The island, well told
What to see, what to do and where to go in Tenerife: real routes, places with character and plans worth your time. An independent guide to discovering the island without going in blind.
One island, many trips
Tenerife changes climate, colour and pace at every bend: laurel forest in the northeast, volcanic desert in the centre, cliffs in the west and black and golden sand beaches in the north and south. This guide covers what to see in Tenerife place by place, what to do depending on how many days you have, where to swim and which excursions are worth it — no generic lists, just what is genuinely worth your time.
Tenerife's big theme parks
The island's three big parks, with prices, opening hours and transport, so the only surprise at the ticket desk is a good one.
Named the world's best water park in Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice Awards 2024, with the Tower of Power slide and a free bus from the south.
Read the full guide →
More than 4,000 parrots, orcas, penguins and gorillas by the sea, with a free train from the centre of Puerto de la Cruz.
Read the full guide →
A water park with its own dolphinarium and a daily dolphin show, plus slides for the whole family, a few minutes from Siam Park
Read the full guide →Routes by length
Plan less. Enjoy more.
Excursions to Teide, whale and dolphin watching, walks in Anaga and sea experiences chosen with local know-how.
See all excursionsWhere to swim
The north has wild volcanic beaches such as El Bollullo or Las Teresitas; the south has the golden sand and facilities of Playa del Duque or Los Cristianos. Neither is better — it depends on what you are after.
Frequently asked questions
With 5 days you can cover Teide, Anaga, the north and a southern beach without rushing. Three is enough for the must-sees; with a week you can add La Gomera. See routes by length →
Teide, Anaga's laurel forest and the Los Gigantes cliffs are the three must-sees that appear in every itinerary, closely followed by the beaches of the south and north. See all places →
Yes, all year round. The channel between Tenerife and La Gomera is home to one of the few resident populations of short-finned pilot whales in the world, as well as bottlenose and common dolphins. Whale-watching guide →
The south has more guaranteed sun, golden-sand beaches and most of the island's tourist infrastructure. The north is greener, with more local character and black-sand beaches — it depends on whether you want reliable sun or scenery.
Las Teresitas in the north and Playa del Duque in the south are the most photographed, but El Bollullo, Playa Jardín and El Médano have just as much character. See all twelve beaches →
Tenerife has a spring-like climate all year, so there is no bad season. The months with calima (Saharan dust in the air) are the only ones to bear in mind if you want clear skies.
