Things to do in Tenerife: 7 proven Tips you shouldn't miss

Looking for proven Things to do in Tenerife? Anyone who has ever visited the Canary Island of Tenerife will surely agree with me that this destination is perfect for taking trips. No matter what time of year you decide to visit the island, you can be sure that your Tenerife vacation won’t disappoint.

Which trips in Tenerife shouldn’t you miss? I’d like to say none, but you would need to stay here for at least several months to explore the entire island, and even that might not be enough. So let yourself be inspired by our journeys through local beaches, mountains, and other attractions.

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Tenerife

With its area of 2034 km², Tenerife is not only the largest of the seven Canary Islands, but it’s also the most populated among all Spanish islands. Although politically part of Spain, it’s about 320 kilometers from the Moroccan coast. And as if that weren’t enough superlatives for this island, here you’ll also find Spain’s highest mountain, Pico de Teide, with an elevation of 3718 m, located inland.

Tenerife is largely mountainous, especially in its central part. The entire area around Pico de Teide has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007 and is part of Teide National Park.

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Tenerife, Teide National Park / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

Tenerife, Teide National Park / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

However, this isn’t the only mountain range in Tenerife. In the northeast of the island, you can admire the Anaga mountains, Adeje in the south, and Teno in the west. Regarding Tenerife’s administrative division, the island consists of 31 municipalities, and each one has something truly special to offer us travelers.

So if you think you can discover all the beautiful places for trips in Tenerife that this largest of the Canary Islands offers during your one-week vacation, I must disappoint you. But don’t let that throw you off the relaxed atmosphere that Tenerife has, and just go on the trips that capture your heart. Like these ones did for us:

More inspiration:

Trips to Tenerife / Things to do in Tenerife

1. Teide National Park with Spain’s highest mountain Pico de Teide

Many travelers choose Tenerife for their vacation specifically for the trek to Spain’s highest peak, Pico de Teide. The most challenging part of the ascent can be conquered by cable car for those who aren’t trained, from where you’ll need a permit to climb to the crater. The permit is free, but it’s best to have it arranged several weeks in advance (Pico de Teide permit reservation).

This isn’t necessary if you go on a two-day trek with overnight stay at a mountain lodge, for example at Altavista, from where you’ll continue in the morning and can get above the cable car summit before 9 AM. Personally, we saved the trip to the peak for our next visit to Tenerife and this time enjoyed the viewpoints and smaller treks literally around the entire Teide National Park.

Tenerife, Teide National Park / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

That day we were lucky to have beautiful and warm weather, so we decided to return from the park through another breathtaking place, via the highland road and the village of Masca.

2. Masca – Tenerife’s Machu Picchu / Things to do in Tenerife

If you thought the road through Teide National Park was winding, then you haven’t driven through the narrow mountain serpentines to the village of Masca, which you’ll find in the northwest of Tenerife. Prepare for an adrenaline-filled drive and trust that you won’t regret this trip.

Before I read about this Tenerife Machu Picchu in the guidebook that was waiting for us in the apartment, I had no idea such a breathtaking place existed on Tenerife. Yet the trek you can take from Masca village through its gorge to the coast ranks among the top day trips on the island.

Tenerife, Masca / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

Our enthusiasm for Masca village was greatly enhanced by the almost clear weather. However, light jackets came in handy at the top of the road. In the village itself, walk all the way to the mentioned mountain and try the authentic homemade cactus ice cream. I tried it for the first time and hope it won’t be the last.

This place will enchant you not only with its breathtaking mountain views and cultivated green slopes with palm trees. Masca can completely immerse you in its mysterious atmosphere. In the evening, we were almost alone here, but I can imagine that during the day and on weekends, this place pulses with crowds of tourists.

My fellow traveler and I wish you that you don’t encounter any buses on your way, or at most one, as we were fortunate to experience. If you don’t dare to drive the narrow serpentines in a rental car, there’s also a regular bus service to the village.

3. Anaga Mountains and the wild coast around Taganana and Benijo

The northern tip of Tenerife is a place that will capture your heart, whether you want it to or not. Your journey through the Anaga mountains will lead from the roundabout before Playa de Las Teresitas, from San Andrés town to Taganana. You’ll pass under the highest point of your journey through a short tunnel, after which the weather can change 180 degrees.

Actually, while climbing through Parque Rural de Anaga, we were considering whether we should turn back and return here in nice weather. Fortunately, we weren’t discouraged by the clouds that were sitting over Tenerife’s capital at that moment, and as a reward, the other side of the mountains and the coast below Taganana welcomed us with pleasant partly cloudy skies.

Things to do in Tenerife

Tenerife, Playa de Benijo / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

There will be countless places you can admire during your trip to northern Tenerife. Among other things, we recommend coming here hungry and treating yourself to even two visits to local coastal restaurants during the day, where they’ll serve you the freshest seafood. Judging by the number of cars and tourists, besides Taganana village itself, Roque de las Bodegas is also a popular stop on the way to Benijo beach.

A rocky promontory with a short scenic trail around it where you can choose from several traditional restaurants right by the road. Once you’ve satisfied all your culinary desires, you can spread out a blanket on the beach and enjoy your afternoon siesta to the sound of ocean waves. Local surfers have their vans parked here and look out for suitable surfing opportunities throughout the day.

Tenerife, Playa de Benijo / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

Tenerife, Taganana / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

We consider the stunning Benijo beach and breathtaking views of the dramatic coastline to be the golden highlight of this trip, which you can admire even if you set out from the upper parking lot for treks behind the rocks, where cars are already prohibited. We parked along this road, just before the prohibition sign, and were a bit worried that the beach would be crowded according to the number of cars. However, it wasn’t that bad. Even on a Friday afternoon, we could find a spot just for us at the end of the beach.

You’ll have more than 100 steps down to the beach (and the same back up), but that shouldn’t discourage you, because once you descend to Benijo beach, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a completely different world. This place reminded me of the wild cliff beaches of New Zealand.

This place was among our favorite trips in Tenerife during our first visit to the island. However, now the access to Benijo beach is reportedly damaged, so we’ll hope that access to the beach will be safely restored again.

Taganana, Tenerife / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

Tenerife, Playa de Benijo / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

4. Hippie Beach Playa de Diego Hernández / Things to do in Tenerife

Natural beaches rank among our favorite trips in Tenerife. We almost skipped this beach during our journey around Tenerife, which ultimately would have been a big mistake. If you want to have a complete overview of beaches on this largest of the Canary Islands, you shouldn’t skip Playa de Diego Hernández either. As you might have read several times in my posts, this beach is called hippie beach, and locals know it by this name too.

Local alternative lifestyle enthusiasts have their permanent shelters built on the cliffs around this place and on the beach itself. Spanish youth also come here, spending entire weekends camping. Similar to what happens at Benijo beach.

Playa de Diego Hernández / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

The beach is very diverse and you can swim pretty much along its entire length. Besides that, several tour boats arrive during the day, parking near the shore and transforming into party boats in the evening. We claimed a piece of beach behind the cliffs, created by the low tide, all to ourselves and didn’t leave until just before sunset, as this place captivated us. This beach definitely became one of our favorite trips in Tenerife.

If you look up Playa de Diego Hernández on maps, you’ll find that no road leads here. You’ll have to either park at the large free parking lot in La Caleta, or leave your car along the road by the golf course and walk down to the beach around the fence, just as we did.

Playa de Diego Hernández / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

5. The Most Famous Beach in Tenerife – Playa de Las Teresitas / Things to do in Tenerife

If you don’t have a photo from the viewpoint above Playa de Las Teresitas, it’s like you haven’t been to Tenerife. At least that’s the impression you’ll get from most visitors to this island. The beach, made of yellow sand imported from Africa, is a popular destination not only for residents of the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife, from which it’s only a few minutes away by car.

You’ll find several beach bars here, plenty of free parking spaces, public toilets, and most importantly, swimming in calm waters, thanks to the breakwaters. Playa de Las Teresitas is thus among the main trips in Tenerife. This beach is especially popular among families with children.

Playa de Las Teresitas, Tenerife / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

To reach the viewpoint from which those popular photos of Playa de Las Teresitas originate, drive up the road leading from the roundabout just before the beach turn-off, and you definitely won’t miss it. You might just have to circle around in your car for a while until you manage to park at that viewpoint. No matter which guidebook you read about the island, this place will definitely be included among the trips in Tenerife.

We were lucky right away, but what we weren’t lucky with was beautiful sunny weather. We drove through this area three times during our stay, and each time there was partly cloudy, rather overcast weather. Although almost everywhere else on the island was nearly clear at the time.

6. El Medano – for all wind water sports enthusiasts / Things to do in Tenerife

El Medano and its immediate surroundings are a paradise for all wind water sports enthusiasts. It’s also a favorite refuge for our friends from TenerifeSurf.cz. We personally had the opportunity to get closer to Cabezo beach, which according to Tomáš is ideal for surfing beginners. Karel had his first surfing lesson with Tom scheduled for the evening hours and the second one in the morning. We thus had the chance to discover the beauty of this place in many of its forms.

El Cabezo, Tenerife, surfing lesson from TenerifeSurf.cz / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová, dovolenkarka

If it’s also your dream to learn to surf or windsurf, we happily recommend contacting Tomáš from TenerifeSurf.cz directly, who will be a patient instructor during your wave-riding beginnings and will also provide you with all the necessary equipment, including a wetsuit. As they write about themselves on their website, Jana and Tomáš are your Czech connection in Tenerife, so why not take advantage of that?!

7. El Poris – Things to do in Tenerife

Just about 15 minutes by car from the airport, you can stay in one of the most picturesque original fishing villages, El Poris (Poris de Abona), in apartments from TenerifeSurf.cz. If available, we recommend booking apartments with a terrace and direct ocean views. You can read more about our stay and accommodation in Tenerife in my post here.

A great advantage of this place is certainly the fact that you won’t find any hotel complexes here. So you don’t have to worry about large crowds of tourists and you’ll enjoy your vacation in El Poris in harmony with the traditional Tenerife atmosphere. Including the stunning dramatic coastline, along which you can walk all the way to the lighthouse (Punta de Abona). If Jana and Tomáš should already have all accommodations occupied, I still recommend including El Poris among your trips to Tenerife.

Vacation in Tenerife in El Poris / Playa Grande / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová

Vacation in Tenerife in El Poris / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová

However, if you need to stay somewhere else during your vacation in Tenerife, don’t despair and plan a day trip to El Poris. In addition to the walks along the coast, you can also enjoy two sandy beaches. The first, smaller one, is located right on the promenade, where you will also find two nice bars. The second one, Playa Grande, is a half-hour walk from the center of El Poris, or you can drive there directly.

And what Things to do in Tenerife will entice you during your vacation?

Tenerife with Tenerife Surf

Planning a vacation on the island of Tenerife? Get inspired on the pages of our friends from Tenerife Surf:

More photo inspiration can be found in the aforementioned previous post here.

Vacation in Tenerife in El Poris / wild pebble beaches on the way to the lighthouse / photo: Petra Švehlová Stowasserová

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Things to do in Tenerife: 7 Proven tips you shouldn’t miss

Tenerife

Trips to Tenerife / Things to do in Tenerife

1. Teide National Park with Spain’s highest mountain Pico de Teide

2. Masca – Tenerife’s Machu Picchu / Things to do in Tenerife

3. Anaga Mountains and the wild coast around Taganana and Benijo

4. Hippie Beach Playa de Diego Hernández / Things to do in Tenerife

5. The Most Famous Beach in Tenerife – Playa de Las Teresitas / Things to do in Tenerife

6. El Medano – for all wind water sports enthusiasts / Things to do in Tenerife

7. El Poris – Things to do in Tenerife

Tenerife with Tenerife Surf