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Tenerife

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Santa Cruz de Tenerife skyline and the Auditorio de Tenerife.

©Balate Dorin/Shutterstock

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Overview

Tenerife is the striking grande dame in the archipelago family. Attracting over six million visitors a year, the island’s most famous southern resorts offer Brit-infused revelry and clubbing, combined with white sandy beaches and all-inclusive resorts. But get your explorer's hat on and step beyond the tourist spots and you’ll discover an island of extraordinary beauty and diversity, with remote mountain-ridge villages, cultured port settlements and charming ancient towns.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Mount Teide Landscape

    Pico del Teide

    Tenerife

    The cable car provides the easiest way to get up to the peak of El Teide. The views are great – unless a big cloud is covering the peak, in which case you…

  • Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África

    Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    Dating from 1944, this tantalising market is housed in an eye-catching building that combines a Latin American feel with Moorish-style arches and patios…

  • Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA)

    Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA)

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    The highlights of this dramatic contemporary building are the architecture, its three galleries and the stunning library downstairs. The galleries display…

  • Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre

    Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    This brain-bending amalgam of natural science and archaeology is an excellent museum, despite a rather confusing layout. Set inside the former civil…

  • Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

    Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    It's difficult to miss the striking bell tower of the city’s oldest church, which also has traditional Mudéjar (Islamic-style architecture) ceilings. The…

  • Auditorio de Tenerife

    Auditorio de Tenerife

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    This magnificent, soaring white wave of an auditorium was designed by the internationally renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, and delivers…

  • Risco Belle Aquatic Gardens

    Risco Belle Aquatic Gardens

    Puerto de la Cruz

    This is not just any old garden: step through the entrance and you'll be met by a sweeping lawn punctuated with tables and chairs, tropical plants (birds…

  • Jardín Botánico

    Jardín Botánico

    Puerto de la Cruz

    Established in 1788, this magnificent botanical garden has thousands of plant varieties from all over the world and is a delightful place to while away an…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Dive into Tenerife’s endless delights, from mountain hikes, coastal kayaking and Atlantic swims to cutting-edge galleries and an unmissable national park.

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Best Places to Visit

Get the lowdown on the best places to visit in Tenerife, from the lunar landscapes of Teide to carnival madness in the capital Santa Cruz.

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Best Time to Visit

Get the lowdown on the best time to visit Tenerife, whether you’re planning on winter sun, summer fiestas or fun festivals in between.

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Things to Know

Tenerife evokes everything that makes Spain’s Canary Islands so endlessly enticing. To fit in like a local, here's what you need to know before you go.

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Transportation

Get the lowdown on how to get around Tenerife, from road trips through the mountains to coastal bike rides.

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Free Things to Do

You might not believe it when looking at the ritzy south coast, but the best things in Tenerife really are free. Here are our top free things to do.

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Money and Costs

The best ways to explore Tenerife on a budget, from climbing Mt Teide to stays in casas rurales and pop-up dining.

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