Tenerife Ultimate Travel Guide (2024): Beaches, Attractions, Local Culture

Temperature in Los Cristianos

Water temperature in Los Cristianos

Rainy days in Los Cristianos

Tenerife is a part of Spain, so they share same visa requirements.

EU citizens and Iceland, Norway and Switzerland passport holders do not need a visa to enter Tenerife.

If you don’t hold a passport from any of the above countries, you will need to meet requirements as stated on the European Union website.

These include holding a passport that:

• is valid for a minimum of 3 months after the date you intend to leave Tenerife
• has been issued within the last 10 years

You may also need to apply for a visa as Spain is a Schengen country. However, there is a list of countries whose nationals do not need it to enter Spain as long as their stay is no longer than 90 days within a 180-day period. Please check the European Union website for more information about which countries this applies to.

If you need to apply for a visa or you are unsure, contact your country’s embassy for more information and advice.

Additional documents you may require:

Before you head off to Tenerife, be sure to check the Ultimate Travel Guide for all the information you need to plan your trip. Some additional documents may be required when entering Tenerife. More information about them can also be found on the Spanish Ministry of Interior website, but it includes:

• A valid return or onward ticket
• Enough money for the duration of your stay
• Proof of accommodation can be the hotel or Airbnb booking, proof of address if you are staying in your own residence, or an invitation letter or email if you are staying with a family member or friend.
• Proof of reason for travel if you are traveling for business. For example an invitation or confirmation for a conference or business event, or a letter from your employer.

Traveling to Tenerife for work

If you are traveling to Tenerife for work or to attend a business event, there are other requirements you may need to meet or you may need to apply for a specific visa depending on your work.

However, you can travel to Tenerife under the 90-day visa-free waiver providing your passport is valid, as above, and you are traveling for work-related purposes such as

• Attending a business meeting or seminar
• Attending a conference or a workshop
• Attending a trade show
• Meeting clients
• Attending a classroom-based training course

As long as you do not receive payment for any of the above from a Spanish company, and you are traveling from one of the countries on the 90-day visa-free waiver list you will not need a visa.

It is advised that you contact your country of origin’s embassy for more information.

Passport stamping

If you are traveling from one of the countries that do not require a visa for entry make sure that you get your passport stamped by border officials when you enter Tenerife and again when you leave. This is so Schengen border officials can see when you entered the country and the stamp will show that you are not in violation of the 90-day visa-free limit. If you do not have the stamps in your passport border officials may think you have overstayed your visa-free limit. As an additional way of proving when you entered Tenerife keep hold of your boarding passes and tickets in case, you need them.

Updated: September 2022

Type F plug

Tenerife uses Type F plug throughout the island, the same that is used throughout Europe. The maximum voltage for plugs is 220 Volts AC 50Hz.

The Euro is the currency that is used in Tenerife.

Exchange Rate Converter

There are many banks and ATMs in Tenerife. Some of which charge commission fees.

Our Tenerife Ultimate Travel Guide (2023) includes a helpful tip for budget-conscious travelers. Deutsche Bank is one of the major banks that does not charge fees at their ATMs.

Spanish banks such as Bankinter will incur a €0.50 commission charge whereas Banco Popular, Banco Pastor, Caja Rural, and Targobank will charge €0.80. The bank with the highest commission charge is BBVA which charges €6 per withdrawal.

It is good to know that some ATM owners also charge a small fee for cash withdrawals. This will be an added fee on top of the commission fee and can range from 1% or 2% of the overall amount you withdraw or it might be a flat fee.

Also, I would recommend using online banks like Wise, which allows you to take money from ATM abroad without commission (2 times per month), and has one of the best conversion rates.

*Note, if ATM is asking for a conversion rate, use the local currency, as your bank probably would provide a better conversion rate, than ATM.

The cost of living in Tenerife is fairly reasonable and on the same level as mainland Spain and other European countries.

Below is a table showing the prices for popular items on the island, based on prices of the capital, Santa Cruz. Prices in other areas may differ and may also be higher depending on the brand.

Having a weather app is highly recommended as the weather can change very often, especially if you are planning any outdoor excursions or to do any water sports such as surfing.

Weather:

Windy.app

Hiking & Tracking:

Komoot

Food:

Glovo

The following phone operators service the island of Tenerife

• Orange Movil – covers a large area including all towns and cities.
• Movistar – covers most areas, including all the major towns and cities, tourist areas, and some mountainous areas.
• Vodafone Movil – covers a large area in Tenerife including all towns and cities.
• MasMovil/Yoigo Movil – covers the main tourist areas, towns, and cities but does not cover rural areas.

*If you have a Spanish mobile operator or a European one, that allows using data & calls for the same price as in your country, you can keep using it.

Another option is to use eSim like Airalo.

Tenerife has two airports located in the North and South areas of the island.

Tenerife North Airport, also known as Los Rodeos is located 11 km from Santa Cruz, flights depart and arrive from mainland Spain and other islands in the area.

Tenerife South Airport also known as Tenerife South-Reina Sofia Airport is located in the main tourist area of Tenerife and is 60 km far from the capital. Flights depart and arrive from international locations, as well as mainland Spain.

The below table is a list of popular places, drive times, and approx. private taxi prices from Tenerife South Airport based on one adult with one piece of luggage, bookable with Hoppa.com

It’s way cheaper to rent a car to drive around. Car rentals are one of the cheapest ones in Europe.

Is Tenerife safe? In general, it is quite safe. The tourist areas are busy with lots of people around during the day and evenings. As with any popular tourist destination, there is always the threat of pick pocketers and thieves, however, as long as you are careful with your belongings there should not be any cause for concern.

There is a diverse mix of people in Tenerife as it is part of the EU and due to its close location to Africa.

If you plan to travel to the more mountainous rural areas to go exploring, it is advised that you rent a car as some areas are hard to reach and public transport will be limited.

If you are traveling, I would say insurance is a must. I saw so many times when people get injuries and health problems, and their relatives/friends need to organize fundraising campaigns for the treatments.

The health system here is very expensive. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Hopefully, you won’t need to use it.

I personally buy for EUR 42/month (can have a daily option) SafetyWings travel insurance. That gives me peace of mind. It has $250 deductible, with $250 000 max limit. I had 2 claims, and both of them got covered.

*This is an affiliate link. This means I will get a commission if you use it. But as I mentioned before I am using this insurance myself.

Puerto de la Cruz

Nine Co-Living – La Orotava near the city of Puerto de la Cruz.

This scenic co-working space has ocean views, and you can also see the Mt Teide volcano. It includes 14 desks with a mix of standing style working and seated. There are private call and meeting rooms, a lounge, and a roof garden. Nine is also a co-living space and has dorm-room-style accommodation.

Santa Cruz de la Tenerife

Workeamos Coworking

Workeamos is a large coworking space in the center of the capital, Santa Cruz de la Tenerife. The coworking space has a secure entrance and you can talk to colleagues in Spanish, English, Italian, and Portuguese. The space is well designed with modern facilities and includes private rooms for calls and meetings.

Ingenio

A modern and well-located office space, Ingenio is open 24/7 allowing you to choose your own working hours. The office space is open to consolidated companies and freelancers and is equipped with air conditioning throughout. There are four work areas with different designs, a private meeting room and a communal common area.

Los Cristianos – South Tenerife

Chill Coworking – Los Cristianos – South Tenerife

A large coworking area based in south Tenerife, Chill has 40 desks, 4 private offices and a classroom area. It also has chill-out areas including a games room and on-site parking.

Costa Adeje

Zen Den

This spacious co-working office is located 75 meters away from the beach and has a boutique-style design with a mix of spacious desk areas and comfy chairs to work from. Zen Den also lives up to its name with a chill-out space and yoga and meditation areas.

FB Groups

Official Tenerife Forum

Things to do in Tenerife

Events this week in Tenerife

Tenerife Digital Nomad – Remote Workers

Tenerife Spiritual Community

Tenerife Expats and Locals

Tenerife Tourist Forum

Tenerife Travel Guide

With our insider Ultimate Travel Guide 2024 and helpful maps, you can explore Tenerife like a local and make the most of your vacation. Here is a map of Tenerife with more description below:

South Tenerife

The south side of the island and the resorts of Playas de las Americas, Costa Adeje, and Los Cristianos are the most popular and busy with tourists, especially British, with many large holiday resorts and hotels around the beachfront areas.

It is also a great place for watersports and surfing and you can go whale and dolphin watching off the southern coast.

North Tenerife

The towns of Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz are popular locations for people looking for a city break and a cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Puerto de la Cruz

Located in the north of the island, Puerto de la Cruz is home to the Orotava Valley region, which is a lush green area of natural beauty. The quaint Old Town of Puerto de la Cruz has many idyllic cobbled streets and attracts many tourists looking for a more laid-back and relaxed vibe in comparison to the lively resorts of the south.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is located on the northeastern tip of Tenerife and is a large bustling city with many restaurants and things to do and see. As Santa Cruz is the capital of the island it is home to historic parliament buildings, stunning architecture, museums, and galleries.

Here is the list of things you can do in Tenerife:

Tenerife is an island with diverse landscapes and plenty of activities to choose from. As the north and south areas of Tenerife offer different experiences the following itineraries are specific to these areas of the island.

Day 1.

Fly into Tenerife North Airport and travel to the city of Santa Cruz de la Tenerife. Enjoy wandering around the historic city and having lunch or dinner in one of the wonderful restaurants and rest from your journey.

Day 2

Visit the Nuestra Señora de África market to sample some of Tenerife’s local produce and exotic fruits, then head to Tenerife Espaciao de las Artes, a modern art museum in the city center. After the gallery, head to the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion to view the stunning architecture of this historic church. Spend the afternoon walking around Palmetum of Tenerife, a fabulous botanical garden with one of the largest collections of palm trees in the world. Dine at Michelin-starred Sagrario and finish the evening at a concert at the iconic Auditorio de Tenerife.

Day 3

In the morning visit the beach of Las Teresitas, considered one of the most beautiful on the island with golden sands and views of the Anaga mountains, located 9.2 km north of Santa Cruz. Then head to the UNESCO World Heritage town of San Cristobel de La Laguna, located 11 km from Santa Cruz. Spend the day in this historic town exploring the attractive architecture such as La Laguna Cathedral, the Plaza del Adelantado, and Palacio de Navajas. Complete the day by visiting the fresh produce and flower market at Plaza del Cristo and wandering through the quaint streets of La Laguna before stopping at one of its excellent restaurants, such as Restaurante Guaydil.

Day 4

Spend the day sightseeing in the wonderful town of La Orotava, located a 31-minute drive from Santa Cruz. This wealthy town is a great place to explore Tenerife’s intimate courtyards and marvel at Renaissance mansions. You can also stroll around the formal gardens of Jardines del Marquesado de la Quinta Roja, or have a quiet drink at the striking palace-like building of Liceo de Taoro.

Day 5

Get in touch with nature on this all-day tour in the mountains and experience the authentic farming life of Tenerife on this Private Animal Farm tour. The tour includes visiting a working farm to try your hand at milking goats, making cheese, and tasting some delicious Canary Island wine, while enjoying spectacular views of the mountains and over the oceans. Pick-up is throughout Tenerife including the north side of the island.

Day 6

Hike the prehistoric forest of the Anaga mountains and be captivated by the dramatic landscapes and mountain ranges of north Tenerife. Join the Anaga Rural Park full-day guided tour which will safely show you the protected yet gorgeous natural landscape of the Anaga Rural park, including visits to remote villages and pick-up from north Tenerife.

Day 7 

Finish any shopping in Santa Cruz and take a walk around the marina area if you have time before flying home from North Tenerife Airport or continuing your stay in Tenerife on the south side of the island.

Day 1

Arrive in South Tenerife and take a connection to your chosen resort such as Costa Adeje, Playas de la Américas, or Los Cristianos. Rest from your flight and enjoy exploring the busy beach areas near your accommodation.

Day 2

Wake up early to take a guided tour to Mount Teide National Park, including a cable car ride over volcanos and rugged landscapes. This full-day excursion will pick you up from south Tenerife and take you through the Mount Teide national park, stopping at local villages before taking the breathtaking cable car ride over the volcano.

Day 3

Spend the morning on a whale and dolphin watching excursion from Los Cristianos. Tenerife is one of the best places to see wild dolphins and whales off the southern coast. Then head to one of the many beautiful beaches in south Tenerife, such as Playa la Troya or Playa El Duque to relax and people watch either from the beach or a beachside cafe.

Day 4

Join an all-day island tour of La Gomera, a beautiful island off the coast of south Tenerife, which includes a three-course meal, wine, and a tour of the splendid scenery of La Gomera. The tour includes a whistling demonstration from the locals of La Gomera, and all transport is provided, including the ferry connections.

Day 5

Take a day to enjoy the spectacular Siam Park water park, filled with thrilling waterslides, a lazy river, a beach area, and on-site restaurants. Finish the day by seeing the impressive Olé Flamenco Show which celebrates this traditional Spanish dance, and takes place at Las Olas Showroom of GF Victoria

Day 6

Tenerife has excellent surfing beaches, with many located on the south side of the island. Head to El Conquistador where surfing is of medium difficulty, and you can bodyboard or surf or check out Las Palmeras which is also medium difficulty, has good surfing all year round, and holds many surfing tournaments. Both beaches are located in Playa de las Américas and you can take your boards or rent them from Ika Ika Surf School located in Playa de las Américas.

Day 7

Our Tenerife Travel Guide 2024 offers a detailed guide to the best beaches in the south, including Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos, and Costa Adeje. Spend the final moments you have enjoying the sunny beaches of south Tenerife, sipping a coffee overlooking the ocean before catching your plane home.

Depending on the country from which you travel will determine which COVID-19 rules you need to follow to enter Tenerife.

For EU nationals you can travel to Tenerife with a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate without restrictions such as quarantine or COVID-19 testing. For more information read about the EU Digital COVID Certificate.

As per the information on the Spanish Government website as of September 2022, if you are traveling from a non-EU country or a country that is not a Schengen-associated country will be required to undergo on arrival

• A temperature check
• A visual check
• And provide evidence of one of the below
  • A full COVID-19 vaccination status
  • A COVID-19 negative test result – see the
  • Evidence of recovery from COVID-19 in the last 6 months, such as a medical certificate or letter from a medical professional.

These requirements do not apply to children under the age of 12.

Fully vaccinated status

You are considered fully vaccinated by the Spanish Government if you have received your booster vaccination.

If you are aged 18 or over and have received two doses of a two-dose vaccine but have not received your booster you are considered fully vaccinated as long as at least 14 days and no more than 270 days have passed since your last dose.

This also applies to children ages 12 – 17 years old. For any children under the age of 12 years old, they do not need to be fully vaccinated to enter Tenerife.

As COVID-19 restrictions change regularly it is advised to check with the embassy of the country that you are traveling from for the most up-to-date information.

Source:

• Prices are cheaper in the winter months with temperatures around 20C.
• It gets very cold on Mount Teide with snow expected during winter so pack warm layers and coats if visiting.
• Mount Teide is an active volcano so you will need a pre-booked permit to hike it.
• There is great surfing in Tenerife, however not all surf spots have sand beaches and some are in rocky bays.
• The best way to move around is by renting a car. Tenerife has one of the cheapest car rentals in Europe. Book it in advance for cheaper prices. I personally liked the local car rental company – CICAR.
• Expect people selling tourist items (sunglasses, fans, ice cream) to approach you on the beach and in tourist areas.
• There is a big three-week carnival every February in Santa Cruz. This will also affect the prices of flights and accommodation during this time.
• You can visit the smaller neighboring islands of La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro on day trips, which are less crowded with tourists, by catching a ferry from Los Cristianos.
• It is common for women to go topless on beaches and there are full nudist beaches around the island.
• The water around Tenerife can have very strong rip tides. If there is a red flag placed on the beach it means it is not safe to swim there.
• Tenerife is known for its microclimates so bear this in mind if you plan to go hiking and research the temperatures and altitudes of the areas you plan to go.
• Most of the tap water is desalinated seawater so do not drink it and instead buy bottled water.

Hola – Hi

Sí – Yes

No – No

Adiós – Goodbye

Buenos dias – Good morning

Buenas tardes – Good afternoon

Buenas noches – Good evening

Por favor – Please

Gracias – Thank you

Habla inglés? – Do you speak English?

No entiendo – I don’t understand

Socorro! – Help!