7 of the Best Places to Visit in Tenerife

Last Updated June 20, 2022||Spain

Tenerife has the perfect combination of beaches, nature, relaxation, nightlife, and everything else you can expect from the Canary Islands. Even though Tenerife is a popular destination spot for tourists there are still plenty of less known places to see on the island. So that’s why we want to share with you the best places to visit in Tenerife.

If you love hiking, good vibes, and some off-the-beaten-path places to visit then you’re going to love this list of the 7 best places to visit in Tenerife. The island may not seem that big but there is SO much to do and see in Tenerife.

In each location mentioned in this blog post, you will learn why we love it and what there’s to do! A lot of the activities are outdoorsy, fun, and a little adventurous! We hope it inspires you to get out of the resorts and cities and explore a bit of Tenerife’s countryside!

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Table of Contents

Explore the 7 Best Places to Visit in Tenerife

Know before you go:

✈️ Book your flights to Tenerife via KAYAK for the best deals
🚘 Rent your car through TopCar from either airport
👩🏼‍⚕️ Insurance: Make sure your adventures are insured with SafetyWing
📸 Bring your camera for some bomb photos around the island

How to get around Tenerife

One of the best things about Tenerife is that everything is close by and you don’t need to travel far distances to get from National Parks to Volcanoes then down to beaches and for a nice dinner.

Even though there is public transport around the island the most convenient way and best bank for your buck is to rent a car for your trip so you’re not dependent on transport all over the island.

That’s why we recommend hiring a car! You can book a rental car in Tenerife straight from TopCar offices that are located in Tenerife South and North Airport. That way you have a car from the second you leave the airport and can get everywhere around the island with it until you return it when you leave.

We recommend TopCar because they are the first car hire in Spain to obtain the “Safe Tourism Certified” seal granted by the ICTE (Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality), which certifies that we have successfully implemented all the security measures and protocols that guarantee a comfortable and safe rental.

There’s also something fun about cruising around the coast of this beautiful island with the windows down and enjoying the warm air. True vacation feel!

#1 Visit the Anaga National Forest

The Anaga National Forest in Tenerife is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes and hiking on the whole island. The landscape and nature is so different from the more volcanic feel the rest of the island has. The Anaga National Forest is full of lush green forest and gives you these Peru vibes the way the mountains are formed throughout this National Park.

It’s not hard to get to by car either even though it’s at the most northeastern point of the island. There are plenty of spots to park the car and enjoy a nice hike. Cruz del Carmen to Chinamada is one of our favourite hikes in Anaga National Forest!

If you’re looking to see a part of Tenerife that is pure wilderness and pure adventure this is the best place to go. It feels so isolated from the rest of the island but it really isn’t that far of a drive from Santa Cruz Tenerife or Puerto de la Cruz

#2 Visit Santiago Del Teide

Santiago Del Teide is this cute little town on the west side of Tenerife. It’s also easy to get there by car from anywhere on the island. If you’re coming from the south, you’ll have a highway most of the way there. Coming from the north you’ll find more small and windy roads so be prepared for that!

You may be wondering what’s to see in the small town of Santiago Del Teide. It’s the hike that starts from there that really brought us to the town. The Tamaimo Guama Loop Trail starts right by the church in Santiago Del Teide and brings you up into the mountains above the city.

Once you’re up in the mountains you’ll get views of the city below and also the beautiful west coast of Tenerife. In the distance, you’ll see the iconic Mount Teide.

This is another beautiful spot to explore, get outdoors, and enjoy some of the less-visited places in Tenerife. You can easily spend a full afternoon doing the hike and enjoying a nice snack or drink afterwards in Santiago Del Teide.

#3 Relax down in El Médano

El Médano is close to Tenerife South Airport and a popular tourist destination in Tenerife and for good reason. The amount of restaurants, ice cream shops, water sports, and hiking there is to do in and around El Médano is incredible.

El Médano is a place you’ll never get bored of. You can try out kitesurfing in El Médano or hike to the top of Montaña Roja where you have the best view from El Médano. Some people even say it’s the best sunset spot in Tenerife!

On top of all that you have what every great tourist destination has, delicious restaurants, shops, and little touristy shops to visit. El Médano is always buzzing with people and is a great place to go if you want to be by the beach with a nice cold drink and enjoy the warm weather that the south side of Tenerife is known for!

#4 Enjoy some wine at Casa del Vino

This is hands down one of the best places to visit in Tenerife and if you’re staying in Puerto de la Cruz you can take a bus within walking distance to Casa del Vino.

This beautiful locally run winery up in the hills of Tenerife is an awesome place to spend a sunny afternoon sipping and enjoying delicious Tenerife wine. Casa del Vino has an amazing courtyard where you can sip and enjoy cheese and wine under the Tenerife sun.

If you’re feeling hungry or want something more you can also check out their restaurant that overlooks the coast and the ocean. Even though we only enjoyed the courtyard area, the restaurant was busy and packed with locals enjoying themselves.

Lastly, they have a small section of the vineyard where you can walk around and see the different rows of grapes and information about them. If you enjoy the wine enough there’s a shop inside their winery where you can purchase all the different local wines in the area!

It really is one of the best places to visit in Tenerife and it is quite well known in the community but as a tourist, you wouldn’t think of going to visit it. Take a bus or have a driver who is not drinking and enjoy some wine overlooking the ocean!

#5 Explore Parque Nacional del Teide

Parque Nacional del Teide is also a very unique place on the highland. This national park is right in the center of the island and also the highest part of Tenerife and, of course, the top of Mount Teide is the highest part of the whole island.

The landscape is incredible though. You’re so high above everything else and it really feels volcanic and almost otherworldly. There aren’t as many trees and plants as the rest of the island and it’s mostly just volcanic rock everywhere. It feels like you’re in a desert or on Mars!

One thing we want to mention when visiting Parque Nacional del Teide is to hike Mount Guajara instead of Mount Teide. Mount Guajara is a lot less touristy and from the top of Mount Guajara, you can see the most incredible view of Mount Teide.

Even though you won’t hike the tallest point in Tenerife you’ll get the best view of it instead. Plus the Mount Guajara hike is a beautiful loop trail and it’s hard but not too hard.

This part of the island is awesome and it’s worth taking a car rental to the top of Tenerife and exploring this national park that overlooks the whole island.

#6 Visit Costa de El Sauzal

This is more of a local gem since it’s a bit out of every city in Tenerife and requires a car to get to but this coastal area between Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife is absolutely beautiful.

You can park your car next to Mirador de Las Breñas where this coastal walk begins. There’s more of a hiking trail that is fairly steep but not too long that will bring you down to Rojas where you’ll see these man-made caves formed into the rock cliffs.

There are actually quite a few of these man-made caves along the coast. You’ll find locals fishing, scuba diving, and suntanning on the beach on the coastline next to Rojas.

Once you’ve explored enough there are some nice restaurants and cafes a short drive from the Mirador de Las Breñas. Tea & Chocolat, Terrazas del Sauzal, and Casa Odón are all great options nearby.

It’s much more of a local area than lots of places in Tenerife and that’s why it’s really fun to come and explore these less visited and more authentic parts of the island.

#7 Puerto de la Cruz

Last but certainly not least is the city of Puerto de la Cruz which is on the north side of the island not too far from Tenerife North Airport. It’s one of the best places to visit in Tenerife because of its proximity to everything and we love the fact that it has a more jungle and forest feel to it.

There are plenty of things to do in Puerto de la Cruz including some amazing coastal walks like the Rambla de Castro Coastal trail which highlights some of the best coastlines around Tenerife.

The black sand beach right downtown Puerto de la Cruz is another highlight of the city. If you’re looking for some city life that has a spice of adventure to it then this city on the north of Tenerife is the perfect place to spend some time.

Recap of all the best places to visit in Tenerife

As you can see Tenerife has a lot to offer from national parks, coastal towns and cities, to the beautiful beaches that Tenerife is known for. A few of the places mentioned are standard areas to explore in Tenerife but a few are less known as tourist spots and that’s where the real fun lies.

We hope you enjoy hiking the mountains and maybe even volcanoes in Tenerife. You also need to relax and enjoy the good vibes and relaxed atmosphere you can find everywhere around the island.

Tenerife is an incredible island and one that’s extremely fun to explore! We hope you have the best time travelling around this relatively small island and get a chance to see lots of the highlights all around Tenerife.

If you have questions about any of the hikes, how to rent a car through TopCar, or anything else Tenerife related please feel free to DM us on Instagram or comment on this post!

Have fun!

Dom & Jo
Red White Adventures