Where to look
Teide Volcano & Nature Lovers
Volcano enthusiasts · Hikers · Stargazers · UNESCO landscape fans Teide National Park is the most visited national park in Spain and one of the most visited on earth — and deservedly so. The park contains not just the 3,718m summit but an entire volcanic landscape of lava flows, roques (volcanic spires), pumice fields and caldera walls that extends for 50km across the heart of the island. The Cañadas del Teide, the giant caldera that surrounds the summit cone, feels like a landscape from Mars. The cable car to 3,555m (Teleférico del Teide) ascends through climate zones — subtropical coast, pine forest, alpine zone, volcanic desert — in 8 minutes. The views from the top on a clear day extend to all seven Canary Islands simultaneously. Teide's summit is one of the finest stargazing sites in the northern hemisphere — the IAC Teide Observatory is here for good reason, and night sky tours from the cable car station are outstanding. Book the summit permit months ahead.
Beach & Sun Seekers
Beach lovers · Sun worshippers · Winter sun seekers · Family beach holidaymakers The south coast of Tenerife is one of the most reliably sunny places in Europe — the Teide volcano acts as a barrier, blocking clouds that form on the north coast from ever reaching the south. Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas and Costa Adeje (upscale extension of Las Américas) together form a continuous strip of resort development with multiple sandy beaches (most partly artificial, using imported sand), excellent infrastructure and 320+ days of sunshine per year. Playa de las Vistas in Los Cristianos is the largest and most sheltered sandy beach on the south coast — excellent calm water for families and casual swimmers. Costa Adeje's Fañabé Beach is more upmarket, lined with beach club bars and a pleasant promenade. El Médano, 15km east of Los Cristianos, is the best natural beach on the island — a long sandy arc with strong, consistent wind that makes it world-class for kitesurfing and windsurfing but sometimes uncomfortable for sunbathers.
Families with Children
Families · Young children · Parents wanting warm safe beaches and entertainment Costa Adeje is the best family base on Tenerife — the upscale extension of Playa de las Américas has excellent beaches with calm, warm water, the Siam Park (consistently rated Europe's best water park), Loro Parque (world-renowned animal park, originally in Puerto de la Cruz), and a wide range of family-friendly hotels from all-inclusive to self-catering. The promenade runs continuously and is safe and walkable. Los Cristianos, slightly south of Costa Adeje, is more affordable and has excellent family beaches — Playa de las Vistas with its calm, shallow water and the harbour area with whale watching and ferry connections to La Gomera. Puerto de la Cruz in the north is a more traditional, less intense resort with the famous Lago Martínez pools complex (designed by César Manrique) — excellent for families who want less resort intensity and more genuine Canarian atmosphere.
Nightlife & Party Lovers
Young adults · Bar strip lovers · Club tourists · UK holiday partygoers Playa de las Américas has the main party strip on Tenerife — Veronicas Strip (officially Avenida Rafael Puig) is lined with bars and clubs that operate from midnight through dawn in peak season, catering primarily to the British tourist market. The atmosphere ranges from lively to extreme depending on the establishment. It is the classic Tenerife party experience. Playa de las Américas transitions into the more upscale Costa Adeje going north — the same guaranteed sunshine but with a better restaurant and bar scene aimed at a wider age range. Puerto de la Cruz, the north coast's main resort, has a Spanish urban bar scene that is more authentic and less extreme — tapas bars, local wine, and a genuinely mixed crowd in the harbour area.
Romantic Couples
Couples · Honeymooners · Slow travel · Dramatic landscape seekers Masca, a tiny village hidden in the Teno massif in the northwest, is the most dramatic and romantic setting in Tenerife — a cluster of stone houses clinging to the sides of a ravine, reachable by a single winding mountain road with views that vertiginously open at each bend. The Masca Gorge hike descends from the village through the canyon to a remote black sand beach, where a boat picks walkers up to return to Los Gigantes — one of the finest day walks in the Canary Islands. The west coast between Los Gigantes and Santiago del Teide has an entirely different character from the south coast — vertical black basalt cliffs rising 600m directly from the sea, with the famous sunset views that inspired the name 'Los Gigantes' (The Giants). La Laguna UNESCO city, with its baroque aristocratic quarter, is beautiful in the evening when the day-trippers from the south have gone and the university bars fill up.
Whale Watching & Ocean Lovers
Marine wildlife enthusiasts · Whale watchers · Divers · Snorkellers · El Médano wind sports The channel between Tenerife and La Gomera is one of the world's finest locations for year-round resident cetaceans — short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins live in the channel permanently and are seen on virtually every boat trip. The calm, deep water on the lee side of Tenerife provides the ideal habitat. In summer, sperm whales, fin whales and loggerhead turtles are also regularly sighted. Whale watching boats depart from Los Cristianos and Puerto Colon in Costa Adeje throughout the day — responsible operators (catamaran tours, 2–3 hours) typically guarantee cetacean sightings. El Médano is one of the top wind sports destinations in Europe — the annual PWA Windsurfing World Cup is held here. Diving off the south coast includes volcanic underwater landscapes, rays, angel sharks and sea turtles.
Budget Travellers
Budget travellers · Self-catering families · Long-stay winter sun seekers Los Cristianos is significantly cheaper than Costa Adeje for accommodation while sharing the same guaranteed sunshine and beach access. The old town harbour area and the streets behind the main promenade have budget hostels, studios and guesthouses at competitive prices. Self-catering from the covered market and local supermarkets in Los Cristianos keeps food costs very low. Puerto de la Cruz in the north is cheaper than the south coast resorts and offers a more authentic Canarian experience — old town, local restaurants, César Manrique's Lago Martínez pools (affordable day entry), and good bus connections to La Laguna and Teide. Winter is the peak season in Tenerife (and most expensive) — summer (June–September) is 30–40% cheaper while the south coast is as sunny as ever.
🏖️ Los Cristianos / Playa de las Américas
South coast resort strip. Most guaranteed sunshine. Good beaches. Party strip (Veronicas). Whale watching hub. Wide range of accommodation. Beach · Party · Families · Budget
💎 Costa Adeje
Upscale extension of Las Américas. Siam Park. Better restaurants. Fañabé Beach. More sophisticated than Las Américas but same sunshine. Families · Luxury · Beach · Couples
🌋 Teide National Park
Central volcano UNESCO park. Cable car to 3,555m. Stargazing. Mars-like landscape. Parador hotel inside the park. Nature · Scenery · Adventure · Couples
🏛️ La Laguna (UNESCO)
University city. First planned city in the Americas. Baroque mansions, cathedral, student bar scene. 20 min from Santa Cruz airport. Culture · History · Authentic · Budget
🌿 Puerto de la Cruz (north)
Traditional north coast resort. Lago Martínez pools. Loro Parque. Lush green valley, local character. Cheaper than south. Families · Culture · Budget · Authentic
🏔️ Masca / Teno massif (west)
Most dramatic landscape on the island. Tiny mountain village, gorge hike to beach. No resort infrastructure — day trip destination. Nature · Romance · Adventure
🏄 El Médano (southeast)
Best natural beach. Strong consistent wind — world-class kitesurfing and windsurfing. PWA World Cup. Less sunny than south coast. Wind sports · Beach · Active
Tips for booking
- Book the Teide summit permit the moment your travel dates are confirmed. The free summit permit (for the final 163m above the cable car) is limited to 200 people per day per time slot and sells out months in advance online. Without the permit you can reach 3,555m (already extraordinary) but not the summit.
- The south coast has sun when the north is cloudy. Cloud formation on Tenerife follows a predictable pattern — low cloud in the north and at altitude, clear skies in the south. Even if your north-coast hotel has clouds in the morning, a 30-minute drive south puts you in guaranteed sunshine.
- Siam Park is rated Europe's best water park and is genuinely world-class. Full day tickets (around €40 for children, €50 for adults) are excellent value given the size and quality of the park. Book online in advance to save 15–20% and guarantee entry without queuing at the gate.
- Santa Cruz Carnival (February) is the second largest in the world after Rio. The island capital's carnival is an extraordinary event — weeks of parades, costumes, drag shows and street performances. The Cabalgata (main parade) fills the city streets. Book accommodation in Santa Cruz 4–6 months ahead.
- Walk the Masca Gorge but book the return boat in advance. The gorge hike from the village to the beach takes 3–4 hours and is genuinely beautiful. The return boat from the beach (no road access) to Los Gigantes must be booked in advance — tickets sell out in peak season. Wear proper walking shoes.
- Choose a responsible whale watching operator. Tenerife has both responsible eco-certified operators and those who pursue whales aggressively. Look for boats certified by WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) or carrying the 'Reserva Natural Especial' certification. Catamaran trips of 2–3 hours are better for wildlife than high-speed inflatables.
- The TITSA bus network covers most of Tenerife cheaply. The 342 express bus from Santa Cruz to Los Cristianos takes 1 hour and costs about €8. Local buses connect all south coast resorts. Teide National Park is reachable by bus from Playa de las Américas (line 342 + 348) — useful for avoiding hire car costs on the volcano day.
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