Shopping
Gran Canaria has a wide range of shopping opportunities for visitors and, apart from the regular souvenir shops and tourist tat, there's a fine choice of shops and boutiques in just about every town and resort. The Canary Islands enjoy duty-free shopping and Gran Canaria caters well to tourists. The Yumbo and Kasbah centres in Playa del Ingles and Centro Civicoin Puerto Rico are great for buying almost anything, while electrical shops, photographic equipment and imitation designer wear stalls abound.
The Faro 2 Complex in Maspolamas is the place to go for designer boutiques, jewellery, perfumes and designer wear, while the 13-storey El Corte Ingles in Las Palmas is Spain's largest national department store and the Las Arenas Mall in Las Canteras is a favourite with tourists. Puerto Morgan's souvenir shops are more arty-crafty and sell less junk than the usual stores dotted around the island's resorts, but everything from fresh fruits and produce to clothing and football shirts can be picked up at the Friday morning market in town. Perhaps the largest street market in Gran Canaria, and a must for shopaholics, is held every Tuesday and lies in the south coast town of Arguineguin. Popular souvenirs and gifts include banana-leaf baskets, pottery, embroidered goods and felt hats.
Nightlife
The fun, energetic nightlife in Gran Canaria includes nightclubs, foam parties, karaoke, casinos and cabarets, and is mostly found around Playa del Ingles. Here, the Kasbah Centre is brimming with pubs and clubs, which are open until the early hours.
If travellers are looking for a gay party scene, they should head to the Yumbo centre. Entrance to most nightclubs is free but drinks and cocktails can be expensive. The capital city also has a great nightlife. Las Palmas' Plaza de Espana, in the Mesa y Lopez district, has pulsating clubs and bars that are open until very late, as well as live bands, jazz bars, pubs, discos and a casino.
The Maspalomas Plaza is great if visitors are looking for a couple of relaxing pints in a bar, and Puerto Rico is one of Gran Canaria's hottest resorts after dark. Playa del Cura is a fantastic location for a mellower evening out and, although there is a club in Puerto Morgan, most of the evening entertainment is distinctly low-key in comparison to its neighbouring resorts.