Gran Canaria Markets: A Visitor's Guide

Gran Canaria markets offer a variety of distinct experiences, each with its own unique character and selection. Knowing which type of market you're looking for can greatly enhance your shopping experience on the island.

Fresh Produce Markets ("Mercados")

When locals hear "mercado," they'll direct you to traditional food markets where islanders shop for daily essentials. These permanent indoor markets feature:

• Fresh seafood caught that morning
• Local meats from island producers
• Seasonal fruits and vegetables
• Regional cheeses and traditional products

These markets operate throughout the week and provide an authentic glimpse into Canarian daily life.

Weekly Flea Markets ("Mercadillos")

Ask for a "mercadillo" and you'll find the island's popular open-air flea markets. These traveling markets:

• Rotate between different towns on specific days
• Offer clothing, accessories, and household goods
• Include some food stalls and local products
• Create a bustling, social atmosphere

The most famous mercadillos include Puerto de Mogán (Fridays) and San Fernando in Maspalomas (Wednesdays and Saturdays).

Artisan Markets ("Mercados de Artesanos")

For unique handcrafted souvenirs, seek out a "mercado de artesanos" where local craftspeople:

• Showcase traditional Canarian crafts
• Sell handmade jewelry, pottery, and textiles
• Demonstrate age-old techniques
• Offer one-of-a-kind pieces with island heritage

These markets often appear during festivals or in tourist areas, representing the island's cultural traditions.

Visiting these different markets provides not just shopping opportunities but a deeper connection to Gran Canaria's culture, cuisine, and community. Click here to check the dates of the next Gran Canaria artisan show.

Annual Canary Islands Handicraft Fair

Every December, the Canary Islands government hosts a prestigious handicraft fair, rotating the location between the islands each year. In 2024, the event was held in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria. This year, it will take place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Talented artisans from across the archipelago are invited to apply, but only a select few are chosen to exhibit their work. The government covers accommodation and meals for the participants.

Gran Canaria Markets: Teror, San Mateo, and Santa Brígida

There is a coach trip that takes in 3 traditional Gran Canaria markets in one day. This is run on a Sunday but personally I would feel that this would involve a lot of rushing around and not enough browsing. These Gran Canaria markets are at Teror, San Mateo and Santa Brigida.

I have only been to Teror market which has a lot of lovely traditional things and food from the local farms. Fantastic cheeses and if you can, then get some "morcilla dulce." This is black sausage made only in Teror. You can buy in most supermarkets with a deli counter but somehow it feels more special from the market itself. The sausage is sweet, made with almonds. Slice it up and fry it and it makes a delicious tapas. If you have time, take a peek at Teror church. The market is based around the church square and, of course, on a Sunday the church will be busy. Churches here have a different atmosphere. People come and go through the services and its seen as much as a meeting place and somewhere to shelter from the hot sun and well as paying your respects.

There are lots of Gran Canaria markets along the week. One of the most popular would be Mogan market. Its held every Friday. If you don’t feel like driving or taking the bus that’ll go along the wiggly coastal road, then catch a ferry from Arguineguin or Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has two harbours and the ferries take turns, sending out a ferry every hour. So you can catch one every half an hour from either harbour in Puerto Rico. This is a great trip in itself and a quick easy way to see the island from the sea. You will get more of an idea on how the island could have looked before tourism and for the volcano enthusiasts, see some of the rock formations . The ferries run every day and apart from a Friday, then they also have one trip a day that takes you a little further out to sea to see if you can see a dolphin. Check the timetables to see which time this trip is done.

Mogan market has a lot stalls selling leather goods,clothes, football shirts, flamenco dresses for the little girls, and various souvenirs. My mum loves to go and find the ‘cheese man’ and gets a selection of Canarian cheeses.

Arguineguin also has a market on a Tuesday. A lot of the same stall holders as Mogan market but as its based in a car park, it can be easier to wander around and see what’s there.

Another one of the lesser known Gran Canaria markets is a car boot sale on a Saturday where donations are given to Tara (a local charity for rescuing dogs, cats, etc.).

San Fernando has a big market, with the same stall holders as Mogan and Arguineguin but also a lovely flower stall. I know you don’t usually buy flowers on your holidays but it’s a lovely stall to see. There is an inside part to the market where you’ll find fresh fruit and vegetables too. Well worth the trip if its at the beginning of your holiday to stock up on locally grown fruit. Don’t worry if the oranges look a bit misshapen or have green parts on the skin. These have been plucked from the tree the previous day.

Gran Canaria Markets: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

While some markets in Gran Canaria are excellent, others fall short of basic quality standards. A clear example is the Sunday market in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which could greatly benefit from improvements. Here are a few steps the city council should consider:

• Enforce permit regulations: Remove unlicensed vendors, especially those selling items picked up from the garbage. These sellers often join the market without authorisation and negatively impact its reputation.
• Introduce standardised stalls: Creating uniform market stalls would improve the overall appearance and make the market more inviting for both locals and tourists.

• Prioritise local products: Curate the vendor list to highlight local artisans and producers. This not only supports the local economy but also helps the market stand out. Preference should be given to authentic Canarian goods over mass-produced imports, such as low-cost items from China.

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