A facelift to the central waterfront zone means you can enjoy a pleasant 10-minute walk southwest of Plaza España to reach the squat 17th-century Castillo de San Juan (don't get too excited by the name, it's more of a modest fortress than a castle). Stand in the shadow of this protective fort and contemplate its harrowing past, when it was the site of an active trade in African slaves.
Castillo de San Juan
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
26.9 MILES
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)
0.58 MILES
The highlights of this dramatic contemporary building are the architecture, its three galleries and the stunning library downstairs. The galleries display…
0.08 MILES
This magnificent, soaring white wave of an auditorium was designed by the internationally renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, and delivers…
17.5 MILES
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…
Biblioteca Municipal Central de Santa Cruz de Tenerife
0.59 MILES
This library downstairs at TEA is a design classic, a vast open-plan room with overhanging globular lights, copious natural light, angular lines and a…
Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África
0.51 MILES
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
0.6 MILES
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
0.65 MILES
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…
Nearby Santa Cruz de Tenerife attractions
0.08 MILES
This magnificent, soaring white wave of an auditorium was designed by the internationally renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, and delivers…
0.32 MILES
Conscientiously established on a former landfill area, this excellent 12-hectare botanical garden has the most diverse collection of palm trees in Europe,…
3. Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África
0.51 MILES
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…
4. Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA)
0.58 MILES
The highlights of this dramatic contemporary building are the architecture, its three galleries and the stunning library downstairs. The galleries display…
5. Biblioteca Municipal Central de Santa Cruz de Tenerife
0.59 MILES
This library downstairs at TEA is a design classic, a vast open-plan room with overhanging globular lights, copious natural light, angular lines and a…
6. Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre
0.6 MILES
This brain-bending amalgam of natural science and archaeology is an excellent museum, despite a rather confusing layout. Set inside the former civil…
7. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
0.65 MILES
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…
0.67 MILES
Despite only having a few rooms, this new museum has an excellent collection of Carnaval costumes and displays with good English-language explanations of…