Historic stroll
Plaza del Adelantado, the Cathedral and the pedestrian streets of the centre: the most direct way to get to know the historic centre.
- Duration: 2–3 hours
- The whole route on foot
- Ideal to combine with Anaga or Santa Cruz
Places guide · World Heritage Site
La Laguna: courtyards, squares and colourful façades
Fifteen minutes from Santa Cruz, the historic centre of San Cristóbal de La Laguna preserves the colonial layout that served as a model for cities across the Americas: straight streets, inner courtyards and colourful façades declared a World Heritage Site.
1999World Heritage Site
1496Year of foundation
Half a dayRecommended time
Why it is worth the visit
The first colonial city without walls.
San Cristóbal de La Laguna was founded in 1496 and is the oldest unwalled city among the Spanish colonies in the Americas and Africa. Its layout of straight streets and orderly blocks served as an urban model for numerous American cities, which is why UNESCO declared its historic centre a World Heritage Site in 1999.
Today it is a living city: home to the oldest university in the Canary Islands, with courtyards hidden behind wooden doors and an atmosphere that shifts from quiet morning sightseeing to the student scene of the afternoon.
What to see
The places that justify the stroll.
The whole historic centre can be covered on foot, unhurried and without a fixed itinerary.
01
Plaza del Adelantado
The heart of the city since the 16th century, with its marble fountain brought from Marseille and buildings such as the Convent of Santa Catalina around it.
02
Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
A 19th-century neoclassical façade and a tower with a clock and bells that serves as a visual landmark from several streets in the centre.
03
Calle Herradores and Calle Nava
The pedestrian streets of the centre, with colourful façades, carved wooden balconies and the greatest concentration of terraces and local shops.
04
University of La Laguna and TEA
The oldest university in the Canary Islands and the TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes concentrate much of the city's cultural life and student atmosphere.
How to organise it
Three ways to experience La Laguna.
From a quick visit to the square and cathedral to a full day with museums and an evening out.
Before you drive
Historic centre, limited traffic.
Most streets in the centre are pedestrianised or have very restricted access.
Important
La Laguna's historic centre is mostly pedestrian, with narrow streets and restricted vehicle access in several areas. The most comfortable way to get around the centre is on foot or by taking the Tenerife Tram from Santa Cruz, which has a stop next to the historic centre.
Practical information
How to get there and when to go.
Minutes from Santa Cruz and well connected by tram, it is one of the easiest stops on the island.
TF-5 or the Tenerife Tram
Ten minutes by car or about twenty by tram from the centre of Santa Cruz.
Best on the edge of the old town
The streets in the centre are pedestrianised; there are public car parks next to Plaza del Adelantado and the market.
Morning for photos, afternoon for atmosphere
In the morning the old town is quieter; from mid-afternoon it fills with student life.
Tapas on Herradores and Nava
Calle Herradores and Calle Nava have the best choice of tapas and guachinches in the old town, with a student atmosphere from mid-afternoon.
Half a day
Enough for the historic centre on foot; add an afternoon if you want to take your time over the TEA or the market.
Municipal Market
Near Plaza del Cristo, it is a good place to try local produce on a weekday morning.
Santa Cruz and Anaga
Both are less than half an hour away and let you end the day with coast or city.
Tegueste and the north of the island
Mid-altitude villages and the start of the road towards the north of Tenerife.
Before you set off
Common mistakes to avoid.
- Don't look for parking inside the old town: most streets are pedestrianised.
- The Cathedral and some churches close at midday; check opening times if you want to go in.
- On Thursday student nights the terraces on Herradores and Nava fill up fast.
- Combine the visit with Santa Cruz or Anaga to make the most of the journey.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the streets are cobbled and there is some slope.
Frequently asked questions
The essentials before visiting La Laguna.
Why is La Laguna a World Heritage Site?
UNESCO declared its historic centre a World Heritage Site in 1999 as the first unwalled colonial city, with an urban layout that served as a model for numerous cities in the Americas.
How much time do you need to visit La Laguna?
Half a day is enough to walk the historic centre at a relaxed pace. If you want to add the TEA, a museum or the market, allow a full day.
Can you get to La Laguna without a car?
Yes. The Tenerife Tram connects Santa Cruz with La Laguna in about twenty minutes and has a stop very close to the historic centre.
What can you combine with a visit to La Laguna?
Its closeness to Santa Cruz, Anaga and the north of the island makes it an easy stop to combine with any of those destinations on the same day.
Where to eat in La Laguna?
Calle Herradores and Calle Nava, in the heart of the old town, have the best choice of tapas and guachinches, with a student atmosphere from mid-afternoon.
What is the La Laguna Market?
The Municipal Market, near Plaza del Cristo, has stalls of local produce — a good stop on a weekday morning to round off the visit to the old town.
Next stop
The city you explore without a map.
La Laguna rewards those who get lost in its streets: a hidden courtyard, a terrace full of students and a façade of a different colour on every corner.
Photos of Plaza del Adelantado and the historic centre: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) · Photo of the Cathedral: Koppchen, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)