Tenerife Travel Guide
Hola intrepid explorers and welcome to our Tenerife travel guide - the only place to find out everything you need to know before you travel.
UPDATE: Covid-19 Advice
Last updated Thursday 17th December: After some confusion on Wednesday night, it appears that Tenerife's general travel ban will not apply to overseas holidaymakers so at time of writing, flights are taking off as normal from the UK to Tenerife.
The largest, and arguably most popular, of the Canary Islands - Tenerife is a true escape to paradise. Our team has travelled the island end to end, looking for the best attractions, hidden gems, and of course, the best beaches.
What we cover in our Tenerife Travel Guide!
Getting to Tenerife
As one of UK holidaymakers top destinations (maybe even the top destination) you'll easily find affordable flights to the island. There are usually a number of flights a day, and plenty of package holiday options available. Tenerife has two airports, North and South - with South being the bigger of the two and where most visitors will arrive.
The easiest was to get from the airport to your hotel or resort is to pre-book an airport transfer. Prices will vary depending on how far it is to your destination and whether you choose a shared or private transfer.
| Drop Off Destination | Transfer time | Price (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Adeje | 45 minutes | £3.62 (Shared Shuttle Bus) |
| Playa Las Americas | 50 minutes | £3.90 (Shared shuttle bus) |
| Los Gigantes | 1 hour, 20 minutes | £15.48 (Speedy shuttle bus) |
| Los Cristianos | 15 minutes | £8.25 (Private transfer for 4 people) |
| Puerto Santiago | 60 minutes | £10.63 (Private minibus for 8 people) |
If you haven't pre-booked an airport transfer, then you can either grab an airport taxi or hop on a public bus. A taxi from Tenerife South to Playa de las Americas will set you back around €30 for 4 people. There a number of bus routes which run from the airport, whether you are staying in the south or need to go north, prices range from €3 to €15 per person.
Practical Info
Tenerife is the largest and most populous of the Canary Islands - an archipelago off the west coast of Africa.
Time zone: GMT +1
Currency: Euro
Power adapter: Tenerife uses type C & F adapaters.
Language: Spanish
Flight time: Avg. 4 hours 30 minutes
TENERIFE WEATHER
Tenerife Weather
There's no denying the Tenerife weather has a tendency to not disappoint, it's what attracts more than ten million travellers each year. In the guide we'll talk about what to expect, when to go and what to pack when you visit Tenerife.
Getting Around Tenerife
There are great options for public transport in Tenerife - with buses that serve all the island and trams that run between certain locations. Our top tip is to buy a Ten+ card - for €10 a day or €50 for 7 days you can make unlimited trips on buses and trams across the island. You can even get a mobile app version which makes travelling even easier.
If you want real freedom though, we always recommend hiring a car for your stay - they are available for as little as £11.99 a day. With your own car you can go where you like, when you like and don't have to worry about crowding or waiting for public transport.
Top Places To Go
Want to know what to do whilst you are there? Be sure to check out our guide for what to do in Tenerife - but for now here are a few of our top suggestions.
Volcan El Teide
Set in the centre of Tenerife, Teide National Park is a far cry from the bustling beach resorts of the island's coast. This spectacular volcanic landscape, which covers an area just shy of 19,000 hectares and is sparsely populated, is home to Spain's highest peak - the active volcano of Mount Teide.
Mount Teide Volcano Guide
Thinking of visiting Spain's higgest peak? Check out our guide to Mount Tiede, and plan your visit.
Siam Park
Siam Park frequently tops Trip Advisor's Travellers Choice lists - and is known as maybe the best waterpark in the world. Siam Park is just outside of Costa Adeje and is easily accessible via public transport. This outdoor water park is Thai themed and has a number of slides for thrill seekers and families, as well as swimming pools and a beach. It's a great place to hang out for the day with the family.
Anaga Rural Park
Although many people visit Tenerife for the year round sunshine and great beaches there's a lot more to the island than that. One of our favourite places to visit is Anaga Rural Park. Found at the very northern point of the island this highland area is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and has a mystical ancient laurel forest - Mercedes Forest. This is a far cry from what you may picture when you think Tenerife, but make sure to spend some time here exploring the forest and hiking the many amazing trails.
Mercedes Forest Guide
Get away from the beaches and explore the forest. Want to know what to bring, what weather to expect or where to hike? We have the answers.
Best Beaches
Thanks to the year round sun Tenerife is a beach lovers dream - and there's plenty of beaches to choose from! There's too many great beaches to run through them all here - that's why we've written a guide to our top beaches in Tenerife.
Top 5 Beaches in Tenerife
Want to know which beach is best for families? Or where's best for partying? We give you the full lowdown on top beaches to visit in Tenerife.
So head there if you want the full lowdown - but in the meantime here's a few great beaches that didn't make the list that we think are worth a mention.
Playa de Benijo
Want a beach a little of the beaten track? Then check out Playa de Benijo, found at the northern tip of the island. This is a wild black sand beach popular amongst surfers. As it's in the Anaga region, we recommend heading here for sunset after a day exploring the forests.
Playa el Médano
Enjoy windsurfing or kite surfing? Or maybe just watching other people do it whilst you relax on the beach? This beach is found in southern Tenerife, so near to the most popular resorts. Due to the wind it's not as busy as some of the resort beaches - so it makes for a nice change of pace and a bit of quiet.
Tenerife For Families
Tenerife is a wonderful destination for families, and it's one of the main reasons us Brits love holidaying here! Whether you want a fully catered resort holiday, or want to get out and about exploring nature there are some great option for your family.
The most popular resorts are found in the south of Tenerife, making them a nice short hop from the airport. Playa Las Americas, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje are all great choices, with white sand beaches and some excellent family activities nearby. Each have their own quirks, so do your research before you go but to (over)simplify:
- Playa las Americas is a great choice if your kids are slightly older as it has more of a energetic scene - there's water sports, karaoke and a great beach.
- Los Cristianos is a bit quieter and calmer, and is really popular amongst families. There's a great beach (of course!) with lots of activities for kids and lots of resturants to choose from at night.
- Costa Adeje is a newer resort and the best choice if you're looking for exciting days out - it's near the famous Siam Park waterpark which we know the whole family will love!
Where to stay in Tenerife
What to know where's best to stay for families? From bustling and lively, to more sedate and genteel, Tenerife boasts a range of resorts that cater for every style of holiday.
Accessibility In Tenerife
Tenerife is second only to Florida when it comes to limited mobility holidays - so you can have high expectations of your holiday! The island's government has taken great efforts to ensure that there are no barriers to society and they classify areas of the island as to whether they are: accessible, practicable or inaccessible.
Getting around Tenerife is easy, with fully accessible public transport - the trams in particular are set up to be accessible throughout the whole journey. There are also kneeling buses with continuous flooring and plenty of reserved spaces for wheelchairs. As always if you prefer to get around at your own pace, then you can hire a car for your stay.
If you want to head to the beach the number one choice is Los Cristianos as the entire 7km stretch of beach has an accessible promenade - there are accessible toilets and changing rooms as well as aquatic chairs and support for getting into the water. There are lots of beaches throughout Tenerife that are accessible however, so don't worry about getting bored of the same bit of sand!
Even Mount Tiede and the outdoor areas of Tenerife are accessible - so you don't have to miss out on the full Tenerife experience. At Mount Tiede the Roque de Caramujo Path is completely accessible and there are other areas that are accessible but you may require a little extra assistance.
LGBTQ+ Travellers
Although Gran Canaria may be the more famous Canary Island amongst the LGBTQ+ community, Tenerife is equally friendly and laid back in their attitudes. There's a big nightlife scene in Playa de las Américas, so you'll find a number of bars and nightclubs to check out there - and even if a venue isn't exclusively for LGBTQ+ people you'll find yourself welcome wherever you choose to party.
If you're heading to the beach there's a section of the popular beach Los Cristianos that is a popular spot amongst gay men.
But if you're just looking for a laidback place to spend time with your partner, rest assured Tenerife is an excellent choice and as laidback as the rest of Spain. It gets a thumbs up from us!
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