tenerife

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, and it certainly offers the most variety in terms of landscape, attractions, and activities.

From visiting charming little villages to hiking through lush forests and relaxing on gorgeous beaches, there’s plenty to do on this beautiful island. 

I traveled to Tenerife twice and spent a total of nearly two months exploring the island.

Tenerife is an ideal place to visit any time of the year, with pleasant temperatures year-round. 

Whether you’re looking to escape the cold European winter or take a break from the unbearable heat of summer, this is a great destination. 

Practical Tips for Your Tenerife itinerary

If you have time, I recommend spending anywhere from one to two weeks on the island. With that said, I get it; sometimes that’s just not possible. 

In case you only have a few days to visit Tenerife, I put together a packed but varied 5-day itinerary to experience the island’s highlights.

I’ve included a few optional places, so you can adapt it to your pace and skip some stops if you’d rather slow down and take a little more time to relax instead. 

The island isn’t very big, but some areas are only reachable via windy mountain roads, so reaching certain spots can take a long time. 

If you ask me, the ideal approach is to divide your time on the island between the north and the south.

This Tenerife itinerary works best if you spend the first three nights (or four if you arrive in the evening) in the north and the last two in the south. 

This itinerary features Santa Cruz as the departure point for the first three days, but Puerto de la Cruz, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and smaller nearby towns work well too.

In the south, you can base yourself in El Médano, Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas, or Costa Adeje. 

Feel free to play around with the order of the days as you see fit, depending on the weather and your preference.

However, remember that the first three days focus on the north and the other two on the southwest. 

Day 1 of Your Tenerife Itinerary: Santa Cruz & Surroundings

Explore the historical center.

Begin your first day in Santa Cruz de Tenerife by exploring the lovely historical center. 

Here, you can start the day off right with a typical Spanish breakfast consisting of tostadas (toast with jam and marmalade or tomato) and coffee.

You’ll find a ton of great spots for breakfast around Plaza del Príncipe de Asturias.

Some of my favorites I tried while I was in Tenerife are Café & Té, Pianeta Espresso, and We The North Specialty Coffee.

After breakfast, spend some time wandering around the charming streets, exploring the Santa Cruz Marina, and checking out some landmarks in the city center.

A few highlights include the iconic Plaza de España, Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís, and Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción.

If you enjoy modern and contemporary art, visit the TEA (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes).

Alternatively, check out the buzzing Mercado Nuestra Señora de África, where you can buy anything and everything, from fresh fruit and local products to souvenirs.

Visit the modern area of Santa Cruz.

Outside of the historical center, the architecture changes drastically and becomes almost futuristic!

One building you should check out, even just from the outside, is the imposing Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, a futuristic auditorium that looks almost like a rhino horn, built by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava.

Close to the auditorium, you can either spend a couple of hours sunbathing and swimming in the beautiful seawater pools of Parque Marítimo César Manrique (an artist famous for his works in Lanzarote).

Alternately, you can explore the gorgeous botanical garden, Palmetum.

While you’re in the area, take a stroll along the Paseo de Carteles del Carnaval and check out the historical posters of the Santa Cruz Carnival that have been posted here in the past. 

Carnaval is the most beloved event in Tenerife, and it’s quite a spectacle; it’s second only to the one in Rio de Janeiro (sorry, Venice!).

If you visit in February, be sure to check it out, but note that prices will be ridiculous at this time of year!

Have a lunch break.

You can either have lunch in the modern area of Santa Cruz or head back to the historical center.

Rincón de Pedro is a great option not far from the auditorium if you want to stay in that part of town.

Meanwhile, in the historical center, La Concepción serves unique takes on Spanish dishes.

Relax at the beach.

What better way to wind down in the afternoon of your first day than by relaxing at the beach?

From Santa Cruz, you can easily reach Playa de Las Teresitas, one of the most popular and beautiful beaches in northern Tenerife. 

Unlike most beaches on the island, which are black volcanic sand, Playa de Las Teresitas has golden sand.

If you prefer a natural, black-sand beach, check out the nearby Playa de Las Gaviotas. 

The secret? The beach of Playa de Las Teresitas is artificial, made with sand imported from El Aaiún, in Western Sahara!

Despite being artificial, you’d really never know — it’s a lovely beach to spend a few relaxing hours on your first day in Tenerife.

Plus, it stretches for more than a kilometer, so you’ll have plenty of space to enjoy and find your own private patch of sand. 

Playa de Las Teresitas is close to the small town of San San Andrés, roughly a 15-minute drive from the center of Santa Cruz.

Enjoy sweeping coastal views from the miradores.

After relaxing at the beach, you can drive out to a nearby viewpoint to enjoy spectacular panoramic views. 

Mirador Playa de las Gaviotas is one of the best spots, just a 10-minute drive from Playa de Las Teresitas.

The viewpoint offers stunning views of Tenerife’s rugged coastline — you’ll definitely want to bring along your camera for this one.

Just above Playa de Las Teresitas, you can stop by Mirador de la Playa de las Teresitas to enjoy a beautiful view of the beach from above.

However, this viewpoint is closed temporarily as of summer 2023, so it may not be accessible when you visit. 

Visit the small town of Igueste (optional).

If you have any time left, you can drive for about 15 minutes to the nearby village of Igueste. 

This charming coastal village is a quaint place to walk around and enjoy gorgeous views.

There’s not a whole lot else to do, so you don’t need to go out of your way to get there, but it’s worth a short visit if you have any time left before sunset!

Have dinner and drive back to Santa Cruz.

You can stop for dinner in San Andrés or drive directly back to Santa Cruz. 

You’ll find many charming restaurants in San Andrés, most of them serving traditional Spanish and Canarian dishes.

I recommend the cozy Tasca El Asunto los Parres or Restaurante Lena Tenerife.

Back in Santa Cruz, you can choose between Spanish and international restaurants.

Try the tasty tapas at D’Tapas,26, or a delicious burger at Ghio’s Burger Crafters.

Day 2 of Your Tenerife Itinerary: Anaga Rural Park

Drive to San Cristóbal de La Laguna.

From Santa Cruz, drive for roughly 15 minutes inland to reach San Cristóbal de La Laguna. 

Once the capital of Tenerife and in fact all the Canary Islands, this city’s immense historical and cultural significance earned it a spot in UNESCO World Heritage Site’s list since 1999. 

You can explore San Cristóbal de La Laguna for a couple of hours before driving to Anaga Rural Park. 

It’s worth an early wake up call, to be honest: it gets quite crowded in the middle of the day, so being an early riser will definitely help you here.

As a bonus, this way you can do a circular route instead of driving back and forth!

The historical center of San Cristóbal is pretty small, so it’s best to park your car and explore it on foot. 

Well worth a visit is the stunning Cathedral of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, one of the most important churches on the island (and absolutely breathtaking).

Want an even better view? Climb the bell tower of the Iglesia-Parroquia Matriz de Nuestra Señora de La Concepción for an epic bird’s-eye view of the city.

After you’ve seen the main sights, take a wander around the center: it’s filled with enough small shops, restaurants, and cafés to keep you busy for a while. 

You can enjoy a delicious breakfast and coffee at Café Café or the specialty coffee spot AHUL Bowls & Coffee.

For something a little different, Casa Museo Cayetano Gómez Felipe is a gorgeous example of a traditional Canarian house and has a lovely café, too. The historic Casa Salazar is also lovely.

Depending on whether or not you decide to go hiking around the Anaga Rural Park (the next stop on this Tenerife itinerary), you may want to grab your lunch ahead of time to-go. 

You’ll find a restaurant near the visitor center, but it may not always be open.

Other than that, there won’t be any other options before you reach Taganana, so you should have some pastries or a sandwich to hold you over, just in case.

Explore Anaga Rural Park.

After exploring San Cristóbal, start driving to Anaga Rural Park, one of the most scenic parts of the island.

Your final destination in the park should be the viewpoint Mirador Pico del Inglés, with views that stretch over the entire island and even all the way to the Teide volcano on a clear day. 

Along the way, you can stop by a few other spectacular viewpoints.

Two absolute musts are Mirador De Jardina and Mirador Cruz del Carmen, but honestly… if you see the word “mirador”, you might as well pull over; you won’t regret it!

Near Mirador Cruz del Carmen, you’ll find the Anaga Rural Park Visitor Center. 

This is also the departure point for several hikes, like the lovely Sendero de los Sentidos, which has a few different trails, including short ones that only take about half an hour.

I recommend walking even just a small part of this peaceful trail immersed in the lush greenery — it’s so different than the rest of the Tenerife landscape!

Next up, check out the Camino Viejo al Pico del Inglés. This is probably the most iconic spot in the park. 

The short road feels like a tunnel excavated in the mountain, with the trees on both sides of the walls extending their branches to form a natural roof.

It’s an otherworldly sight, so don’t forget to check it out.

Not too far from the forest tunnel, you’ll find your end point, Mirador Pico del Inglés. 

The viewpoint offers nearly 360° views of the Macizo de Anaga mountain range and the surrounding valleys.

On clear days, you can see all the way to the coast, but even on warm days, it can be chilly and windy here so be sure to pack a jacket! 

Stop at the Mirador El Bailadero.

Keep driving northeast from Pico del Inglés to reach Mirador El Bailadero, overlooking Teide National Park.

This viewpoint offers a spectacular view of the northern coast of Tenerife. In the distance, as a bonus, you can see the white houses composing the small village of Taganana.

The stunning viewpoint is linked to a few legends dating back to ancient times. 

According to one legend, El Bailadero comes from a ritual called “Baladero” that the Guanches (the island’s Indigenous inhabitants) would perform to invoke the rain.

Head towards the hidden gem village of Taganana.

After admiring the impressive views over the island, it’s time to drive toward the northern coast. 

After about 15 minutes, you’ll reach the charming village of Taganana, with houses in hues of white and pastel spilling down the landscape in the crease between two mountains.

This is a personal favorite for me, thanks to the near absence of tourists and the quaint atmosphere.

The village offers spectacular views of the tree-covered peaks of the Macizo de Anaga. 

Stroll around the village, walking up and down the narrow streets, and check out the gorgeous views.

If you didn’t get food earlier, stop for a quick coffee break or a snack at Bar Manolo or Guachinche Bibi y Mana.

Visit Almáciga and Benijo. 

If you have any time left on this day of your Tenerife road trip, drive along the coast toward Benijo. 

The volcanic-sand Playa de Benijo is one of the most spectacular beaches in Tenerife, with gorgeous volcanic rock formations emerging from the ocean.

Enjoy the view from Mirador de Playa Benijo or take the steps down to the beach to walk on its black sands.

From Benijo, drive back and stop in Almáciga.

The small coastal town is famous for the long black-sand beaches popular for surfing and the curious Roque de las Bodegas (Wineries Rock). 

No, it’s not named for its barrel-shaped rock, but rather its history.

Although it may not look like it, this area used to be a popular port for local wine exportation!

Historically, wine merchants from England and Flanders would stop here to purchase barrels of local Taganana wine.

If you want to stay in Almáciga for dinner, try the delicious fish dishes at Restaurante La Ola or Restaurante Playa Casa Africa.

Alternatively, drive back to Santa Cruz for dinner closer to your hotel.

You can take the shorter road back, passing through El Bailadero and San Andrés. The drive back takes just under an hour.

Day 3 of Your Tenerife Itinerary: Teide National Park and Puerto de la Cruz

Drive from Santa Cruz to Las Cañadas del Teide.

Most of this day will be focused on exploring Teide National Park.

I recommend waking up early and having a quick breakfast before you start driving. 

The exact length of time you’ll need in the park depends on the activities you want to do, but you can expect to spend at least half a day there to get the full experience.

The drive from Santa Cruz to Las Cañadas del Teide takes just over an hour. 

This is the first stop within the national park, where you can already check out some spectacular views of the Teide volcano, Spain’s highest peak.

Here, you’ll find the El Portillo Visitor Center and the start of a few hiking trails.

Hike around the Teide.

You have multiple options for exploring Teide National Park!

You can drive to some of the main spots and enjoy walking a few short trails, catch the cable car up and explore the area surrounding the summit individually, or join a guided excursion. 

One thing to note is that most excursions don’t include access to the Teide summit, which requires a special permit.

If you want to hike to the summit, you have two choices: you can either join the Mount Teide Tour with Cable Car, which includes the permit or apply for the permit to hike independently. 

Both options are extremely popular, so you’ll want to book ahead of time. While you can find spots for the tour roughly one month before, you need to apply for a permit to hike up independently at least two months ahead.

You can also catch the cable car and explore the hiking trails near the upper station.

Check out the Pico Viejo Vantage Point and admire the breathtaking views from Mirador del Teide and Mirador La Fortaleza. 

If you’re up for a bit more of a challenge, skip the cable car and hike up via Sendero de Montaña Blanca. You can also catch the cable car up and hike down, or vice-versa.

If you skip the hike or cable car ride, don’t worry! You can still check out many spectacular spots. 

Take in the views from La Ruleta Vista Point, check out the impressive Roque Chinchado, hike the Sendero Roques de García, and drive to Llano de Ucanca Vista Point and Queen’s Shoe.

For lunch, either pack some sandwiches and snacks or stop at one of the many restaurants. 

However, be prepared for crowded places and food that’s really just okay. Your best choices are Restaurante Bambi and Restaurante Papillon, both in El Portillo Alto.

Lastly, if you don’t want to drive, take care of cable car reservations, and figure out which spots to visit and which trails to hike, you can also join a guided tour complete of transfer from the north or south of Tenerife. 

If you don’t want to DIY, this Mount Teide Tour with transfer from Santa Cruz includes a guide and cable car tickets.

Explore Puerto de la Cruz.

From Teide National Park, you can drive to Puerto de la Cruz.

This colorful city on the northern coast is one of the most important in Tenerife.

Home to a picturesque historical center, beautiful gardens, the stunning swimming pool complex called Lago Martiánez, a park called Parque Taoro, and the famous zoo, Loro Park — it’s really a special place.

Puerto de la Cruz really does deserve a full day of exploration, but if you’re short on time, you can check out the main sights in a few hours. 

Be sure to wander around the charming streets of the old town and pass by the lively Plaza del Charco.

Don’t miss a visit the beautiful 17th-century Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia, as well as some of the other churches scattered around the town.

Puerto de la Cruz is known for being the first tourist destination in the Canary Islands and has welcomed many celebrities and artists since the 19th century. 

Agatha Christie was among the personalities who visited Tenerife, and her stay on the island was such an honor for the locals that an entire stairway was painted with the titles of her novels. Find them on Calle San Amaro!

At the end of the Agatha Christie steps, you can enjoy a sweeping view of the city from Mirador La Paz. 

There are also some natural rock pools near Puerto de La Cruz that are worth seeking out — find just some of them here.

After exploring the city, you can have dinner in one of the traditional restaurants in the historical center.

Try typical Canarian food at Bodegón Puerto Cruz or Casa Paché.

Day 4 of Your Tenerife Itinerary: South Tenerife

Drive to El Médano.

On the fourth day, it’s time to head south and explore the rest of Tenerife, starting with El Médano.

From the green landscapes and laid-back vibe of northern Tenerife, you’ll transition to arid South Tenerife, buzzing with tourists year-round. 

While the region can be quite crowded and mostly populated by big chain hotels and resorts, you’ll find several spectacular natural spots in the south, too.

If you spent the night before in Santa Cruz, you can start the day by driving to El Médano, one of the most popular places among water sports enthusiasts!

The lively coastal town is great for relaxing at the beach and trying local cuisine.

You can have a late breakfast at one of the cafés facing the sea, like Bliss Café or Calima Café. After breakfast, check out the nearby beaches. 

From Playa El Médano, you can walk the trail leading to Montaña Roja.

The hike up to the peak of Montaña Roja isn’t too hard and it only takes about an hour from El Médano.

Tip: Park your car at La Tejita Beach Parking Lot to shorten the hike. 

Once you reach the top, you can enjoy sweeping coastline views. If it’s a hot day, prepare by wearing sunscreen and bringing sufficient water.

Have lunch in Los Cristianos.

From El Médano, drive to Los Cristianos, roughly 20 minutes away.

This is one of the most popular towns in Tenerife South, along with nearby Playa de las Américas. 

The area near Playa de Los Cristianos is always bustling with life, from the people walking along the promenade to the restaurants, which are always filled with people.

Speaking of restaurants, this is a great spot to stop for lunch. 

As one of the places with the highest tourist concentrations, Los Cristianos offers a range of food options, from Canarian restaurants to international spots.

Have Italian at Oro di Napoli, Spanish seafood dishes at Pescaito Los Cristianos, Indian at Spice Empire, or Lebanese at Restaurante Habibi.

Relax at the beach or explore the western coast.

After lunch, you can either spend the afternoon at the beach or explore more of Tenerife South, in particular, the western area from Playa de la Américas to Los Gigantes. 

If you prefer to stay at the beach, you’ve got plenty of options near Los Cristianos, like Fuente Playa de Las Vistas, Playa del Camisón, or Playa de las Américas.

An alternative to the beach is spending the afternoon at the adventure water park Siam Park, just south of Costa Adeje.

The Thailand-inspired park features swimming pools, slides, and other attractions for adults and kids.

On the way there, you can stop by La Arena and check out the impressive rock formations at Cueva la Vaca.

If you decide to explore other places instead, drive to Los Gigantes, roughly half an hour from Los Cristianos.

Los Gigantes, Spanish for the Giants, is the name given to the imposing vertical cliffs that emerge from the ocean and stand at imposing heights of up to 800 meters.

This is probably the most spectacular portion of the coastline in Tenerife, so it’s definitely worth checking out.

All around the town of Los Gigantes, you can find numerous viewpoints to admire the sight of the Giants.

Check out Mirador Punta del Roque in the lower part of town, or drive up to Mirador Archipenque. The view from Playa de los Guios is beautiful too.

Los Gigantes is another popular tourist town in Tenerife, so you can expect to find many hotels and restaurants.

If you want to stay for dinner there, try Restaurante Alfonso or Cielo y Mar. 

After dinner, it’s time to call it a night and drive back to your accommodation.

Day 5 of Your Tenerife Itinerary: Masca Valley and Garachico

Drive to Santiago del Teide.

On your last day of this Tenerife road trip, you can explore the western part of Tenerife, famous for the spectacular Masca Valley and the charming little towns, both along the coast and inland. 

From your accommodation, drive to Santiago del Teide. If you take the highway, it’s just a half-hour drive from Los Cristianos.

Santiago del Teide is a small town nestled between the staggering cliffs of Los Gigantes and the Chinyero Volcano.

The town is better known as the gateway to the Masca Valley, along with its hiking trails towards the Chinyero.

If you visit Tenerife between January and February, you may see the gorgeous almonds in bloom.

The Santiago del Teide to Chinyero trail is lined with almond trees and, as they blossom, they add a touch of color to the otherwise arid and dark landscape made of volcanic rocks. 

Take the time to walk along at least a portion of the trail to enjoy the lovely view.

Drive through Masca Valley.

The drive from Santiago del Teide to the small village of Masca is one of the most scenic on the island, dotted with spectacular viewpoints. 

Stop by Mirador de Cherfe and Mirador de Masca to take in the awe-inspiring views of the Masca Gorge.

Some viewpoints even offer glimpses of the ocean between the tall, sharp mountains.

You can hike from the village of Masca to Masca Beach through the Masca Gorge.

However, it’s a hard hike that can take well over 7 hours, and the trail may not always be open, so check before you go.

If you don’t go hiking, stop by and wander around the tiny village of Masca, one of Tenerife’s cutest. 

Despite being so small, Masca has a few restaurants where you can stop for a coffee or lunch while enjoying the stunning view.

Check out El Guanche or Bar Fidel and try the barraquito, the traditional Canarian coffee made with Licor 43 and condensed milk.

Keeping driving through the Masca Valley to Garachico.

From Masca, drive toward the northern coast to reach the coastal town of Garachico.

On your way there, you’ll pass by a few other impressive viewpoints like Mirador La Cruz de Hilda and Mirador Altos de Baracán. 

The drive to Garachico is all along winding roads, so it can take nearly an hour.

Garachico is one of my favorite towns in Tenerife — and that’s saying something, because this is an island where it’s truly hard to play favorites!

With its charming historical center, the adorable colonial houses, and the lovely seaside promenade, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing stroll and a nice meal or coffee break.

If you get to Garachico in time for lunch, try the refined dishes at Tasca El Muelle Viejo or the heartwarming food at Restaurante Candelaria La Cocinera. 

After lunch, enjoy a walk around Garachico.

Stroll around Plaza de la Libertad and Parque de la Puerta de Tierra, then drive up to Mirador del Emigrante to enjoy a panoramic view of the town.

Visit Icod de Los Vinos.

Lastly on our Tenerife itinerary, if you have any time left, you can drive to Icod de los Vinos, another delightful town just 15 minutes from Garachico.

The town is best known for being home to the Drago Milenario, a massive dragon tree thought to be a thousand years old.

Aside from visiting Drago Park, you can learn about the history of banana (plátanos) cultivation in the Canary Islands and sample banana wine or liqueur at Casa del Plátano.

For a truly beautiful memory to take home with you, admire hundreds of butterflies at Mariposario del Drago.

You can stay for dinner in Icod de los Vinos or drive to your accommodation. The drive back isn’t a short one, roughly one hour to Los Cristianos or Costa Adeje. 

If you decide to have dinner in Icod, try Tasca La Parada or Restaurante El Mortero for tasty Canarian dishes.

Roxana Fanaru

Roxana is a Romanian-born freelance travel writer who has lived in Italy for over 15 years. She has a Master’s in Journalism and a Bachelor’s in Film Studies, and she studied at Università degli Studi di Roma Tre. Besides her native Romania, Roxana has lived in Rome, Lisbon, and Berlin, and she has traveled through much of Europe in search of hidden gems, history, and culture.