Tenerife, one of the beautiful Canary Islands, is filled with picturesque small towns. Scattered all across the island, both on the coast and in the mountains, you’ll find a plethora of colorful, walkable villages with shops, restaurants and sites to see. Many of the coastal towns also boast beautiful beaches and natural rock pools in the ocean – perfect for swimming. The best towns to visit in Tenerife are in both the Northern and Southern parts of the island and most are great to spend a few hours exploring or even a night or weekend.
To really experience the best towns in Tenerife, you’ll want to have a rental car so that you can visit towns all across the island. Although you can drive around the entire island in 3-4 hours, you’ll want to give yourself enough time to explore each town. In order to do this, I recommend spending at least 5-7 days in Tenerife!
The Best Towns in Tenerife
La Caleta
La Caleta is one of my favorite towns in the Southern part of Tenerife. Although closeby to major resort towns like Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos, La Caleta has a quaint small town feel.
It has a variety of great oceanfront restaurants as well as a black pebble beach and great swimming areas.
La Caleta is a great place to spend a few hours walking around, enjoying a drink at Coqueluche Beach Bar on Enmarada beach and enjoying a delicious meal.
A few of my favorite restaurants in La Caleta include:
- Bloom (breakfast/brunch/lunch)
- Largato Brasserie (lunch/dinner)
- Mirlo (dinner)
La Caleta is a great town to stay in if you want to be in close proximity to a beach as well as all that the famous Costa Adeje has to offer without being right in the middle of the action. Unlike the party neighborhood of Playa de las Americas, La Caleta is a much more low-key option while being equally, if not more, beautiful.
From Playa de las Américas, La Caleta is a 10 minute drive. La Caleta is a great home base in order to explore both the Northern and Southern parts of Tenerife!
Hotels in La Caleta
- Royal Hideaway Corales Beach – Adults Only
- Hotel Suite Villa Maria
- Royal River, Luxury Hotel – Adults Only (walkable to La Caleta)
- One of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever stayed at
- Royal Garden Villas, Luxury Hotel
- Royal River’s sister hotel (all ages allowed)
Los Gigantes
Los Gigantes is famous for its stunning cliffs which are also named, you guessed it, Los Gigantes (or The Giants.) This is a fantastic town to add to your Tenerife itinerary as these cliffs are truly a must see.
The cliffs reach 500-800 meters (1600-2600 feet) in height and are truly stunning. All around town you’ll find great views of the cliffs and the town of Los Gigantes itself is a nice place for a walk, a little shopping and a meal. I recommend Bistro 22 for a great meal. The food is fantastic, especially the pizza and pasta, and the views are equally amazing!
Los Gigantes also has a beautiful beach, Playa de los Guíos, right underneath the cliffs which makes for a scenic spot to spend some time relaxing.
Note: this beach is occasionally closed due to falling rocks, but if it’s open, it’s worth checking out.
While Los Gigantes is definitely small enough to explore in a few hours, it’s also a beautiful place to spend a night. It’s also centrally located for visiting the North and South of the island as well as visiting Mount Teide National Park.
Hotels in Los Gigantes
Garachico
Garachico is one of the quaintest, most picturesque towns I’ve been to in a long time. One of the oldest towns in Tenerife, Garachico retains so much of its historical charm, which is something I really love about it.
Here, like most of the other towns on this list, you’ll find restaurants and shops, and the streets are lovely to walk around and explore.
Garachico also has natural swimming pools (Piscinas Naturales El Caletón) on the coast that are perfect to visit on a warm day. These pools were formed by cool volcanic lava and are very unique to see and experience.
You’ll find families, groups of friends and individuals enjoying these fun natural pools. The best part is, these natural pools are free to visit and there are even lifeguards on duty.
You can experience Garachico in just a few hours, but it’s also a lovely spot to spend a day or two. It’s located in the North of the island, not far from other popular tourist towns like Icod de los Vinos, Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava.
Here, you’ll mostly find a selection of rental properties/apartments and not major hotels.
Icod de los Vinos
Icod de los Vinos is historically an agricultural focused town that’s famous for its 1,000 year old Dragon Tree. This little town is really bursting with things to do and is certainly a must visit for its many unique activities and experiences.
Start off by heading over to the beautiful San Marcos Church (Iglesia Mayor de San Marcos) as well as the lovely Plaza Andrés de Lorenzo Cáceres park area just in front of the church itself. From there, most of the main attractions are just a stone’s throw away.
Must Visit Sites in Icod de los Vinos
Parque del Drago Milenario (Dragon Tree Botanical Gardens)
While you can see the famous Dragon Tree from Plaza Andrés de Lorenzo Cáceres, it’s absolutely worth visiting the enchanting botanical garden to see it up close. This Dragon Tree is said to be the oldest in the world, with an estimated age of around 1,000 years.
Tickets to visit the Dragon Tree and explore the gardens are 5€ for adults and 3€ for students.
Mariposario del Drago Butterfly Park
This indoor butterfly garden is one of the most wonderful butterfly houses I’ve seen. Inside there are over 800 species of free-flying butterflies. There are so many butterflies flying around and it’s really so magical to see.
Although the facility is a little dated, it’s definitely well kept. In addition to the butterflies, there are tons of tropical plants. Entrance is 9.50€ for adults.
Casa del Plátano (Banana Museum)
Surprisingly, or at least it was surprising to me, Tenerife is famous for its banana cultivation that goes back to the 15th century. Bananas are a typical ingredient in many traditional dishes and you’ll find several banana farms across the island. In fact, bananas are the most important crop in the Canary Islands.
At the Casa del Plátano, which you can visit for just 5€ , you can learn about the history of banana plantations, see how bananas are grown and also have the opportunity to purchase local banana products.
La Cueva del Viento (Cave of the Wind)
I haven’t actually visited La Cueva del Viento, but from what I’ve heard (and seen) it’s super cool! Cueva del Viento is a volcanic tube that was formed over 27,000 years ago.
Now, visitors can go on guided tours where they can actually visit parts of the lava tube. There is no artificial lighting within the lava tube, so visitors will wear helmets with headlamps. If you get claustrophobic, this is definitely something to consider.
The tour is 2.5 hours total, including the outdoor portion of the tour. Book tickets online in advance here!
Hotels in Icod de los Vinos
It’s possible to enjoy Icod de los Vinos in a single day, but it’s also a great place to base yourself in the Northern part of the island.
La Orotava
One of the most historic towns on the island, La Orotava is known for its beautiful architecture, including its balconies.
Specifically, la Casa de los Balcones (the House of Balconies) museum is certainly worth a visit. This historic house was built in 1632 and is a beautiful representation of the traditional architecture of the town. The house takes about 20 minutes to tour and tickets are 6€ for adults and 3€ for students.
After visiting la Casa de los Balcones, spend a little time wandering around the quaint streets of La Orotava.
La Orotava is a pretty small town, and although it’s lovely, there isn’t a ton to do besides walk around and enjoy the colorful village. Instead of spending the night here, I recommend driving 15 minutes to the larger city of Puerto de la Cruz, where you’ll find a much wider selection of hotel options.
Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is the largest town in Northern Tenerife, and it’s a fantastic place to base yourself for a couple days of exploring. This ocean front town has beautiful beaches, a botanical garden, great restaurants and a variety of shops. There’s even a zoo, Loro Parque, for those who are interested.
Must Visit Sites in Puerto de la Cruz
Explore Plaza del Charco
Start your day in the center of the city at its main square, Plaza del Charco. This plaza has a restaurant and is also surrounded by more restaurants and shops.
Playa del Muelle
This little beach, right downtown, offers pretty sea views. From here, you can also walk along the fishing pier (old port area) and see the boats out at sea. While I wouldn’t recommend swimming at this beach, it’s a nice place for people watching.
Playa del Jardín
From downtown Puerto de la Cruz, take the 15 minute walk or 10 minute drive to the main beach area. Here you’ll find a selection of beaches and park areas all next to one another.
The park has fantastic ocean views and is a nice place to relax and for kids to play. The beaches, just below the park, are black sand beaches. The beaches are a little rocky, but they are certainly a nice place to enjoy some time by the water.
There are limited sunbeds/umbrellas to rent, but you can also bring your own towel and small umbrella and set up anywhere on the beach. Keep in mind that the waves here can be quite large and strong, so at some points during the day it might not be safe to swim.
Botanical Gardens
Located just 5 minutes by car from downtown Puerto de la Cruz, these 18th century botanical gardens are a tranquil escape. The gardens aren’t huge, but they’re a great place to wander around and be in nature. There are tons of plant and flower species to enjoy.
Entrance is very affordable at just 3€.
Loro Parque
I’m not a big fan of zoos, so I haven’t been to Loro Parque, but it does have really great reviews. This zoo is walkable from downtown Puerto de la Cruz (about 30 minutes), or even closer from Playa del Jardin (15 minutes). However, it’s also an easy drive, which is probably the best option.
Tickets to Loro Parque start at 42€ for adults and 30€ for children.
Lago Martiánez
This man made seawater set of pools is located right on the ocean and is a great place to spend some time in the sun and in the water.
In addition to the pools, the complex also boasts a sculpture garden and restaurants! Tickets are 5,50€.
Restaurants in Puerto de la Cruz
- Marboré
- Great for cakes, coffee, breakfast and light bites.
- Mokita Foodiexperience
- Coffee, breakfast and smoothies
- La Marea
- Spanish cuisine
- Restaurante El Bajio
- Spanish and Canarian food
- El Limon
- Vegetarian
Hotels in Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is an ideal place to base yourself in the north of Tenerife. Being the largest city in the North, it has a great selection of hotels and resorts. You’ll also be in a central location to explore other beautiful towns and areas in the northern portion of the island.
El Sauzal
Located about 20 minutes from Puerto de la Cruz, El Sauzal is somewhere you should visit specifically for the incredible panoramic ocean views. There isn’t a ton to do in this town, but it’s really beautiful to drive through and check out the viewpoints.
A few of the best viewpoints include:
- Mirador de Las Breñas
- Parque Los Lavaderos (park with views)
- Mirador La Garañona
- Secret Viewpoint
- Address: Mirador, C. la Jara, 4, 38358 Tacoronte, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
All of these viewpoints have parking and many have benches or park areas to sit and take in the views.
San Cristóbal de la Laguna
The Old Town of San Cristobal de la Laguna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and wandering around the colorful streets of this beautiful town you’ll quickly see why. Established in the 15th century, San Cristobal de la Laguna is also the oldest town in Tenerife.
This colonial Spanish city is a lovely place to grab some coffee or a meal (I recommend Makika&Co), go for a nice walk and do some shopping.
San Cristóbal de la Laguna is a decent sized town and is a great place to spend a night. You’ll also be in great proximity to explore both the North and South of the island.
Hotels in San Cristóbal de la Laguna
Located about 20 minutes by car from San Cristobal de la Laguna, you’ll find Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África. Here you’ll find everything from fresh produce, to food stalls, to artisan items and it’s a great place to spend some time eating and souvenir shopping.
If you’re driving from the Southern part of the island, like Costa Adeje, you’ll pass close by to the market on your way to San Cristobal de la Laguna, and it’s definitely worth a stop.
Note on Costa Adeje
While I wouldn’t necessarily consider the towns in Costa Adeje to be the most beautiful in Tenerife, they are wonderful places to stay in order to be close to beaches, restaurants, bars, and other activities.
This part of the island is the most popular with tourists and this is where the majority of the island’s resorts are found. From Costa Adeje, in the southern part of Tenerife, you’re in an excellent location for day trips to Mount Teide volcano and also all of the charming towns in this post.
Hotels in Costa Adeje
- Dreams Jardin Tropical Resort & Spa
- Flamingo Beach Mate
- Iberostar Selection Sábila – Adults Only
- Adrián Hoteles Colón Guanahaní – Adults Only
Q&A: The Best Towns in Tenerife
- Where is best town on Tenerife?
- All of the above towns are beautiful, but Puerto de la Cruz and San Cristóbal de la Laguna are my two favorites – they have a lot to do and see!
- What is the best area to stay in Tenerife?
- Costa Adeje is the most popular area for tourists with the most going on. Here you’ll find a plethora of great hotels, resorts and beaches.
- What is the best old town in Tenerife?
- There are so many beautiful ones, but two of my favorites are Garachico and La Orotava.
- What is the party town in Tenerife?
- Playa de las Americas, near Costa Adeje, is best known for its nightlife!
So there you have it! The best towns in Tenerife to visit during your trip. Tenerife is filled with beautiful towns and areas to visit. While the island has so much to offer, it’s still small enough to be able to visit every town on this list in a week-long trip (even shorter if you really pack them in!)
If you have any questions or any other best towns in Tenerife to add to this list, let me know in the comments.
Ready to keep planning your vacation? Be sure to also check out my post about the best things to do in Tenerife South!
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♡Kate
Note: This guide to the best towns in Tenerife includes affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.
