Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, located right off the coast of West Africa. Even though the island’s location is closer to Africa than Europe, it’s still a part of the European Union and an autonomous Spanish territory. Tenerife lies on the ground of Mount Teide, a breathtaking volcano and Spain’s tallest peak. Thanks to its warm climate and the Atlantic Ocean, Tenerife is a perfect combination of sandy beaches, mountain territories, and lush green forests. Travel to this sunny paradise and escape the stresses of daily life with the help of my 7-day Tenerife travel guide!
WHAT WILL YOU FIND IN MY TENERIFE GUIDE
- Useful information about travel to Tenerife
- Where to stay in Tenerife
- Flights and plane tickets to Tenerife
- Transportation – How to move around Tenerife?
- Daily Activities: the 7-Day Ultimate Tenerife Guide
- Budgeting and costs
- What to bring with you to Tenerife
Useful information about travel to Tenerife:
- The official language in Tenerife is Spanish, English is spoken but not widely
- You will need Euros (€) as official currency
- You can’t drink tap water on the island
- The people in Tenerife are extremely friendly, fit, and dress casually or sporty
WHERE TO STAY IN TENERIFE?
We have decided to divide our stay in Tenerife into two different locations – the north and the south of the island.
Our accommodation in the south of Tenerife was in Los Cristianos, next to the popular resorts of Playa de las Americas and Costa Adeje. We’ve stayed at Apartamentos Ohana, a cosy apartment building with a rooftop jacuzzi in the center of Los Cristianos. Our host – Mireya, was super sweet and accommodating, spoke English, and even provided us with guidance around Tenerife (even helped us when we didn’t know where we can park!).
We then moved to the north, to the beautiful San Cristóbal de la Laguna, convenient for everyone traveling from Tenerife North Airport (10min away by bus). We have found a super cool deal with La Laguna Gran Hotel, a 4-star hotel in the heart of San Cristóbal. La Laguna Gran Hotel offers climatized luxurious rooms and comes with a spa, continental breakfast, its own bar, and a rooftop pool with a view of the city (and the sunset!).
BEST HOTEL IN TENERIFE SOUTH: Apartamentos Ohana, Edificio Tonillo
Apartments in the heart of Los Cristiano, 50m away from the beach. Apartments come with a private balcony and jacuzzi.
BEST HOTEL IN TENERIFE NORTH: La Laguna Gran Hotel
Once a tobacco factory, today a beautiful 4-star hotel in the ideal location to explore San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
BEST RESORT HOTEL: Regency Torviscas Apartments and Suites, Adeje
Suites with private terrace with sea view, situated around a central, crystal clear blue pool. My parents stayed here and loved it!
MOST UNIQUE HOTEL: Sweet Home Masca
Characterized country house in the mountains of the Masca Valley, featuring a large terrace with spectacular views of Masca.
BEST LUXURY HOTEL: The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama
Ritz-Carlton needs no introduction. Situated amidst lush gardens, the hotel features 7 outdoor pools and luxurious rooms.
flights and plane tickets to tenerife
Tenerife has two airports:
- Tenerife South – largest of the two, your flight will likely land here as it’s a hub for international flights, and
- Tenerife North – smaller airport, mostly flights inside Spain
Plane tickets to Tenerife are not the cheapest, even with low-cost airlines. The prices for plane tickets vary but count approximately 200€ for your return plane journey. The flight takes around 4h from anywhere in central Europe or more/less, depending on your departure country.
I have traveled with EasyJet from Milan Malpensa for 4h 10min. Check the costs section of this guide for the full costs of plane tickets to Tenerife.
HINT: book a plane with self-transfer in Barcelona (or any other Spanish city really) and see how much money you can save!
TRANSPORTATION - HOW TO MOVE AROUND TENERIFE?
a. Public Transport on Tenerife
The public transportation system in Tenerife is super well organized, with buses running every couple of minutes. Titsa is the main public transportation company in Tenerife. Bus ticket costs start at 1.35€ for a one-way journey of a shorter duration. The personnel is super sweet and helpful and will make your journey pleasant.
b. Rent a Car in Tenerife
The best way to explore Tenerife is by renting a car. To rent a car in Tenerife, you will need:
- Valid international driving license
- Credit or debit card
- Your ID or passport
Being our first time renting a car, we were quite skeptical of the entire procedure. After carefully researching the car hiring options, we have come down to two top choices:
- TopCar and
- Cicar
We have ended up renting our car with TopCar Rental Car Agency (strictly for the lower price) directly through the booking.com platform due to available Genius Discounts. TopCar turned out to be absolutely brilliant, with nice, English-speaking staff and great car choices. We were in two so we opted out for the smallest car group possible. TopCar provided us with a free upgrade to a stronger car in a higher class. What we loved about TopCar was the option of 0€ deposit as well as no excess in case of damages. We could also add an additional driver for free, an option not often available with other rental agencies.
Alternative to Booking.com is Rentalcars.com
Things to pay attention to when renting a car in Tenerife
- Deposit: you might need to place a fully-refundable deposit
- Damage excess: similar to the deposit, some rental car agencies have a damage excess of a certain amount. The excess is the largest amount charged in case the car’s bodywork gets damaged. This doesn’t cover certain car parts, for which you’ll need to take separate insurance.
- Insurance: is an amount, paid separately to the rental car fee. I strongly recommend taking it as your car will be fully insured against all damages – including windows, wheels, or the car’s interior, that are not covered under excess.
- Young driver: in case you are a young driver (under 25 yo usually) you might need to pay a little deposit extra.
- Payment methods: Pay attention here. Rental car agencies accept credit, debit, or both types of cards when renting a car. Always check which type of card is accepted (you can not book a car with a debit card if the agency accepts credit cards only and vice versa). Failure to present the correct card will make the agency turn down your rental at the counter. The card also needs to be in the name of the driver.
7 DAT ULTIMATE TENERIFE GUIDE
DAY 1: LOS CRISTIANOS
Spend your first day in Tenerife relaxing in your local city of Los Cristianos after a long flight. Check into your hotel (we’ve booked with our lovely host Mireya at Apartamentos Ohana). After, head out for a stroll along the beach and admire the jewelry stands, local crafts, and small stores with plenty of dresses and perfumes.
FOOD TIP: Try tapas (appetizers in Spanish cuisine) and wine in a local restaurant, called La Tapa. Thank me later!
patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), croquetas (deep fried roll with filling) and local wine
Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp) – dip the bread in the garlic sauce once you’re done with the shrimp!
DAY 2: EL TEIDE NATIONAL PARK
Start the second day early to visit the volcano and the tallest peak of Tenerife – Mount Teide at 3715m. The Teide Vulcano is best reached by car (another great reason to rent a car in Tenerife). There are two scenic roads to the top, both take about 60min:
- West past Costa Adeje through the national park (first photo)
- East through Vilaflor (second photo)
For the best experience, I suggest going up one road and down the other. Mind that the road through Vilaflor is more curvy and narrow. Once you reach Teide National Park (Parque Nacional del Teide), drive along the road and stop at attractions.
Top 10 Things to do in Teide National Park
- Boca Tauce
- Zapato de La Reina (Queen’s Shoe)
- Mirador de La Ruleta (La Ruleta Viewpoint)
- Montaña Majúa hiking area
- Minas de San José
- Observatorio Astronómico del Teide (Teide Observatory)
- Montaña de la Botija
- Mirador de Samara
- Mirador de los Poleos
- Teleferico (Teide cable car)
El Teide Volcano
Mirador de Samara
Minas de San José
The most scenic attraction is to take the Teleferico under the peak of El Teide Volcano for spectacular views of the Canary Islands. On a sunny day, you can see all the Canary Islands from the top!
NOTE: the cable car doesn’t bring you to the top of the volcano, but slightly under. If you want to hike to the top, you need to either book permission or a guided tour way in advance.
BOOK THE MOUNT TEIDE HIKING TOUR – INCLUDED CABLE CAR TICKET
DAY 3: MASCA VALLET & PARQUE DEL DRAGO
Masca Valley is a mountain village with only 90 inhabitants in the Western part of the island. This beautiful attraction is perfect for a half-day trip (you don’t need to stay in Masca Valley long unless you decide to go for a hike). It’s better to go to Masca Valley in the morning for the lower crowds and nicer lightning. You’ll need about 1.5h to reach Masca Valley from Los Cristianos. To reach Masca Valley, you’ll first need to drive to the little hilly city of Santiago del Teide.
The Masca Valley
How to reach Masca Valley from Santiago del Teide?
1. Reach Masca Valley by car
Recommended for highly experienced drivers. Only go to Masca Valley by car if you’re used to extremely narrow roads or have a small car. The road begins nicely up the hill with spaces to meet cars heading in the other direction. That changes once you reach the top of the hill and you begin to drive down to the Valley. On one side there’s the abyss and no chance to meet if anyone comes your way. There are also a few parking spaces in Masca so you might need to wait for parking.
2. Reach Masca Valley by bus
My suggested option. Park your car in Santiago del Teide (there’s plenty of free parking by the main road) and head on to the bus station. The bus station is located between the tourist information point and the town church. Take the minibus numbered 355. You can buy the ticket directly from the bus driver (2eur one way). Enjoy the adventurous panoramic bus ride of 20min directly to the Masca Valley.
STAY IN MASCA VALLEY: Sweet Home Masca
Country house built in Spanish style in the mountains of the Masca Valley, featuring a large terrace with spectacular views of Masca.
STAY IN MASCA VALLEY: Casa Guergue
Comfortable holiday home with 2 bedrooms, a terrace, and dashing mountain views. Perfect for everyone who wants to experience the hike through the gorge of Masca
Masca Valley is also a great hiking spot. The most popular hike is through the gorge to Masca Beach (Playa de Masca), which starts in Masca and lasts about 7h (3h descending, 4h ascending). For safety reasons, it is only allowed to hike in pre-booked organized tours.
BOOK NOW AND PAY LATER – YOUR SPOT FOR THE MASCA GORGE TRAIL HIKE
Parque del Drago
Return to your rental car and drive up North about 30min (22km) to the city of Icod de los Vinos. The city’s botanic garden Parque del Drago hosts the oldest and largest specimen of the dragon tree still existent – Drago de Icod de los Vinos. I suggest parking for free by the shopping mall nearby and walking 5min to Parque del Drago. Tickets to the botanic garden cost 5€. Purchase the tickets in advance.
day 4: loro parque
On day 4, visit the world-famous Loro Parque in the northern part of Tenerife. This was the day I was the most excited about!
Start your day early, you will need almost 2h to reach Loro Parque from Los Cristianos.
Ok, what is Loro Parque?
Loro Parque is an animal adventure park right outside Puerto de La Cruz, home to more than 400 animal species and guaranteed fun for all generations. You can visit 4 different educating animal shows throughout the day. The shows feature fun acts of parrots, sea lions, dolphins, and orcas. Loro Parque opens at 9.30 am and you should count a good 4-5h for the visit.
Basic entry tickets to Loro Parque start at 40€. Buy them online to avoid the large queue at the entrance gate.
BOOK LORO PARQUE TICKETS WITH FREE CANCELATION
If you’re in Tenerife during the summer and have decided to also go to Siam Park (one of the best water parks according to Trip Advisor), buy a combined ticket and save money. A single ticket to Siam Park costs 42€ so you can save a good amount!
BUY A COMBINED TICKET TO LORO PARQUE + SIAM PARK AND SAVE 10 EUR
Spend the afternoon in the nearby city of Puerto de La Cruz or relax on the beautiful volcanic black beach of Playa Maria Jiménez, just a minute’s walk away from Loro Parque. I suggest returning to Los Cristianos in the evening, this way you’ll catch the breathtaking sunset on your way back!
Click on the photo to guarantee your Siam Park Tickets
day 5: san cristóbal de la laguna
Take half of the day to move to your next destination – San Cristóbal de La Laguna. The city in the north of Tenerife is easily reachable by public transport or car.
By car: 1.5h drive on the East coast of Tenerife
By public transport: take bus n. 10 from Tenerife South Airport to Santa Cruz de Tenerife (9eur), then switch to either bus n. 15 or tram to reach San Cristóbal.
NOTE: It has happened to us a couple of times that the card reader on the bus didn’t work (quite unhandy if you have no cash on you). I would suggest purchasing bus tickets in advance.
Where to Stay in San Cristóbal?
WE HAVE BOOKED: La Laguna Gran Hotel
Once a tobacco factory, today a beautiful 4-star hotel in the ideal location to explore San Cristóbal. Rooftop pool with sunset view included in the price!
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN CRISTÓBAL: La Laguna Treasure
3-bedroom apartment on one of the main town squares. Perfect for a group of travelers and all those who fancy a traditional retreat.
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN CRISTÓBAL: Laguna Home & Suites
Comfortable apartments with a private hot tub. Choose between regular and deluxe accommodation. We almost booked here.
Things to Do in San Cristóbal de La Laguna
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is a small and walkable city known for its unique architecture. You can easily spend the entire afternoon exploring the paved streets and attractions.
Things to do in San Cristóbal:
- Explore the historic city center, protected by UNESCO
- Visit the Museum of History of Tenerife
- See La Laguna Cathedral
- Enjoy a Gastronomy and Wine Tour
- Have a peek at La Laguna Market
FOOD TIP: Try a typical dish of papas arrugadas when in San Cristóbal. The dish is made of boiled potatoes, typically served with chili pepper garlic sauce, called mojo rojo.
day 6: santa cruz de tenerife & las teresitas beach
It’s your last day and it’s time to relax (well, half of the day). Start your day by heading to the capital of Tenerife – Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Spend the morning wandering the streets and don’t miss the following attractions.
Things to Do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín
- Palmetum botanical garden
- Plaza de España
- Plaza del Príncipe de Asturias
- Mercado Ntra. Señora de África
Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín
Plaza del Príncipe de Asturias
Plametum Botanical Garden offers the greatest collection of palm trees in Europe. Tickets cost 6€/person.
For the afternoon, you have two options:
1. Playa de Las Teresitas (Las Teresitas Beach)
Reach Playa de Las Teresitas by bus 910 from Intercambiador (Santa Cruz’s main bus station). It’s a sweet, 30min ride on the coast. Buses run all day, every 15 min in both directions.
2. Parque Marítimo César Manrique (Water Park in Santa Cruz)
Great place to spend the afternoon if you fancy a good pool over the beach. Parque Marítimo César Manrique is located by the sea, right next to the botanic garden and a 5-10min walk from Intercambiador bus station. Tickets cost 5€, you can purchase them by clicking the link below.
BUDGET FOR 7 DAYS IN TENERIFE
You now have all the important data and a guide of the things to see in Tenerife. But how much will a 7-day trip to Tenerife cost?
Below is the breakdown of how much I’ve spent in my week in Tenerife.
NOTE: All costs are per person (since we traveled in two we have split all the costs)
Budget to consider for 7 days in Tenerife per person
Hi, it's Neja
I am an expat from Slovenia,
living in Milan since 2021 and writing a travel blog for all of you who are curious about life in Italy or traveling in Europe.
Follow me on my journey and learn everything about Italy and the European destinations.
