Must-see Places in Tenerife, Canary Islands
Must-see Places in Tenerife, Canary Islands
Roxana, @TravelWithNewEyes
A complete guide to the must-see places in Tenerife, including:
• Major cities and towns to base yourself 🏙️
• Charming villages and small towns to explore 🏡
• Hiking areas 🥾
• Best beaches 🏖️
I have also included accommodation options at the end, grouped based on budget:
• Budget Stays 💰
• Mid-range Stays 💵
• Luxury Stays 🤩
I traveled to Tenerife three times between 2022 and 2024 and spent a total of over two months on the island. Most of my recommendations are based on first-hand experience and a few on thorough research. I explored all the places in this guide and stayed at some of the accommodations. 😊
I hope you enjoy your stay in beautiful Tenerife and that this guide will help you explore the island! Have fun! 💃🏻
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Cities & Main Towns
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
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The capital of Tenerife and the largest city. Great for museums, shopping, and eating out. The place to go during the Carnival.
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San Cristóbal de La Laguna
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A beautiful city with colonial architecture. The former capital of the Canary Islands. Quieter than Santa Cruz and very close to Tenerife North airport.
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Puerto de la Cruz
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Another major city in Tenerife, with lots of activities and places to see. I prefer Puerto to Santa Cruz as a base because it has lovely nearby beaches, parks, and lots of nice restaurants.
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La Orotava
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Just uphill from Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava is a charming town and a great base for exploring the north of Tenerife, with more affordable accommodation compared to Puerto. It also has great museums and colonial architecture.
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Icod de los Vinos
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Icod de Los Vinos is a lovely town on the northern coast, better known for being the home of El Drago, the oldest dragon tree in Tenerife. It has a lovely old town and nice little museums.
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Acantilados de Los Gigantes
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Acantilado de Los Gigantes takes its name from the dramatic vertical cliffs on the western coast known as Los Gigantes. The area features many hotels and restaurants, so it's great for a beach holiday and activities like boat trips.
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Playa de las Américas
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Playa de Las Americas is the place to go if all you want is to relax at the beach and maybe get some surfing lessons. Here you can find many renowned hotels and resorts.
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Los Cristianos
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Attached to Las Americas, Los Cristiano also offers luxury accommodations along with more mid-range stays. It's the place to be for social life, beach days, parties, and dining out at both Spanish and international restaurants.
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El Médano
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El Médano is the go-to place for expats and digital nomads. The town boasts big sandy beaches, lots of restaurants, and more affordable accommodations compared to nearby Los Cristianos and Las Americas. It's also a popular surfing destination.
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Small Towns & Villages
San Andrés
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Most people go to San Andrés only because of Playa de Las Teresitas. However, it's worth exploring the charming seaside town and having lunch at one of the great restaurants.
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Taganana
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Taganana is one of my favorite places in Tenerife. This cute little village in the Anaga Rural Park is the perfect place to disconnect. It offers great ocean views and nice hiking trails.
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Los Realejos
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In the hills above Puerto de la Cruz, Los Realejos is quite a spread-out town with colorful houses and nice ocean views. I love that it's close to many short hiking trails.
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Garachico
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Garachico is another favorite. This small town on the northern coast is listed as one of "The Most Beautiful Villages in Spain" and for good reason. The town has a delightful historical center.
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Buenavista del Norte
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A town that most people overlook, Buenavista del Norte sits close to the northwestern tip of Tenerife and features a charming old town and a lovely promenade to the beach.
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Masca
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Masca is among the most popular stops for travelers visiting Tenerife, but there is a good reason for it. The tiny village overlooks the dramatic peaks and valleys of northwestern Tenerife.
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Santiago del Teide
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Hidden between Masca Valley and Buenavista del Norte, Santiago del Teide is a lovely little town better known for the hiking trails to El Chinyero among blooming almond trees.
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Candelaria
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One last town worth checking out, Candelaria is on Tenerife's southern coast, not far from Santa Cruz. The town has a beautiful historical center and lovely sea views.
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Hiking Areas
Parque Nacional del Teide
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Teide National Park is THE place to go hiking in Tenerife. The Teide Volcano is Spain's highest peak, and the national park offers countless hiking trails. Plan to spend a full day here.
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Parque Rural de Anaga
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If you enjoy lush forests and panoramic views, the Anaga Rural Park is the perfect hiking spot. This is one of my favorite places on the island.
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Paisaje Protegido de la Rambla de Castro
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This short hiking trail offers stunning ocean views and lovely paths among palm trees, And it's really close to Puerto de la Cruz.
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Rural de Teno Park
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This wild area of Tenerife is among the less visited. Punta de Teno overlooks the ocean from the westernmost point of Tenerife.
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Masca Gorge
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The Masca Valley is a must for anyone traveling to Tenerife. You can also join guided day tours if you want to hike in the Masca Gorge.
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Montañas Negras
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Enjoy the surreal landscape and volcanic terrain in this hiking area around Volcan Chinyero. You can reach it from Santiago del Teide.
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Paisaje Lunar
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This landscape is probably the most unique and otherworldly in Tenerife. You can get there hiking from the town of Vilaflor.
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Montaña Roja
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If you want to do a short hike and enjoy sweeping views of the southern coastline, head to Montaña Roja. You can easily get there from El Médano.
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Beaches
Playa Las Teresitas
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This beach may be artificial but it's one of the best ones close to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. You can easily get there by bus or car in just about half an hour.
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Playa de Benijo
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Playa de Benijo is a wild and unspoiled beach in the north of Tenerife. Despite being so remote, you can get there by bus from Santa Cruz.
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Almáciga Beach
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Playa de Almáciga is close to Playa de Benijo, but more accessible from the road. It's a popular spot among surfers. I love the black volcanic sand here.
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Beach Bollullo
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Playa El Bollullo is a spectacular beach close to Puerto de La Cruz. You can even walk there from Puerto, passing through banana plantations and enjoying a stunning view of the beach from above.
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Lago Martiánez
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If you want to spend half a day relaxing and soaking in the sun, Lago Martianez is a great spot to do so right in the heart of Puerto de la Cruz.
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Playa del Castillo
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Playa del Castillo is one of the main beaches in Puerto de la Cruz. I love that it's very close to the city center and yet not too crowded outside the high season.
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Maria Jimenez Beach
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If you want an even less frequented beach in Puerto de la Cruz, this one is still close by but has fewer crowds. Like most beaches in this area, is of black volcanic sand.
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Piscinas Naturales "El Caletón"
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If you visit Garachico, you must stop by the lovely natural pools. Piscinas Naturales El Caletón is right next to the historical center, so you can easily spend a few hours here before or after exploring the town.
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Playa de las Arenas
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I love this wild beach close to Buenavista del Norte. There is a lovely walk from the town center to the beach, and you'll likely find very few people here, so you can enjoy some peace listening to the sound of the waves.
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Playa de la Arena
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Not to be mistaken with las Arenas, Playa de la Arena is close to Los Gigantes. While you're here, be sure to also check the stunning rock formations of Charco La Vaca.
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Fañabé Beach
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Playa de Fañabé is a nice beach if you want to escape the more popular Playa de Las Americas. It's still quite popular, but not as crowded.
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Playa de la Tejita
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Playa de la Tejita is a huge beach on the western side of Montaña Roja. The beach offers nice views of the little mountain.
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Playa de Montaña Roja
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For a different perspective of Montaña Roja, head to the aptly named Playa de Montaña Roja. This beach is easily accessible from El Médano, but less crowded than the main town beach.
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Playa el médano
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One last beach worth mentioning is Playa El Médano, which is obviously the main beach in El Médano. I love the vibe here and even if it can get crowded, I enjoy people watching.
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Accommodation
Budget Stays
Hostal Tacoronte
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If you want a private room at an affordable price, this is a great place. I stayed here twice and it was great. Tacoronte is well connected even by public transportation.
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Atypicap Capsule Hostel
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If you like staying in hostels but still want some privacy, these capsules are a great option. Plus, the hostel is super central in Puerto de la Cruz.
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Canary Bio Hostel Tenerife
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This is one of my favorite places to stay in Tenerife, in Los Realejos. The place has private rooms and a lovely terrace. Plus, they sell homegrown fruits and veggies!
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Mid-Range Stays
Route Active Hotel
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This hotel in Los Realejos have lovely rooms, a nice pool, and a fitness center.
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La Laguna Gran Hotel
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This hotel is in a great location in the center of La Laguna and offers cozy rooms, a rooftop pool, and great views! The prices vary depending on the season, but they are typically lower in the winter months.
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VistalRoque
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If you're looking for a nice mid-range stay in the south, check out VistalRoque. The accommodation has a variety of rooms in a nice location close to the center of Arona.
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Luxury Stays
Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora
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Treat yourself to a luxury stay at this stunning hotel in Alcalá, southern Tenerife. The huge pool may be the most impressive feature, but the place also has a spa center, five restaurants, and a fitness center. And it's right by the ocean.
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Hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa Garden
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If you are looking for a luxury stay in Puerto de la Cruz, this is it. Hotel Botanico is in a prime location and boasts three outdoor pools, a spa and wellness center, and three on-site restaurants.
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Tivoli La Caleta Tenerife Resort
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The south is the place to be for luxury resorts, so I had to include this one in Costa Adeje. Tivoli La Caleta is a stunning resort offering beautiful rooms with ocean views and a range of facilities from a spa and four restaurants to several pools and bars.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Roxana, @TravelWithNewEyes
Hi! I'm Roxana, a travel writer originally from Romania, but I lived over half my life in Italy. I've always had a passion for travel and writing, and I'm happy I managed to combine these two passions into an actual job. After living in Rome, Lisbon, Berlin, and Rome again, I became a nomad in January 2022. However, I regularly go back to my two homes, Rome, Italy and Brasov, Romania.
Over the past 14 years since my first solo trip, I have been to over 35 countries and countless cities. I have mostly traveled through Europe and spent extensive time in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Germany. Outside of Europe, I spent significant time in Guatemala, Australia, and the US.
Lately, I have appreciated slow travel. I like to spend more than just a few days in a city to truly get to know it, and this has allowed me to gain a deeper knowledge of many places.
My favorite things when traveling are:
- Trying the local food
- Walking everywhere
- Visiting museums
- Hiking
- Working from lovely cafés
- Finding the best viewpoints in town
If you enjoy any of these things, follow me for itineraries and guides on the best places to visit, eat, drink, hike, and enjoy the view. I am also offering custom services if you want some personalized travel advice. Thanks for sticking around and I hope to help you plan memorable trips!
For more in-depth, free content, check out my travel blog below.
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