Must-see attractions in Tenerife

  • Mount Teide Landscape

    Pico del Teide

    Tenerife

    The cable car provides the easiest way to get up to the peak of El Teide. The views are great – unless a big cloud is covering the peak, in which case you…

  • Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA)

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    The highlights of this dramatic contemporary building are the architecture, its three galleries and the stunning library downstairs. The galleries display…

  • Auditorio de Tenerife

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    This magnificent, soaring white wave of an auditorium was designed by the internationally renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, and delivers…

  • Jardín Botánico

    Puerto de la Cruz

    Established in 1788, this magnificent botanical garden has thousands of plant varieties from all over the world and is a delightful place to while away an…

  • Acantilados de los Gigantes

    Tenerife

    These astonishing, dark rock cliffs soar sublimely 600m from the ocean, forging a magnificent natural geological spectacle right on the edge of Los…

  • Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    Dating from 1944, this tantalising market is housed in an eye-catching building that combines a Latin American feel with Moorish-style arches and patios…

  • Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    This brain-bending amalgam of natural science and archaeology is an excellent museum, despite a rather confusing layout. Set inside the former civil…

  • Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    It's difficult to miss the striking bell tower of the city’s oldest church, which also has traditional Mudéjar (Islamic-style architecture) ceilings. The…

  • Risco Belle Aquatic Gardens

    Puerto de la Cruz

    This is not just any old garden: step through the entrance and you'll be met by a sweeping lawn punctuated with tables and chairs, tropical plants (birds…

  • Museo de la Historia de Tenerife

    La Laguna

    The documents, maps, weapons and tools are interesting enough at this museum, but the 16th-century mansion – with its creaking floorboards, old window…

  • Convento de Santa Clara

    La Laguna

    Of all the convents in La Laguna, this is the most interesting, renowned for its beautiful lattice-work wooden balcony and cloister. The museum covers…

  • Catedral

    La Laguna

    Work on this magnificent cathedral was completed in 1915. A fine baroque retable in the chapel is dedicated to the Virgen de los Remedios and dates from…

  • Iglesia de la Concepción

    North Coast Tenerife

    This magnificent church, located right in the centre of town, dates to 1516, although it was destroyed by earthquakes in 1704 and 1705 and rebuilt in 1768…

  • Casa de los Balcones

    North Coast Tenerife

    This ornate mansion, dating to 1632, has a sublime setting, with balconies set around a picturesque central courtyard and also decorating the front of the…

  • Jardínes del Marquesado de la Quinta Roja

    North Coast Tenerife

    Also known as the Jardín Victoria, these French-influenced 18th-century gardens cascade in terraces down the hillside and are crowned by a small marble…

  • Calle San Agustín

    La Laguna

    To see the largest number of splendid mansions standing cheek to jowl, wander along Calle San Agustín. Look for the metal plaques outside the noble…

  • Puerto de Los Cristianos

    Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas & Costa Adeje

    Playa de Los Cristianos’ grand swathe of pale golden sand is flanked to the west by Puerto de Los Cristianos, a harbour that is home to fishing boats,…

  • Pico Viejo

    Tenerife

    Calling this mountain ‘Old Peak’ is something of a slight misnomer considering it was actually the last of Tenerife’s volcanoes to have erupted on a grand…

  • Roques de García

    Tenerife

    A few kilometres south of El Teide peak, across from the Parador Nacional, lies this geological freak show of twisted lava pinnacles, christened with…

  • Punta de Teno

    Tenerife

    When Plato mistook the Canary Islands for Atlantis, it must have been because of places like Punta de Teno. This beautiful spot, jutting into the Atlantic…

  • Casa del Vino la Baranda

    Tenerife

    This museum, located in a traditional Canarian country house in El Sauzal, is devoted to wine and its production and also offers wine tasting for a…

  • Observatorio del Teide

    Tenerife

    One of the best places in the northern hemisphere to stargaze is the Observatorio del Teide, just off the TF24 highway between La Laguna and the El…

  • Sitio Litre Garden

    Puerto de la Cruz

    This delightful garden is exquisitely laid out with walkways, fountains, tropical and subtropical plants and flowers, plus the oldest drago tree in town…

  • Palmetum

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    Conscientiously established on a former landfill area, this excellent 12-hectare botanical garden has the most diverse collection of palm trees in Europe,…

  • Museo de Bellas Artes

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    Founded in 1900 and formerly part of the adjacent church (note the fabulous stained glass), this excellent museum has an eclectic collection of paintings…

  • Lookout Point

    Tenerife

    For superb views of the Acantilados de los Gigantes head to the end of Calle Tabaiba to a natural lookout point over the marina below, but take care and…

  • Plaza España

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    The majority of Santa Cruz’ sights and museums are within easy walking distance of the revamped waterfront Plaza España, with its huge circular wading…

  • Pirámides de Güímar

    Tenerife

    These six much-restored pyramid ruins made from lava stone explore an intriguing question: could the Canarios have had contact with America before…

  • Iglesia y ex-convento de San Agustín

    La Laguna

    This church went up in flames in 1964, lost its roof and is now out of bounds and in ruins, but you can peer through the gap in the wall at the somnolent…

  • Artlandya Doll Museum

    North Coast Tenerife

    A collection of dolls may not sound very captivating to anyone over the age of three, but Austrian owner Georg is an enthralling character who brings the…

  • La Caleta

    Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas & Costa Adeje

    This resort area in Costa Adeje is located north of Playa del Duque and is anchored by several hotels, including the Sheraton La Caleta Resort and Spa…

  • Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos

    La Laguna

    If you enjoy pushing buttons and musing on the forces of nature, you'll have fun at this museum, which introduces key scientific concepts in an engaging…

  • Parque de la Puerta de Tierra

    Garachico

    Another rare remnant of Garachico's volcanic activity is in the cute and lovingly well-tended Parque de la Puerta de Tierra, just off Plaza Juan González …

  • Casa Lercaro

    North Coast Tenerife

    This 16th-century mansion is widely considered to be the most representative building constructed in traditional Canary Island style. Particularly…

  • Parque García Sanabria

    Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    On the northern fringe of the city centre, this park is a delightful collection of Mediterranean and subtropical trees and flowers, interspersed with…

  • Museo Arqueológico

    Puerto de la Cruz

    This small but well laid-out museum provides an insight into the Guanche way of life with its replicas of a typical cave dwelling, as well as a burial…

  • Playa de las Teresitas

    Tenerife

    The deep honey-coloured sands of Playa de las Teresitas, just beyond San Andrés village, were imported from the Sahara. It’s a lovely beach with a…