Things to do in Tenerife, Spain
Last update : 04/09/2023
We take you to the largest of the islands in the Spanish Canary archipelago, Tenerife.What to do in Tenerife in a week? We hope that through our account on our travel blog, you’ll be inspired to discover this incredible destination. Often disparaged for its touristy side, we nonetheless discovered a fantastic island, with a huge diversity of landscapes. Look out for highlights such as the authentic village of Masca or the famous black sand beach of Benijo, not forgetting the Teide and Anaga National Parks. Tenerife is also the perfect place for a week’s vacation in the sun, with black and white sandy beaches and a year-round climate of between 20 and 25 degrees… In short, a little paradise 🌴
What to do in Tenerife in a week? Our itinerary on our travel blog
What are the must-sees in Tenerife
In our blog post, find our full itinerary for a one-week road trip to Tenerife. Below, we give you our favorites, our favorite photo spots and our good hotel and restaurant addresses. Here’s to adventure!
What’s the climate like on Tenerife?
The largest and best-known island in the Spanish Canary archipelago is located 1000km from the Iberian Peninsula but only 100km from Morocco. For this reason, the climate is generally sunny all year round, with temperatures fluctuating between 20 and 25 degrees.
Despite this, the weather tends to be rather capricious on this island and changes very quickly. There’s a lot of wind and microclimates on Tenerife! We paid the price, sleeping only on the northern part of the island in the middle of July… With the weather very overcast, we didn’t get much use out of the pool… 😂
What to do in Tenerife, where to sleep on the island for a week
If you want to know what to do in Tenerife and discover the island as a whole, our advice is to choose two accommodations, one in the north and one in the south. Tenerife is a big island and without it, you risk driving a lot of miles every day (like us 🥲😂).
The North is reputed to be more authentic and charming, the South sunnier and closer to various points of interest. Ideally, then, you should take two accommodations to limit the long hours of daily driving and have more time to enjoy the regions. That being said, if you’re absolutely looking for sunshine during your stay on the island we strongly recommend you take your accommodation in the south.
Sleeping in the South of Tenerife
The Ritz Carlton Abama
We’d spotted this ultra-colorful, photogenic hotel, which reminded us of the Muralla Roja near Valencia in Spain. It’s very large and you’ll find several pools and restaurants on site. We also recommend it for its location, close to the various points of interest in the south of the island.
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Sleeping in North Tenerife
Punta Paradiso
We really liked this hotel in Punta del Hidalgo for its seafront location and colorful decor. You really feel “at home” in this hotel, as there are only 4 or 5 rooms and plenty of shared spaces.
The other great advantage of this place is its excellent breakfasts (included in the price of the night). A delight to savor overlooking the sea before a beautiful day in Tenerife. We recommend rooms with outdoor space. ✨
If you’d like to discover more great places to stay, we recommend our article dedicated to the best hotels in Tenerife.
View selectionWhat to do in Tenerife? Visit the south of the island
The south of Tenerife is the most built-up part of the island and therefore, in principle, not the most charming and authentic. However, if you avoid the big cities and concentrate on the various points of interest, you’re in for a treat! We were really surprised by the great diversity of landscapes.
The program: desert areas, natural pools, immense cliffs, volcanic lands, small villages hidden deep in the mountains, black sand beaches and Teide National Park. Not bad, eh? 😍 Follow the guide for a few days in the South of Tenerife!
What to do in Tenerife? Day 1
The cliffs of Los Gigantes and Santiago del Teide
These immense cliffs belong to the Parque Rural del Teno and are a must-see in Tenerife. Their walls are vertical and some are 600 meters high. Admire them from the footpath that faces them, the view is truly incredible!
La Arena beach
La Arena beach is worth a visit for its beautiful black sand. It’s located right next to the Los Gigantes Cliffs, so stop by along your walk or plan a little chill time!
La Cueva del Tancon
This water-carved hole is pretty impressive from above. You can reach it quite easily via the rocks that sit opposite the Los Gigantes cliffs. For the more adventurous, you can even swim in it and access the cavity beneath the rocks, which is apparently very beautiful.
The village of Masca
Get back on the road for 35 minutes and discover a small village nestled in the heart of the mountains. A real favorite for us! Expect a good 15 minutes of narrow roads and dizzying curves to get there, not ideal but still in good condition. On arrival, park in the small parking lot and discover Masca on foot.
The village is really small, so in 1h30 you’ll have covered a lot of ground. You can also hike around it, which gives you different views of the village and the impressive surrounding nature. We took advantage of our visit to have lunch instead! 😂 Find our address just below.
Where to eat in Masca? Good restaurant address in Tenerife
- El Guanche: we were recommended this excellent vegetarian restaurant in the middle of Masca and we quickly understood why! This small restaurant offers two terraces with breathtaking views over the village of Masca! The welcome is warm and friendly, and the typical dishes are each more delicious than the last. We had traditional Papas (potatoes with salt), a tortilla, croquetas, lemonade and sangrias. We highly recommend this address! 🍴
What to do in Tenerife? Day 2
Corona National Parc
We discovered this natural park by chance while driving to see the Teide volcano. And what a discovery! This verdant park reminded us of Yosemite Park in the Western USA, so immense is it. You can easily access the various spots and viewpoints by car. For hiking enthusiasts, visit this site for a list of must-see trails.
The views of the island are incredible, you’ll even be above the clouds. This will allow you to admire Teide from afar too. We 100% recommend it!
Teide National Park
The whole Teide National Park area will make you feel like you’re on another planet. We were hallucinating from the different views we had along the way, volcanic rocks littering the ground all the way. It’s like being on Mars! You’re in for a real treat. In this park, you can take several hikes that will give you different views of the volcano. You can also choose to take the cable car up to the top of the volcano.
Take the cable car up Teide
The cable car doesn’t go all the way to the top of Teide, but it still gets you there. It costs €33 per person and you’ll need to be patient, as it’s quite a touristy place. For our part, we decided not to take it, as we preferred hiking to get views of the volcano.
Samara hike
This 5km hike is easily doable, but it climbs a little with its 300-meter positive elevation gain.
📍 The hike starts from the Parking du Mirador de Samara.
Roques de Garcia hike
We loved the Roques de Garcia hike, allow 1 hour for the walk. It’s accessible for all levels, even with children. You’ll discover some absolutely incredible lunar landscapes!
📍 The hike starts from the Belvedere de la Ruleta.
At the Belvedere de la Ruleta, you’re likely to come across a lot of tourists. People park in the parking lot just to admire this large thumb-shaped rock. We passed on our way to get away from the crowds a bit and enjoy the hike with hardly anyone!
La Orotava
The pretty, colorful town of La Orotava is also well worth a visit. We visited very few towns in Tenerife as they are very built-up and unattractive. We really recommend this town and San Cristobal de la Laguna. Allow 2 hours for a walking tour and a well-deserved lunch break. 😋
Where to eat in La Orotava? Good restaurant address in Tenerife
- Liceo de Taoro: a beautiful building offering a restaurant and exhibition space. Cross its garden and sit on the terrace to enjoy traditional tapas or excellent mixed salads. The price is affordable and the place is fun!
What to do in Tenerife? Day 3
The Punta de Teno lighthouse
A pretty lighthouse just a few minutes’ drive from Buenavista de la Norte. We didn’t have time to go, but it was highly recommended. To get there by car, be careful: it’s before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m. Throughout the day, buses run the shuttle.
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Las Mujeres natural swimming pool
Tenerife is one of the Canary Islands known for its many natural pools! The one at Las Mujeres is huge, so we advise you to take care when accessing it, and to bring water shoes. This one is not supervised or protected, unlike the others, which we recommend afterwards. 🐠
The natural pool el Caleton de Garachico
This natural swimming pool is great because it has several pools, all of which are safe and supervised. It’s free and you can use little ladders to get down into the water, practical and fun!
The Charco de la Laja natural pool
Another supervised natural pool that’s well worth a visit. An incredible place that we really enjoyed. To tell you the truth, it was our favorite natural pool. If you had to see only one, this is the one we’d recommend!
Playa del Socorro
A beautiful black sand beach as we love them… 😍
Left Charco de la Laja and right Plage del Socorro
La Gordejuela
This water elevator built in 1903 is intriguing… It was the island’s first steam-powered water pumping station. Today, you can admire the ruins of this impressive building. To admire the Gordejuela, we recommend you set off on foot from the Salida Rambla Castro.
What to do in Tenerife? Visit the north of the island
The north of Tenerife is undoubtedly more authentic than the south, less built-up and greener. On the other hand, the climate there is more capricious, so cover up more. We’ve had more rain than sun in this part of the island! 🌦 We recommend that you allow at least 2 days to get the most out of it, and even more if you want to do several hikes in Anaga Park.
What to do in Tenerife? Day 4
Punta del Hidalgo and Bajamar
Punta del Hidalgo and BajamarWe stayed in Punta del Hidalgo, the coast is lovely! By staying here, you’ll be well placed to discover San Cristobal de la Laguna and Anaga Park. On the other hand, the town is not exceptional and there are very few quality restaurants. It’s best to know this beforehand, so you can get organized! 😅
San Cristobal de la Laguna
This big city is pleasant, with its colorful facades and numerous shops and restaurants! We really recommend making a stop here on your Tenerife vacation. 😍
What to do in Tenerife? Day 5
Anaga Park
This nature park has a reputation for being incredible! We won’t be giving very good advice on this park, as on our 2 visits it was entirely under mist or rain and almost impassable…. So we moved on. But if the weather is good when you come, we recommend you make several stops at the lookouts and a hike.
Spots / Stops to make at Anaga Park:
- Le Mirador de Zapata
- The Camino Viejo
- Pico de los Ingles
The Cruz del Camen hike:
- An easy 1.3 km loop
- Positive and negative elevation gain of 85m
- Duration approx. 45 minutes
Benijo beach
If you’re wondering what to do in Tenerife in a week, you absolutely must check out Playa de Benijo! It’s one of our Canary Island favorites. 😍 A vast expanse of black sand, incredible cliffs and rocks stranded in the water, a real Game of Thrones setting!
How to get to and where to park at Playa de Benijo
To get to Playa de Benijo, you’ll need a little patience. You’ll be driving through the middle of Anaga Park and then along the small access roads. But rest assured, the road is very pleasant and you’ll enjoy the lush nature of northern Tenerife along the way.
On arriving at Benijo Beach, there’s a parking lot provided but with very few spaces. We turned around quite a bit until the owner of the restaurant next to the parking lot opened up a small private plot where you could park your car for 2€ a day. Phew!
Next, take the stairs provided to descend to Playa de Benijo, on the cliffside. Frankly, they’re not in very good condition, making the beach difficult to access for children or people with reduced mobility. We only recommend it to people in good physical condition.
Where to eat at Benijo Beach?
- El Mirador : we ate at this address for the exceptional location of its terrace! However, the food wasn’t incredible and the prices a little steep. But it’s still a good place for a drink or a coffee with a breathtaking view over Benijo Beach. ☕️
Mirador Pico del Ingles
On your way through Anaga Park, make a stop at the Mirador Pico del Ingles to admire the incredible view over the valley. A must-see spot for breathtaking views and a quick photo! 📸
Visiting Tenerife, how to organize your trip well?
How to find the best tickets to discover Tenerife?
To find the best mode of transport (plane, train, bus) to get to your destination, we advise you to always look on the OMIO comparator. This will give you an overview of all the modes of transport available for your destination, and allow you to compare prices very easily.
Learn moreHow to rent a rental car at the best price in Tenerife
If you’re looking to rent a car during your trip, we recommend you take a look at the RentalCars website. This will enable you to find the best prices and conditions for your rental.
Learn moreHow to find the best hotels to discover Tenerife
In order to find the best hotels and benefit from the best conditions (security, cancellation…) we go almost exclusively through Booking.com for our trips. We recommend that you take a look at the available hotels and filter them according to their ratings. The customer reviews are very numerous and recent, which helps to avoid unpleasant surprises when traveling!
Learn moreHow to find ideas for vacation activities
If you want to get ideas for activities to do on your vacation and want to book in advance, we also recommend taking a look at the GetYourGuide site. This will give you an overview of the activities on offer in your destination, so you don’t have to wait until you get there to book your places.
Learn more
What to do in Tenerife in a week? Our review on our travel blog
Tenerife is the largest island in the Canary archipelago, located in the Atlantic Ocean. It offers an incredible variety of landscapes, from volcanic landscapes to white sandy beaches and heavenly coves. As you can see, Tenerife is an island well worth a visit. The sheer diversity of landscapes took us by surprise, and we had our eyes full of them throughout the week. We really recommend coming for a minimum of 5 days to have time to see as much of this island as possible.
The sandy beaches of Fuerteventura and the heavenly coves of Gomera are also accessible by cruise from Tenerife. Scuba diving and surfing are also popular activities in the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival is also a must-see event for culture lovers, as it is considered the second most popular carnival in the world after Rio de Janeiro.
Contrary to Lanzarote, we didn’t fall in love with Tenerife as a whole. The island is huge, the big towns are not very charming and some areas are very (too) touristy. On the other hand, we loved various must-do places during your week’s vacation in Tenerife: Benijo Beach, Teide National Park, the village of Masca, Corona Parc and the natural swimming pools.
Thank you for reading!
We hope the tips and good addresses on our travel blog will help you know what to do in Tenerife!
You can also follow our daily adventures on Instagram 🙂
Clem & Alex
