Still undecided?
Travelling with young children, family. To switch off without over-planning, sun and beaches. If you like getting up early and walking, nature. If you prefer unhurried old towns, culture.
Itinerary · 2 days
Tenerife in 2 days
Two days don't stretch far, so the key is not trying to cover everything. Pick one type of trip — family, sun and beach, nature or culture — and give it both full days, without switching zones halfway through.
4Routes to choose from
2Days per route
8Possible plans
How each route is designed
Two days, one clear goal.
With only two days there's no room to sample a bit of everything: better to pick one type of trip and stick with it for both full days, without switching zones halfway through.
Each route covers only the essentials of that approach — what would be day one and day two on a longer trip. If it feels too short, the 3-day route extends any of the four without changing the focus.
Choose your pace
There's no single Tenerife in 2 days.
The same two days, four different ways to make the most of them depending on what you're after. Pick an option and the itinerary below changes.
Family
Family
A water park and an animal park — two full days, each with its own site and a pace built for children.
South
Sun and beaches
Town beaches for an unhurried start and a boat trip to see whales and dolphins — the most relaxed take on the south coast.
North
Nature and trails
The volcano and the island's most famous ravine, no filler — for anyone who prefers walking boots to flip-flops.
North
Culture and history
Two UNESCO World Heritage old towns and the island's first tourist destination, all in the north.
Route: family
Day by day.
Two full days, built around what you've chosen above.
01
Day 1 · Teide by cable car
The cable car climbs in eight minutes to easy viewpoints, with no need for long trails, and can be a good family option if its access conditions are met. Buy the tickets online — they sell out in high season.
Before booking: the cable car has access conditions. Under its official rules, children under 3, pregnant women and people with cardiovascular problems cannot ride, and there are limitations for people with physical or mobility disabilities; under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. The service can close or be restricted by wind or other weather conditions, so it's worth checking the cable car status on the day.
Full day02
Day 2 · Siam Park
The Costa Adeje water park, voted the world's best in TripAdvisor's 2024 Travellers' Choice Awards: slides for all ages, a wave pool and quiet areas for the little ones. Book in advance in high season.
Full day01
Day 1 · Los Cristianos and Las Vistas
Land and head straight south: two urban beaches with a promenade, restaurants right on the sand and the calmest sea on the island to start without rushing.
Half a day02
Day 2 · Whale watching and Playa de la Arena
In the morning, a boat trip from Puerto de Santiago to see wild dolphins and pilot whales. In the afternoon, without moving the car, relax on the black sand of Playa de la Arena, next to the same harbour.
See the whale-watching trip · Dolphins and whales guide
Full day01
Day 1 · Teide on foot
Go up by cable car or, if you are in good shape and have arranged the permit in time, walk up to the summit. Las Cañadas offers routes for all levels among lava flows.
Full day02
Day 2 · Masca and Los Gigantes
The most famous ravine in the Canary Islands: a demanding four-to-five-hour walk between rock walls down to a cove that can only be seen on foot or by boat. Many hikers walk down and return by boat to Los Gigantes instead of climbing back up, ending the day with the cliffs seen from the sea.
Masca guide · Los Gigantes guide · West Tenerife guide
Full day01
Day 1 · La Laguna and Santa Cruz
A World Heritage Site since 1999: La Laguna's colonial layout in the morning, with the Cathedral and Plaza del Adelantado. It is only 10 minutes by car or tram from Santa Cruz, where you can spend the afternoon seeing the Calatrava Auditorium and the waterfront.
La Laguna guide · Santa Cruz guide
Full day02
Day 2 · La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz
The Casa de los Balcones and La Orotava's old town in the morning; in the afternoon, the island's first tourist destination, Puerto de la Cruz, with more than two centuries of hotel tradition.
La Orotava guide · Puerto de la Cruz guide
Full dayBefore you set off
How to plan these 2 days.
Two decisions that depend on which route you chose above.
Frequently asked questions
Before you book your flights.
Are 2 days enough to see Tenerife?
No, not by a long way — the island has far more to offer. Two days are only enough for a first, tightly focused taste of one type of trip, typical of a long layover or a cruise stop. If you can, the 3-day route already gives you a much more comfortable margin.
Which of the 4 two-day routes is best?
There's no objectively best one — it depends on who you're travelling with and what you're after. The family route focuses on theme parks, the sun-and-beaches route stays in the south, the nature route covers the volcano and the west, and the culture route focuses on old towns in the north.
Do I need a hire car for these 2 days?
For the sun-and-beaches, nature and culture routes, yes — several stops don't have direct public transport, and with only two days there's no time to spare relying on the Titsa bus. The family route is the only one you can do without a car.
Can I combine two routes, for example a beach day and a volcano day?
Yes, no problem. The four routes share the island and can be swapped freely — each route's itinerary is just a starting point, not a closed package.
Is it realistic to go up Teide with only two days on the island?
Yes, as long as you book the cable car in advance — it sells out in high season. Bear in mind access has restrictions (minimum age, pregnancy, cardiovascular problems) and it can close for wind, so it's worth having a backup plan for that day.
Have more time?
The 3-day route already stops feeling rushed.
One extra day is enough to stop choosing between stopping to eat and reaching the viewpoint before it closes. The 3-day route builds on the same base, with more breathing room each day.