If you’re visiting the island for the first time, you shouldn’t miss these must-see places in Tenerife. However, you may find some cool spots even if you’re already familiar with the island.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services I have tried and/or find useful and reliable.
I spent nearly three months combined in Tenerife on my three trips to the Canary Islands. This has become one of my favorite places to escape the European winter. With pleasant temperatures year-round, charming small towns, great beaches, and spectacular nature, Tenerife is an enchanting island everyone should visit at least once.
I had the chance to explore nearly every place on the island, so I thought I would create a list of the must-see places in Tenerife. This is not an exhaustive list of everything worth visiting on the island, but it’s a good start for first-timers. If you have already been to Tenerife, you may have visited all these places, but you may still find a few new ones. However, stay tuned for another article coming soon with more off-the-beaten-path places.
Before diving into the 10 top places to visit in Tenerife, here’s a map overview:
Tips for your trip to Tenerife
Firstly, I want to give you a few tips for your trip to Tenerife, starting with the best time to visit. I highly recommend traveling to the Canary Islands in winter. The temperatures are ideal for hiking and sightseeing (around 20-22°C), and you may even spend some time at the beach. Shoulder seasons are great too, but I’d avoid the peak summer months, when it’s hot and crowded.
Secondly – and this is another reason to fly to Tenerife in winter – you can easily find affordable flights from many European cities. I’ve recently started using Kiwi.com to find affordable flights, and I love the unique features, like the ability to see the most convenient fares on the map.
Thirdly, Tenerife has amazing public transportation. Even if you don’t want to rent a car, you can easily get around by bus (or guagua, as the locals call it). Check Titsa for all routes and fees, and be sure to get a rechargeable ticket as soon as you arrive. You can top it up in many places across the island and easily get around.
Lastly, book your accommodation in advance. The island is a popular destination even during the winter months. Plus, the carnival in February draws lots of visitors, so you want to plan ahead of time if you want to experience it. Choose a bigger city as your base if you’re going to move around by bus. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and Costa Adeje are all great options. I prefer staying in the north, but the south is better if you want to spend more time at the beach. I book most of my accommodation through Booking.com.
Okay, now it’s time to get into my list of the ten must-see places in Tenerife!
1. Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Let’s kick off this list with an obvious but necessary place, the island’s vibrant capital city, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. While I think natural landscapes are worth visiting more than any city in Tenerife, you can’t skip at least half a day in the capital.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a cool city with a rich cultural heritage and many activities for every type of traveler. Explore the charming old town and the iconic Plaza de España, visit the many museums and art galleries, and wonder at the impressive Auditorio de Tenerife.
If you visit Tenerife around February, which I highly recommend, you can experience one of the world’s biggest and most famous carnivals. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the second-most important carnival after the one in Rio de Janeiro.
If you plan on spending more than a week in Tenerife, I recommend spending a couple of days in Santa Cruz. However, if you’re short on time, there are many other amazing places to visit, so one day would be enough.
2. Teide National Park
No trip to Tenerife would be complete without hiking around the Teide National Park. With 3,715 meters in height, Mount Teide is Spain’s highest peak. The area surrounding the volcano became a national park in 1954, and in 2007, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Being one of the top attractions in Tenerife, you have several options for visiting Mount Teide. Firstly, you can explore Teide National Park independently by car or bus (Guagua). Catch bus 342 from Costa Adeje or 348 from Puerto de la Cruz. Check out the schedules and stops on titsa.com.
Once you’re in the park, you can hit the hiking trails or catch the cable car to the peak, or near the peak, to be precise. You need a special permit to hike to the summit of Mount Teide. To obtain this, you can either book the official Mount Teide Peak Experience or request a free permit on the government’s national parks website to hike up by yourself.
Note that limited permits are available (200 per day, divided between the general public and park guides), and they sell fast. You will need to book these two to three months in advance!
Join a guided tour
If you don’t necessarily want to hike to the summit or visit the park independently, you can join one of the many guided group tours. This Mount Teide Tour with Cable Car Ticket & Transfer offers departures from multiple places across the island. This way, you can also get to meet new people. While I didn’t personally join this tour, it’s one of the best options to book online. It includes transportation, the guide, and the cable car ticket.
I visited the park by bus once and by car a second time. If you go by bus, there are multiple stops, so you can get off at the visitor center, go on a hike, and catch the bus back at a different stop. This is what I did on my first time to Mount Teide. No matter how you choose to tackle it, make sure not to miss this must-see place in Tenerife.
One piece of advice I can give you is to choose a clear day. While the weather in Tenerife is subject to swift changes, try to avoid hazy or cloudy days. The clouds tend to gather around the peak, so you risk getting up there and not seeing the volcano. Of course, this is hard if you want to book a tour in advance, but it’s doable if you have a flexible schedule.
3. Garachico
Garachico was one of my favorite small towns in Tenerife, so I would say it’s a must-see. The charming coastal town offers a glimpse into the island’s past with its cobbled streets, picturesque squares, and beautiful architecture.
Garachico lies at the foot of the Arenas Negras Volcano. In 1706, a huge eruption partially destroyed the town and reshaped the bay. From the ancient harbor area, only the San Miguel Castle and the Puerta de Tierra survived the disaster.
Garachico is small, so you can easily visit it in just a couple of hours. Stroll along the seaside promenade, stop by one of the many traditional restaurants, wander around the charming historical center, and maybe go for a swim in the natural pools of El Caletón. Lastly, walk to Mirador del Emigrante to enjoy a beautiful view of the town from above.
4. Parque Rural de Anaga
If you’re looking for hiking areas in Tenerife, Anaga Rural Park is one of the best. The protected area occupies the northeastern part of Tenerife, and the Macizo de Anaga mountain range became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2015.
The area is covered in lush laurel forests, with rugged cliffs providing sweeping views of the surrounding valleys. Anaga Rural Park has lots of hiking trails. One reason I love it is that, except for a few extremely popular spots, you can enjoy some peace. Choose one of the less popular hikes to immerse yourself in the serenity of the forest, but be sure to check some of the popular spots too.
Mirador Pico del Inglés, Camino Viejo al Pico del Inglès, Mirador De Jardina, and El Bailadero are some spots you shouldn’t miss. The great thing is that you can reach the area by bus. Line 273 departs from San Cristóbal de La Laguna and will get you to Mirador Pico del Inglés.
5. Masca Valley
Nestled among towering cliffs, Masca Valley offers incredible natural landscapes you won’t see anywhere else on the island. Despite being quite remote, Masca Valley is a popular destination in Tenerife.
A trip to the Masca Valley feels like a trip back in time. The village of Masca consists of a handful of houses and a few restaurants looking over the staggering cliffs, which offer glimpses of the ocean.
Hike around the impressive valley and take in the wild beauty of this place. Unfortunately, reaching Masca Valley is not exactly easy without a car. You can catch bus 355 or 365 from Buenavista del Norte. However, unless you’re staying in Buenavista, you also need to account for the trip to get there, which is 1.5 hours from Puerto de la Cruz.
If you can’t rent a car, probably the easiest way to visit Masca Valley is on a guided tour. Get Your Guide has a Teide and Masca Valley Tour from Puerto de la Cruz, while Viator has a similar tour from the south.
If you choose to hike the Masca gorge, you now need a permit that you can get on the Camino del barranco de Masca website. The fee (€40.66 for adults) includes the transfer from Santiago del Teide as well as first aid and assistance in case of rescue by the safety/emergency teams and accident insurance.
Now might be a good time to remind you of the importance of travel insurance. I always have travel insurance when I travel, regardless of the destination. But I think it’s even more important for a place like Tenerife, where you’re likely to engage in lots of activities. SafetyWing offers great and affordable travel medical insurance with coverage nearly worldwide.
SafetyWing’s Essential plan offers emergency medical coverage with optional add-ons, like adventure sports or electronics theft. They have a subscription option that renews automatically every four weeks, particularly useful if you travel frequently and to multiple destinations. This way, you never have to worry about being without coverage. If you’re only planning a short trip, you can also buy coverage for specific dates.
You can find further information on what’s covered and sign up for SafetyWing here. You can also create your account now and purchase coverage later. The cool thing is that you can even buy your insurance package when you’re already traveling, and the insurance is activated as soon as you receive the confirmation email.
6. Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is the most important city on Tenerife’s northern coast, known for its lovely beaches, bustling promenades, and lively historical center. Although Santa Cruz is the island’s capital, Puerto de la Cruz was the first place to welcome tourists to the island. If you ask me, I much prefer Puerto de la Cruz to Santa Cruz.
The city has a charming historical center with little squares and colonial buildings, a buzzing seaside promenade along the beautiful Costa Martiánez, and charming parks and gardens like Sitio Litre and Parque Taoro. Furthermore, you’ll find many cozy cafés and traditional restaurants.
While visiting Puerto, don’t forget to check out the iconic Agatha Christie steps, the sweeping views from Mirador La Paz, and the lovely Playa del Castillo. There are also a few nice beaches not far from the city center.
7. San Cristóbal de La Laguna
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is one of the most important cities in Tenerife and another must-see. The former capital of the Canary Islands, La Laguna, as it’s commonly known, was the first city to be established in Tenerife. Its historical center became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
La Laguna is go-to place to admire the charming colonial architecture, learn about the island’s history, and visit beautiful churches. The city is home to the impressive Cathedral of San Cristóbal de La Laguna and the historic Iglesia-Parroquia Matriz de Nuestra Señora de La Concepción, the first parish in Tenerife.
Wander through the colorful streets lined with colonial buildings, indulge in local culinary delights at the traditional restaurants, and visit interesting museums like Casa Museo Cayetano Gómez Felipe or the Museum of the History of Tenerife.
I spent an entire week in La Laguna, and I believe it’s one of the best places to base yourself in the north of Tenerife. The city has easy access to the two major cities of Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz, and connections to the Anaga Rural Park. At the same time, it’s not as crowded as the other two cities and has more of a small-town vibe.
8. Los Cristianos
If you want to bask in the sun, go swimming, and simply relax at the beach, your best bet is to stay in the south of Tenerife. Los Cristianos is one of the most popular towns in the area, known for its many hotels, long sandy beaches, and a variety of local and international restaurants.
Los Cristianos is also the place to go if you want to experience the island’s nightlife. Before becoming a popular tourist hub, Los Cristianos was a quaint fishing village. Unlike other nearby places like Playa de las Americas, it has history, though this fact is overlooked in favor of the big hotels, popular beaches, and lively bars.
If you want my two cents on Los Cristianos, I’d say it’s worth a visit, but I wouldn’t spend much time there. There is so much more to be discovered across the island. That being said, if you are looking for a relaxing holiday made of sun, sea, and cocktails with some live music in the evening, then Los Cristianos or nearby Playa de las Americas is the place to be. Plus, you can try cool activities like surfing, paragliding, or kayaking. You can check out my article on the top activities in the south of Tenerife.
9. Los Gigantes
Another must-see in Tenerife is Los Gigantes, which translates to The Giants. These dramatic cliffs on the western coast of Tenerife are one of the most magnificent things you’ll see on the island. At the time of the Guanches (Tenerife’s indigenous inhabitants), the cliffs were known as the “Wall of Hell” (Muralla del Infierno) or “Devil’s Wall” (Muralla del Diablo).
The vertical cliffs emerge from the ocean and stand at impressive heights between 300 and 600 meters. The interesting thing is that the sea level is very low at the foot of these cliffs. Given the difficult access, the submarine area has a rich ecosystem and is ideal for diving.
If you want to see Los Gigantes up close, you can join one of the many boat tours sailing past the impressive cliffs. These tours are great for spotting marine life too, like dolphins, pilot whales, and sea turtles. This Whale-watching Cruise by Sailboat is one of the most popular tours in the area.
You can easily reach Los Gigantes from many places in the south of Tenerife, like Los Cristianos or Costa Adeje, and from Puerto de la Cruz. If you can’t join a boat tour, you can admire the magnificent cliffs from many viewpoints around the resort town of Los Gigantes.
10. Icod de los Vinos
One last place I want to include on this list of must-see places in Tenerife is Icod de los Vinos. The charming town on the northwestern coast of Tenerife is better known for being the home of the island’s oldest Dragon Tree, known as Drago Milenario or simply El Drago.
Some say El Drago is a thousand years old, while others believe it can’t be older than 700 years. Regardless of its exact age, this impressive tree is a unique sight. Furthermore, El Drago is so important for the island’s locals that a whole park was built around it. This is the main attraction in Icod de los Vinos.
The town offers quite a few other things to do. You can stroll around the lovely historical center and check out the architecture, stop by one of the many local restaurants, go shopping in small local stores, and even visit a small banana plantation and museum, Casa del Plátano. Lastly, Icod is home to a beautiful tropical garden housing over 800 butterflies, Mariposario del Drago.
I hope you enjoyed this list of must-see places in Tenerife. Feel free to share your favorites in the comments, and let me know what other places you think nobody should miss on the island!
And if you want a taste of some lesser-known places, check out my article on Boca Cangrejo and this one on Sendero El Jagre.
Travel Resources
Lastly, if you need more useful resources to plan your trip, here are my recommendations (I regularly use them all):
| Website/App | Category | Description | Book Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking.com | Accommodation | My favorite website for great accommodations for different budgets. | Find a Place |
| Kiwi.com | Flights | My new favorite platform for finding affordable flights. | Find Flights |
| Omio | Transportation | You can book everything from buses and trains to ferry rides. | Transportation |
| SafetyWing | Insurance | One of the best travel medical insurances for frequent travelers. | Get Insured |
| Manawa | Activities | A great platform to book activities and adventures with local hosts. | Find Activities |
| GetYourGuide | Activities | My go-to platform for tours and experiences with lots of options. | Experiences |
| Viator | Activities | A great alternative for activities all over the world. | Experiences |
| GuruWalk | Free tours | A great platform for free walking tours (tipping is recommended). | Book a tour |
| DiscoverCars | Car rental | My go-to platform for car rental anywhere in the world. | Rent a Car |
| Airalo | eSIM | My favorite app for buying digital SIM cards when traveling abroad. | Get an eSIM |
| Saily | eSIM | A great alternative to Airalo, with cheaper plans in some destinations. | Get an eSIM |
| Xe | Currency | A currency converter showing real-time rates. Website or app. | Get Xe App |
| Maps.me | Navigation | My favorite navigation app for hiking trails and remote areas. | Get Maps |
Too long to read now? Pin it for later!
Pingback: Tenerife, insula vulcanică a Canarelor. Vacanță și aventură într-o destinație de vis în Spania – Inside Romania