What should you see in Tenerife? Top 11 best attractions of Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and the most diverse in terms of vegetation and landscapes. From the sandy beaches surrounding the holiday resorts to the post-volcanic spots, to the parks filled with lush greenery. What to visit in Tenerife? What is worth seeing when visiting the island? Here’s our top 11 of the best spots to go to on your holiday trip. 

 

Sightseeing in Tenerife

What to visit in Tenerife

 

Tenerife is one of the most interesting Canary Islands. You can get there by plane or ferry, from the nearby Gran Canaria for instance. You can explore Tenerife by bus (tickets at https://www.titsa.com/index.php/en/) or, preferably, by hired car. Don’t worry though, if you don’t feel like hiring a car, all of the best attractions are connected via a public transport network.

In this best-of are lots of National Parks, beaches and charming towns. Tenerife is ideal for a holiday trip in summer, but a winter holidays in Tenerife is also a great idea.

Tenerife is also unique in the sense that the north is very green, even tropical, while the south is desert and rocky. It is worth seeing both sides, especially as Tenerife is not that large – measuring around 50 miles. It’s worth taking some good hiking shoes with you if you plan to walk in any of the Natural Parks – on a side note, we don’t recommend drinking tap water in Tenerife.

 

Teide National Park

Tenerife’s most famous park

 

The Teide National Park, located in the central part of the island, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its uniqueness. The landscape here is truly something, resembling that of the moon in some places.

The main part of the park is the Teide volcano, which is also the highest peak in Spain. If you want to admire the panorama of the island from the top, you can choose one of two ways to get there – by climbing up yourself or by a cable car.

 

Los Gigantes

Tenerife’s extraordinary cliffs

 

What else to see in Tenerife? Certainly its cliffs, located near the village of Los Gigantes. The jagged 600-metre tall cliffs were called ‘bad walls’ or ‘the walls of hell’ by the ancient islanders, as they protected Tenerife from its enemies.

Today you don’t have to worry about Tenerife’s enemies – instead, you can admire Los Gigantes from a cafe terrace in town while enjoying some Canarian cuisine. It’s also worth taking a boat trip from the local port to get a better view of the giants.

 

Pyramids of Güímar

An interesting place to visit in Tenerife

 

Did you know that there are pyramids in Tenerife? Although they do not resemble those known from Egypt, they are an interesting little piece of historical architecture.

The pyramids of Güímar were discovered by a Norwegian traveller, Thor Heyerdahl. He noticed that the pyramids were deliberately placed for astronomical reasons, so that a double sunset could be seen. An ethnographic park with a huge botanical garden was created around the pyramids.

 

Masca

A famous ravine in Tenerife

 

Masca is one of the most fascinating places you’ll see on the island. A small village nestled in the midst of a mountainous terrain with a narrow gorge carving through – Machu Picchu naturally comes to mind.

It’s a great experience to have a stroll along the laid-out paths and sit down in the local cafe, take it all in.

 

Cueva del Viento

The longest cave in Tenerife

 

The Cueva del Viento cave is located in the town of Icod de los Vinos. It hides a huge volcanic tunnel, almost 12 miles long (though only a fragment is open to the public).

It’s not without a cause that the place is called “the Cave of the Winds” – the unique form of the tunnel means that very strong air currents can be experienced inside. Remember to take warmer clothes with you when deciding on Cueva del Viento, as the temperatures inside drop several degrees lower than on the outside.

 

Black sand beach

Playa Jardin

 

In Puerto de la Cruz, among the palm trees, cacti and colourful flowers, a view of an unusual beach emerges. Its coal-black sand contrasts with the turquoise colour of the water. This is Playa Jardin, one of the most picturesque places in Tenerife.

It’s worth taking a stroll along the ocean shore to see the diversity of the beach for yourself – from powdery sand, to fine gravel, to rounded dark pebbles.

 

Anaga

The most beautiful park in Tenerife

 

Anaga is Tenerife’s Rural Park, and it’s certainly worth a visit. It’s located in the north-eastern part of the island. You’ll see plenty of viewpoints here with breathtaking landscapes. The hills bathed in green and criss-crossed by narrow gorges are incredibly impressive.

The Anaga Rural Park is ideal for hikers and seekers of natural beauty. You’ll also get to see some endemic animal species and unique vegetation with a stunning laurel forest to top it all off.

 

Garachico

A town with volcanic pools in Tenerife

 

Did you know that you can bathe in volcanic pools in Tenerife? If that sounds like something you’d be into, be sure to spare some time to visit the town of Garachico. It’s not just pools though, as you will also find a charming colonial building style and excellent restaurants serving delicious Canarian cuisine.

Garachico is also home to several parks. The Parque de La Puerta de Tierra, with its exotic vegetation, is well worth a look. The entrance is through the former town gate, commemorating the town’s glory days. Garachico served as Tenerife’s most important trading port until the early 18th century.

 

La Orotava

A colourful town in Tenerife

 

Colourful colonial townhouses, plenty of palm trees, parks with wondrous flowers, rich vegetation and historic buildings – you’ll find it all in La Orotava. It is one of the most beautiful towns in Tenerife.

While there, you can visit La Casa de los Balcones, a museum dedicated to the ancient traditions and customs of the island’s inhabitants. The baroque church of Iglesia de La Concepción is also worth a visit. If you want to see a panoramic view of the Valle de la Orotava, head to the Casa del Turista, located opposite the Casa de los Balcones.

 

San Cristóbal de La Laguna

Tenerife’s UNESCO-listed city

 

San Cristóbal de la Laguna has narrow, winding streets, colourful colonial buildings and plenty of monuments at every turn. The town was the former capital of the island and its ‘intellectual base’ – it was here that the first university in the Canary Islands, the Universidad de La Laguna, was founded.

San Cristobal de La Laguna has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its large number of historic buildings and a beautiful old town.

 

Siam Park

Tenerife’s water park

 

How about a bit of lighthearted fun at the Canary Islands’ largest water park? You’ll find it in the town of Adeje, southern Tenerife. Boredom is out of the question here, with plenty to keep both the youngest and the slightly older visitors entertained.

On an area of over 180 km square you will find dozens of twisting slides (from those gently sloping to almost vertical), pontoon slides, a town of bridges, waterfalls and traps waiting for you, a huge artificial wave and a pool with seals. Siam Park is a guarantee of whole-day high-quality fun, and is a stunning sight in it of itself.

 

A map of the Tenerife attractions

What to see on Tenerife?

 

1. La Orotava
2. San Cristóbal de La Laguna
3. Siam Park
4. Garachico
5. Anaga
6. Playa Jardin
7. Cueva del Viento
8. Masca
9. Güímar
10. Los Gigantes
11. Teide National Park

Hope you visit some (or all!) of these places during your holiday trip, they’re all magical. Plan accordingly, stay safe out there and have a great one!