There are lots of reasons to take a holiday on Lanzarote in the run up to Christmas. Nothing sets you up better for facing the rigours of the festive season than fleeing the winter to feel the warmth of the sun’s kiss on your skin and to wake ever morning to blue skies and wafting palm trees. When it comes to the stress of shopping, it’s blissful to escape crowded stores and long queues for parking with leisurely strolling around sea front stalls before enjoying a long lunch and perhaps an afternoon nap on the beach.

Whether you’ve got your Christmas gifts all wrapped up and are rewarding yourself with a few days of sun-soaked respite, or you’re hoping to go home with the shopping list complete, here are our top spots for where to shop.

Artisans in Arrecife
Tourist & Craft Market; Saturdays 10.00-14.00
A popular and busy market held in the streets alongside Iglesia de San Ginés in which you’ll find a wide range of artisan goods, from handmade jewellery, ceramics and leather ware to clothing and embroidered tablecloths. You can also sample a delicious range of locally produced goods including mojo sauces, honey, cheeses and wines. If you’re staying at Sands Beach Resort, it’s also the perfect place to pick up fruit and vegetables so fresh you can still smell the soil.

The added bonus of this market is the lure of a donkey ride which ensures that shopping can be fun for all ages.

La Recova Market; Monday to Friday 09.00-14.00
Head for the back of the Town Hall in the La Recova district of Arrecife to find this hidden little market which has a small but delightful selection of craft shops alongside organic produce and a pretty little square in which to enjoy a post-shop coffee.

Handicrafts in Haria
Haría Artesanal; Saturdays 10.00-14.30
A contender for the title of Sweetest Market on Lanzarote, were such a title to exist, Haría’s heritage of craft working is in view and on sale in its Saturday market where you’ll find original and witty design in jewellery, ornaments and soft toys. Alongside, are home made breads just like Granny used to bake; scrumptious cakes, biscuits and jams and fresh fruit and vegetables from the area. And it’s all accompanied by live music and stallholders in traditional dress.

The Haría bonus ball is that if you get there on the first Sunday of the month from 10.00-14.00, your teenage offspring can lose themselves in the Rastro Joven flea market which is geared to their tastes and includes video games corner.

Crafts in Costa Teguise
Pueblo Marinero Craft Market; Wednesdays 18.00-22.00
What could be nicer than a seaside, sunset stroll to browse the artisan jewellery, leather shoes, ceramics and lava ornaments of the characterful Pueblo Marinero followed by dinner at one of its many excellent eateries? Very little, is the answer, so get along there and enjoy.

Tradition in Teguise
Teguise Market; Sundays 09.00-14.00
The largest of Lanzarote’s craft markets, every Sunday tourists arrive by the coach and car load to browse, haggle and buy at the hundreds of stalls that fill the huge plaza behind the picturesque centre of lovely Teguise. Temporarily turning this tranquil corner of history into a bustling centre, stall holders display every type of craft imaginable from toys to tablecloths and hats to handbags.

The background music is provided by pan pipes with the occasional traditional dancing troupe thrown in for good measure and food stalls straddle the distance between the UK and Lanzarote offering everything from a full English to traditional tapas.

When you’re all shopped out, head into the charismatic cobbled streets of the town for lunch and enjoy some of the restored calm as the stallholders pack up for another week.

Images from James Mitchell