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Tenerife
The largest Canary Island, dominated by Mount Teide, with laurel forests, cliffs and year-round sunshine
The largest Canary Island, dominated by Mount Teide, with laurel forests, cliffs and year-round sunshine
A huge volcanic crater landscape around Mount Teide, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. A cable car climbs to about 3,550m; the final path to the summit needs a free permit booked well in advance.
Bring warm clothes; it can be cold and windy at the top.
Photo: Mmullie (WMF), CC BY-SA 4.0
A tiny village in the Teno mountains reached by a spectacular winding road. The hike down the Masca gorge to the sea requires advance booking and a fee.
Drive the road carefully; it is narrow with tight bends.
Photo: Axel Cotón Gutiérrez, CC BY-SA 4.0
A rugged range in the north-east covered in ancient laurel forest, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with hiking trails, small villages and black-sand beaches.
Photo: Wolfgang Holzem, CC BY-SA 4.0
The island’s former capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, whose grid of colonial streets became a model for towns in the Americas. It is a lively university town.
Photo: NicoRay, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sheer cliffs on the west coast rising up to around 500m from the sea. Boat trips leave from the small harbour, often looking for whales and dolphins.
Choose boat operators with responsible whale-watching certification.
Photo: Tuxyso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Try papas arrugadas (salt-crusted potatoes) with mojo sauces, grilled fish, goat’s cheese and gofio. In the north, look for guachinches, simple family-run places serving home cooking and local wine.
La Laguna and Puerto de la Cruz have good restaurants; fishing villages such as El Médano and San Andrés are good for seafood.
Tenerife South (TFS) serves most international flights; Tenerife North (TFN) handles mostly domestic and inter-island flights. Buses (TITSA) cover the island, but a hire car is easiest for Teide and Masca. Ferries link Tenerife with the other islands.
The Canary Islands are part of Spain and the Schengen area. EU citizens need only an ID card; citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with biometric registration under the EU Entry/Exit System. An ETIAS travel authorisation is also due to be introduced. Check current rules before you travel.
Prices are moderate by European standards; resort areas are more expensive than towns in the north. The islands use the euro. Instead of VAT, they have a lower local sales tax (IGIC, generally 7%), so some goods are cheaper than on the Spanish mainland.
Volcano, villages and coast.
Drive through Teide National Park and take the cable car up, ideally with a summit permit.
Explore La Laguna and La Orotava, then Puerto de la Cruz.
Hike in the laurel forests of Anaga and visit the beach at Benijo or Las Teresitas.
Drive to Masca, then take a boat trip under the Los Gigantes cliffs.
Book the free Teide summit permit weeks or months ahead.
The north is often cloudy while the south is sunny; check forecasts for each area.
Atlantic currents can be strong; swim at beaches with lifeguards.
Mountain roads are steep and winding; allow extra time.
Quick answers for planning time in Tenerife.
No visa is needed for EU citizens or for UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens for short stays; Schengen rules apply, including the Entry/Exit System.
Yes, a free permit is needed for the final path to the summit; book it well in advance.
Tenerife South (TFS) for most international flights and the southern resorts; Tenerife North (TFN) for many inter-island and domestic flights.
The south is sunnier and has most beach resorts; the north is greener with historic towns.
All year: winters are mild (around 18–21°C by day) and summers warm but rarely very hot, cooled by the trade winds.
Spanish is the language; English and German are widely spoken in resorts.
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Planning a wider trip? Our Canary Islands travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.