Planning to visit Tenerife? You’re in the right place! Tenerife is a wonderful destination to visit; it’s warm, the food is delicious, the sites are incredible and the black sand beaches are truly breathtaking. Tenerife makes for a great place to spend a vacation. You get the best of both worlds by being able to relax on the beach while still being able to explore all that the island has to offer. Keep reading for all of the Tenerife travel tips you’ll need for your epic trip!
Weather in Tenerife
Tenerife has a subtropical climate offering comfortable temperatures year round. The summer months are the warmest, with sunny days and temperatures in the upper 70s and 80s. In the winter, you’ll find mild daytime temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s. At night, in both the summer and winter, the temperatures will drop about 10 degrees.
The Southern part of the island (Costa Adeje, Playa de las Americas, etc.) is consistently warmer than the Northern part of the island. However, you’ll find nice weather most of the year all across the island.
Year round, I recommend a light jacket or sweater, and definitely bring more layers if you’re visiting in the colder months.
Mount Teide Climate
The one major exception to this mild climate is Mount Teide volcano. Mount Teide is definitely a must visit. It’s the highest peak in Spain and the views and landscapes are absolutely incredible. However, due to the elevation, around 3,355 meters (or 11,500 feet), it can get very cold and windy at the top. Year round, make sure you have a jacket and maybe even gloves and a hat.
While you may be lucky and get warm sunny weather at the top of Mount Teide, this isn’t guaranteed and it’s always better to be prepared. Some travelers will recommend you wear hiking boots. However, if you’re just riding the cable car to the top and going on a short walk to the view points, sneakers are totally fine. If you’re planning on doing some serious hiking, you will, of course, need hiking boots.
When to Visit Tenerife
I recommend visiting Tenerife in the summer in order to have the best weather. However it’s really a great destination year round.
September, specifically, is a great month to visit in order to take advantage of summer weather and temperatures, while avoiding the June-August crowds.
How to Get to Tenerife
Tenerife is easily accessible from the US and Europe.
If you’re flying from the East Coast of the USA, you can get a nonstop flight on United Airlines to Tenerife. The flight operates out of Newark airport (EWR) from June-September. The flight time is around 7 hours.
You can also find year round direct flights from all over Europe. These flights depart frequently and are often very affordable.
How Many Days is Enough in Tenerife
While I recommend a week in Tenerife in order to really explore and get to know the island, five days is also a good amount of time for a first trip.
In 5-7 days you can see many of the most beautiful parts of the island and take part in tons of fun activities.
Check out my Tenerife post series for more recommendations and tips:
- The 11 Best Things to do in Tenerife South
- The Best Towns in Tenerife to Visit on Your Vacation
- The 11 Best Restaurants in Tenerife
Tenerife Travel Tips
Choose your Resort/Hotel Wisely
There are a plethora of beautiful resorts all over Tenerife, ranging from budget hotels to luxury resorts.
The first thing you need to decide is how much you want to spend and, next, where on the island you want to be. The majority of resorts are in Tenerife South. This is a great part of the island to base yourself for beautiful beaches, great restaurants and lots of activities. You can also easily explore the entire island on day trips when basing yourself in Tenerife South.
Tenerife South is certainly the busiest and most touristy part of the island. So, especially during the high season, this is something to keep in mind.
The Northern part of the island, specifically the town of Puerto de la Cruz, is a great place to stay if you’re looking for a more relaxed experience. While Puerto de la Cruz is the largest town in the Northern part of the island, it’s still much quieter than the South.
From Puerto de la Cruz, you’ll be able to easily visit Tenerife South for day trips as well as have easy access to many other popular towns and tourist attractions in Tenerife.
If you’d rather be in a small, more local town, check out my post about the Best Towns to Visit in Tenerife. Here you’ll find information about these wonderful towns, the best things to do there and the best hotels/accomodations in each one.
Hotels in Tenerife South (Costa Adeje):
- Flamingo Beach Mate
- Dreams Jardin Tropical Resort & Spa
- Adrián Hoteles Jardines de Nivaria
- Royal Garden
- H10 Gran Tinerfe – Adults Only
- Iberostar Selection Sábila – Adults Only
- Royal River – Adults Only
Hotels in Tenerife North (Puerto de la Cruz):
Explore Many Different Parts of the Island
It’s very tempting to visit Teneriife and spend most of your time on the beach. The volcanic black sand and stone beaches are truly beautiful and they make a great place to relax, read, swim, surf and take part in water sports.
However, in addition to the amazing beaches, Tenerife has so much more to offer! There are a plethora of colorful, beautiful towns all across the island and each one has so much to offer. From viewpoints to markets to volcanos, Tenerife has it all.
After reading these Tenerife travel tips, be sure to check out my post about all of the best things to do in Tenerife South!
My top 5 things to do across the entire island include:
- Take the cable car to the top of Mount Teide
- Marvel at los Gigantes
- Visit Anaga Rural Park
- See the Dragon Tree and Butterfly Garden in Icod de los Vinos
PRO TIP: Rent a car
I’ll get more into this later, but in order to be able to explore all of the incredible towns and sites around Tenerife, you’ll definitely want a rental car.
If you don’t want to rent a car, but still want to see and explore other parts of the island, consider taking some day tours. There’s quite a few to choose from and they’ll allow you to explore the island without a rental car or having to rely on public transportation.
Tenerife day tours:
- Tenerife Full Island Tour
- Day Trip Around the Island of Tenerife
- Half Day Tour Discovering Anaga Tenerife
- 6hrs Private Tour in North Coast of Tenerife
- Private Excursion to Masca, Garachico, Icod in Tenerife
- Tenerife VIP Tour
Pack for Micro Climates (even in the summer!)
Tenerife has a mild climate year round, with the warmest temperatures in the summer months. Even though you’ll have temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s during the summer months, you’ll still want a sweater for the evenings.
Additionally, you’ll want to pack warm(er) clothing for your trip to Mount Teide. Even in the summer months, the temperatures at the volcano’s high altitude can be quite low.
You’ll also find slightly lower temperatures in the Northern part of the island as well as in Anaga Rural Park. For these excursions, you’ll want to make sure you have layers that are easy to put on and take off.
Tenerife micro-climate packing list (in addition to regular summer/beachwear):
Rent a Car
As I mentioned above, a rental car is a necessity when visiting Tenerife, unless you’re planning on staying in one part of the island for your entire trip (which is also totally valid!) This is definitely one of my most important Tenerife travel tips.
You can drive around the entire island of Tenerife in under four hours (without stops), so it’s a great place to really be able to explore without spending the whole day driving. From Tenerife South, many popular sites and towns are under an hour away.
There are Ubers in Tenerife South, but, in my opinion, having a rental car is much more convenient. This is especially true if your resort is outside of the main downtown areas.
Driving in Tenerife is relatively easy and car rentals aren’t too expensive.
You can visit Tenerife on a Budget or have a Luxury Vacation
Tenerife, like many destinations, is a place you can visit on a budget or luxuriously. There are a wide range of hotels ranging from budget friendly accommodations as low as $40 a night all the way up to $600+ a night luxury stays.
Budget Accommodations:
Luxury Accommodations:
- Bahia del Duque
- Adrián Hoteles Jardines de Nivaria
- Royal Garden Villas, Luxury Hotel
- Royal River, Luxury Hotel – Adults Only
Similarly, it’s very possible to find inexpensive food options or to go out to more expensive restaurants for a fine dining experience.
When traveling, I definitely prioritize eating good, local food. If you stay away from the clear tourist traps and head instead to more local/unassuming restaurants, you’ll have a much better and more affordable experience.
A few of my favorite affordable restaurants in Tenerife with delicious local food include:
- Bistro 22 – Los Gigantes
- El Tejado – Costa Adeje
- Banh Noï Thaï Viet Food – Costa Adeje
- Bloom – La Caleta
- El Limón – Puerto de la Cruz
- Makika&Co – Santa Cruz
For more restaurant recommendations, be sure to check out my post about the 11 best restaurants in Tenerife.
When looking at things to do in Tenerife, there are a wide variety of free options. You can visit the many different beaches, go hiking in Anaga Rural Park and explore the quaint towns – just to name a few.
If you have a higher budget, there are also several paid activities you can participate in. Like taking the cable car to the top of Mount Teide, going on snorkeling adventures, paragliding or visiting the wineries.
Activities and Tours in Tenerife:
- Whale and Dolphin Watching Catamaran with a Buffet
- Teide National Park Sunset & Stargazing with Dinner
- Tandem Paragliding Flight in South Tenerife
- Winery Tour and Tasting in Tenerife with the Sommelier
Some Parts of the Island are More Touristy Than Others
The Southern portion of the island, Tenerife Sur, is more touristy than the North. This isn’t to say that there aren’t any tourists in the North, or in the towns on other parts of the island, because there certainly are.
However, most tourists are concentrated in the resort areas in Tenerife Sur, specifically, Playa de las Americas and Costa Adeje.
Book Tours in Advance
While in Tenerife, there are tons of great tours and activities to take part in. These range from snorkeling, to stargazing hikes, to whale watching and so much more.
Like any popular destination, many of these tours book out in advance, so make reservations as early as you can.
Popular Tenerife Tours:
- Whale Watching Eco-Adventure from Costa Adeje
- Jet Ski Excursion (1H or 2H) in South Tenerife
- Tenerife: Quad Adventure Teide Tour
- 4 Hours Eco Safari Tour with Electric Car in Tenerife
- Teide by Night: Sunset & Stargazing with Telescopes Experience
Make Restaurant Reservations
Similarly to tours and activities, you’ll want to make reservations for popular restaurants in advance. Especially during the summer months, restaurants fill up quickly, especially at peak times like sunset.
For restaurant recommendations, be sure to check out my post about the 11 best restaurants in Tenerife.
Understand the Tipping Culture (or lack thereof)
Coming from the US, many travelers assume tipping 20% everywhere is normal, or even mandatory. That’s not the case in Spain, or in Tenerife specifically.
Tipping culture:
- 5-10% at sitdown restaurants is considered normal and is appreciated.
- At a bar, an extra euro or two, depending on the total bill.
- For taxis, it’s common to round up or to leave an extra euro or two.
- At hotels, one-two euros a night for housekeeping and one euro per piece of luggage for bellboys.
- For guided group tours, a few euros after the tour is appreciated, but not expected.
Tenerife is Safe, But Always be Aware of Your Surroundings
As a female traveler in my 20s, I felt extremely safe everywhere I went in Tenerife – and I explored the entire island. In general, Tenerife is a very safe destination to visit.
However, like anywhere you travel, keep an eye on your belongings, especially when you’re at the beach or out at bars and clubs.
I have read some instances of vehicles getting broken into, especially if purses or valuables were visibly left inside, so be sure to take your valuables with you.
I hope these Tenerife tips have been helpful for you as you plan your trip to the Canary Islands! Tenerife is such an incredible destination and one you’ll certainly want to keep going back to.
If you have any questions, or any other Tenerife tips to add to this post, please let me know in the comments.
Lastly, follow us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad, for more travel inspiration and mini guides!
More Tenerife Guides:
- The 11 Best Restaurants in Tenerife
- The Best Towns in Tenerife to Visit on Your Vacation
- The 11 Best Things to do in Tenerife South
Pin These Tenerife Travel Tips!
♡Kate
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