Tenerife is known for its eternal spring, waves and many resorts, but what are some unusual things to do in Tenerife? Here is a complete guide to help you plan your Tenerife itinerary 7 days, from the car rental, accommodation and mind-blowing nature spots.
So, what are the best places to visit in Tenerife? What can you expect from visiting Tenerife? Tenerife is part of the Canary Islands, located off Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean. This spanish volcanic island is dominated by Mount Teide, a dormant volcano that is highest peak of Spain.
You might have already traveled to other places where volcanoes dominate the landscapes, like Iceland or the north of Bali, but Tenerife is like nowhere else. As the Teide is at the exact middle of the island, you can easily divide the island in 5 parts to get around : north, west, south, east and center.
They’re all worth visiting, except the east as it’s very industrial, charmless and windy. On the other hand, the north has insane nature, while the west and the south have the best nightlife as well as impressive cliffs, natural pools and nice beaches.
Before getting into the detailed Tenerife itinerary, here are some useful tips about how to get around the island, when and how long you should stay and how much the daily life will cost you. If you already know all that, go straight to the Tenerife 1 week itinerary.
Visiting Tenerife Covid
If you live in the same world as we do, you must wonder : is it safe to go to Tenerife at the moment? Can I travel to Tenerife without quarantine? We went to Tenerife from France at the end of May and came back at the beginning of June 2021.
At that time, we needed to do a PCR test 72h before the flight and fill out a certificate. The same process had to be done on the way back to France, but no quarantine neither in Tenerife nor in France. The rules to visiting Tenerife can change at any time so you must check before leaving.
How many days in Tenerife?
To go all around the island, the perfect duration of stay in Tenerife is one week. That’s precisely the complete loop itinerary we’re about to share with you in this article. If you want to chill a bit, have beach or pool days and go at your own pace, you might plan a Tenerife itinerary 10 days. If you don’t have many days off, I would recommend staying at least 5 days to make the most of your trip.
How to travel in Tenerife?
Getting around Tenerife is very easy because the main road, which is a kind of highway, goes all around Tenerife. It runs along the coast and serves all the small towns. The volcano is accessible from every pole of the island.
Car Rental Tenerife
Your first option, and the most practical one, is to rent a car if you have a license. The best value for money car rental company is Cicar Tenerife. We rented an Opel Astra for 12 days and only paid 185€. So it’s around 15€ per day, and you can split the price by the number of people in the car. This price also includes a complete insurance coverage. The car wasn’t very powerful but it was okay, even on moutain roads like the Tenerife Masca route, Mount Teide or Anaga National Park.
The roads in Tenerife are exceptionally well maintained, which makes driving in Tenerife quite easy. They have the same laws as continental Spain, and most of Europe. You can drive up to 120 km/h on the highway, 90 km/h on single carriageway roads and 50 km/h in urban areas.
There are a few things you should watch out for though. Locals hardly ever use the central lane of roundabouts. They are not used to changing lanes when someone is trying to get onto the highway either. Other than that, and the many confusing traffic lights, you should be totally fine!
Tenerife Bus
But if you don’t drive, how to get around Tenerife without a car? You can definitely use the bus services to visit all the main nature and attraction spots. To learn more about the Tenerife bus route map, I recommend checking out this Tenerife by bus guide. Here’s the Tenerife road trip map of the itinerary we’re about to share with you.
Tenerife when to visit?
What’s the weather in Tenerife? What’s very great about this island is that you can go at any time of the year. The eternal spring lasts pretty much all year long, the hottest months being June, July, August and September. If you want to avoid the tourists, you can go every other month and enjoy a good weather too, between 20 and 30°C.
Is Tenerife expensive?
Tenerife is not too expensive, it is backpacker or digital nomads friendly. The average price of an hotel room for two is 35€, a meal is 9-15€ and you can find a pint of beer for 1€. Renting a car costs 15€ per day and the price of fuel is between 0.96 to 1.5 per liter. Overall, your Tenerife trip cost won’t be too high if you pay a little attention.
Is Tenerife safe for tourists?
Yes, Tenerife is very safe for travelers. As in any other destinations, you should be careful about your bag, phone and wallet in touristic areas. For instance, do not leave your trendy 1000€ camera in the passenger seat as you exit the car. You just need to follow the same basic rules and respect the locals just like you do at home.
Tenerife Itinerary : loop road trip for a perfect week
Here is the perfect Tenerife one week itinerary, on which we worked really hard before going. We refined it after our own trip to make it even more effective. We drove around 1000 kilometers during our 12 days there but could’ve done much less with a little bit more of organization. That’s why we’ve changed this Tenerife itinerary a bit to make it as optimal as possible for you.
Tenerife route planner : first day
This first day is all about Anaga National Park, the wildest area of the island. It’s a one hour drive from Tenerife South Airport, and 22 minutes from Tenerife Norte Airport. If you come from the south, you could eventually stop on the road but the east of Tenerife is very industrial and none of the spots we went to were really worth it. So we highly recommend starting your trip with a wonderful national park instead!
Mirador de Jardina
The first spot you can stop at in Anaga National Park is the Mirador de Jardina. It serves up lovely views over the valley with colorful houses. When it’s not too cloudy, you can even see Mount Teide in the background.
About that, here’s something you should be aware of when visiting north Tenerife. The weather is very humid, and even more so in the park. You must therefore cover yourself with a jacket. But the positive point is that the vegetation is a lush greenery paradise.
Trail of the Senses
The trail of the Senses starts at the parking of the Mirador de Jardina as well, which is quite convenient. It is the best ballad to feel the atmosphere of this misty place, where the trees on each side of the path meet above our heads!
Along the way, you will find signs representing each of the five senses experienced by humans. It is a linear circuit so you’ll need to walk on the same path again on your way back. It’s a very nice and short walk, which didn’t take us more than one hour.
Roque de Taborno
Here is the second trek of the day. You’ll need to drive a bit until the small city of Taborno and park wherever you can. The trek starts at the right of the church and takes about 2 hours. You’ll get to see beautiful mountain and ocean views while walking on a small path in a kind of jungle. You need to keep going until seeing the Roque de Taborno. It’s an easy trek and the view is so worth it!
👀 The Anaga National Park is so full of incredible flora and fauna that it is worth exploring with a local guide. We recommend this small group guided hiking tour in Anaga Rural Park to discover the hidden gems of this natural wonder.
Restaurante Los Roques casa Pepe
On your way to Playa de Benjito at the end of Anaga National Park, I highly recommend stopping to eat at the restaurant Los Roques casa Pepe, right next to the ocean. You’ll eat fresh fish, caught right next to the restaurant.
Another plus side is that there’s a little walk at Roque de Las Bodegas, where you’ll see the powerful waves and landscapes from closer after a good meal. It’s among the quick and funny things to do in Tenerife randomly if you’re nearby.
Playa de Benijo
There are many black sand beaches in Tenerife, but Playa de Benijo is one of the most beautiful ones. First, the path to get there is very lovely and the view of the large black rock formations when you arrive is quite impressive. Definitely a place to add to your itinerary for Tenerife.
If you have some time and energy left, here are some other activities to do in the area : Punta del Hidalgo viewpoint and lighthouse, Jover Piscina Natural, and another one of the many trails of the national park.
Where to stay in north Tenerife?
You can choose to stay in San Cristobal de la Laguna, Punta Del Hidalgo or Puerto de la Cruz. We personally choose Puerto de La Cruz, which is a bit further but it saves you time for the second day. Choose to stay in the city that is best for your plans.
Here are two hotels we highly recommend in Puerto de la Cruz :
- Hotel Monopol : very well located in the city center, we just struggled to find a parking spot. It has a nice terrace and beautiful views. A double room costs $57 USD per night.
- La Carabela : a bargain in an old-fashioned hotel with good amenities, like a huge swimming pool and full private studio to yourself. It is one kilometer from the city center, so it is easy to park near the hotel and walk to the city center.
Tenerife road trip : second day
During the second day of your road trip around Tenerife, you’ll explore the nature of north Tenerife even more in the area of Puerto de La Cruz. Among the Tenerife route hike and the exploration of the cute colorful city of Puerto de La Cruz, you’ll get to see very unique views.
Rambla de Castro
The Rambla de Castro walk is a 9 kilometers coastal trek with breathtaking rock formations and ocean views. It is a real playground for photographers, between palm trees, large lizards and spectacular views. At some point, you’ll see the ruins of la Gordejuela. It really is one of the best things to do in Tenerife if you’re the nature explorer kind.
The walk can be divided in three parts. The first part is the costal path surrounding the two big rocks of the beach, and the ruins of la Gordejuela. Then, you’ll walk through a residential area for a bit and finally, you’ll enter a palm tree heaven.
Mi Guachinche Casa Pedro
This guachinche is by far the best restaurant we tried on the island. It’s a 15 minute walk from Hotel Maritim, where you started the trek, and a 5 minute car ride. The food was typical, so yummy, and incredibly well presented for how cheap it was. Most plates were less than 10€.
And there is an extra good point : guachinche are typical Canary Island restaurants, created by local winemakers. They wanted to serve their wines directly to customers without the help of supermarkets.
They created guachinches all around Tenerife and started to cook typical food made with local products as well. These are the absolute best restaurants to eat at. It’s so good, cheap, and will make you practice your spanish with real locals!
Puerto de La Cruz
Puerto de La Cruz is the largest city of the Canary Islands, and a must visit. The black sand beaches with powerful waves make it a good surf location. You can enjoy a pleasant walk on the coastal path, which is home to many bars, restaurants and casinos. This path leads to the old town.
In the old town, you can find La Ranilla, which is a neighborhood of small streets with colorful houses, street art and adorable little squares. It’s also the best place to eat in Puerto de la Cruz. I recommend the Calle Cruz Verde, and particularly the VULK Brewery.
Among the things to do in Tenerife Puerto de la Cruz a little bit outside of the city center, you can have a look at the colorful stairs of Agatha Christie, where each step represents one of the author’s books. That’s one of the fun things to do in Tenerife.
Road trip in Tenerife : third day
The third day of this Tenerife road trip blog is all about the insane nature of Masca Valley, seen from the top of the mountains and from the Atlantic ocean. Take your hat, put a good liter of sunscreen on and go!
Masca Valley
Visiting Masca Tenerife is an absolute must do. You literally cannot leave the island if you haven’t been there. The moutains of Masca are both gorgeous and dizzying. The road to get to the final spot is part of the spot itself, the views are insane. But keep your eyes on the road, mountains roads can get tricky when cars pass each other!
I recommend stopping at the viewpoint parking at the top of the mountain, and then going down to the other parking to eat at a restaurant of the valley and take pictures of the big rock that gives Machu Picchu vibes.
Piscina Natural Los Gigantes
After nice mountain views, you can head to the piscina natural of Los Gigantes. This one offers a panoramic view of the cliffs and the ocean from above. It is protected by a concrete wall which stops the majority of the waves.
The concept is so well thought because most of the natural pools Tenerife are quite dangerous because of the tides. But obviously, do not go there in stormy weather.
Whale watching Tenerife
Who has never dreamed of seeing wild dolphins in the ocean? Well, this childhood dream can become true in Tenerife. Boat companies like the Masca Express (El Flipper Uno) offer 2 hour sea tour where you can see small whales, turtles and dolphins, for as little as $23 USD (20€). You will also have insane views on Los Gigantes, and swim at Masca Valley.
I already had a similar experience during my visit of the North of Bali, but there were a lot of boats (too many). This time, it was done quite ethically. There were only two boats when we went, and they didn’t go too close from the animals.
🐬 If you want to do the ethical tour we did, you can secure your spot in advance here : 2 hour sustainable dolphin & whale watching mini cruise.
Spend the night in Los Gigantes
In order not to spend useless hours in the car again like we did, you should try to stay in Los Gigantes for this third night. We have no place to recommend as we didn’t stay there, but there are many hotels there and it looks pretty touristic so it shouldn’t be much of an issue. For dinner, there are nice restaurants next to Cueva El Tacon, tomorrow’s first spot. One of them is called La Pergola, it looked quite nice!
Tenerife road trip itinerary : fourth day
For the fourth day of this Tenerife itinerary, you’ll get both wet and blessed! Among insane natural pools, caves and mad luxury, you will quickly fall in love with the west coast of Tenerife.
Cueva del Tancón
This is the most impressive natural pool of this Tenerife itinerary to me. It is divided in two parts. On one side, there is a big hole where water goes up and down very quickly like in a washing machine.
On the other side, there’s a cave with incredibly blue water. Some people swim in it, but the current is very strong and dangerous. If you really want to have a swim there, we would recommend going at the lowest tide possible.
What is the safest way down? Park where maps locate it, walk in front of the restaurant La Pergola and the other ones until the very end of the playground. Then, you’ll be able to go down on the rocks and access this incredible location.
Cueva la Vaca
If you still have some time left before lunch, you can head to Cueva La Vaca, near Playa de la Arena. We didn’t explore the cave but from what I’ve seen online, it looks quite impressive. Ask the locals for advice!
Taberna Marinera Agua y Sal
This restaurant, in Playa de San Juan, is a must go if you life sea food. Everything is fresh, and you literally go around in the restaurant and choose the fish you’d like to eat. The location is quite touristy too, it’s ideal for holidays.
Ritz Carlton Abama
Before heading to your wonderful hotel in Abama where you’ll spend the rest of the day and night, you can stop at the other famous luxury hotel of this island, the Ritz Carlton Tenerife. Its red architecture is like nowhere else.
Royal River Luxury Hotel
Where to sleep in Adeje? Well, you won’t have to look for too long because there’s literally one of the most unreal resorts of the planet there. Looking for romantic things to do in Tenerife? Search no more! The Royal River Hotel is the best place that could possibly come up in the results of a search like “things to do in Tenerife couples“.
The hotel is located in a very unique spot, among the mountains, a beautiful golf and the ocean. It is a complex of around 50 villas, all of which have their private pool. Each pool has a small passage allowing access to an artificial river in the middle of lush vegetation.
Sounds dreamy right? And so were the villa bohemian decoration style, the food and the other pools. You want to know more about it? Here is a full review on the Royal River Luxury Hotel.
Best things to do in Tenerife : fifth day
If you only stay one night at Royal River, you should definitely stay until the hour of the check out (12pm) to make the most of the wonderful amenities and breakfast. You can continue this Tenerife itinerary with a little climbing at the main attraction of the island, the famous Mount Teide, and a party at Costa Adeje.
Mount Teide
If you’re coming to Tenerife, I guess Mount Teide no longer needs an introduction. However, there are a few things to know when visiting Teide Tenerife. First, to access Mount Teide summit, you need to ask for a permit around two months in advance! There’s only around 200 people allowed by day at the pico del Teide to preserve the place. But don’t worry, you can still visit a good part of Mount Teide without having the permit.
Mount Teide cable car
So, how to visit Mount Teide? You can access Teide National Park in only 8 minutes thanks to the cable car. The upper station is at 3 555 meters above sea level. It is the point of departure of two beautiful treks you can do without any permit. There are unreal views on the lava desert all around the volcano, with flamboyant colors ranging from red to golden yellow. A round trip is around 37€ per person.
Pico Viejo Lookout
Once arrived at the Teide cable car station, you can either go left or right. Both trails offer breathtaking views of the entire island. The trail 12 leads to the Pico Viejo viewpoint and offers panoramic views of the whole south of Tenerife.
The color variations are crazy. It goes from a yellow ground that smells of sulfur, to a powerful reddish brown path. If the sky is clear, you’ll get to see the volcano caldera of Las Cañadas del Teide and the nearby island of La Gomera.
La Fortaleza Lookout
The second trail you should go to is The Trail 11, towards La Fortaleza viewpoint. It serves scenic views on the north of the island. As the climate of the north of Tenerife usually is a bit capricious, there’s a huge chance you’ll have your head above the clouds. It makes the place even more picturesque!
La Catedral viewpoint
You don’t need to take the cable car to access this last spot of your Mount Teide visit, but it’s definitely worth adding to your Tenerife itinerary. Before becoming a mix of lava flows and incredible rock formations, this Colorado-looking site was once a volcano. After the eruption, the magma cooled down and formed tight rocks. The erosion and weather destroyed the volcano but the landscape still stands out.
🔭 If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten path experience at Mount Teide, Viator offers unique stargazing tours with dinner and drinks. The pick up at your hotel is at 5PM or 7PM. Learn more about this once-in-a-lifetime stargazing tour here.
Roca Negra Sunset Club
After a day of exploring, how would you feel about relaxing and partying at an oceanfront club? Among the many things to do in Tenerife Costa Adeje, there’s the Roca Negra Sunset Club. As you can guess by its name, you can watch the sun set over the powerful waves crashing against the rocks. Drinks and food are also excellent and can be accompanied by a DJ set!
Things to do in Tenerife Spain : sixth day
On the sixth day of your Tenerife itinerary, you’ll get the explore the southern side of the island, where most of the resorts and tourists are concentrated. And we can easily guess why… Who would say no to a beautiful weather, natural pools and a very lively nightlife?
Piscinas Naturales Los Abrigos
You can start this day off with a swim in the wonderful natural pool of Los Abrigos. As usual, you have to be very careful if you really want to swim as the water rises and falls very quickly. I recommend going there at low tide! Even if you don’t put your swimsuit on, the place is absolutely fascinating and you won’t regret passing by. This region is also home to a community of hippies, who live in caves all around the coast.
Restaurante El Cordero
This Tenerife itinerary has been designed not to waste unnecessary time in the car, so I was very pleasantly surprised to come across this wonderful restaurant on the road. Definitely the most unique place we ate at in our entire stay.
It’s actually a guachinche that serves meat, fish and local dishes. Their wines are divine, we particularly recommend the fruity wine. What makes this place so atypical is the fact that the tables are in the middle of a banana plantation!
Playa Amarilla
After a delicious meal at El Cordero, you can head to a very close and sensational beach, called Playa Amarilla. This spot is unlike any other on this island because the waves have carved out unusual round shapes in the rock, in colors tinged with red and ocher orange. It made me think about the Colorado Provençal in France for a minute.
After exploring the insane rock formations, you can swim and snorkel in the sea on clear days. There’s also a nice beach bar where you can grab a drink and enjoy the good weather and wonderful views.
Arco de Tajao
This spot could have fit in the first day of your Tenerife itinerary if you arrived at the south airport. If you don’t have much time at the beginning of your trip, we would rather keep it for later to enjoy this spectacular spot at the end of the trip. After a bit of walking, you’ll get to this naturally formed arch. We wouldn’t recommend going at the top of it as it looks quite fragile.
Things to do in Tenerife Canary Islands : seventh day
For your last day, would you rather chill or go on an adventure to the closest island? I’ve got two options for you. You can go on a day trip to La Gomera Island and visit its insane nature, or go to the headquarter of most tourist and spend a chilly day at Playa de Las Americas or Los Cristianos.
La Gomera
Visiting La Gomera from Tenerife is 100% possible by ferry. It takes about one hour and the round trip costs 40€ per person. You can spend the morning visiting the cute city of San Sebastian de La Gomera and witness unreal views from the Mirador de Abrante.
On the afternoon, you can choose between the many hikes in the dense forest of Garajonay National Park. For instance, you can hike the Garajonay National Park of La Gomera. It looks like a mix of red rocks and the greenest trees you’ve ever seen. Here’s a complete guide of La Gomera.
Playa de Las Americas or Los Cristianos
On the last day of your Tenerife itinerary, you can also choose to relax and have fun in the funniest areas of the island : Playa de Las Americas or Los Cristianos. Both have good beaches, great weather and lots of bars, restaurants, clubs and souvenir shops. One of the best beach club is El Papagayo!
So, is Tenerife worth visiting?
Overall, Tenerife is 100% worth visiting because it both has the nature spots and the ton of bars, restaurants, resorts and attractions. You can mix both and choose the one you prefer, depending on the type of traveler you are. As you can see, the itinerary was designed for adventurers, who like to explore the nature and gods creation!
After working on it really hard and trying it ourselves, we truly believe this is the best road trip Tenerife if you stay one week on the island. We went during covid so a lot of party places were closed. If you want to party a bit more, feel free to add clubs the night and more beach times! If you want to explore even more, here are the best destinations to travel post Covid 19.
