Tenerife packs an entire continent’s worth of landscapes into one island: volcanic moonscapes, black-sand beaches, pine forests, banana plantations, and Spain’s highest peak. The island divides naturally into north and south, with the massive Teide volcano (3,715m) sitting between them. Most visitors base themselves in the sunny southern resorts, but the green north holds the island’s history, culture, and best hiking. These are the essential things to do on Tenerife, from UNESCO sites to local food markets. For the complete Tenerife travel guide covering all resort areas, weather data, and things to do, browse the full collection of articles below.
Things to Do in Tenerife: Teide National Park
Teide Cable Car and Summit
The Teide cable car (Teleférico del Teide) whisks you from 2,356m to 3,555m in 8 minutes. From the upper station, the summit crater trail (Telesforo Bravo trail) takes you the final 163m to Spain’s highest point at 3,718m. The summit requires a free permit, booked weeks in advance at reservasparquesnacionales.es , only 200 permits are issued daily. The cable car costs €22 one-way or €38 return for adults, €13.50/€23 for children (3-13). It operates 9:00 AM-4:00 PM with the last descent at 5:00 PM. Arrive by 8:30 AM for the first car up to avoid afternoon clouds. The views stretch to Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro on clear days. In winter the summit can be icy with wind chills below -10°C (14°F) , bring layers even if it is 25°C at the beach. The Altavista Refuge (3,260m, €25/night) lets you sleep near the summit for sunrise , book at volcanolife.com. Read more in the weather by month guide. Read more in the best time to visit guide.
Roques de García Loop
This 3.5km circular trail (90 minutes) starts from the Mirador de la Ruleta parking lot at 2,150m and loops around the iconic rock formations of Roques de García including the famous Cinchado rock (Roque Cinchado). The trail is well-marked, mostly flat with one 150m climb, and requires no permit. It sits above the tree line in a landscape of ochre, rust, and black volcanic rock dotted with endemic Teide white broom shrubs in May-June. Go at sunrise or late afternoon for the best light on the rocks and Mt. Teide in the background. Parking is free but fills by 10:00 AM in summer. Read more in the events and festivals calendar.
Things to Do in Tenerife: Beaches and Coastal Areas
Playa de las Teresitas
This 1.3km golden-sand beach just north of Santa Cruz is one of Tenerife’s most photographed beaches. The sand was imported from the Sahara Desert in the 1970s. Unlike the volcanic black-sand beaches of the north, Las Teresitas has classic golden sand and calm water thanks to a breakwater. Free parking, showers, and several chiringuito beach bars serving fresh fish (€8-12 for a plate of grilled sardines). Bus 910 runs from Santa Cruz Intercambiador every 20 minutes (€1.40, 15 minutes). The beach gets busy on weekends with local families , weekdays are quieter. Read more in the resort areas guide. Read more in the hotel guide.
Playa del Duque (Costa Adeje)
The most upscale beach in southern Tenerife, Playa del Duque has imported golden sand, calm clear water, and high-end beach clubs. Sun loungers rent for €6/day, umbrellas €5. The beach promenade connects to Playa de Fañabé and Playa de Torviscas , a 3.5km waterfront walk lined with restaurants and shops. Water sports rentals include jet skis (€60/30min) and paddleboards (€15/hour). The adjacent Bahia del Duque hotel complex gives the area a polished, resort feel. Parking is limited , take bus 467 from Los Cristianos (€1.40) or park at the Siam Mall and walk 10 minutes. Read more in the travel tips and FAQ.
Los Gigantes Cliffs (Acantilados de los Gigantes)
These 500-800m volcanic cliffs plunge vertically into the Atlantic on the west coast near the town of Los Gigantes. Boat trips from Los Gigantes marina take you along the base of the cliffs for €20-30 per person (1.5-2 hour tours, departures at 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM, and 3:00 PM). You’ll likely see pilot whales and dolphins. Kayak tours (€35-45/person) get you closer to the cliff face and sea caves. The viewpoint at Mirador de Archipenque above the town is accessible by car or a steep 20-minute walk from the marina. The cliffs are most dramatic in morning light.
Things to Do in Tenerife: Historic Towns and Culture
La Laguna (San Cristóbal de La Laguna)
A UNESCO World Heritage city, La Laguna was the first capital of Tenerife and the model for many colonial cities in the Americas. The grid-plan layout dates to 1496. Walk Calle Obispo Rey Redondo to see pastel-colored 16th-18th century buildings, the Cathedral of La Laguna (€5 entry, open 10:00 AM-6:00 PM Monday-Saturday), and the Iglesia de la Concepción (€3, climb the bell tower for city views). The Museo de la Historia y Antropología (Casa Lercaro, €5, closed Mondays) covers Canarian history in a 1593 mansion. La Laguna is 10 minutes by tram (Line 1, €1.35) from Santa Cruz. The student population from the University of La Laguna gives the city a lively bar and restaurant scene , try guachinches (traditional local eateries) on the outskirts for authentic food at €8-12 per meal with wine.
La Orotava
La Orotava in the north is Tenerife’s best-preserved colonial town with steep cobbled streets, wooden balconies, and views to the coast. The Casa de los Balcones (€5, open 9:00 AM-6:00 PM daily) is a 1632 mansion with intricate carved wooden balconies and a courtyard workshop where women make traditional Canarian lace and embroidery. The Hijuela del Botánico garden (free) is a small botanical gem with a 200-year-old dragon tree. The Iglesia de la Concepción has a striking baroque interior. Go in June for the Corpus Christi flower carpets , streets are covered in elaborate petal and volcanic-sand murals. Bus 101 from Santa Cruz or Puerto de la Cruz (€3-4, 45 minutes).
Garachico
Garachico on the north coast was Tenerife’s main port until the 1706 volcanic eruption buried the harbor in lava. Today it is a quiet town with natural saltwater pools (El Caletón) formed by the cooled lava flow , free, open 24 hours, with ladders for swimming access. The Castillo de San Miguel (€2, open 10:00 AM-3:00 PM Tuesday-Saturday) is a small 16th-century fort. Garachico has several excellent seafood restaurants on the main square (Plaza de la Libertad) serving fresh vieja (parrotfish) and cherne (wreckfish) for €12-18. The town is 20 minutes by car from Icod de los Vinos or 50 minutes on bus 363 from Puerto de la Cruz.
Things to Do in Tenerife: Nature and Outdoor Adventure
Anaga Rural Park Hiking
The Anaga mountains in the far northeast are a hiker’s paradise of steep ravines, laurel forests, and black-sand coves. The laurel forest (laurisilva) is a relic of the Tertiary period, 20 million years old, and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Sendero de los Sentidos (Trail of the Senses) has three variants: 340m (accessible), 530m, and 1.3km through dense laurel forest with interpretive signs. For a challenging hike, the Chamorga to Roque Bermejo trail (6.5km one-way, 3-4 hours) drops 700m through ravines to a remote beach with a seafood restaurant at the end. Buses from Santa Cruz to La Laguna, then bus 275 to the Anaga villages (€2-4). Start early , cloud often rolls in by 2:00 PM. Bring water and a waterproof jacket even on sunny mornings.
Masca Valley
The Masca hamlet sits in a dramatic ravine in the Teno Mountains, often called the “Machu Picchu of the Canaries.” The drive down to Masca via the TF-436 road has hairpin turns and incredible views (nervous drivers should take a guided tour instead). The Masca Gorge trail down to the beach is a 4.5km descent (3 hours) through a narrow ravine ending at a black-sand beach with a dock. The trail requires a free reservation at caminodelsilenciocanarias.com. From the beach, a boat (€15) takes you to Los Gigantes. The trail is closed during heavy rain. Park at the Masca hamlet (€3/day in the designated lot). Arrive before 9:00 AM to secure parking and beat the heat.
Siam Park
Siam Park in Costa Adeje is rated the world’s best water park by TripAdvisor for multiple years. The Thai-themed park has the Tower of Power (a 28m near-vertical slide through a shark tank), the Dragon (a 20m funnel), and a 1km lazy river. Adult tickets cost €42 online (€40 for residents), children 3-11 pay €30. Fast passes are €18 extra (worth it July-September). Open 10:00 AM-5:00 PM in winter, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM in summer. Locker rental is €5. Bring your own towel and water shoes , the ground gets hot. The on-site Thai floating market sells meals for €10-15. Free bus from Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas. Go on a Tuesday or Wednesday in low season for minimal queues.
Loro Parque
Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz is Tenerife’s longest-running attraction, opened in 1972 as a parrot sanctuary. Today it houses the largest dolphin show pool in Europe, a massive penguin habitat (Planet Penguin) with 12 tons of real snow daily, orcas, sharks, and an aquarium tunnel. Adult tickets cost €42 online, children 6-11 pay €30. The park is open 9:30 AM-5:30 PM year-round. Plan 5-6 hours to see the shows (orcas, dolphins, sea lions, parrots). Free train shuttle from central Puerto de la Cruz. The orca show runs 3 times daily , check times on arrival. The park has drawn controversy over orca captivity; if this concerns you, the Loro Parque Foundation focuses on conservation and breeding programs that are independently audited.
Things to Do in Tenerife: Food, Drink and Markets
Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África (La Recova)
This covered market in central Santa Cruz is the best place to experience Tenerife’s food culture in one stop. Open Monday-Saturday 6:00 AM-2:00 PM (also Sunday 7:00 AM-2:00 PM for the flower market outside). The ground floor has fresh produce, fish, and meat stalls. Upstairs you’ll find stalls selling local cheeses (queso ahumado de La Palma, queso majorero), gofio (roasted grain flour, the Canarian staple), almogrote (cheese and pepper paste), and local wines. Several cafe stalls serve breakfast of churros con chocolate (€3.50) and barraquito (layered coffee with condensed milk, liqueur, and cinnamon, €2.50). Try fresh tropical fruit , papaya, mango, and locally grown bananas (plátanos de Canarias) for €1-2/kg. The market ramps up by 9:00 AM; go earlier for the full buzz.
Guachinches and Local Wine
Guachinches are traditional Canarian eateries, originally set up by winegrowers to sell surplus wine and simple food. They cluster in the north around Tacoronte, El Sauzal, and La Orotava. Expect basic decor (plastic tables, paper tablecloths), house wine at €3-5 per bottle, and plates of carne fiesta (marinated fried pork, €6-8), queso asado con mojo (grilled cheese with mojo sauce, €5), and papas arrugadas con mojo (wrinkled potatoes with red and green sauce, €4). Guachinches typically open Friday-Sunday for lunch only. Most are cash-only. Look for “Hay Vino” signs on rural roads. El Guachinche del Pescado in El Sauzal and Guachinche La Cueva in Tacoronte are reliable choices. For a sit-down bodega experience, Bodegas Monje in El Sauzal (€15-25 wine tasting with food pairings) offers views over the north coast vineyards.
