Tenerife Attractions

Tenerife is the largest and, in my opinion, the most diverse of the Canary Islands. I've been here twice to explore the island.

I'll show you where the most beautiful places are, along with a few hidden gems and lost places as a bonus. If you're planning a purely beach vacation, consider visiting a highlight or two; you won't regret it.

Enjoy reading!

Highlights in the center of the island:

By now, I've scoured every corner of the island of Tenerife. By day and by night, photographing the stars. Here you'll find the truly worth-seeing highlights of Tenerife. At the end of the article, I've created a few travel tips and information with a map.

Pico del Teide is not only the highest mountain in Tenerife, at 3,715 meters, but also the highest in Spain. The Teide National Park was established in 1954. Since 2007, the El Teide National Park has even been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Every year, over 4 million visitors flock to the extinct stratovolcano, the third largest island volcano in the world!

The summit is quite easily accessible by the Teide cable car. However, you need to request a permit in advance. For conservation reasons, access to the summit is allowed for only 200 people per day. Additionally, the weather often prevents the cable car from operating.

The cable car takes you up to 3,555 meters, and you only have a few meters left to reach the peak of the volcano. A ride over the Teide is worthwhile, as this region is the most diverse on the island. You can enjoy great hikes on the Teide or (like us) photograph the stars at night. Unfortunately, visiting the observatory is not possible.

Below the Teide volcano, you'll find the Roques de García, a rock formation made up of bizarrely shaped towers of volcanic rock. The Roque Cinchado (Stone Tree or Finger of God) is considered a symbol of the island. This is also where a hiking trail begins. Make sure to pay attention to the signage.

You can best explore the stone rose from the viewpoint (Mirador). Through the cooling of lava rock, a formation was created many thousands of years ago that looks like a stone rose from above.

In the north of Tenerife lies the very touristy town of Puerto de la Cruz. Here, you'll mainly encounter German holidaymakers. If you're on a beach vacation, your hotel is very likely to be here.

There are several beautiful beaches, such as Playa Jardin, which are covered in black volcanic sand. Highlights include the botanical garden (Jardín Botánico), the orchid garden (Sitio Litre Garden), and the rock garden (Piedras), which is located directly next to the fortress Bateria de Santa Barbara. Also worth seeing are the Castillo de San Felipe and the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia.

For me, the famous Loro Parque is uninteresting, as it keeps animals that could live in the wild in this region. However, for children and tourists, the zoo is the most popular attraction in the Canary Islands.

Los Gigantes are the second highest cliffs in Europe (the highest ones are on the Faroe Islands). The cliffs drop 488 meters straight into the sea. Find the best viewpoints at Los Gigantes. One of them on the island is from Punta de Teno.

An even more beautiful viewpoint is from the water during a whale-watching tour. A stop in front of the cliffs is obligatory. Besides the chance of seeing whales, you regularly see dolphins. But as always, there is no 100% guarantee, as we are not in a zoo. Make sure to book a provider that respects animal welfare and maintains distances.

The Teno mountain range is located in the west and extends from Los Gigantes to Buenavista del Norte. The highlights are Punta de Teno and the Masca Gorge.

During my first visit, the Masca Gorge was a great place for hikes. Unfortunately, the hiking paths in the gorge have since been closed due to too many accidents. Whether they will ever reopen is uncertain.

Notes:

The road to the gorge is very narrow. If you're uncertain about driving, consider beforehand if you want to come here.

The road to Punta de Teno is only open for cars from Monday to Wednesday. On other days, you must travel by bus (line 369). However, the view of Los Gigantes and the lighthouse is worth it.

The island's capital, Santa Cruz, is located in the northeast of Tenerife and is firmly in English hands. Highlights include the Palmetum - a botanical garden with the largest palm collection in Europe. I also like the old town around the Plaza de España. There are numerous other attractions in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, so you can easily spend a whole day here.

Just a 15-minute drive from Santa Cruz lies the most beautiful beach in Tenerife, Playa de las Teresitas. The approximately 1.5-kilometer-long beach has been filled with sand from the Sahara. From the Mirador las Terasistas (see photo), you have a great view of the beach and the surroundings.

The pilgrimage site of Candelaria is located on the east coast. The highlight is, of course, the Basilica Nuestra Señora directly by the sea. Statues stand on the shore in memory of the former Guanche leaders. The Guanche were once the indigenous people of the island.

Are you here on one of the holidays on February 2, 14 or 15 August? Pilgrimages take place on these days. Especially in August, many people come here and admire the big fireworks on the last evening. This is a true attraction and you must see it if you're in Tenerife on these days.

Garachico in the northwest was founded in 1496 and is one of the oldest towns on the island. You should especially explore the beautiful old town here. However, most people come here because of the natural pools. Due to volcanic eruptions, natural pools formed in the sea. Really a highlight and worth seeing with the surrounding landscape.

Researchers still puzzle over why the lava stones were stacked in a pyramidal shape without sand or mortar. The terraces were only discovered in 1991 by Thor Heyerdahl. I found this place very interesting. Whether it is a must-see for you is up to you to decide.

Many know Tenerife as a place with beautiful beaches, the fascinating Teide volcano, and pleasant temperatures all year round. However, on the southeast coast of the Spanish island, a few lost places are hiding that are truly worth seeing. I had the pleasure of accompanying a friend who searches for lost places all over the world. Some spots in Tenerife are not officially accessible. Politely ask locals for access.

In Tenerife, you'll find both light and black beaches. Not everyone likes the latter, as when the sun shines, the sand can get extremely hot. Which beach is the most beautiful is a matter of taste.

For me, Playa de las Teresitas beach in the north of Tenerife is not only the most famous but also the most beautiful. The beach is about 1.5 km long and appeals to me not only with its fine sandy beach but also because you can paddleboard and kayak here. It is also the only beach on the north coast that is not made of black sand but has been filled with Saharan sand.

If you want to have a beach vacation with pleasant temperatures, you should travel to Tenerife in the summer months. For sightseeing, the off-season is also ideal. I was here once in August (hot and around 29 degrees) and once in May (pleasant 20 degrees).

At night it gets very cold for photographing stars, but in April/May, the conditions are better for photographing stars and the Milky Way.

Spring and autumn are ideal for hiking. The sun is always abundant in the Canary Islands, it rains sporadically. Tenerife is generally a destination you can visit year-round.

We like to gather information about the sights in Tenerife from travel guides. They often contain much more information about the attractions and excursions. We always prefer to have printed books with us. Here, we have two recommendations for good Tenerife travel guides.

The Hidden Secrets Travel Guide includes great tips for the most beautiful places on the Canary Island of Tenerife. The best addresses and tips from locals (even if the guide doesn't seem current).

The DuMont Travel Pocket Book for Tenerifehttps://amzn.to/4akT8oF is very up-to-date, although it's not from this year. It doesn't replace a hiking guide, but it lists 10 hiking trails that are really great. Additionally, it includes reports and great pictures. The personal tips and favorite places of the author round out the book.

Ideal for exploring the island is a rental car. I enjoy being independent and often eat outside of hotels. Because the food in hotels is, for me, "standard" and has nothing to do with the island's cuisine.

That's why I rent a car in advance through SunnyCars, as they usually include additional drivers. We picked up the rental car right at the airport. If you want to rent a car for just 1-2 days, you can also do this through SunnyCars or rent at the hotel (often more expensive). This way, you can easily reach the attractions in Tenerife.

LOOKING FOR A RENTAL CAR?

For searching for a rental car, we recommend the platform check24 or Cheap Car Rental. I also compare prices with Sunny Cars. -> Find tips for booking a rental car here. -> Don't have a credit card? Then read here how to get a rental car without a credit card.

The excellent 5-star hotel is located at the popular Costa Adeje. Duquerque Beach is 500 meters away. For our explorations and activities, this hotel was ideally located on the island. It is a hotel with great service, which can also be booked with just breakfast. Ideal for me, as I don't like dinner in buffet form (also without local dishes).

On a previous trip, I stayed cheaply in the south. The hotels there are notably cheaper because they are in the flight path of the airport. Back then, I wanted to stay cheaply, so it was okay. Today, I wouldn't book that hotel anymore.

Did we forget any Tenerife attractions?

Those were our highlights and the most beautiful sights in Tenerife. Have you also been to the largest Canary Island? What did you like best, how long were you there, and which area of the island do you like the most? Please share your experiences in the comments for our next trip!

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