To find decent shops that are offering goods at reasonable prices it is necessary to travel out of Gran Canaria’s resort areas; this means either, taking out a car hire for the day or using the local bus services.
Choosing Where to go Shopping
Two of the most popular shopping spots with the local people are Vecindario and Las Palmas. Vecindario is a huge town on the eastern coast of Gran Canaria, and about a forty minutes drive from the main holiday areas. Las Palmas, Gran Canaria’s capital city is further away, on the north-eastern tip of the island and the regular bus services will take on average an hour to arrive.
Shopping in Vecindario
This Canarian town is known as the shopping centre of the south-east, and with good reason. Its three kilometre long, main street is lined with shops on both sides, selling everything from shoes to electrical goods. As it is one of the main residential areas, then prices haven’t been raised especially for the tourist market. In Vecindario there is also a massive shopping centre called C.C. Atlantico which has become increasingly popular in the last three years as it homes all the big name stores that are in all the major European cities .
As Vecindario is a Canarian town; then siesta time does take a preference over commerce between one o’clock and four thirty, though in the Atlantico centre the shops do not close and are still open at ten in the evening.
Shop Till You Drop in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas is a beautiful city; decorated with towering palm trees, that add a tropical feel to its busy streets.
The best way to enjoy a good days shopping in the city is by taking the local bus service from any of the holidays resorts and getting off at the end of the service in the main bus depot. Cross over the huge square called, Plaza de San Telmo, which is right outside of the station precincts and this, leads directly into one of Las Palmas’s most popular shopping zones called Triana.
Designer Shops In Avenida de Triana
Avenida de Triana is a long, pedestrianized boulevard with a particularly cosmopolitan feel to it. The wide street is busy, during the day and in the evening with shoppers looking for bargains in the many exclusive designer shops to be found here. Triana is a colourful street; a firm favourite with locales and visitors alike. Popular for its colourfully painted buildings, lottery callers, street cafés and buskers as well as the shops, which all helps to add to the amazing atmosphere of this lovely area.
Department Stores in the City
Las Palmas has been for many years famous with its international visitors for the massive department store called El Corte Ingles. It is a very popular place to purchase goods such as digital video cameras, as the store guarantee the genuine product, with all its original certifications and brand warranties. El Corte Ingles is about a ten minute taxi ride away from the bus station, and close to the beautiful and very Spanish square of Parque Santa Catalina, where the locals while away the hours chatting and drinking coffee in the outside bars.
To make the most of the day in the city and add in a few sights to the days shopping, try a tour on the amazing open topped bus that leaves frequently from the corner of the square.
Liz Correal - British born, but living in the sun-drenched Canary Islands for more than two decades, LizX is having her Hawaii year. No, she's not ...
