Day 1
Teide & the volcanic heart
Drive up into Teide National Park through pine forest and lava fields, and ride the cable car for sweeping views. Stop at the Roques de García, then take in the mountain town of Vilaflor on the way back.
Tenerife packs a whole continent onto a single Canary island: a snow-capped volcano, ancient laurel forests, black and golden beaches and colonial-style towns. Teide, Spain's highest peak, presides over it all, while the sea below teems with whales and dolphins.
The sun-soaked south runs on resorts, nightlife and sheltered coves; the green, cloud-catching north is wilder, with terraced vineyards, old towns and rugged coasts. Year-round mild temperatures earn it the name island of eternal spring.
Itinerary
Day 2
Los Gigantes & the whales
Head to the west coast for the towering Los Gigantes cliffs and board a whale and dolphin tour. In the afternoon, swim at the black-sand Playa de la Arena and eat fresh fish by the harbour.
Day 3
Anaga & the green north
Explore the laurel forest of Anaga Rural Park on the Sendero de los Sentidos and the remote hamlet of Taganana. End the day in La Laguna, wandering the old town over tapas in a buzzing bar.
Highlights
🌿Nature
Teide National Park
Spain's highest peak rises to 3,715 metres above a lunar landscape of frozen lava and ochre rock towers. Ride the cable car almost to the summit, or apply ahead for the permit to hike right up to the crater.
🌄Viewpoint
Los Gigantes cliffs
A wall of volcanic rock dropping up to 600 metres sheer into the Atlantic on the wild west coast. Take a boat from Los Gigantes harbour to watch dolphins and whales beneath the cliffs.
🏛️Landmark
La Laguna
The island's first capital, a UNESCO old town of pastel colonial palaces, wooden balconies and quiet courtyards. Wander Calle San Agustín and sip a barraquito in a sunny café.
🌿Nature
Anaga Rural Park
An ancient laurel forest cloaking jagged ridges and deep ravines in the island's wild north-east. Hike the Sendero de los Sentidos trail through moss-draped trees and drifting cloud.
✨Experience
Whale watching
A resident colony of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins lives off the south-west coast year-round. Take a small, certified boat from Los Cristianos or Puerto Colón to see them without the crowds.
🏖️Beach
Costa Adeje beaches
A run of sheltered golden-sand coves with calm, warm water on the sunny south coast. Playa del Duque offers fine sand and parasols, while nearby Playa de Fañabé is perfect for swimming and sunsets.
Neighbourhoods
Costa Adeje
The upscale resort strip in the south, with golden coves, promenades and a calmer feel than its louder neighbour. A comfortable base for beaches, boat trips and drives up to Teide.
Playa de las Américas
The beating heart of southern nightlife, packed with bars, clubs and broad beaches right off the promenade. Best if you want sun by day and partying late into the night.
Puerto de la Cruz
The charming northern coastal town, with an old quarter, the Lago Martiánez seawater pools and subtropical gardens. A launchpad for the green north and the Orotava valley.
La Laguna
The inland student city and UNESCO old town, full of colonial palaces, cafés and lively tapas bars. Perfect if you want culture and nightlife away from the resorts.
Where to eat
Papas arrugadas con mojo
Wrinkly potatoes boiled in very salty water, served with red (spicy) and green (coriander) mojo sauces. The island's iconic side to almost everything — eat them skin and all.
Gofio
Toasted grain flour, a Guanche staple stirred into stews, kneaded into escaldón or worked into desserts. Try it as escaldón, whipped with hot fish broth.
Fresh fish (vieja)
The parrotfish known as vieja, simply grilled with papas and mojo, is the island's signature catch. Eat it in a guachinche or a harbourside spot by the sea.
Canarian wine
Vines fed by young volcanic soil produce distinctive wines, above all the amber Malvasía. Taste them in the Tacoronte-Acentejo wine region in the north.
Good to know
Best time to visit
Tenerife is a year-round destination with mild weather in the south whatever the season. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) bring warm, quieter days; winter is glorious on the sunny south coast, while the north stays wetter and greener.
Getting around
A rental car is the best way to explore Teide, the north and the remote villages. The TITSA bus network (guagua) links the main towns reliably and cheaply, and boat tours leave from the southern harbours.
- Currency
- EUR €
- Languages
- Spanish
How much does Tenerife cost?
A realistic daily budget per person, in three styles.
Backpacker€50per person / day
Mid-range€100per person / day
Comfort€200per person / day
Tenerife offers a range of options to suit various budgets.
Local tips
- ✓Book the Teide summit trail via the Cumbre peak weeks ahead — the final stretch needs a free permit.
- ✓Pack a jacket for the drive up to Teide: it can be freezing at the top even when the beach below is baking.
- ✓Eat at a guachinche in the north — these family-run, seasonal wine houses serve cheap home cooking and local wine.
