Ask ten people what to do in Tenerife, and you’ll get ten completely different answers and they’ll all be right. Some come for the beaches, others for volcanoes, hiking, or nightlife that runs till sunrise. That’s the beauty of Tenerife: one island, countless moods.
Whether you want to explore the lunar landscapes of Teide National Park, ride the slides of Siam Park, or dance at Carnival in Santa Cruz, this guide covers the best things to see and do across the island.
Table of Contents
- Explore Teide National Park – Tenerife’s Natural Heart
- Splash, Surf and Scream at Siam Park
- Wander Santa Cruz and Experience Carnival
- Relax or Party in the South
- The Beaches
- The Strip
- Discover Puerto de la Cruz and the North
- Cruise Ports and Day Trips
- Hidden Corners Worth Finding
- Festivals, Nature and Nightlife in Balance
- Planning Your Stay
- Why Tenerife Always Feels New
Explore Teide National Park – Tenerife’s Natural Heart
If you do only one thing in Tenerife, make it Teide National Park. At its centre stands Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak at 3,718 metres. The landscape looks more like Mars than Earth: lava fields, black rock and vast silence.
You can hike to the summit (with a permit) or take the cable car partway up for sweeping views across the Canary Islands. Sunset here is spectacular, and the stargazing at night is world-class. The Teide Observatory attracts astronomers from across Europe, and guided tours are available year-round.
Bring layers, it can be 10 °C cooler up there than on the beach.
Splash, Surf and Scream at Siam Park
Wondering where in Tenerife is Siam Park? You’ll find it in Costa Adeje, on the island’s sunny south coast. It’s often voted the best waterpark in the world, and it’s easy to see why: Thai-themed temples, tropical landscaping and record-breaking slides like The Tower of Power: a near-vertical drop through a shark-filled aquarium tunnel.
Families love the lazy river and wave pool, while thrill-seekers line up for Dragon and Volcano. The park is open all year, with water heated to 24 °C. For practical details and tickets, see Siam Park Tenerife.
Wander Santa Cruz and Experience Carnival
Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is a vibrant port city where modern life meets island history. Start at the futuristic Auditorio de Tenerife, stroll through the old quarter, and explore Nuestra Señora de África market for local produce and Canarian cheese.
If you visit in February or early March, you’ll witness the famous Carnival of Tenerife, second only to Rio de Janeiro in scale and colour.
In 2025, the main parade (Coso Apoteosis) is expected around March 4, with events throughout late February. Costumes, live bands, street parties: the entire city transforms into one giant celebration.
Relax or Party in the South
If you’re staying in Tenerife South, there’s no shortage of things to do.
The Beaches
Playa del Duque in Costa Adeje is elegant and calm, perfect for couples. Playa de las Vistas and Playa de las Américas attract families and sun-seekers with wide sands and lively promenades.
The Strip
Curious where the Tenerife strip is? It runs through Playa de las Américas, a stretch of bars, clubs and live-music venues that keep the island awake until dawn. It’s part of why Tenerife has a reputation as a party island but only if you want it to be. Drive twenty minutes north and you’ll find quiet coves and family resorts that feel like a different world.
Discover Puerto de la Cruz and the North
The north offers a slower, more local experience. In Puerto de la Cruz, cobbled streets lead to ocean pools at Lago Martiánez, designed by César Manrique. Cafés overlook the surf, and the pace of life feels refreshingly unhurried.
Nearby, La Orotava charms with its traditional Canarian balconies and small museums, while La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage city, blends colonial architecture with creative energy.
Nature lovers can explore Anaga Rural Park, where laurel forests and cliffside trails drop toward turquoise coves.
Cruise Ports and Day Trips
Cruise ships dock at Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port, within walking distance of downtown cafés and shops. Passengers have about eight hours onshore, enough to visit Teide National Park, the La Laguna old town, or the beaches of Las Teresitas nearby.
Some itineraries stop at Los Cristianos in the south, where ferries connect to La Gomera. Local operators offer half-day tours tailored to cruise schedules, with pick-up right at the terminal.
Hidden Corners Worth Finding
- Masca Valley – a remote village tucked between deep ravines. The drive is spectacular; the views even more so.
- Candelaria – spiritual centre of the island with statues of Guanche kings by the sea.
- Garachico – a historic town rebuilt after a 1706 lava flow, now home to natural rock pools.
- El Médano – bohemian surf town near the airport, ideal for windsurfing.
These quieter places show a different side of Tenerife, one shaped more by nature and tradition than tourism.
Festivals, Nature and Nightlife in Balance
Tenerife’s calendar never really slows down. Beyond Carnival, there’s Corpus Christi in La Orotava, with carpets of coloured sand laid through the streets, and summer music festivals on the beach.
By day, you can hike volcanic trails, whale-watch off Los Gigantes, or dive among shipwrecks. By night, choose between craft-beer bars in La Laguna or open-air beach clubs in Costa Adeje.
That mix, calm and chaos, culture and fun, is what keeps travellers coming back.
Planning Your Stay
If you’re mapping out your trip, our detailed guides can help:
Tenerife may be known for its beaches, but its real strength lies in contrast: between fire and sea, fiestas and silence, energy and ease.
Why Tenerife Always Feels New
After a decade of exploring, I still find parts of the island that surprise me. Maybe it’s a new hiking trail through lava fields, or a street-corner café in La Laguna playing jazz on a Tuesday night.
That’s the essence of Tenerife: it invites you to pick your own version of paradise. Whether you come for the thrill rides, the Carnival costumes, the volcanic peaks or the peace of a small fishing village, there’s always more to see and somehow, always another reason to return.
