to tourists should legal and above board.

    So, how do you know that your airport transfer service is legal and registered with the Gran Canaria authorities?

     Using legal Gran Canaria airport transfers

    It is quite easy to know if your airport transfer service is operating in a legal way because all registered transfers have the following...

     A blue license plate: Taxis and other public service vehicles in Gran Canaria all have blue plates.

    A VTC sticker in the window: This stands for Vehículo de Transporte con Conductor, the official designation for licensed transfer drivers ans chauffeurs.

    An SP sticker on the car: This indicates that the car offer a Servicio Publico or public service and is therefore allowed to pick up and transfer members of the public. 

    Parked in the transport zone: Official airport transfer vehicles don't park in the public car park of the airport. Instead they have their own parking zone right by the arrivals gates at the airport (next to the taxis and package tour buses). Your transfer driver therefore should not have to pay a parking fee before leaving the aiport. 

    How to spot an unlicensed transfer service

    Unlicensed drivers get away with offerring their service because they claim that they are just members of the public picking up a friend. They are allowed to stand at arrivals with a sign (just like any member of the public can).

    However, they also have to park their car in the public car park and will walk you there with your luggage, stopping to pay the parking fee at the meter. A licensed transfer driver does not need to do this because they have their own parking zone right by arrivals.

    Some unlicensed drivers don't even wait at the arrival gate because the official drivers recognise them and get annoyed. Instead they have to stand further away (often by the Spar supermarket or the car rental desks). 

    When an unlicensed driver drops you at the airport they will not want to be paid in a public area because this proves that they are charging rather than "transporting a friend" for free. 

    An unlicensed car will not have a blue license plate, or a SP or VTC sticker, and will often look like a private car (because it is a private car). 

    What's the problem with unlicensed airport transfers?

    Some people use unlicensed cars because they are the cheapest option and don't realise that they are unlicensed. 

    There are several problems with unlicensed services. The most obvious is that they are uninsured so if something goes wrong or there is an accident, you are not protected. The price that unlicensed drivers offer is only low because they cut corners (hopefully not literally). You have no way of even knowing if your unlicensed driver has a Spanish driving license, insurance and a good driving record. Licensed drivers are vetted regularly and must be fully insured and licensed to work.

    Another problem is that unlicensed transfers undermine the legitimate transfer drivers and businesses in Gran Canaria. Local drivers make a living from transfers and offer a legal, regulated service with minimum standards. Every time an unlicensed service undercuts them, it is effectively stealing from local people and the island economy.

    We believe that everybody in Gran Canaria deserves better!

    Gran Canaria Airport Transfer Services

    To find out more about the Gran Canaria airport transfer, see our Gran Canaria airport transfer article which explains the three different models; man/woman from pub with car, online transfer websites, and local transfer services.

    Or you can book a legitimate Gran Canaria airport transfer at a great price right here. Our service uses local drivers and supprts the island economy because all the money you spend stays in Gran Canaria.

    Alex Says: Using our service also helps the Gran Canaria Info team to keep providing quality local information here and in our Facebook Group

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