Sun worshippers, outdoorsy types and party people – holidays to Tenerife are staple for all kinds of travel lovers.
Canary Island classic
Think of the Canaries and you’ll probably think of Tenerife. It’s been serving serious sun, sea and sand to Brits since the seventies, and it’s still a go-to for a classic fly-and-flop today. Year-round rays keep everyone coming back, even in the winter, and it’s got some other strong stats to back its rep, too. We’re talking 15 Blue Flag beaches, Spain’s tallest mountain and the second-biggest carnival in the world – the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival in the island’s capital city. It’s no surprise that it draws in all kinds of travel lovers, from families and outdoorsy types to party people.
Multi-coloured coastline
The sweeps here don’t come in just one style. If you like that cliché white-sand aesthetic, Costa Adeje’s where you want to be – they went above and beyond to create the perfect beach here by pulling white sand from the seabed, and the clear water and swaying palms look like they’re straight from the Caribbean. Playa de las Teresitas’ golden sands have come all the way from the Sahara Desert, or you’ve still got the cool volcanic beaches with their OG black sand, like the ones in Playa de la Arena and El Medano.
Naturally beaut
There’s more to Tenerife than topping up your tan, like lacing up your walking boots and going for an epic hike. Teide National Park is packed full of trails and routes that weave around craters, rocks and cacti. The winding roads here are also pretty legendary for road cyclists, and there are plenty of places to hire a bike from down in the resorts. Or, skip the sweat sesh and catch the cable car up Mount Teide for unreal views across the island. Want to check out a different Canary Island? Take the ferry from Los Cristianos over to lush La Gomera.
Family fave
This island’s always a win for a family trip. Buzzing resorts like Playa de Las Americas bring the holiday vibes all day long with daytime activities, massive shopping malls and evening entertainment, as well as bars and restaurants with every kind of cuisine you can think of. The main event for families, though, is Siam Park – AKA the biggest waterpark in Europe. Everything’s Thai-themed, so expect to see lots of dragons and colourful temples on the rides and slides. The wave pool gets a special mention and so does the lazy river, which is the longest one in the world.
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Tenerife FAQs
With its edge-of-the-tropics setting, Tenerife gets a generous supply of sun all year round. Visit between June and August and you’ll be treated to up to 11 hours of sunshine a day. Summer temperatures in the south can soar to the low 30s, and in winter, you’ll rarely see the mercury dip below 19°C. That said, go north and things are a little more humid, with occasional showers thrown into the mix.
If you’ve got a UK passport, you can stay up to 90 days without a visa.
Please make sure you check the FCDO website for the most up-to-date information.
Yes, Tenerife is very family friendly. The island’s got lots of beaches that are good for younger children and there are loads of attractions, like Siam Park. Many hotels and resorts also have kids’ clubs and family activity programmes, too.
The south of Tenerife is known for its sunny weather, lively nightlife and family-friendly attractions. This is where you’ll find most of the big-name resorts, like Playa de Las Americas, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje. The north is lusher and greener, plus the temps are usually a few degrees cooler. It has more of a laidback vibe and is a fave for adults-only trips.
Tenerife is really easy to get around. Hiring a car gives you the most flexibility for seeing more of the island. The public bus service (TITSA) is reliable and connects most parts of the island, including tourist hotspots like Mount Teide, Santa Cruz and the airport. Taxis are easy to find, but they’re the most expensive way to get about so are best for short journeys.
Tenerife uses the Euro. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most touristy spots like hotels, restaurants and shopping centres, but it’s always handy to carry some cash for local markets and smaller, family-run places.
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Tenerife travel advice
Passports and Visas
British citizens don’t need a visa to enter Spain but must have a valid passport. You can check your passport’s valid for Spain using our handy tool. For the most up-to-date passport and visa info, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements.
Health and safety
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover you while you’re away. If you’re travelling to the EU and you apply for a card now, you’ll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC. This entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Spanish nationals. It won’t, however, cover you for medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or non-urgent treatment. Visit www.nhs.uk/ehic for full details on what it covers. You do not need to apply for a GHIC if you already have an EHIC. Your EHIC remains valid in the EU until it expires. An EHIC or GHIC is free of charge. For the latest health and safety information, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/health
